Mongolia and the Golden Eagle Festival

Eagle Hunters in the Altai and Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi

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The Altai Mountains, Eagle Hunters, and the Gobi Desert

from/to Ulaanbaatar

12 days (11 nights)

6 to 14 people

Small-group tour through Mongolia | 12 days / 11 nights | Bayan-Ulgii, Terelj National Park & Gobi Desert | Three Eagle Camp and Three Camel Lodge | English-speaking guide

Once a year, the Kazakh eagle hunters at the foot of the Altai Mountains to the Golden Eagle Festival, one of the most impressive living falconry traditions in the world. You’ll be right at the festival grounds in Bayan-Ulgii when riders arrive with golden eagles perched on their arms and send their birds soaring from the cliff edges.

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Three very different worlds mark the journey: Ulaanbaatar, home to the Genghis Khan Museum and the world’s largest equestrian statue; Terelj National Park, with its granite formations and the Buddhist Aryabal Monastery; and the Gobi Desert, featuring Yol Canyon, the sand dunes of Moltsog Els, and the Flaming Cliffs, where the American Museum of Natural History discovered the world’s first dinosaur eggs in 1923.

You'll stay at a 5-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar, at the Three Eagle Camp in Bayan-Ulgii—a seasonal boutique camp set up specifically for the festival—and spend three nights at the Three Camel Lodge in the Gobi, which features 40 traditional felt gers.

We recommend this trip if you’d like to combine the Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia with the tranquility of the desert. For an extension, we suggest visiting the ancient capital of Karakorum and the Erdene-Zuu Monastery in the UNESCO-protected Orkhon Valley. From Ulaanbaatar, it’s just an hour’s drive to Hustai National Park, where reintroduced Przewalski’s horses roam freely.

Stephanie Gräf

Owner & Founder

Since 2002, I have been personally advising clients on unique expeditions and private trips, small-ship cruises, and journeys to remote regions of the world.

We'd be happy to discuss your trip with you in person.

Why not contact me right now at Phone: +49 201 85890960 or email welcome@inventia.de.

Or schedule a free, no-obligation one-on-one phone call (also via WhatsApp or Wi-Fi), a Teams or Zoom meeting here—even in the evenings or on weekends:

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Good to know

Travel to and from the destination: We can book international flights to Ulaanbaatar for you upon request. The two domestic flights (Ulaanbaatar to Bayan-Ulgii and Dalanzadgad to Ulaanbaatar) are listed separately and will be booked locally.

Type of trip: Small-group tour with 6 to 14 participants. You will be accompanied by English-speaking guides during the trip. Dates are tied to the Golden Eagle Festival in late September/early October.

Entry requirements: German citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days in Mongolia. A valid passport is required. Travelers of other nationalities should check with their respective embassy. Current information is available from the Federal Foreign Office.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Eagle Hunters' Opening Parade – Kazakh hunters in embroidered fox-fur coats ride into the arena with golden eagles perched on their arms — one of the most striking sights of the Mongolian steppe.
Eagle-flying and equestrian competitions – Eagles are released from cliffs and judged on speed and accuracy; riders compete in kukbar (tug-of-war on horseback) and tenge ilu.
Three Eagle Camp – Stay overnight at a seasonal boutique camp set up specifically for the festival, which is taken down again after three days.
Tolbo Lake – a salty mountain lake reflecting the snow-capped Khunguin peaks — swans, seagulls, and eight species of fish.
Genghis Khan Museum – A five-story museum with over 10,000 exhibits spanning 2,000 years of Mongolian history — a must-see before heading out into the steppe.
Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue – 250 tons of stainless steel in Tsonjin Boldog, with an elevator to the observation deck atop the horse’s head and a view stretching far across the steppe.
Aryabal Meditation Monastery – 108 steps across the wooden “Bridge of Wisdom” lead up to an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the Tuul Valley.
Flaming Cliffs at Sunset – The orange-red cliffs, where the world’s first dinosaur eggs were discovered in 1923, glow with a deep, fiery hue at sunset.
Yol Valley – A lush gorge in the middle of the desert, home to bearded vultures, ibex, and argali sheep; ice formations often linger until July.
Havsgait Petroglyphs – Rock carvings on a mountain ridge dating back as far as 7,000 years depict hunting scenes and animal figures from the early Gobi settlers.
Three Camel Lodge – Three nights at the only luxury lodge in the Gobi Desert — 40 traditional felt gers, a gourmet restaurant, its own greenhouse, and a starry sky free of light pollution.

