Nauryz Celebration Tour
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Experience the vibrant Nauryz celebration, a cherished tradition among Kazakhs heralding the arrival of a new year. Nauryz festivities unfold over several days, beginning on March 21st, aligning with the spring equinox. Rooted in ancient customs, "Nauryz," meaning 'new day,' has been observed across the expansive steppes for generations.
Nauryz epitomizes the jubilant spirit of spring's advent. Families come together to lay out a lavish dastarkhan, laden with delectable dishes, including the revered Nauryz-kojye soup. This special soup holds significance, symbolizing wishes for a year brimming with prosperity and plenty.
A hallmark of Nauryz is the reverence for elders, with families reserving portions of food for those unable to join the festivities. Abstaining from alcohol, Nauryz focuses on communal bonding rather than material exchanges. As twilight descends, revelers gather around crackling fires, partaking in spirited song and dance, and traditional games echoing through the night.
An integral Nauryz tradition is the Alatau ceremony, where participants ascend nearby peaks to greet the first rays of the New Year sun at dawn, symbolizing purification and renewal. Amidst the majestic landscapes of Western Mongolia, this ritual takes on added significance, offering breathtaking views of the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains, the meandering Milky and Tsagaan Gol rivers, and lush valleys.
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Nauryz festivities, where ancient customs blend seamlessly with the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Western Mongolia. Experience the cultural vibrancy and timeless traditions of Eagle Hunters Naadam Festival, held amidst the rugged splendor of the Altai region. Discover the allure of this unique celebration, where heritage and nature converge in a harmonious symphony of joy and renewal.
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Traveling to Western Mongolia Nauryz Celebration.
Transportation Options:
Air Travel: The nearest major airport to the festival site is Ölgii Airport (ULG), which receives domestic flights from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. International travelers can fly into Ulaanbaatar and then catch a domestic flight to Ölgii.
Overland Travel: For the adventurous, overland travel via rugged terrain is possible, though it requires significant time and preparation. Renting a 4x4 vehicle or joining a guided tour are common options for traveling overland in Mongolia.Accommodation Recommendations: Yurts and Ger Camps: Many visitors opt to stay in traditional Mongolian yurts or ger camps, offering an authentic nomadic experience. These accommodations often provide basic amenities and are located in close proximity to the festival grounds.
Hotels and Guesthouses: Ölgii, the nearest town to the festival, offers a range of hotels and guesthouses catering to various budgets and preferences. It's advisable to book accommodation in advance, especially during the festival period.
Local Tips:
Climate and Clothing: Western Mongolia experiences a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Visitors should pack accordingly, with warm clothing and layers, even in summer months. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are essential for protection against the strong sunlight.
Respect Local Customs: As guests in a culturally rich and diverse region, it's important to respect local customs and traditions. Seek permission before taking photographs of people, especially eagle hunters, and refrain from intrusive behavior.
Language: While Mongolian is the official language, many locals in Western Mongolia also speak Kazakh. Basic phrases in Mongolian can be helpful for communication, although English may be limited outside of tourist areas.
Essential Information for Travelers: Visa Requirements: Most visitors to Mongolia require a visa, which can be obtained from Mongolian embassies or consulates in advance of travel. Some nationalities may be eligible for visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, so it's important to check the latest requirements before planning your trip.Currency: The official currency of Mongolia is the Mongolian Tugrik (MNT). While some establishments may accept US dollars or Euros, it's advisable to carry local currency for transactions.
Health and Safety: Western Mongolia is relatively remote, so it's important to travel with adequate medical supplies and insurance coverage. Tap water may not be safe for drinking, so stick to bottled or purified water.
Altitude Considerations: Parts of Western Mongolia, including the Altai Mountains, are at high altitude. Visitors should take precautions to avoid altitude sickness, such as staying hydrated and acclimatizing gradually.
Visa:
List of Countries Eligible for Visa-Free Travel to Mongolia -
Autumn Eagle Hunters Festival in Western Mongolia
Duration: 2 Days
Location: Bayan-Ölgii Province, Western Mongolia
Date: From September to October 5-6th, 2024
Location
Nauryz Celebration Tour
Discover more about the Nauryz celebration, a significant holiday for Kazakhs marking the start of a new year. The festivities span several days, commencing on March 21st, coinciding with the spring equinox. "Nauryz" translates to 'new day,' and it has been celebrated in the Great Steppes since ancient times.
Nauryz is a joyous occasion welcoming spring. Families set up a dastarkhan, a spread of food, and offer guests Nauryz-kojye, a special soup. Despite the variety of dishes and drinks, everyone is expected to have a bowl of soup, symbolizing a wish for a year filled with abundance.
