Mongolia's Golden Eagle Festival

In many ways still untouched by the outside world, Mongolia offers travellers vast, memorable vistas; warm, welcoming locals; and a timeless nomadic culture waiting for you to discover. Touch down in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, where the echoes of Genghis Khan’s empire meet a rapidly modernizing cityscape. Arrive and settle into your hotel.

Step back in time at the Chinggis Khaan Museum, dedicated to the ruler known as Genghis Khan in the West, and see a sampling of rare artifacts from the Mongol Empire, guided by a local expert. Spend a leisurely afternoon and explore the city’s bustling streets, where Buddhist monasteries and Soviet-era buildings stand side by side. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Fly west to Olgii, a remote region in the Altai Mountains where the Kazakh people have preserved the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles. Explore the Eagle Hunters Cultural Center, where the rich history of eagle hunting is preserved. Stop at striking Tolbo Lake to behold the beauty of its sapphire waters. Visit a local Kazakh family, gaining insight into their traditional way of life. End the day with dinner at your ger camp.

Today begins the first day of the Golden Eagle Festival, an extraordinary gathering of eagle hunters competing in feats of skill and precision. Begin with the parade of eagle hunters, where Kazakh hunters in full traditional dress ride horseback while showcasing their majestic birds. Then catch the eagle-calling contests, and watch as eagles respond to their owner’s call, swooping down from the hilltops in a majestic display of speed and agility.

Return to the festival for a second day of exhilarating competition. Observe tenge ilu, a horseback challenge where riders grab coins from the ground mid-gallop, and kykbar, a spirited game of tug-of-war on horseback.

Bid farewell to Olgii and fly back to Ulaanbaatar

Visit Gandan Khiid Monastery, home to a towering 75-foot statue adorned in gold and precious stones. Meet with a top-ranking lama, who offers insight into Mongolian monastic life. Explore the Natural History Museum and Institute of Paleontology.

Fly over the Mongolian steppe to the legendary Gobi Desert, renowned for its vast open spaces and rugged mountain ranges. Golden eagles, mountain sheep and Bactrian camels call this sparse habitat home. Settle into your lodge, a retreat in the style of traditional Mongolian gers.

Spend the morning exploring Yol Valley, a narrow, craggy chasm. Hike the valley for a chance to spot vulture-like lammergeiers and Altai snowcocks as well as ibex, yak and Argali mountain sheep. Later, try your hand at archery and witness the construction of a traditional ger, gaining a deeper understanding of Mongolia’s nomadic culture. In the evening, soak in the sweeping views of the Milky Way stretching across the horizon.

Ride a Bactrian camel across the undulating dunes of Moltsog Els, just as Mongolian nomads have for generations. In the afternoon, visit the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where paleontologists first discovered dinosaur eggs over a century ago. Marvel at the rugged beauty of this otherworldly terrain as the sun sets the cliffs ablaze in fiery hues. Enjoy a relaxing dinner at the lodge.

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar, enjoying an afternoon at leisure to explore the capital at your own pace. This evening, gather for your farewell dinner, celebrating the memories made on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to meet your departing flight.