Golden Eagle Tour – 23 Days

General Information

Duration: 23 Days/ 22 Nights
Start/ End: Ulaanbaatar/ Ulaanbaatar
Transfer Distance: Approximately 5 500 km
Tour Route: Ulaanbaatar – Erdenet  – Lake Khuvsgul – Delgermurun – Tosontsengel – Lake Khyargas – Ulaangom – Ot – Bayan Ulgii – Sagsai – Bayan Ulgii – Khovd – Uliastai – White Lake – Kharkhorin – Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park – Chinggis Khaan Statue Monument Complex – Ulaanbaatar
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request).

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar Arrival – City Tour By Coach
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Erdenet
Day 3: Erdenet – Lake Khuvsgul
Day 4: Lake Khuvsgul
Day 5: Lake Khuvsgul – Delgermurn
Day 6: Delgermurn – Tosntsengl
Day 7: Tosntsengl – Ulaangom Town
Day 8: Ulaangom Town
Day 9: Lake Khyargas – Ot via Ulaangom
Day 10: Ot – Ulgii
Day 11: Ulgii – Golden Eagle Festival
Day 12: Ulgii – Golden Eagle Festival
Day 13: Ulgii – Khovd
Day 14: Khovd – Altai
Day 15: Altai – Arvaikheer
Day 16: Arvaikheer – Karakorum
Day 17: Karakorum – Khushuu Tsaidam
Day 18: Kharkhorin – Ulaanbatar Capital via Khustai National Park
Day 19: Ulaanbaatar
Day 20: Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park
Day 21: Terelj Np – Ulaanbaatar
Day 22: Ulaanbaatar Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar Arrival – City Tour By Coach (L, D)

11:00 Arrival in the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, then meet your English-speaking local guide. After that transfer to the “Bayangol” Hotel.
13:00 Lunch in the hotel restaurant
14:00 City tour including the main square, History Museum & Nomin State Department store
17:00 Car picks up and packing
19:00 Dinner / Short breathing about First AAS Expedition Drive in Mongolia & team introduction /overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 120km (Paved road)

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Erdenet (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel restaurant, drive to Erdenet city: Erdenet is 3rd largest city in Mongolia. The city hosts the fourth-largest copper mine in the World, which was founded in 1974. Erdenet City has 90 000 inhabitants, it’s the center of the Orkhon province.
For picnic lunch on the way around 1 hour. Continue driving to the Erdenet. Then transfer to the local hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 380km (Paved road & Under Construction)

Day 3: Erdenet – Lake Khuvsgul (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Lake Khuvsgul, heading to Northern Mongolia, the natural zone transferring from the Treeless Hills area into the Alpine Mountainous zone and Wetland valleys and Lake Khuvsgul basin. Have a picnic lunch on the way for around 1 hour and continue to drive to Lake Khuvsgul. Next transfer to the tourist camp.
Visit the MURUN town on the way, the center of the KHUVSGUL province. We will refill the petrol and provide some water and goods supply around 1 hour. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 650km (Paved road)

Day 4: Lake Khuvsgul(B, L, D)

When breakfast in the Tourist camp, then enjoy and relax in the Lake Khuvsgul area which holds 70% of Mongolian freshwater reserves. It’s 136km long and its maximum depth is 262 meters. It is not as deep as Lake Baikal but is part of the Baikal Rift system, which resulted from the pressures associated with the collision between India and Asia some 55 million years ago. Situated at 1 645 meters above sea level. Lake Khuvsgul is known as the “Mongolian Switzerland” for foreign tourists.
Lunch in the tourist camp. In the afternoon do a short excursion to the Jankhai Mountain Pass by vehicle. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 70km (Dirt road)

Day 5: Lake Khuvsgul – Delgermurn (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the tourist camp then drives to the Delgermurun through MURUN town. Spend 30 minutes refilling the petrol, and continue transfer to the “Kharganat” tourist camp. Enjoy the Mongolian Rodeo Show, an important part of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle, particularly a horse breeding and training culture.
Lunch in the tourist camp. Experience the Uushigiin Uvur Deer Stone Complex. There are lots of Burial mounds and Deer stones placed close to each other. The Deer stones date back to 1000 BC and it’s believed that it was erected by Bronze Age nomads. The patterns of the Deer stone suggest they were built to perform rituals. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 180km (Paved & Dirt road)

