Mongolia Golden Eagle Festival & the Gobi – 17 Days
Two days at the Golden Eagle Festival plus the Gobi and Karakorum, in a group of up to sixteen.
Tour overview
This 17-day journey combines the Gobi Desert and central Mongolia with the Golden Eagle Festival in the far west, where Kazakh hunters compete with their birds. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen, by 4×4, bus and three internal flights. You stay sixteen nights in hotels and traditional ger camps, with all breakfasts and most lunches and dinners.
After Terelj National Park you fly south to Dalanzadgad and explore the Gobi Gurvansaikhan, hiking among the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag and climbing the singing dunes of Khongor, with a visit to a camel-breeding family and the petroglyphs of Bichigt Khad.
Read more
Driving north via Arvaikheer, you visit Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Little Gobi and Khustai National Park, home of Mongolia's wild horses. Flying west to Olgii, you stay with Kazakh families near Sagsai and spend two full days at the Eagle Festival, with costume contests, horse races, archery and eagle demonstrations.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits travellers who want to witness a remarkable living tradition.
Trip highlights
-
Terelj National Park (Day 2)
-
The Flaming Cliffs (Day 4)
-
The singing dunes (Days 5–6)
-
Karakorum (Day 10)
-
A Kazakh village (Day 13)
-
The Golden Eagle Festival (Days 14–15)
Your route
14 stops from Ulaanbaatar to Sagsai
- Ulaanbaatar Days 1, 12 & 16
- Genghis Khan Statue Day 2
- Terelj National Park Day 2
- Dalanzadgad Day 3
- Yolyn Am Day 3
- Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) Day 4
- Khongoryn Els Days 5–6
- Bichigt Khad Day 7
- Arvaikheer Day 8
- Kharkhorin Day 9
- Mongol Els (Khogno Khan) Day 10
- Khustain Nuruu NP Day 11
- Olgii Days 13–15
- Sagsai Day 13
Why choose this tour
Two full days at the Eagle Festival. Three internal flights save long drives.
Best suited to
- Festival and culture lovers
- Photographers
- Adventurous travellers
- Solo travellers and couples
Day-by-day itinerary
17 days from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
-
Day 1 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
The adventure begins.
- Hotel
- Bayangol Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Chinggis Khan Statue, Terelj National Park Terelj
Rocks and meadows.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Dalanzadgad, Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park Gobi
Fly to the Gobi.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs
Colourful sands.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Khongoryn Els Singing Dunes
The largest dunes.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Khongoryn Els Singing Dunes
A camel-breeding family.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Bichigt Khad Bayan Gobi
Petroglyphs.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Ikh Bogd, Arvaikheer Arvaikheer
Gobi mountains.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Arvaikheer Museum, Shankh Monastery Kharkhorin
Towards Karakorum.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 · Erdene Zuu Monastery, Little Gobi Karakorum
The old capital.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Khustain Nuruu National Park Khustai
Wild horses.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
Back to the city.
- Hotel
- Bayangol Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 13 · Olgii, Sagsai Olgii
Fly west.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Sagsai Eagle Festival
The festival begins.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 15 · Sagsai Eagle Festival
Eagle demonstrations.
- Hotel
- Ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 16 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
Fly back.
- Hotel
- Bayangol Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 17 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Bayangol Hotel
- Terelj (1 night) Ger camp
- Gobi Gurvansaikhan (1 night) Ger camp
- Bayanzag (1 night) Ger camp
- Khongor (2 nights) Ger camp
- Bayan Gobi (1 night) Ger camp
- Arvaikheer (1 night) Hotel
- Kharkhorin (1 night) Ger camp
- Little Gobi (1 night) Ger camp
- Khustai (1 night) Ger camp
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Bayangol Hotel
- Sagsai (3 nights) Ger camp
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Bayangol Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 16 nights in hotels and ger camps
- Meals 16 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 15 dinners
- Three internal flights, 4x4s and bus
- Two days at the Golden Eagle Festival
- Flaming Cliffs and Khongor dunes
- Karakorum and Khustai National Park
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Optional camel and horse rides
- Meals not included 1 lunch and 1 dinner
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want comfortable hotels throughout
- You dislike cold nights
- You want a short trip
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £4,284 per person, twin share, tour only. 1 upcoming departure. Single travellers from £4,952 (single supplement from £668).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
UK citizens can currently visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the latest advice before travel.
What are the ger camps like?
Traditional felt tents with beds and bedding, with shared toilets and showers; hot water can be intermittent.
When is the festival?
In late September or early October; the trip runs on a single date timed for it.
Are internal flights included?
Yes, three internal flights are included.
How are gers shared at the festival?
Usually four per ger during the festival and twin-share elsewhere.
How many people travel together?
Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary