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MONGOLIA
The Golden Eagle Ride
Join us in Mongolia, for 10-night all-inclusive adventure, with 7 days in the saddle.
This is an authentic nomadic experience, that will take our riders through the beautiful, and vast Altai region, expertly guided & hosted by our experienced team.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
DATES
SPRING
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14th March to 24th March (Kazakh Nauryz Festival)
LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN
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Sept (incl Local Eagle Festival /or local horse race event)
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Oct (Olgii Eagle Festival)
LATE AUTUMN/EARLY WINTER 2021
(For the hardy! This falconing season proper though)
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October & November
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December is possible for special winter itineraries; be it for photography, wildlife intereests, conservation projects.
ITINERARY
The Golden Eagle Ride / 10 nights & 7 days of riding
DAY ONE
Guests will arrive at a private airport and be picked up in Ulaan Bataar. From airport pick-up, guest will then be transferred to the Shangri–La Hotel. Daytime activities will include a well thought out and planned City Tour giving you a informed insight into Mongolian history & culture. A driver, and English speaking local professional guide will be with you all day, and will be there to help at all times. Our city team will be here for you at the beginning and end of the trips, for all your time in the city. A light lunch, followed by a concise afternoon guided tour of The Choijin Lama Temple Museum, followed by a supper with your guide.
Overnight Accommodations: Shangri–La Hotel in Ulaan Bataar.
DAY TWO
Morning visit of Gandan Monastery, which has an active Buddhist temple with a resident monk population. This is a nice opportunity to experience Tibetan Buddhist worship and monks chanting their prayers from ancient manuscripts. Lunch will be followed by a guided tour of interesting traditional Mongolian Museum, and an optional visit to artisan supported outlet and a cashmere shop, depending on everyone’s preferences and energy levels. Early evening will be spent attending a local music and dance performance at small theatre, followed by supper.
Overnight Accommodations: Shangri–La Hotel in Ulaan Bataar.
DAY THREE
Guests will be off to an early start, and driven to the airport at 05:00am for 06:30am domestic flight to Bayan Ulgii. The local team will ensure you all get checked in onto the flight, and wait to board in the VIP lounge, while luggage will be organised and checked in by the team. Approximate flight lenght will be 1.5 hours. Upon landing, guests will be met at Bayan Ulgii and driven by 4x4 vehicles (1.5 hours) to our first wilderness camp, located near the Tsambagarav National Park. After lunch, we will mount our horses for a relaxed afternoon ride.
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness Camp One (night 1 of 2)
DAY FOUR
Daytime activities will include a ride through this stunning region - approximately 20km of riding from camp. Riders will be accompanied by support vehicles, with picnic lunch (this occurs everyday).
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness Camp One (night 2 of 2)
DAY FIVE
Guests will relocate (on horseback) to second camp (approx. 25 km ride). Lunch will be set up by support vehicle. Our gers will be set up close to a family of nomads for a proper authentic Mongolian experience.
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness Camp Two (night 1 of 2)
DAY SIX
Guest will enjoy a full day of riding and falconing, from camp. Be prepared for more big open country, mountains, huge horizons, and plenty of exploring. Coming ‘home’ to our wilderness camp, where we will be uniquely camped next to a traditional family scene, guests will experience lovely moments sharing milk tea, snacks, fresh yogurt and milk with the family.
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness Camp Two (night 2 of 2)
DAY SEVEN
Another moving day! Riders will travel on horseback 28km to our main autumn camp, where our family (wife, children, and animals) are based. Camp is next to a large river! Activities will include plenty of cantering, and mountain top views in this beautiful country.
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness 'River' Camp Three (night 1 of 3)
DAY EIGHT
Full day riding with the nomad family. As many as 3 eagles might be out with us these days!!
Supper at our camp.
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness 'River' Camp Three (night 2 of 3)
DAY NINE
Guests will be driven from camp to the Ulgii Eagle Festival*, where we will enjoy a full day at the festival, watching all of the games and festivities. We will have a private camp and lunch already set up and waiting for us, Refreshments, shelter, seating and viewing for guests will be provided all day. Guests will return to camp for supper, and our last night of the safari. Menu will likely include fresh fish caught in the neighboring river!