During Nauryz, families reserve food for elderly members who can't attend. The celebration avoids alcoholic drinks and gift exchanges. In ancient times, as the sun set, people gathered around a fire, singing and dancing to folklore tunes, engaging in traditional games.
This evening activity, known as Alatau or the tradition of becoming clean with fire, involves climbing a nearby mountain to welcome the New Year sun at sunrise.
Nauryz Celebration Tour Itinerary
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Arrive to the airport in UB where you will be met by our guide. Transfer to your hotel. Our plan for today is exploring Ulaanbaatar city. In the city, you can visit Gandan Monastery, a Buddhist center, Zanabazar Museum, Chojin Lama Temple, the Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan, the Buddha Big Statue on the Hill, Zaisan Mountain, and the central market.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Typical folkloric Mongol performance (songs and dances) at the restaurant, during dinner time (optional).
Overnight at the hotel.
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Fly to Olgiy, the capital city of Bayan-Olgiy aimag in western Mongolia. At the airport you will meet your tour crew and a 4X4 van loaded with tour supplies. Now we’ll head to the east to a village called Altantsogts sum where you will meet a Kazakh eagle hunter’s family.
Today, our eagle hunter will tell and show you about eagle hunting. This is a good chance to improve knowledge about eagle hunting and to get acquainted with nomadic life. The rest of the day you will be able to enjoy taking photos, and if you are not used to riding a horse, a little practicing today will be in your favour. You will have your own room and bed at the hunter’s house.
Overnight in the house, (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner).
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Every nomad morning starts with milk tea and the family gathers around the table to have morning tea and breakfast. It is said that one who doesn’t have morning tea or breakfast will have an unsuccessful day.
Today we will be riding for 4-5 hours, including a lunch break. Lunch will be on top of the mountains during hunting.
Mongolian horses are good horses and they can go anywhere. Keep alert, during hunting you will go up hills!
Overnight in the house, (B-L-D).
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Today we will go to Olgiy to see the opening ceremony of the Nauriz celebration. The first performance, at the Square, will be a traditional clothing parade. A traditional concert, wrestling, horse racing, and other ceremonies will also be held. We will see and visit all these celebration events and also visit local Kazakh families. According to tradition, one has to be hosted by 42 families and served with Nauriz-koje at each one. Overnight in a hotel. (B-L-D)
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Today, we will drive to Sagsai sum to visit an eagle hunter’s family. Sagsai sum is famed for its veteran and titled eagle hunters. This is the only sum or village where you will see so many eagle hunters living close to each other.
Horse ride, visiting to neighbors and relatives, and celebrating Nauriz with families will be the plan for today.
You will have a private room and bed at the hunter’s house.
Overnight in the house, (B-L-D).
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Today we will drive to Khovd aimag via Tsambagarav Uul (4208m), one of the most beautiful mountains in the Altai. It is permanently snowcapped and sits on the border of three provinces, Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs and Hovd.
The national park here was established in the year 2000 and has a notable population of snow- leopards.
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The weather conditionMongolia is an acutely continental climatic country. Summers are hot and dry, sometimes with occasional rain, the temperature can fluctuate as much 18 degrees centigrade between day and night. Sometimes severe weather can occur in mountain areas. We are surely ready for any weather condition.
What to take along – Waterproof clothes, long underwear for travel in the high mountains, sunscreen, a hat, gloves, comfortable footwear, lip balm, sanitary hand wipes, sunglasses, prescription medications, binoculars, a flashlight.
Transport – 4×4 drive car with an experienced driver will take us to the national parks and will pick us up on our way back. We’ll hire local herdsmen with his animals while we are riding and camping. Our herdsmen will choose good horses (saddled up) for us to ride. The tour supplies and gear will be loaded on Bactrian camels. Herdsmen will lead us until the end of the horse ride.
Staff – Most of our tours will be guided by Erlan and an assistant guide. Erlan has been leading these kinds of tours for 10 years and he speaks English, Russian, Mongolian, and Kazakh. Also, a cook will follow with an assistant cook. Herdsmen follow us only when we are riding.
Food & Meal – Our cooks are excellent at preparing meals. There always will be vegetables available. For vegetarians, our cooks can make food with advanced notice. Every day you will have fresh hot meals for breakfast and dinner. The exception will be lunch, while we are riding. Lunch will be prepared in boxes with snacks and taken with us.
Includes –English speaking guide, food (3 times per day), cook, packing horse or camels, all overnights in gers and tents, camping equipment and all local transport /ULN-ULG-ULN flights/, border and national park permits.
Excludes – Alcohol, single hotel rooms, international flight tickets.
Date – 2024- from 20th of June to 20th of September, weekly.
