Western Mongolia & Golden Eagle Festival
​Sept 30 - Oct 10, 2018

With Jeremy Woodhouse
Sept 30 - Oct 10, 2018, max 10 people

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This annual Mongolian festival, which celebrates the Golden Eagle as well as the hunters’ traditional culture, is arranged by the local Kazakh community and members of the Berkut Association, a community-based conservation organization. Historically, nomadic Kazakhs have depended on the Golden Eagles for hunting, and the Berkut Association was founded to preserve this proud tradition and protect the Berkut.

​All proceeds from the festival’s ticket sales will benefit the Berkut Association, which will use these funds to further the organization’s goals, including arranging the Golden Eagle Festival each year.

​Our expedition into the rugged Altai Mountains will include opportunities to photograph the rugged landscape and to spend time with and photograph local eagle hunters.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Sept 30—Arrive in UB
Arrive in UB and transfer to Best Western Hotel

O/N Tusshin Best Western Hotel
Located in the heart of the city, the very center of Ulaanbaatar, within 100 meters from Sukhbaatar Square and the Government Palace

Day 2: Oct 1—City Tour
A guided city tour, the Gandantegchenling Monastery, Bogd Khan’s winter Place, museum and folk concert in the evening at Tumen Ekh Shuulgan

O/N Tusshin Best Western Hotel (B)

Day 3: Oct 2—Ulgii and Altai Tabanbogd National Park
Arrive in Ulgii by morning flight and after breakfast at a local coffee place drive to Altai Tabanbogd National Park. (5-hour drive, 150km)

Drive through the dramatic valleys along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd massif creating a series of beautiful lakes. Camp on the shores of  beginning of Hoton Lake. The area is below the snow capped Ikh Turgen Uul. The campsite is  a mere 3km from the China border. These are the summer pastures  Kazakh nomads. They are very friendly and hospitable people.  Have a chance to visit a Kazakh family and get introduce with the Kazakh culture and a Kazakh ger. Kazakh gers are much bigger in size and a lot taller than Mongolian or tuban gers. It they are much more colorfully decorated than the others. This area will be totally vacated for the winter, which takes place some time in September. A fishing rod comes in handy here. The largest subspecies of Mongolian Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is easily fished here. The numerous Great Cormorants in the vicinity are a good indicator that there is plentiful of fish in the lakes and rivers. 

O/N in North Face Ve 25 3-people expedition tents for a single use (B, L, D) 

Day 4 & 5: Oct 3 & 4—Jalanash valley & Eagle Hunters
Drive two hours to a Jalanash valley, just before the Dayan lake to visit the Kazakh Eagle hunters. It’s a fall place of Kazakh nomads and located just a few kms from Chinese border surrounded by snow capped mountains. Stay in a private gers for two nights. Scout for a shooting location during the day and shoot during the sunset and next day before sunrise and again in the evening. There will be 4-5 eagle hunters for the shoot, can do in group shoots individual shots, and portraits during the day in the gers.

Overnight in gers (Temporary Ger Camp; B, L, D) 

Day 6—Oct 5—Ulgii and shoot eagle hunters
Drive to Ulgii, about 5 hour drive and stay next few days in a ger private ger camp by the Khovd river, merely 5km from festival sight. There will be eagle hunters arriving in Ulgii from different directions, shoot the on the way.

Overnight in gers. (Temporary Ger Camp; B, L, D) 

Day 7: Oct 6—Altai Golden Eagle Festival – Opening Ceremony / Competition
​The official opening ceremony commences with the participants parading in on horse back with their eagles. The competition begins with each Kazakh displaying his hunting outfit and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful clothing and accessories are given the highest points. In the afternoon, the Golden Eagles will be evaluated for their speed and agility. The 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. Those with the fastest times and best technique will be awarded the highest scores. In the evening, attend a Kazakh play in honor of the Kazakhs and their eagles.

Overnight in gers. (Temporary Ger Camp; B, L, D) 

Day 8: Oct 7 – Competition / Awards Ceremony
Prepare for some exciting action today! The Golden Eagles will be released from a cliff to attack fox skins that will be dragged by their owner on horseback. The eagles will be judged on their success of grabbing the “fox,” their speed, and “gripping” technique. As the points for the competitions are being tallied, the Kazakhs will compete in their traditional game called “kukbar” which tests one’s horse-riding skills, strength and agility. In the late afternoon, the winners of the festival will be announced at the awards ceremony. In the evening, enjoy a celebration dinner. After dinner, you are invited to attend a special performance of traditional Kazakh dance, song, and music, arranged for the competition participants, many of whom have traveled as far as 140 miles on horse back. 

