Mongolia and the Golden Eagles Discovery Trip from 28th Oct to 7th Nov 2026

Introduction

This is a fun trip for those who would like to see what life is like in Mongolia. This trip is guided by a Kazakh Nomad couple whose parents were Eagle Hunters in Uglii, Mongolia. We will be staying at hotels where it is available and good quality hotels in Uglii. We will experience two nights stay in a Ger tent in the Altai mountains

Photosafari has been organising premier photography trips to various parts of the world for more than a decade. This time, we will use our expertise to organise a fun trip for adventure travellers who want an in-depth understanding of the life of Nomads and normal Mongolians.

The Golden Eagle Festival

A visit to Mongolia in November for the Eagle Festival offers a raw, authentic encounter with one of Central Asia’s most extraordinary cultural traditions — set against the stark beauty of Mongolia’s frozen steppe.

By November, the Altai Mountains in Bayan-Ölgii Province is already blanketed in snow, and the air carries the bite of winter. The festival season begins to wind down after the main event in early October, but smaller, more intimate gatherings of eagle hunters often continue through November in remote valleys and villages. These off-season festivals are less commercialized, giving travellers a truer glimpse into nomadic Kazakh life.

In these high, windswept plains, the berkutchi — Kazakh eagle hunters — gather with their golden eagles, horses, and families. You’ll see men and women in traditional fox-fur coats and embroidered hats; their eagles perched proudly on gloved arms. They demonstrate age-old techniques of falconry, passed down for generations, testing the eagles’ hunting skill and loyalty in the wild winter landscape.

Visiting in November means you’ll experience Mongolia at its most harsh and magnificent. Days are short, with long shadows stretching over snow-covered hills. The silence of the Altai is broken only by the flap of wings or the distant call of herders tending to their animals. Staying with a nomadic family in a ger (yurt) is a highlight — warmed by a crackling stove, sharing hearty mutton stew and salty milk tea, and listening to stories about life in the mountains.

Because travel in western Mongolia can be challenging this time of year, most journeys begin with a flight from Ulaanbaatar to Ölgii, followed by overland drives to festival locations or hunter camps. Layered clothing, good boots, and a sense of adventure are essential.

For photographers and travellers seeking authentic cultural immersion, November is ideal — fewer tourists, dramatic winter light, and the feeling of witnessing a tradition almost unchanged by time.

Highlights of the Trip

The highlights of this trip are: –

The Golden Eagle Festival held on 3^rd to 4^th November at Bayan Uglii
An in-depth study about eagle hunting, a tradition among the Kazakh nomads. You will understand the training methods of Golden Eagles for hunting.
A visit to a couple of Kazakh nomad families
Ulaanbaatar City Tour
Bayan Uglii City tour
Visit the beautiful landscapes of Altai mountains
Chinggis Khan statute and Terelj National Park.
Shopping at world famous Cashmere outlet.

Mongolian Visa

Malaysian and Singaporean citizens do not need a visa for short-term tourism in Mongolia, allowing for a stay of up to 30 days. For any visits longer than 30 days, a visa will be required.

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

The easiest way to get to Ulaanbataar, Mongolia from Kuala Lumpur is through Incheon Airport, South Korea. There are two airlines operating from Incheon Airport to Ulaanbaatar, Korean Airlines and Mongolian Airlines. There is an alternative to fly from KL- HK-Ulaanbaatar

DIFFICULTY OF TRIP

This is an easy trip. Vans or four-wheel-drive vehicles will transport you to places of interest. Weather stress – the temperature in Oct/Nov is usually cool between -10 to 16 degC. Snowing is common during these months.

Itinerary

Day 1 – 28^th Oct 2026 – Arrive at Chinggis Khan International Airport (D)

On arrival at the airport, clear immigration and transfer to the hotel.

Depending on flight arrival time, we may include a short sightseeing of the city.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or equivalent)

Dinner included.

Day 2 – 29^th Oct 2026 – Fly to Uglii and city tour of Uglii (B,L,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the Ulgii flight.

If the time permits on arrival at Uglii, we will make a short tour around Ulgii city. Visit the local market, mosque and climb the stairs to see the panoramic views of the town on the Khovd River shore, City tour, visit the falconry centre and museum.

