Altai Eagle Festival in the Sagsai region

Package Overview

Ninety percent of the population of the Bayan-Ulgii province are Kazakhs. They have lived in this area for more than 160 years. Mongolian Kazakhs have preserved their native language and culture in the modern world very well. The tradition of eagle hunting, is believed to have been developed in central Asia more than 1800 years ago. Kazakhs trap the eagles when they are eaglets and train them to be hunters, by building an emotional bond between the hunter and the eagles. Today in Mongolia there are about 200 Eagle hunters in total with their eagles. The Sagsai region of the Bayan-Ulgii province is considered to have the majority of these Eagle hunters. Eagle usually hunt most wild animals in Mongolia, including the native red foxes.
As an initiative of the local population the Sagsai region began to celebrate the Eagle hunting culture with a festival a decade ago. During the Eagle Festival, hunters and the their eagles compete against each other in varius hunting skills competitions, but also, they are judged by their traditional attire and the equipment of the eagles and the horses they use to hunt. The festival also includes horse and camel races, in which mostly young boys compete.
In addition to this, during the festival local residents sell handmade crafts to the tourists who attend the event. This holiday is very important for supporting the family economy of people in this region, especially for the local nomadic shepherd families who have the opportunity to increase their income. The Altai Eagle Festival is organized every year on the second weekend of September.International flights


Visa

Travel insurance


Charges for excess baggage


Airport taxes

Individual equipment


Drinks and extra charges in hotels and inns

All alcoholic drinks


All costs not specified in “Included”

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Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

  Upon your arrival at Ulaan Bataar airport, you will be met by our representative and, after checking in at the hotel, we will take you on a city sightseeing tour and for a welcome dinner. (Hotel/D)

• Day 2 : Ulaanbaatar-Ulgii

  We will fly to Ulgii City, in the Bayan-Ulgii province in Western Mongolia, about a 3 hour flight. The population of this province is mostly Kazakh, with their own culture and language. At the airport you will be met your English-speaking guide, as well as your driver and expedition cook. We’ll drive to Sagsai gol area visit Eagle hunter family, (Ger/L/D).

• Day 3 : Experiencing training of Golden Eagles

  A full day with the Eagle hunters: watch the hunters train their eagles with various false-prey and other methods. (Ger/L/D).

• Day 4 : Enjoy the Eagle festival in Sagsai area.

  Meet the Kazakh Eagle hunters. The rodeo of eagle hunting. A fantastic opportunity for photographers and adventurers alike to see these magnificent birds up close. There are approx. 400 eagle hunters in Bayan-Olgii aimag. Eagle hunters from around regions gather to test their finely trained birds in singular contests of speed and agility in these few days. During the festival we also see some Kazakh Traditional Horse Games like “BushKushi" (Try to take out from each other the goat skin on horseback), "Kiss woman on horseback", "Pick up coins from the land on horseback" and others. (Ger/L/D).

• Day 5 : Enjoy the Eagle festival in Sagsai area.

  Meet the Kazakh Eagle hunters. The rodeo of eagle hunting. A fantastic opportunity for photographers and adventurers alike to see these magnificent birds up close. There are approx. 400 eagle hunters in Bayan-Olgii aimag. Eagle hunters from around regions gather to test their finely trained birds in singular contests of speed and agility in these few days. During the festival we also see some Kazakh Traditional Horse Games like “BushKushi" (Try to take out from each other the goat skin on horseback), "Kiss woman on horseback", "Pick up coins from the land on horseback" and others. (Ger/L/D).

• Day 6 :

  We will ride to the Dayan lake. The landscape around the lakes is stunning, with forests and snow-capped mountains. 150km (Tent/B/L/D)

• Day 7 :

  Today we’ll drive to Khoton and Khurgan Lakes, stopping for lunch on the way, and spending the night at the camping site on Biluut Hill. Here you will find ancient rock carvings of Turkic origin, 1500-2000 years old. Khoton and Khurgan lakes are second largest and clearest of all lakes in the Mongolia, the average depth is 26 m, the maximum depth is approximately 58 m, Khoton lake has one Iceland which is covered by woods, the system of Khoton lake and Khurgan lakes connected by wide channel. The landscape around the lakes is very beautiful and picturesque surrounded by snow-capped mountains.(Tent /B/L/D) 100 km

• Day 8 :

  We drive back to Olgii. Afternoon do some arts and crafts shopping. Overnight you can stay either in our own Ger Camp or at hotel Eagle's Nest, and take a good hot shower. (Ger camp or Hotel/B/L/D) 180km

• Day 9 :

  Return flight to Ulaanbaatar. (Hotel/B)

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Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing
• All meals during the trip

• All accommodations during the program

• Transport with car including gasoline

• Local guide
• Cook

• Camels and horses

• Permits and fees for the national park

• Visa support

• Local flights Ulgii-Ulaanbaatar

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Exclusions

• International flights

• Visa
• Travel insurance

• Charges for excess baggage

• Airport taxes
• Individual equipment

• Drinks and extra charges in hotels and inns
• All alcoholic drinks

• All costs not specified in “Included”

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Price & Rates

* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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This Tour is Offered by

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• Mongolia, Bayan Ulgii province, Post office Box #13, Olgii, Mongolia
• XXXXXX7003 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@altaiexpeditions.com View Mail ID

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