Overnight in gers. (Temporary Ger Camp; B, L, D) 

Day 9: Oct 8—Altanstsogts Eagle Hunter shoot
Drive an hour to Altantsogst meet the hunters in the area and shoot in different locations. Drive back and stay at the same camp. Firewell dinner with local staff and enjoy traditional Kazakh concert.

Overnight in gers. (Temporary Ger Camp; B, L, D) 

Day10: Oct 9—Fly back to UB
Transfer to the airport and Departure for UB.
Met by UB guide and farewell dinner. 
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O/N Tusshin Best Western Hotel (B)

Day 11: Oct 10—International flights
Transfer to the airport and departure for international airport.

​END OF TOUR

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Staff

• English speaking guide for UB part and Western Mongolia part. (An assistant  English speaking guide will be provided for 8 and more clients for Western part)
• Chef and assistant cook
• Camp assistant
• Drivers (Average  4 clients per van and a kitchen van)

Transport
4 WD Russian vans; ( Furgons)
Mini bus for UB airport pick ups/ drop offs and city tour.

Accommodation

• 1 night by Hoton Lake in tents; North face Ve 25 3-people expedition tents for a single use
• 2 nights in private gers next to the eagle hunter family at Jalanash. 3-4 beds in each ger and a dining ger. A portable loo tent and a sitting toilet
• 4 nights in Gers in a private camp by the Khovd river. Sleeping gers and a dining ger. A shower ger with shower pumps, a sitting toilet in portable toilet tent
• All the gers have stoves and fire is served when its chilly and at night. All the gers are beautifully decorated with Kazakh traditional felt carpets and wall hangings and other handcrafts, with a table, chairs and comfortable beds and clean sheets
• Best Western Tushin Hotel in UB part (3 nights); a dining restaurant and city tour timing will be discussed with you and Ub guide upon your arrival

Food
Our cooks are experienced in serving both European food and Traditional improved Mongolian food as well.

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Arrival & Departure 

​Arrival & Meeting Place 
Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar. You will be met by a representative of for your transfer to the Best Western Tusshin Hotel, Ulaanbaatar. If you are arriving early you will be expected to make your own way to the hotel.

Departure 
Transfer on 10 Oct, 2018 from Best Western Tusshin Hotel, Ulaanbaatar to Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar.

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Weather
In the autumn, the weather in Mongolia starts to cool down and it is far more predictable than in Spring—it is also much less windy. Early fall is a good time to visit: most foreign tourists have left the country, and Mongolians settle down and prepare for the winter. The mountains start getting pretty cold by October, but the days are sunny and a fair few foreigners brave the cold out in the northwest to witness the Golden Eagle Festival.

​The following link shows typical temperatures for October.

Final Balance due by June 30, 2018

Trip Details
Tour Cost $5,800
​Trip Deposit $1,000
Single Supplement $950
Balance due: 30 June, 2018
Max Group Size: 10
FULL
Photographer: Jeremy Woodhouse

NB. NOT INCLUDED
The roundtrip flight from UB to Ulgii is not included in the tour cost. As of 2 Feb, 2018, the price is $512.

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Flight Information
Once you have made your flight arrangements, please fill in the form at the link below

Flight information Form

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The tour fee Includes

• ​Ground transportation in Mongolia as described in the itinerary based on furgon vans in the Altai Mountains
• Group transfers on arrival and departure
• All accommodations based on twin occupancy (standard rooms at hotel Ulaanbaatar and standard gers throughout) 
• Meals as noted in the itinerary
• All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary
• A bottled water per person per day
• English speaking local guide and local photo guide.

The tour fee excludes

• International airfare

• Note: Internal airfare UB-Ulgii-UB $512 is quoted as of Feb 2018 and  subject to change. Please note that internal airfare is not included in the above rate and is  additional. 
  UB-Ulgii-UB $512
• passport and visa fees
• medical and trip insurance & evacuation costs
• airport taxes; excess baggage charges
• photography and video fees
• food and beverages not included in the group meals
• tips to drivers or guides
• items of a personal nature, including alcoholic beverages, laundry and telephone calls
• other items not specifically mentioned as included. 

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Paying by check
If you would like to pay your deposit  and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:

Nicole Woodhouse
Pixelchrome, Inc, 
605 Rouen Drive, 
McKinney TX 75070

Paying by Wire Transfer
Pixelchrome, Inc
Bank: Wells Fargo Bank, NA
Account #: 4428-000051
Routing #: 121000248
Swift #: WFBIUS6S
Bank Address
Wells Fargo Bank, NA
2851 South Ridge Road
McKinney, TX 75070
USA
Phone: (972) 439-3416