route

Map of Mongolia with stops in Ulaanbaatar, Tolbo Nuur, Bayan-Ölgii, Gorkhi-Terelj, Dalanzadgad, Yol Valley, Havtsgait, Three Camel Lodge, and Flaming Cliffs

itinerary

Days 1 and 2 | Arrival and the Capital, Ulaanbaatar

Upon your arrival at Chinggis Khaan Airport, your Mongolian tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar. The hotel is centrally located, with museums and shops within walking distance. The first evening is intentionally kept low-key.

The next day is devoted to the capital. A stroll across Sukhbaatar Square, with the equestrian statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar and the Parliament building in the background, leads to the five-story Genghis Khan Museum; more than 10,000 exhibits trace 2,000 years of Mongolian history. At the National Museum, traditional costumes, saddles, and yurt fragments complete the picture of nomadic life. The evening concludes with a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Nighttime skyline of Ulaanbaatar featuring the Blue Sky Tower

Three Eagle Camp at the foot of the Altai Mountains in Bayan-Ulgii

Day 3 | Flight to Bayan-Ulgii and Tolbo Lake

In the morning, we fly to Mongolia’s westernmost province. Bayan-Ulgii is home to the Mongolian Kazakhs; about 90 percent of the population belongs to this ethnic group, and the Kazakh language plays a more prominent role in daily life than the Mongolian language. From Ulgii, the provincial capital, the car travels along dusty dirt roads toward Tolbo Lake.

Lake Tolbo lies at an altitude of about 2,080 meters and reflects the jagged contours of the Khunguin Mountains. Despite its slightly salty water, eight species of fish live here; in the summer, swans and seagulls rest on the shore. A hike along the eastern shore rounds out the day before you continue on to Three Eagle Camp, a traditional ger camp at the foot of the mountains.

Days 4 and 5 | Golden Eagle Festival

The Golden Eagle Festival begins with a parade of Kazakh hunters. Dressed in embroidered fox-fur coats, heavy felt hats, and belted leather boots, they ride their horses at a walk past the audience, each holding a golden eagle with a wingspan of two meters. In the first event, the birds are released from a cliff and judged on the speed and precision with which they land on their owners’ arms. In the evening, Kazakh dances, dombra music, and throat singing follow.

The second day of the festival focuses on the main competitions. The eagles chase a fox pelt pulled along on a long leash; the judges assess how accurately the bird finds its prey and strikes it from full flight. Between the eagle competitions, the hunters themselves compete in Kukbar, a horseback tug-of-war for a goatskin, and in Tenge Ilu, picking up a coin at full gallop. The day concludes with the awards ceremony and a festive dinner at the ger camp.

Golden eagles in competition at the Eagle Festival in Mongolia

Aryabal Meditation Monastery, situated on a hill in Terelj National Park

Days 6 and 7 | Return flight to Ulaanbaatar and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

In the morning, we fly back to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, a concert of traditional music beckons us back to the capital: dancers in colorful deels, accompanied by two-part khoomi throat singing, in which a singer produces both the fundamental tone and the overtones simultaneously.

The next day takes you to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in the Khentii Mountains. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue in Tsonjin Boldog. Standing 40 meters tall and weighing 250 tons of stainless steel, it is the largest equestrian statue in the world; an elevator inside the horse’s leg takes you up to the observation deck on the horse’s head. In the park itself, a hike to the Aryabal Meditation Monastery takes you across the wooden “Bridge of Wisdom” and up 108 steps to a small temple with sweeping views of the Tuul Valley.

Days 8–10 | Gobi Desert with Three Camel Lodge

The domestic flight to the Gobi takes you to Dalanzadgad. From there, you’ll travel to the Three Camel Lodge on Mount Bulagtai, on the edge of Gobi-Gurvan-Saikhan National Park. The lodge was founded in 2002; its 40 traditional felt gers are built in the Buddhist soum style, and lighting and hot water are provided almost entirely by solar panels.

