Mongolian Eagle Adventure
The Altai Mountains are perhaps the most remote part of a remote country. A mysterious landscape where nature rules supreme and the scenery makes you gasp in wonder.
13 days from £3,699
The Altai Mountains are perhaps the most remote part of a remote country. A mysterious landscape where nature rules supreme and the scenery makes you gasp in wonder.
Spend today exploring the capital, including the impressive Ganden monastery and the Natural History Museum. Overnight tourist class hotel. (B)
Fly to Ulgii, in the far west. The people here are Kazakh and Muslim, unlike most other Mongolians who are Buddhist. Meet our local team and head out west to meet a nomadic Kazakh family. Overnight homestay. (BLD)
Spend three full days with our Kazakh hosts, hiking in the surrounding area. This involves going out hunting with them, gaining a unique insight into this vanishing way of life. The hunters use female eagles for hunting as they are larger and more aggressive than the males, and are trained to catch foxes. We also have the chance to learn more about their way of life as nomadic herders. Overnight homestay. (BLD)
Continue to the home of our next Kazakh host, where we continue to learn about the unique lives of eagle hunters and nomadic herders, with the opportunity to hike in the surrounding landscapes. Overnight homestay. (BLD)
Drive to Tavan Bogd, home to several Kazakh families. We stop to see the Tsagaan Sala petroglyphs dating back to the time of the Huns. This is a stunning area, home to Mongolia’s highest mountains where summits reach 4000 metres or more and are covered with permanent snow, ice and glaciers. We explore the region on foot and spend our nights as guests of another local Kazakh family. (BLD)
Return to Ulgii with stunning views of the Altai Mountains along the way. Overnight local hotel. (BLD)
Fly to Ulaan Baatar, where depending on flight schedules, you may have time to explore the city on your own. Overnight tourist class hotel. (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
You will need a visa to enter Mongolia. Visa regulations can change however and so we recommend that you contact your nearest embassy for the most up to date information.
We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations, you can also visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk.
If you have any physical limitations that might impact your ability to participate in the planned tour activities, it’s essential that you make us aware as soon as possible so that we can discuss this with you.
It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover, which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.
Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.
Mongolian togrog will be very difficult to obtain before you arrive. The best option is to bring US dollars for exchange purposes, and your tour leader will be able to assist you in exchanging them to local currency.
Credit cards will be almost useless outside of Ulaan Baatar.
You will not have much need for money on this trip as for much of the time you will be in remote areas with no opportunities to buy anything.
When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.
This is particularly relevant to this trip – this is a remote region, some of which is largely isolated from the outside world and has very little experience of tourism whatsoever. We will be camping for much of the time, with no real facilities, and it is essential that you bear this in mind before joining this trip.
Please note that riding hats are not provided for horse riding so if you would like to wear one, you should bring your own.
We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO does not advise against travel to any parts of Mongolia.
This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.
Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Updated July 2023