Accommodation: Local Hotel in Uglii

Day 3 – 30^th Oct 2026 –Experience the nomadic life near Khoton and Khurgan Lakes. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we will take the 4WD vehicles to the picturesque Khoton Khurgan Lake. The lakes are part of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park within the country’s border zone. The glacial lakes are a source of the Khovd River. Along the way, you will see some ancient balbal and deer stones.

Accommodation: Ger tent on shared basis,

These Gers will be on a shared basis – 4 people (of the same gender) will be sharing a Ger.

Please note: These Gers are completely off grid. There are no flushing toilets. There is no running water. However, there will be a RV toilets / with a zipped tent for privacy and heating. This is part of the adventure to sleep in the Gers that are owned by the Kazakh nomads. The nomads live in these Gers during the summer months. We will provide a cook and helpers to take care of our meals.

This will surely be a most memorable stay in this remote part of Mongolia. There will be a chance to interact with the family and learn how to handle a golden eagle.

Day 4 – 31^th Oct 2026 : Khoton Khurgan Lake and Baga Turgen Waterfalls (B,L,D)

Visit Khoton Khurgan Lakes after a short drive. We will also take a short walk to the waterfalls.

We will be bringing a cook and assistants to make this stay enjoyable.

Accommodation:NomadGer

Day 5 – 1^st Nov 2026 – Return to Uglii (B,L,D)

After breakfast we will drive back to Uglii stopping along the way to photograph the beautiful Altai landscapes.

Hopefully we will have a chance to see the nomads migrating to warmer places with their herds of goats, yaks, and horses before the brutal winter begins.

Accommodation: Hotel in Uglii

Day 6 – 2^nd Nov 2026 Visit an Eagle Hunter’s home and learn about eagle training (B,L,D)

Today, the group will have a relaxing morning and visit the eagle hunter’s home. We will document and photograph the eagle training process and have a picnic lunch beside the eagle hunter’s home. Return to the town in the afternoon and complete the Uglii city tour

Accommodation:Hotel in Uglii

Day 7 & 8– 3^rd to 4^th Nov 2026 – Eagle Hunting mini-Festival (B,L,D)

The impressive Golden Eagle Festival starts with a parade of eagle hunters who dress in traditional hunting clothes, holding their eagles in their right arms while riding horses. Up to 8 -10 eagle hunters are participate in the festival. The group will see the eagle hunting festival, competitions, hunting techniques, and the Eagles’ agility and ability for 2 days. Not only the eagle-related events but there are also some cultural demonstrations and traditional games.

Accommodation: Hotel in Uglii

Day 9^th – 5^th Nov 2026 – Fly back to Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. On the way, climb Zaisan Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. Visit the Cashmere Outlet Store if time permits

Accommodation: Holiday Inn, Ulaanbataar (or equivalent)

Day 10^th – 6^th Nov 2026 – Tour of Genghis Khan Statue and Gorkhi Terelj National Park (B,L,D)

After breakfast we drive to Genghs Khan Statue.

Gorkhi Terelj National Park is located 65 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar by paved road. High granite stone mountains with forest-covered northern slopes, multitudes of wildflower meadows along with the spectacular shape rocks formed by wind is a favourite scenery for the visitors. Fast-flowing rivers and streams make the national park more beautiful.

An average altitude of the 293.168 ha national park is 1600 m above sea level and the highest point is 2664 m Avkhan mountain. The national park is one of the most visited national parks due to its close location. There are numerous ger camps and resorts in the tourist zone before the Terelj River. The rest of the protection zones start after the Terelj River and become less touristy, less inhabited with pristine nature. The depths of the mountain forest are rich in wild animals, including boar, red deer, roe deer, fox, wolves, etc while birds of prey fly everywhere. Except for the natural beauty, Terelj was a mining area of smokestone, amethyst, and pure crystal till 1960.

Arrive back to Ulaanbaatar and visit Cashmere Outlet and -The biggest supermarket in Ulaanbaatar E-MART

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or equivalent)

Day 11^th 7^th Nov 2026, Transfer to Airport for flight home (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Airport for flight home

End of trip

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