In three days, you’ll cross the desert landscape. In Yol Valley National Park, a green gorge in the Altai foothills, bearded vultures nest in the rock faces; argali sheep and Siberian ibex inhabit the slopes. A nomadic family will welcome you into their ger and give you a glimpse into their daily life of herding, milking, and felt-making. On a mountain ridge, the Havtsgait petroglyphs depict hunting scenes and animal figures from the early inhabitants of the Gobi, dating back as far as 7,000 years.

At sunset, you’ll stand at the Flaming Cliffs, where Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the world’s first dinosaur eggs in 1923. The red sandstone cliffs glow in the evening light, taking on deep shades of ochre and carmine. The tour concludes with the sand dunes of Moltsog Els, which you’ll cross on foot or on two-humped Bactrian camels.

Hike along the rocky ridges of the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi Desert

Statue of Genghis Khan on horseback in Tsonjin Boldog near Ulaanbaatar

Days 11 and 12 | Return and Departure

The penultimate day takes you back to Ulaanbaatar. In the afternoon, the itinerary includes a visit to the Dinosaur Museum, featuring Tarbosaurus skeletons and fossilized eggs from the Gobi Desert, along with a curated selection of more recent finds. The evening concludes with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

The next day, a private transfer will take you to the airport for your international flight home.

Meals included as per the itinerary. Water and beverages with meals included.

Accommodations for your trip

Hotels in Ulaanbaatar · Central 4-star hotels

Panorama of the Altai Mountains in Western Mongolia

During your stay in Ulaanbaatar (Days 1, 2, 6, and 11), you’ll stay at a centrally located 4-star hotel within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square, the museums, and the shops.

Three Eagle Camp · Boutique Yurt Camp in Bayan-Ulgii

Boutique Yurt Camp in the Altai Mountains for the Golden Eagle Festival

During the festival (days 3–5), you’ll stay at Three Eagle Camp —a boutique yurt camp that is set up exclusively for the festival weekend and then completely dismantled afterward in accordance with the “leave no trace” principle.

Three Camel Lodge · Lodge in the Southern Gobi

Three Camel Lodge, featuring traditional yurts at the foot of the mountains

In the Gobi (Days 8–10), you'll stay at the Three Camel Lodge —a multi-award-winning lodge at the foot of the sacred Gurvansaikhan Mountains. Traditional gers, a stargazing observatory, and a greenhouse.

activities

Golden Eagle Festival Up Close (included)

Parade of Eagle Hunters to Kick Off the Golden Eagle Festival

You’ll spend two full days at the festival in Bayan-Ulgii—from the opening parade to the eagle competitions on the cliff and the closing awards ceremony. Kukbar (tug-of-war on horseback), Tenge Ilu, and Kazakh dance and music performances in the evening.

Tolbo Lake & the Altai Mountains (included)

Lake Tolbo against the backdrop of the snow-capped Altai Mountains in Bayan-Ölgii

An afternoon hike along the eastern shore of crystal-clear Tolbo Lake, which reflects the Khunguin Mountains—a saltwater lake home to swans, seagulls, and more than eight species of fish.

Flaming Cliffs & Khongoryn-Els Dunes (included)

Hike across the red Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi Desert

The Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) glow a deep red in the evening light—the first dinosaur eggs were discovered here in 1923 by the American Museum of Natural History. Hike to watch the sunset from the crest of the Khongoryn Els sand dunes, with an optional camel ride.

Yol Valley · Ice Gorge & Bearded Vulture (included)

Rainbow over the mountain ranges of Yol Valley National Park in the Gobi Desert

A hike through the narrow gorge of the Yol Valley in the Altai foothills, where ice lingers well into the summer—with a good chance of spotting bearded vultures (famous for their bone marrow feasts) and ibex.

Visit to a nomadic family & petroglyphs (included)

A ger belonging to a nomadic family in the Namarjin Valley, set against the snow-capped Tsambagarav Mountain in Bayan-Ölgii

Tea in the yurt of a Mongolian nomadic family, with translation provided by the tour guide, and participation in daily routines with the herds. Hike up the slopes of Mount Havsgait to see Bronze Age petroglyphs—hunting scenes, dances, and animals.

Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue & Aryabal Monastery (included)

Statue of Genghis Khan on horseback in Tsonjin Boldog near Ulaanbaatar

Visit the monumental statue of Genghis Khan on horseback and climb up to the observation deck on the horse’s head—enjoying a panoramic view of the steppe. Afterward, hike uphill to the Aryabal Meditation Monastery.