Overnight Accommodations: Wilderness 'River' Camp Three (night 3 of 3)
*If there is no Eagle Festival on the dates you booked, then this day is spent exploring the mountains & rounding up the breed herd of horses. A wonderful day. The authentic experience you have on the ride gives a you a far superior experience to anyone who goes only to an Eagle Festival.
DAY TEN
The day will begin with an early morning drive to Bayan Ulgii airport for the flight to UlaanBataar. Check in will be coordinated and assisted by the team. Once in Ulaan Bataar, guests will be met by same city team and drivers, and stay again at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The afternoon can be spent resting, or a guide and driver will be available to those wanting to do last minute visits in the city (ex: cashmere shopping!). Table will be booked at restaurant for supper.
Overnight Accommodations: Shangri–La Hotel in Ulaan Bataar.
DAY ELEVEN
A driver and guide will accompany you for your travel arrangements. Guests will be driven to airport to meet their International flight departures.
Notes:
The riding safari element of this itinerary (Day 3 to 9) is done in reverse depending on the departure date. If there is not an Eagle Festival, this day will be an extra full riding day into the mountains rounding up our 2 stallion’s breed herds of over 60 horses. If the festival is at the end of the itinerary then from experience the group will stay in the best hotel in the village for the last night – saving 3 hours of off road driving back & forth to camp / and you are close to airport for morning departure.
We not only have a very experienced safari team and logistics back up out in the field, but we also uniquely provide you also with a well planned cultural experience in the city stopover guided throughout including always having help & VIP treatment at airports & staying in excellent hotel.
Hosted, designed, researched & ground operated by Bagual Horse Safaris
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Riders will be accompanied by our own fully serviced moving wilderness ger camp, which include; separate dining gers, separate bathroom gers, and sleeping gers. Some nights may be spent in a technical tent style camp when crossing remote regions inaccessible by support vehicles. Each ger will have it's own fire, serviced with hot water throughout the safari. All guest and gers will be serviced by a team of experienced expedition staff.
ON THE TRAIL
We provide good, fit horses, excellent quality tack & comfy English saddles. We will be riding mountain trails in authentic Mongolian style, and be accompanied by support vehicles, with walkie talkies, satellite phones, and GPS navigators. All guests will be led by experienced guides, and hosted by authentic nomadic families.
FOOD & DRINK
We pay special attention to providing our riders with good wholesome natural cuisine, and well sourced wine from Undurraga vineyard in Chile. Our travelling bar also includes Whiskey, Gin, Vodka & Tequila.
LOGISTICS & HELPFUL INFORMATION
We have an experienced office hub with team in the Capital - for logistic & if necessary emergency co-ordination / which is crucial to have in Mongolia.
We have an employed translater / guide who is with the group throughout & can be deployed if necessary should an unexpected emergency situation require.
We have a support vehicle throughout the safari rides. It not only sets up picnics at lunch, but is used as back up if needed for guests.
The team are not only experienced with riding guests but also have experience on the some of the most respected BBC film shoots such as; Human Planet, Long Way Round, Kate Humble, Grand Tour, and various survival programs.
We house you in the Shangri -la 5* hotel in the capita, unless otherwise mentioned, at beginning and end of your trip. You have professional and good quality guiding program in the City at the beginning and the end - an itinerary carefully worked out to give you a valuable and interesting insight into Mongolian culture. Plus guidance for shopping, be it cashmere, antiques, musical instruments, religious iconography, artwork. Tables at restaurants are booked in advance, meals are included (just not drinks in the city). English speaking Mongolian Guides and drivers will be with you throughout your city hosting - and same team will be with you before and after the riding safari. So you have two teams looking after groups - a meet and greet and guide by city team (actioning transfers etc, including domestic airport check ins at VIP lounge) : and riding safari team out in the country.
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We are available to book out for private safaris
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Recommended tailored Mongolian riding robes by our tailor in advance.
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Hosted from arrival until departure in Mongolia.
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Contact us for detailed itinerary
