General Information
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Tour Route: Ulaanbaatar – Bayan Ölgii – Eagle Hunting Family – Tsagaan River – Tolbo Lake – Tolbo Eagle Festival – Ölgii – Ulaanbaatar
Intended Travel Date: September 16-23
Pick-up/Drop-off: Ulaanbaatar
Tour Style: Cultural Immersion, Adventure, Wildlife and Nature, Festival Experience
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private First-class Air-conditioned Vehicles, Domestic Flight
Tour Highlights
- Experience the Tolbo Eagle Festival, showcasing authentic Kazakh eagle hunting traditions in a stunning lakeside setting.
- Stay with a Kazakh eagle-hunting family and learn about their ancient nomadic lifestyle.
- Explore the remote Altai Tavan Bogd National Park with glaciers, sacred valleys, and UNESCO petroglyphs.
- Enjoy an adventurous off-road journey through Western Mongolia’s untouched landscapes.
- Discover Mongolia’s diversity, from Ulaanbaatar’s cultural highlights to the unique Kazakh heritage of Bayan-Ölgii.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Ulaanbaatar city tour (D)
Day 2: Arrival in Bayan Olgii & Eagle hunting family (30 km) (B, L, D)
Day 3: Olgii - Tsagaan River (150 km off-road driving) (B, L, D)
Day 4: Drive back to Olgii (150km) (B, L, D)
Day 5-6: Tolbo Eagle Festival (B, L, D)
Day 7: Fly out from Olgii to Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D)
Day 8: Departure (B)
Full Itinerary
Day 1 (Tuesday, Sep 16): Arrival & Ulaanbaatar City Tour (D)
The tour will start at J Hotel Ulaanbaatar.
Depending on your arrival time, we will arrange a city tour including the Genghis Khan Museum, Mongolia's largest museum featuring over 8,300 artifacts spanning the country's history.
We'll also visit the Bogd Khan’s Winter and Summer Palace, a former royal residence now showcasing artifacts, traditional costumes, and the king’s collection of stuffed animals.
Next, explore Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Mongolia’s largest monastery, and admire the magnificent 82-foot golden statue of Migjid Janraisig.
The tour concludes with a climb up Zaisan Hill, offering panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar. The tour lasts approximately 5 to 6 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Activities:
- Discover the historic Bogd Khan Winter and Summer Palace
- Experience the spiritual ambiance of Gandan Monastery
- Immerse yourself in history at the Genghis Khan Museum
- Hike up Zaisan Hill for panoramic city views
Day 2 (Wednesday, Sep 17): Arrival in Bayan Olgii & Eagle Hunting Family (30 km) (B, L, D)
This adventure will lead you to Mongolia’s remote western frontier, where dramatic landscapes blend with a fascinating cultural fusion of Muslim and Mongolian traditions.
Today, we take a flight to Ölgii, the capital of Bayan-Olgii Province. Unlike most of Mongolia, Bayan-Olgii is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs, most of whom practice Islam. The town even has its own modest mosque, symbolizing its distinct identity.
Upon arrival, our local team will welcome you and drive westward into the heart of the National Park. Along the way, we’ll visit Kazakh families living in traditional Gers, which are larger than Mongolian gers and beautifully decorated with handmade carpets and colorful textiles.
Over tea, we’ll enjoy traditional Kazakh dishes such as Kuz (salted and smoked horse meat) and Bisbarmak, while learning about their customs and way of life.
For more than 2,000 years, Kazakhs have practiced the ancient tradition of Eagle Hunting. Female Golden Eagles are captured as chicks, trained for hunting foxes and wolves, and eventually released back into the wild after years of partnership with their hunters.
Accommodation: Home stay / Yurt without facilities
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities:
- Flight: Depart Ulaanbaatar at 7:25 AM, arrive in Ölgii at 8:40 AM
- Drive for 2–3 hours
- Meet a Kazakh eagle hunting family
Day 3 (Thursday, Sep 18): Olgii – Tsagaan River Valley (150 km off-road driving) (B, L, D)
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is a vast wilderness covering 636,161 hectares in western Bayan-Olgii Province, stretching across the Ulaan Khus, Tsengel, Sagsai, and Altai soums.
This remote region is characterized by snow-capped peaks, ancient glaciers, and untouched valleys. At its heart stands Khuiten Uul, Mongolia’s highest mountain at 4,374 meters above sea level. The Altai Mountains stretch over 200 kilometers where Mongolia meets China, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
The park is also rich in history, featuring tens of thousands of ancient petroglyphs (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Turkic Stone Men, and ancient burial mounds.
Today, we drive through breathtaking scenery for 5 to 6 hours, arriving at the Tsagaan River Valley by early afternoon. This sacred valley is a summer grazing land for nomadic herders and home to the Tuvan people, who continue to practice shamanistic traditions.
Accommodation: Home stay / Yurts without facilities
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities:
- Scenic 5–6 hours off-road drive
- Visit and connect with a local Tuvan family
Day 4 (Friday, Sep 19): Drive Back to Olgii (150 km) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we drive back to Ölgii, the capital of Bayan-Ölgii Province, located at 1,710 meters above sea level. The town is known for its vibrant Kazakh culture, mountain scenery, and as the gateway to the Altai Mountains.
We will visit the Ölgii Museum to learn about Kazakh history, traditional costumes, and handicrafts, followed by time at the local market.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities:
- Explore Ölgii town
Day 5–6 (September 20–21): Tolbo Eagle Festival (B, L, D)
Located 45 km from Ölgii, Tolbo Lake is a stunning freshwater lake situated at an altitude of about 2,100 meters. Surrounded by mountains, rolling hills, and vast steppe landscapes, it is a paradise for photographers and nature lovers.
The Tolbo Eagle Festival celebrates Kazakh eagle hunting traditions. Eagle hunters compete using trained Golden Eagles to demonstrate speed, accuracy, and agility. (Today, live hunting is replaced by simulated fox-skin chases.)
The festival includes an opening ceremony, parade, cultural performances, handicraft exhibitions, and traditional games such as Kyz Kuar, Tinge Lu, Kokbar, camel racing, and archery.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities:
- Participate in Tolbo Eagle Festival activities
Day 7 (Monday, Sep 22): Fly from Olgii to Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D)
Today we fly back to Ulaanbaatar. The afternoon is free for leisure. You may choose to attend a traditional Mongolian folklore show featuring contortionists, throat singers, and traditional dances, or shop for souvenirs and cashmere products.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activities:
- Flight: Depart Ölgii at 9:20 AM, arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 12:20 PM
- Attend a folklore show (optional)
- Shopping for souvenirs or cashmere (optional)
Day 8 (Tuesday, Sep 23): Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Please check out before 12:00 PM.
Transfer and end of service. See you in your next Mongolia tour.
Meals: Breakfast