Dates & Prices

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Submit questions via email Arrange a callback Call now: +49 201 85890960

September 29, 2027 – October 10, 2027

Starting at 13,301 € per person

12 days/11 nights

Mongolia and the Golden Eagle Festival

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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Summary

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mandatory fees

Information

Included services:

All land transport within Mongolia
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
Accommodations in hotels and ger camps (double/twin rooms)
Meals as per the itinerary
Water and beverages with meals
Horseback and camel riding as scheduled
All excursions, admission fees, and sightseeing tours as described
Experienced expedition guides throughout the entire trip
Comprehensive Pre-Departure Travel Guide

Not included in the price:

International flights to/from Ulaanbaatar
domestic flights
tips
Passport and visa fees (if applicable)
travel insurance
Airport taxes and excess baggage
Photo and video fees at certain locations
Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, laundry service, telephone charges

Important:

We recommend arriving one to two days before the trip begins to allow for any flight or baggage delays.
Travel health insurance with unlimited coverage is mandatory, and proof of coverage must be provided.
On site, you will be accompanied by English-speaking nature guides with local expertise. There are no plans to provide a German-speaking guide.
The trip includes hikes on unpaved terrain, climbs up stairs and rocks, and two domestic flights in small aircraft. A normal level of fitness is required; this trip is only suitable to a limited extent for travelers with mobility issues.
Small-group tour with 6 to 14 participants. If you are traveling alone and the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will notify you by email no later than 30 days before the start of the trip. Based on our experience, this situation occurs extremely rarely.
The dates are tied to the Golden Eagle Festival in late September/early October and cannot be rescheduled individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Ulaanbaatar?

Common flight routes go through Istanbul, Seoul, or Beijing. Depending on the route, the flight time is 8 to 14 hours. International flights are not included in the tour price. We would be happy to assist you with booking your flight.

Do I need a visa for Mongolia?

A valid passport is required for entry. German citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Different regulations may apply to travelers of other nationalities. For the latest information, please visit the U.S. Department of State.

Is the Golden Eagle Festival a genuine competition or a tourist event?

The festival is a genuine competition among Kazakh falconers, not a staged event. It was co-founded over twenty years ago to preserve an endangered cultural tradition that has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010. Over 300 falconers take part, many of whom travel for days from remote valleys to attend. All proceeds go to the Kazakh Falconry Association.

What facilities are available at the ger camps in the Steppe and the Gobi?

The ger camps are more comfortable than many people expect. You’ll sleep in traditional round tents (gers) with wooden frames and felt walls, equipped with real beds, warm blankets, and a stove in the center that heats the space. Bathrooms and toilets are located in separate buildings. Most camps have electricity for charging devices and hot water for showers. Meals are served in the communal tent: hearty, plentiful, and freshly prepared.

Can I see the eagles and their hunters up close?

Yes, that’s one of the special aspects of this trip. Between competitions, you’ll have the chance to talk with the hunters and see the golden eagles up close. The hunters are proud of their tradition.

Is it okay to take photos at the festival?

Yes, photography is expressly permitted and encouraged. Please note that separate photography fees may apply at some locations in Mongolia.

What level of fitness do I need for this trip?

A moderate level of fitness is sufficient. The trekking sections at Tolbo Lake and in Terelj National Park require sure-footedness, but are not strenuous mountain hikes. In the Gobi, you will travel primarily by vehicle and camel. The biggest challenge is not so much physical as it is climatic: in October, temperatures in the Altai Mountains can drop below freezing at night. Warm, layered clothing is therefore essential.

What happens if the festival is canceled due to bad weather?

The festival has been held without fail for over twenty years. The Kazakhs in the Altai Mountains are accustomed to harsh conditions. Heavy snowfall or storms may cause individual events to be postponed, but a complete cancellation is extremely rare. The local tour guides adapt the program flexibly to the weather conditions.

What kind of food can I expect, and are there vegetarian options available?

Mongolian cuisine is meat-heavy: mutton, beef, and horse meat form the basis of the diet. In Ulaanbaatar, you can find international cuisine with vegetarian options. In the ger camps and with nomadic families, meals are prepared in the traditional style; vegetarian options are limited there but available if you specify this in advance when booking. You should try buuz (steamed dumplings) and airag (fermented mare’s milk).