Day 6: Delgermurn – Tosntsengl (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the tourist camp, drive to the Tosontsengel village, one of the long and tough dirt roads driving for a whole day through the Northern Mongolian mountainous wild nature and valleys. Spend 1 hour for a picnic lunch on the way and continue the drive to the Tosontsengel village. Transfer to the “Munkh Uvgudii” tourist camp, located in the Tosontsengel village. Have dinner and overnight in the Tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 410km (Dirt road)

Day 7: Tosntsengl – Ulaangom Town (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the tourist camp, spend 30 minutes refilling the petrol in the village. Continue to drive to Lake Khyargas Basin, the natural zone transferring from the Alpine Mountain area into the Semi Desert and Arid Open plateau and Great Lake Basin. Spend 1 hour for a picnic lunch on the way. Next, drive to the Lake Khyargas basin.
Short excursion in the Lake Khyargas shore and Photo session time. Enjoy Lake Khyargas and its surrounding area, which is a Salt Lake located in the district of Khyargas, province of the Uvs, at an altitude of approximately 1 025m above sea level.

From its size of 75km long by 31km large, it’s considered the second main lake in the West part of Mongolia. One thing to note is this major salty lake is coming partly from another small named Airag Lake, which is a freshwater one. Both lakes are preserved by the authorities and are considered a National Natural Park. Classified as The Great Lakes Basin by the World Wildlife Fund /WWF/, it has become a priority and unique terrestrial ecoregion. Then drive to Ulaangom town, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 550km (Paved road)

Day 8: Ulaangom Town (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel restaurant, visit the local Museum and Galdan Boshigt Khaan’s Memorial Complex. Lunch in the local restaurant. Then enjoy the Western Mongolian Folk Ensemble Concert/Performance.
Spend around 1.5 hours refilling petrol and water & good supplies, then back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 20km (Paved road)

Day 9: Lake Khyargas – Ot via Ulaangom (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the tourist camp, drive to the tourist camp through ULAANGOM town, the center of the UVS province. By the way, this area is First recognized the UNESCO World. Heritage Site under the name the Uvs Lake Basin in Mongolia.
Take a rest at the top of the Red Mountain Pass. Continue driving to the tourist camp and transfer to the tourist camp. Do a short excursion to Lake Uureg. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 390km (Paved & Dirt road)

Day 10: Ot – Ulgii (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the tourist camp, drive to ULGII town, the center of the BAYAN-ULGII province, which is living 28,496 population. The center of the predominantly Kazakh region of Mongolia. Kazakh nationality is only Muslim in the country and the city is home to 4 mosques.
Have a picnic lunch on the way. Spend time refilling petrol at the Khotgor Coal Mine site. Continue driving to the ULGII town then transfer to the local hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel.

Transfer Distance: 260km (Dirt road)

Day 11: Ulgii – Golden Eagle Festival (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel, participate in the Golden Eagle Festival near Ulgii town.  Next, see the Eagle Hunter’s clothing and the Horse ornaments. Check the Eagle’s agility and ability to grip stuffed baits dragged by horses. Keep on seeing the Eagles released from a hilltop should recognize the call of their trainers and sit on his arm. Lunch in the local restaurant.  Following the Concert of the Kazakh nations. After that, transfer to the local hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 40km (Paved & Dirt road)

Day 12: Ulgii – Golden Eagle Festival (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel, participate in the morning Events of the Golden Eagle Festival and enjoy Kyz Kuar – Women Chasing game and Kykbar – Tug of War played on horseback with goat skins. Before noon we will drive to the Sagsai soum around 30km far one-way from the ULGII town to visit the Kazakh family’s Traditional Lunch in the Kazakh family with Roasted sheep meat. Back to Ulgii town, have dinner, and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 80km (Paved & Dirt road)

Day 13: Ulgii – Khovd (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel, spend 30 minutes for refill the petrol in ULGII town. Continue drive to Kovd town, the center of the KHOVD province.
Lunch in the local restaurant for 1,5 hours, then transfer to the local hotel and visit the local museum. We will go to see the Local Black market for more deeply understanding of domestic life and their living style etc. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 250km (Paved road)

