Winter festival in Mongolia 2009

The nomads' winter festival 2009 in Mongolia welcome you. This tour combined New Lunar Year, Eagle festival, Ice festival, Camel festival. A unique experience which will take you into a magical winter journey in the land of nomads

14 Days/13 Nights
Tour level: Moderate
FEB 23 Day 1 Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Meet our guide and driver at airport and transfer to hotel for relax. Visit square Sukhbaatar, Chinggis Khaan`s monuments and Zaisan hill for panoramic view of city. Overnight at hotel.

Feb 24 Day 2 Bituun day
We will drive to Manzushir Monastery. You will visit nomad family and celebrate the “Bituun” with them. Then you will be invited to play traditional game called “Shagai” by ankle bones of animals. Return to Ulaanbaatar for overnight at hotel.

Feb 25 Day 3 Lunar New Year
First month of the Lunar New Year called as Tsagaan Sar by Mongols. It celebrated as nation-wide holiday as a greeting of the end of severe winter and beginning of spring time, when nature and people awaken and are inspired for new life and deeds. Start a new day with morning sun rise and have new energy at fresh air. Today everybody wears their best clothes and goes to visit the oldest person in the family, a group of families to get him or her give respect and wish the best. We will visit to Gandan monastery and Mongolian family. Overnight in the hotel.

Feb 26 Day 4 Eagle Festival
Drive to Terelj National Park. The opening ceremony commences, as the participants join the parade on horse ride with their eagles. Then festival begins with each Kazakh displaying his hunting outfit and accessories. The Golden eagles will be released from a cliff and their owner will stand below and signal for them to land upon their arm, as they do during hunting. Then eagles will be released from a cliff to attack fox skins that will be dragged by their owner on horseback. Return to Ulaanbaatar and overnight in the hotel.


Feb 27 Day 5 Travel to Khuvsgul Lake
In the morning transfer to airport, take a flight to Murun, the center of Khuvsgul province. We will be met with our drivers at local airport and drive (3-3.5hours by Russian minivan) to GER camps near Khatgal village, is located at the south east shore of the lake. Skaters are invited to prepare for skating and warming up skate on the thick black ice of the lake. Non skating spectators would have a chance to see skaters or involve optional activities of horse riding, horse sledding, dog sledding and cultural visits to nomads. Stay overnight in GER camp.


Feb 28 Day 6 The Ice Festival & Skating Marathon Day!

By 10.00am Grand Opening Ceremony of the Ice Festival and International Skating Marathon will take place. We will attend sacrificing shamanic ceremony for Mother Sea-Khuvsgul and King of Mountains-Khoridol Saridag. The Marathon for first 100kms of round race will start as continuously at 10.30am. While skaters are racing on the ice there will be very interesting activities of the Ice Festival will be held according to planned schedule. You can enjoy competitions of horse sleds driven by local nomads and traditional game of Ice-Shagai. Around 13.00-15.00pm most of skaters will complete for first 100kms’ race. Afternoon competition for driving by car holds on the ice and other optional activities are available. Evening you will attend a Fashion show of National costumes and traditional art performance. Stay overnight in GER camp.

Mar 01 Day 7 The Ice Festival & Skating Marathon

Today second 100kms’s part of round race will be completed by the skaters. Reindeer racing, competition of skaters for short distances, wrestling on ice, rope pulling competitions will be main activities on this day. Closing ceremony will be held around at 16.00pm and winners of competitions would be announced and awarded. Evening we will have exciting ceremony by famous shaman of the area and enjoy bonfire at the night. Stay overnight in GER camp.

Mar 02 Day 8 Flight back to Ulaanbaatar
Drive back to Murun town, take a flight to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to the hotel. Time for relax. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Mar 03-04 Day 9-10 Camel Festival days

In the morning transfer to airport, take a flight to Dalanzadgad, the center of Umnugobi province. We will be met with our drivers at local airport and drive (1-1.5hours by Russian minivan) to the camp.
Camel Festival Days! This event will be organized by “Tumen Temee” (“Ten Thousand Camels”) - association in order to protect two humped Bactrian camels and reproduce camel herders, to increase their productivity, to increase herder’s income by tourism. In these days we will “breathe” by camels. You will enjoy authentic festival program including, camels racing, children's concert, camel wool product exhibition, camel polo, parade on camels and nice couple competition. Also you will enjoy relay competition with camel. An entertaining competition which shows camel training methods and customs of “Heroes of great Gobi” people, overcomes severe climate and harsh condition of Gobi by their effort and endurance. Teams each having 5 members participate in it and show many methods and techniques of catching camel with lasso, tying and bringing down, putting wooden peg into camel’s nose and loading camel. Optional camel riding is available. Stay overnights in GER camp.

Mar 05 Day 11 Yoliin Am & Bayanzag

Drive to Vulture gorge or known as Yoliin Am which located in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan or known as Three Beauties of Gobi. Afternoon continue our trip to Bayanzag, the famous area by its findings of dinosaurs. Stay overnights in GER camp.

Mar 06 Day 12 Flight back to Ulaanbaatar

Transfer to local airport and flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Time for relax. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Mar 07 Day 13 Sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar

Visit to National Museum of Mongolia. You will go with the guide to shops for souvenirs and cashmere. Farewell dinner. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Mar 08 Day 14 Departure

Including:
• Accommodation with 4 star hotel in Ulaanbaatar
• Tourist Ger camp overnight
• All local Transportation by Russian van car in countryside and Japanese van jeep in city
• Local flights in two way for Gobi and Khuvsgul
• English speaking guide
• 3 meals a day
• Sightseeing and National park entrance fee
• Event tickets


Excluding:
• Insurance
• International transport
• Beverages
• Any additional which is not mentioned above

PS: Date of this tour is fixed with international flight schedule of MIAT (Mongolian Airlines). If you use to flight by Aeroflot (Russian Airline), will fly back to Moscow from Ulaanbaatar on 07 of March.