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NEW! MONGOLIAN ALTAI & EAGLE
FESTIVAL
16 DAYS HOTELS/GERS/CAMPING ADVENTURE IN THE REMOTE ALTAI This dramatic journey follows a route that is little-used by outsiders; crossing from Siberia into Mongolia's highest mountain region, the BayanOlgii, where we explore the majesty of two of its national parks. We also experience the unique Kazakh Eagle Festival; joining the locals in a joyous celebration of ancient nomadic skills. Crossroads of the Altai From Barnaul, the gateway to the Siberian Altai, we journey into the mountains on the Chujskij highway. The indigenous people here have animist roots and we search out the ancient monuments and burial sites of the Ongudai region. Ascending the Kosh Agach plateau we reach desolate grassy steppes and the last town in Russia. Reaching Kurai we meet our Mongolian crew and camp overnight before crossing this isolated border. Mountains & Glaciers The remote and wild lands of Mongolia's far west are home to its highest mountains; 4000m peaks are permanently covered in snow and awesome glaciers feed crystal-clear alpine lakes. We visit two of the region's national parks; experiencing the magic of camping in the vast wilderness, we make day hikes in the company of Bactrian camels. This is the domain of ibex, maral, elk, the rare argali sheep and snow leopard. The valley pastures support nomadic families and their livestock. Kazakh Eagle Festival This part of Mongolia is predominantly ethnic Kazakh; a muslim people with a Turkic language, they have been hunting with eagles for over 2000 years. The annual Eagle Festival near Olgii provides a fantastic opportunity to witness the prowess of both hunters
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BMO
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/ Barnaul (Siberia). 2 Arrive Barnaul; drive Mangerok via Biysk and GornoAltaisk. 3 Drive to Kurai via burial sites & stone figures. 4 Cross border into Mongolia; drive Tsambagarav N.P 5 Day walks in Tsambagarav N.P . . 6 Drive Sagsay ger camp via Olgii. 7 At Eagle Festival. Events over the 2 days may include demonstration of hunting skills, archery, horseracing, bushkashi, costume competition and handicrafts auction. 8 At Eagle Festival. 9 Drive Altai Tavanbogd N.P . via bronze-age sites. 10 Day hikes in Altai Tavanbogd N.P 11 In Altai . Tavanbogd N.P 12 In National Park; . drive Sagsay. 13 Cross Russian border; drive to Kurai. 14 Drive Mangerok. 15 Visit Patmos monastery at Chemal; drive Barnaul. 16 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 3nts hotel, 4nts Gers, 7nts camping; 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches & 14 dinners included. See p41. Mode of Travel: Bus/4WD Russianmade minibus. Comment: Few travellers reach this remote corner of Mongolia; expect rough roads and bumpy journeys, some cold weather and a warm welcome. Gers (traditional felt tents) come equipped with beds, bedding and a small stove. Whilst camping we use spacious 3-man tents for 2 people, mattresses are provided but you will need to bring a good 4season sleeping bag. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader, drivers, local guides/ interpreters, camp crew and camel herdsmen. Group Size: Approx. 10 to 14.
and eagles first hand in a competitive test of skills. There's also the chance for those with other talents to showoff; with archery contests, horse races and the unusual Central Asian game of Bushkashi, a sort of polo played with the corpse of a goat!
DATES AND PRICES Flight Inc 16 days Sun to Mon REF:BMO 2008 deps flight land Price in £s inc only 05 Oct-20 Oct 2399 1649 2009 Price in £s 04 Oct-19 Oct 2499 1699 Land Only tour: 16 days - start day 1 (Sun), end day 16 (Mon) Single Room Option: £165* see p41 for details. These are guide prices, see p45 for details.
Altai Tavanbogd National Park/Claes Grundsten
Mongolian Altai & Eagle Festival BARNAUL Ref BMO
O b'
Biysk
MANGEROK
Seminsky Pass 1894m Stone figures & burial sites
Gorno-Altaisk Ethnographic museum Chemal Patmos Island
RUSSIA
Ongudaj
KURAI
Kosh Agach Tashanta Huiten Uul 4374m Tsaagannuur
A
KA ZAKHS TAN
L
T
A
I
TAVANBOGD NP
TSAMBA -GARAV
NP Olgii Day walks SAGSAY Tsast Uul M 4208m O Eagle Festival U CHINA MONGOLIA N T km
250
0
AI N
S
Horse racing, Eagle Festival/Jan Wigsten
Essential information about our tours see pages 38-51
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