Compare Wild Mongolia by Wilderness Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days |
| Price From | $ 7,195 |
| Price Per Day | $ 553 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
| Description |
Our rare “back of beyond” adventure brings you from the fascinating Kazakh culture of the Altai Mountains in Mongolia’s wild west to the epic setting of the vast Gobi Desert in the south. In the Altai, you’ll witness the thrilling Golden Eagle Festival as Kazakhs come from afar on horseback to attend this friendly competition and show off the skills of their majestic trained eagles—a truly spectacular sight. The opportunity to meet and mingle with them, watch their amazing horsemanship, and visit local families is an unforgettable experience. Heading to the Gobi, you’ll walk on the golden Moltsog Els sand dunes and in the glacier-carved Yol Valley, and watch a blazing sunset at the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were found. |
Days 1-6: Ulaanbaatar / Gobi Desert / Flaming Cliffs / Three Camel Lodge
In the capital, our visits include fascinating Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia, and the Paleontological Laboratory, where we get a behind-the-scenes tour. We fly to the Gobi Desert, with our overnights at the celebrated Three Camel Lodge. Out in this remote land, we walk in the golden Moltsog Els dunes and have an opportunity to ride a magnificent two-humped Bactrian camel. Our hikes bring us to rock art sites and into the habitat of argali mountain sheep and soaring lammergeiers. Some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century were made in the Gobi, and we’ll explore the Flaming Cliffs, where in 1923, Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his team from the American Museum of Natural History found dinosaur eggs and transformed our understanding of these prehistoric giants.
Days 7-12: Ulgii / Golden Eagle Festival / Ulaanbaatar
A flight brings us to Ulgii, capital of Mongolia’s far west, land of the Kazakhs. The Kazakhs of Mongolia are culturally distinct, speaking the Turkic language of their forebears and famed as the traditional nomadic herders of Central Asia. Their heritage of falconry goes back thousands of years. Out in the snow-dusted High Altai, we’ll witness the wildly colorful Golden Eagle Festival, with Kazakh hunters in traditional dress parading on horseback with their trained golden eagles. Kazakh families arrive from villages far away to enjoy the pageantry, and during competitions, awards are given to hunters with the most elaborate dress and to eagles that have demonstrated the most skill and agility. Archery and the fast-paced equestrian game of kukbar are part of the festival’s closing ceremony, and it’s a thrill to watch. Our accommodation is a ger camp in a beautiful riverside spot. Depart on Day 12 via Ulaanbaatar.