Day 14: Khovd – Altai (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel and refilling petrol in KHOVD town, continue to drive to ALTAI town, the center of the Gobi-Altai province Picnic. Lunch is on the way. Exploring the South Western Gobi Desert and the arid area, which has endless open steppe. Head on the drive to ALTAI town. Transfer to the local hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 520km (Paved road)

Day 15: Altai – Arvaikheer (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the hotel and continue to drive to the ARVAIKHEER town, center of the Uvurkhangai Province.  Picnic Lunch on the way for 1 hour.
On the way enjoy to Central Mongolian Mountain range and Great valleys, a Combination of Natural Wilderness area
Refill petrol in the Bayankhongor Province, and keep on driving to the ARVAIKHEER town, then transfer to the Local Hotel. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 750km (Paved road)

Day 16: Arvaikheer – Karakorum (B, L, D)

Drive to the Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Great Mongolian Empire between 1235 and 1260. And the center of the Northern Yuan in the XIV-XV centuries. Its ruins lie in the Northwestern corner of the Uvurkhangai province of Central Mongolia, near today’s town Kharkhorin soum and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the probably earliest surviving Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia. They are important parts of the upper of the World Heritage Site of the Orkhon Valley. Lunch in the tourist camp. Dinner and Overnight in the Tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 140km (Paved road)

Day 17: Karakorum – Khushuu Tsaidam (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the tourist camp,  and drive to the Bilge Khaan Ancient Turkish King’s Monument Complex located in the Khushuu Tsaidam. This is a very important historical site of the Ancient Turkish Empire which was established in the V century. There are located 2 Monument Complex, one is dedicated to the Bilge Khaan and another one is for his brother Kultegin, a famous army general. Complex built by the Turkish Government. Drive back to the Karakorum. Lunch in the Tourist camp
Visit the Mongolian Calligraphy Art Center. Dinner and overnight in the Tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 80km (Paved road)

Day 18: Kharkhorin – Ulaanbaatar Capital via Khustai National Park (B, L, D)

When having breakfast in the tourist camp, drive to the Ulaanbaatar capital city via Khustai National Park. Lunch in the National Park, and continue the drive to the Ulaanbaatar capital city. Following that, transfer to the “Bayangol” Hotel. The car gives back the procedure.  Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

Transfer Distance: 360km (Paved road)

Day 19: Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D)

After breakfast in the hotel and have a refreshing & relaxing. Have lunch in the Restaurant, then visit the Chingis Khaan Museum, the World’s 10th biggest and brand-new museum presenting all historical periods and highlights of Mongolian history. The nine-story modern museum with 15 exhibition halls will cover an area of 20 500 square meters. Shopping in the Gallery Ulaanbaatar Mall, dinner in the Little Sheep Hot Pot Restaurant later, and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 10km (Paved road)

Day 20: Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the hotel then drives to the Chinggis Khaan Statue Monument Complex at the Tsonjin Boldog. Visit to the XIII Century Complex is established to show the 13th-century lifestyle of the Great Mongolian Empire. There are 6 different camps of the empire and it’s the only place with a historical Theme Park in Mongolia you can visit the ancient micro kingdom and experience the genuine way of living and working during that time. By the way, the Horse relay postal system and the origin of the modern diplomatic theory were created under the Chinggis Khaan reign.

After that, lunch in the XIII Century Complex, go on a drive to the Terelj National Park and enjoy the Terelj National Park with Turtle Rock and Fantastic Granite Rock Formation with Natural Wonderful Site Combination. Later, transfer to the “Terelj Lodge” tourist camp. Dinner and overnight in the tourist camp.

Transfer Distance: 160km (Paved road)

Day 21: Terelj Np – Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D)

Breakfast in the tourist camp then drives back to the Ulaanbaatar capital. Transfer to the “Bayangol” hotel and have lunch in the Seoul Restaurant/ Afterward, packing and wrap-up time. Later, dinner with Closing Ceremony and overnight in the hotel.

Transfer Distance: 50km (Paved road)

Day 22: Ulaanbaatar Departure (B)

After breakfast in the “Bayangol” Hotel, transfer to the International Airport. Your Mongolia Vacation Package ends.