Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar city, our driver and English-speaking guide will pick you up from the airport and be transferred to your hotel in downtown. After you settled in, we will start a sightseeing tour including a visit to Sukhbaatar’s square. The Square is in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, in front of the Mongolian Parliament House. Across from the central square, we will visit the National Museum of Mongolia, the biggest museum with over 54000 exhibitions from the prehistoric period to the 21st century. Our next stop will be the Gandan Monastery. The monastery is the largest and most significant Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar city with over 200 years old. If time permits, we will visit Zaisan Hill memorial, the hill provides a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. Overnight in a hotel.

• Transfer to Hotel from Ulaanbaatar New International Airport, about 35 km, and Ulaanbaatar City tour
• Meal(s): Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. But if you prefer to stay alone just tell us before the tour, we will provide you with no extra single-supplement charge. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 5-star hotel to a home-stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up from your hotel, and afford you to the airport for a domestic flight to Ulgii, a provincial town of Western Mongolia. After your arrival in Ulgii, our local driver will pick you up from Ulgii airport with his guaranteed 4WD vehicle and drive to nomadic Kazakh family in Sagsai soum of Bayan-Ulgii province. Once we reach the home of nomadic Kazakh family, you have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle including how they train their Golden eagles for hunting, how they take care of their herds in the vast pasture land, and also you will get a chance to try what nomadic people do in their daily life. Overnight in a ger with nomadic Kazakh family.

• Travel: We will take a domestic flight of 2-3 hours to the western province. Then head to local eagle trainer nomadic family approx 60-70 km on a dirt road from the town.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: Stay in a local nomadic eagle trainer family, one of our long term cooperative families The family does not have additional ger for guests to stay in so you are invited to sleep in the family’s ger. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide tents for each guest and these can be put up next to the family’s home. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower

We’ll wake up at the same time with the eagle trainers’ nomadic family, and be involved in their daily morning routes including milking their cows and producing dairy products. After having breakfast with the eagle trainer’s family, we will pack up and drive to a snow-capped sacred mountain Shiveet Khairkhan. The mountain has an altitude of 3000m and is surrounded by archaeological monuments extending in time from the Bronze Age through the Turkic Period (sixth to ninth centuries CE). The mountain is the closest place to Altai Tavan Bogd peaks reachable by car. Once we arrive in the foot of Shiveet Khairkhan mountain, we will set up our tent, and you have time to explore the mountain until dinner. In the evening, we will prepare our luggage for the next 2 days of trekking to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Overnight in a tent.

• Travel time: From the nomadic eagle trainer family to the snow-capped mountain, approximately 180 km on a dirt road. Average of 5-6 hours of driving on the dirt road.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: We will stay in a local nomadic eagle trainer family, another one of our long term cooperative families. The family does not have additional ger for guests to stay in so you are invited to sleep in the family’s ger. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide tents for each guest and these can be put up next to the family’s home. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower

After having breakfast at the foot of the sumptuous snow-capped mountain, we will load our luggage on horseback, leave our vehicle and trek toward Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. After approximately 3 to 4 hours of horseback riding, we will reach the base camp of Tavan Bogd peaks. The name Tavan Bogd Mountains means the ‘5 Saints” makes sense when you stand by the five tallest peaks in the park. Starting with Kuiten Uul at 14,350 ft (4374 m), Nairamdal at 13,714 feet (4,180 meters), Malchin at 13,287 feet (4,050 meters), Bürged at 13,346 feet (4,068 meters) and Ölgii at 13,287 feet ( 4,050 meters) constitute the other giant mountains. Once we arrive in the base camp of the National Park, we will set up our tent camp just off the glacier’s edge, then have lunch and saunter around the largest glacier in Mongolia named “Potanin glacier” between the Tavan Bogd peaks. Overnight in a tent.

• Travel time: We will ride well-treated horses. On this day, we trek averagely 4-5 hours by horseback riding but depends hugely on weather conditions.
• Meal(s): Trekking days’ meals will be made by our tour guide(s), who are well trained for outdoor cooking. But you should not expect chief style meals.
• Accommodation: On our horse trekking days, we will sleep in tents. We provide a kitchen tent, a toilet tent and VANGO tents.  There are no single supplements – each traveller gets their OWN tent.