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2 PAX ****
3 PAX
4 PAX
Group Tour $ (Single supplement 330$)
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Family Discount: Special rates available for family bookings. Child DiscountOne free space for every 16 paxRebooking Discount: Exclusive discounts offered for rebooked trips. Group Travel Discount: Discounts provided for group bookings. For further information, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to assist you!
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✔️ 1 nights in *** hotel
✔️ m
✔️ Four wheels driving vehicle transfer
✔️ Drop off service
✔️English speaking guide
✔️ Daily bottled water
✔️ Horse & camel riding
✔️ Entry fees to national parks and museums
✔️ Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
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❌Items of personal use
❌International travel
❌Alcoholic drinks & beverages
❌Bar bills, laundry, telephone calls
❌Travel & medical insurance
❌Visa fee
❌Single supplements
❌Optional activities & additional services
❌Gratuity for guides & drivers/optional
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Our Eagle Hunting Festival tour is meticulously crafted to accommodate travelers of varying physical abilities, making it accessible to individuals with a medium level of physical strength. Whether you're an avid hiker or prefer a more leisurely pace, there's something for everyone on this adventure.
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Indulge in a diverse array of delicious dishes that cater to all tastes and dietary preferences, providing the nourishment needed to fuel your exploration of the Altai Mountains. From hearty meat dishes to fresh vegetarian fare, our meals are designed to satisfy and energize travelers with medium physical strength.
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Travel in comfort and style with our convenient transportation services, which eliminate the need for strenuous physical activity during transit. Our vehicles are equipped to handle the rugged terrain of the Altai Mountains, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey for participants with medium physical strength.
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Rest easy in comfortable accommodations that offer a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure for travelers with medium physical strength. Whether you prefer cozy guesthouses or traditional yurts, our lodging options provide a welcoming retreat after a day of exploration.
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![A man and woman wearing helmets and sunglasses, smiling, outdoors near a body of water.]()
High-skilled kazakh guide for an authentic experience
Oct 2017 • Couples
Our guide Erlan and his family hosted us during the Golden Eagle Festival. We were welcomed at their home as if we were part of their family. It was a real chance to have him with us during the Festival : as he speaks a perfect English, he gave us all the explanations about the different celebrations / activities taking place. He introduced us to his Eagle hunters friends and we ended in a pub to celebrate the event with them. We learnt a lot of things as Erlan took the time to translate all our questions. We also stayed in a Eagle hunter's family for a few days. Once again we had the chance to understand better the kazakh culture thanks to the many explanations and translations of our guide. The thing is that by relying on Sayat travel to organize your trek, you will live a much more authentic experience than if you went through an agency in UB or Ulgii. Erlan knows his region very well, he can tell you everything about his culture and traditions. The eagle hunters are not his business partners but his real friends. Plus, the price he asks is ultra competitive compared to any other agency. We would recommend him for sure and we hope we'll come back one day with our families to share this experience with them !
Léa D -
![Western Mongolia Golden Eagle Festival]()
Eagle festival and staying with nomadic families.
Wonderful trip around Olgyi the days before the eagle festival. We stay with nomadic families and shared time, food and the Great time during the two days of the festival as well as during our trip back to UlaanBator by UAZ minivan. Six days in the flat of Mongolia. Great experience for my whole family. Perfect organization by Erlan of Sayat Travels. If you want to do something really different go to this region of Mongolia with Sayat travels.
Diego D
Date of experience: October 2019 -
![Two hikers standing on a rocky overlook with a view of a large blue lake and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.]()
We will be back!
This was my first time visiting Bayan Olgii, and this time, I travelled with my fellow landscape photographers who went crazy with the beauty of the landscape. We literally stopped and took pictures in ten or twenty minutes of drive, and the crew was accommodative and resourceful throughout the trip. We were able to attend an Eagle Hunter festival which was the highlight of the trip. Kudos to the crew who were instrumental in making our trip enjoyable and memorable!
Totofore Jakarta, Indonesia
Date of experience: October 2019 -
![Scenic view of cliffs and ocean in hazy weather]()
Great trip & host to explore the Altai mountains.
Oct 2018 • Friends
Erlan organized an awesome 6-day trip to see and experience this beautiful part of the world. He's a great host and speaks perfect English, which is a relief in this part of the world. We lived with hospitable locals, did great hikes, saw breathtaking views and even joined a small eagle festival. Definitely recommended!
Tijmen H
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Your Unforgettable Journey Begins Here!
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![Nowadays, the Kazakhs of Mongolia continue their ancestors’ golden eagle hunting tradition during the cold months. One of the last Kazakhz Mongolian Eagle hunters still hunts golden eagles.]()
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