MONGOLIA

Golden Eagle Festival & Gobi Desert

TOUR DATE : OCTOBER 1-12 , 2025

In Search of Dragons & Eagles

Join us in the mountains of western Mongolia for the annual Golden Eagle Festival before traveling to the legendary fossil beds of the Gobi on this unique and exciting adventure. Experience the wild scenery and traditional cultures of the Altai Mountains, where Kazakh nomads celebrate their magnificent hunting eagles in a thrilling two-day festival. Continue to the canyons and sand dunes of the Gobi, explore the Flaming Cliffs and Yol Valley, two of the desert’s most scenic and fascinating destinations.

Nomadic Expeditions’ Founder and CEO Jalsa Urubshurow co-founded the Golden Eagle Festival in 1999 as a way to help to preserve this traditional cultural heritage of Kazakh hunters. All proceeds from the festival’s ticket sales support the Kazakh Falconry Association, a community-based organization comprising local Kazakh eagle hunters, conservation leaders, tourism representatives, and government and non-profit officials. They use the funds to further the goals of the organization, including the annual Golden Eagle Festival.

DATES:

October 1-12, 2025 (12 Days)

6 – 14 TRAVELERS:

$9,345 Per Person

INTERNAL AIRFARE:

$1,350 Per Person

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:

$2,665 Per Person

INQUIRE

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

Land Price Includes:

Ground transportation in Mongolia as described in the itinerary;
Transfers upon arrival and departure;
All accommodations based on double or twin occupancy (hotel rooms and gers);
Meals as noted in itinerary;
Bottled/filtered water throughout the trip and soft drinks during meals;
Horse and camel riding as noted in the itinerary;
All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary;
Extensive pre-departure Travel Guide, reading list, important information about your trip;
Bilingual Nomadic Expeditions guide throughout your stay.

Land Price Does Not Include:

International airfare; internal airfare is quoted separately and subject to change by airlines;
Tips to guides/drivers;
Passport and visa fees;
Comprehensive medical and trip insurance;
Airport taxes and excess baggage charges;
Photography and video fees;
Food and beverages not included in the group meals;
Items of a personal nature, including alcoholic beverages, laundry and telephone calls;
Other items not specifically mentioned as included.

Itinerary

DOWNLOAD FULL ITINERARY

Days 1-2

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar

Upon your arrival on Day 1, your guide will greet you and escort you to a centrally located hotel. On Day 2, start your day with a visit to the Chinggis Khan Museum, which houses 10,000 cultural artifacts spanning 2,000 years of Mongolia’s history, from the Great Khans to nobles, nomads, and the evolution of statehood from the Xiongnu Empire to the late 20th century. After lunch, proceed to the National Museum and conclude the day with a welcome dinner.

Day 3

Fly to Bayan Ulgii | Tolbo Lake

Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Ulgii, capital of Bayan-Ulgii, Mongolia’s westernmost province. Ninety percent of the population here is Kazakh, Mongolia’s largest ethnic minority. On arrival, drive to crystal-clear Tolbo Lake, which mirrors the dramatic Khunguin Mountains. This saline lake attracts numerous birds such as swans and gulls, and is home to over eight different types of fish. Spend the afternoon trekking along the eastern shore of the lake. Next, drive to your ger camp.

DAYS 4-5

Golden Eagle Festival

The festival inaugurates with a majestic horseback procession, showcasing the hunters’ ornate gear, with the finest earning top marks. The central contest involves eagles, set free from heights, swooping down to their handlers on cue, judged on rapidity and precision. The second day evaluates the eagles’ velocity and predatory finesse. Concurrently, Kazakhs vie in kukbar, a test of equestrian prowess, strength, and nimbleness. The festivities conclude with a prize distribution. An exclusive cultural evening with traditional Kazakh performances of dance and music is arranged, honoring the contestants’ prowess and heritage.

Days 6-7

Ulaanbaatar / Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and khoomi throat singers. The folowing day, drive to Gorkhi Terelj National Park, set within the Khentii Mountains, to explore its vast landscapes and the towering Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue. Inside the statue’s base, discover Chinggis Khan’s historic golden whip and ascend to an observation deck on the horse’s head, offering panoramic views of the Mongolian steppes. Then, head to Terelj National Park for a scenic hike to Aryabal Monastery before returning to Ulaanbaatar.

Days 8-10

Gobi Desert Excursions

Embark on a flight to Gobi for a three-day exploration of its breathtaking landscapes, teeming with unique fauna and wildlife like Bactrian camels and Ibex. Navigate the Yol Valley National Park’s beautiful canyons in the Altai foothills, observing the bone-marrow feasting Lammergeiers. Immerse in nomadic traditions with a local family, engaging in their daily routines. Ascend the Havsgait mountainside to discover ancient Bronze Age petroglyphs. Conclude the journey at Moltsog Els’ sand dunes and the Flaming Cliffs, aglow at sunset, an iconic paleontological treasure trove discovered by American Museum of Natural History in 1923.

Days 11-12

Return to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival, visit the Dinosaur Museum, showcasing the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi Desert. On display are fierce Tarbosaurus fossils (closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex), dinosaur eggs, and many others, all of which illustrate the richness and importance of the paleontological sites in the Gobi Desert. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant. Last day, transfer to the airport for departure.

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