After having a peaceful breakfast next to the glacier’s edge, you have a full day to explore the Tavan Bogd National Park. The national park is, however, more than the high peaks and circa 34 glaciers. Indeed, the park includes the beautiful flat area of the Lakes region. Composed of three freshwater lakes, Khurgan Nuur and Khoton Nuur, are linked by a small river, and the smaller Dayan Nuur is south of the two lakes. After the exploration through the national park, you will enjoy the alpine-like scene next to your tent. Overnight in a tent.

• Travel time: We will leave our horses near our tents then hike up to Malchin Peak. Approximately 6-7 hours of hiking, but hugely depends on weather conditions of the day we do hiking. If the climate is not appropriate to hike, we will do a short excursion through the glacier by our horse or by walk. (Hiking up to Malchin Peak is optional)
• Meal(s): Trekking days’ meals will be made by our tour guide(s), who are well trained for outdoor cooking. But you should not expect chief style meals.
• Accommodation: On our horse trekking days, we will sleep in tents. We provide a kitchen tent, a toilet tent and VANGO tents.  There are no single supplements – each traveller gets their OWN tent.

Today we will trek back to Tsagaan Gol river valley. The Tsagaan Gol river is sourced from the biggest glaciers in the Altai mountains including Alexandra, Grene, and Potanin glaciers. When the glaciers melt, the river becomes white-coloured as well as milk, the suspended powder of rock eroded by the high glaciers. After 3 to 4 hours of horse hacking, we will meet our vehicle and a nomadic family, and our camp will be pitched next to the nomadic family’s ger. Overnight in a tent.

• Travel time: Today is the last day with our horses. We will trek on averagely 4-5 hours by horseback riding but depends hugely on weather conditions.

• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: Stay in a local nomadic eagle trainer family, one of our long term cooperative families The family does not have an additional ger for guests to stay in so you are invited to sleep in the family’s ger. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide tents for each guest and these can be put up next to the family’s home. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower

It’s time to say goodbye to our nomadic Kazakh friends. Today we will drive back to Ulgii town. After approximately 5 hours of backseat driving, we will reach Ulgii town. Once we arrive there, you have time to relax in the hotel until dinner, and refill your energy for attending the 21^st Golden Eagle Festival tomorrow. Overnight in a hotel.

• Travel time: Approx 180 km on a dirt road to the provincial town. Upon arrival in Ulgiy, transfer to your hotel. 

• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: You will stay in a provincial 3-star hotel – Makhsum hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 3-star hotel to a home-stay.

On these days, we will attend the 21^st Golden Eagle Festival. The festival begins with a parade of hunters holding their eagles marching with their horses. The competition for the best traditional costume and equipment is held followed by games to test the best communication techniques between the eagle and the hunter. The other main competition involves the fastest and most attractive descent of an eagle from the top of the mountain to the owner on the valley floor. Other authentic games are enjoyed by the Kazakhs such as kukbar (tug of war on horseback), archery and horse racing. Hunters put on their best costumes while decorating their eagles with the traditional “eagle costumes”.

Event program:

• Competition of how eagles adapted to hunters “Shyrga Tartu” (eagles will be qualified how fast and smoothly catch a lure that is made of rabbit or fox skin)
• “Tenge Ily” competition – (traditional coin grabbing game while riding a horse)
• “Jambi atu” competition – (shooting at a target while riding a horse)
• Competition for the best Kazakh costume for couples
• “Kyz Khuar” game show – (traditional horseback riding fun game for youth, boys whipped by girls if they reached by them)
• “Kukhbar” competition – (traditional horseback riding game fight over for goatskin)

• Travel time: From the hotel to a valley where the Golden Eagle Festival is held, approximately 40 km drive on a dirt road.

• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: We will stay in a local nomadic eagle trainer family, another one of our long term cooperative families The family does not have an additional ger for guests to stay in so you are invited to sleep in the family’s ger. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide tents for each guest and these can be put up next to the family’s home. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower

After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Ulaanbaatar. We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon, and you have time for visiting the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops or relax in your hotel until dinner. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.

• Travel time: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 

• Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. But if you prefer to stay alone just tell us before the tour, we will provide you with no extra single-supplement charge. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 5-star hotel to a homestay.

Today is the end of the Golden Eagle Festival tour. Our team will transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight. Have a nice trip back to your home and thank you for choosing Way To Nomads.

• Meal(s): Breakfast
• Transport: Transfer to the airport from the hotel by vehicle.