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Mongolia lies at the heart of Asia, between China and the vast wilderness of Siberia. In the far west of this huge, sparsely populated country live the minority Kazakh nomads in the Altai Mountains. Their heritage of hunting with magnificent Golden Eagles has been revived, and each year just before the onset of the winter hunting season, they meet for the annual Golden Eagle festival, testing both the birds and their handlers, as well as providing a platform for a gathering of the nomads to meet and play their traditional sports.
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Free KEEN T-shirt
Tour Price ex-Mongolia: US$2,535 (twin-sharing)
Single-room supplement: US$160 (Note: No single room in ger camps)
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Slots are limited and are on first-come-first-serve basis. Please provide accurate information. Fields in red are compulsory. Alternatively, you can download the form and send/fax it to us.
You can also download the Entry Form. Send it to:
Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd
(World Religions India 2010)
No. 1 Syed Alwi Road #06-01
Singapore 207628
Or fax it to: (+65) 6291 2068
For reservations and more information on the expedition, please contact Sharon at: Tel (+65) 6298 3241
The_Golden_Eagle_Festival,_Mongolia_2010_Entry_Form.pdf
Arrive Ulaan Baatar in the morning. We head out to the Gun Galuut Nature Reserve and spend the night at the Steppe Nomads Camp.
The Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve, a marvelous combination of high mountains, colourful flowers, lakes, rivers and wetlands. It is home to the endangered Argali sheep, Whilte-napped Crane, Black Stork, Snow goose and other rare animals. We visit a traditional nomad family on the steppes and spend the rest of the day horse riding and wildlife viewing. Overnight Steppe Nomads Camp.
After another free morning drive back to Ulaan Baatar and check-in to hotel. We visit the Bogd Khaan’s Palace Museum and have some free time for shopping. Overnight Ulaan Bataar.
Morning flight to Olgii, capital of the westernmost province of Mongolia. On arrival transfer to the Eagle ger camp for lunch, and in the afternoon visit a Kazakh family. Return to the camp in the evening.
On these 2 days we will witness the fantastic Eagle festival. Competitions begin with each participant displaying his hunting outfit and accessories; the eagles are evaluated for their speed and agility as they are tested in live hunts. Traditional games such as archery and kokbar will also be played. Kokbar is a game played between 2 teams of horsemen with a goat carcass, the objective being to carry the carcass pass the opposing team’s goal line.
At the end of the spectacular festival, we wind down with a visit to the Olgii museum and mosque. Kazakhs are nominally Sunni Muslims, and they keep to different customs and strict traditions from the nomads of the steppes. We drive to Sagsai to visit a nomad hunter’s ger before returning for the night.
Flight back to Ulaan Bataar and transfer to hotel. Free time at leisure.
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
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