EAGLE FESTIVAL
There are currently several eagle festivals in the Bayan Olgi area
One traditional with 2 days festival at around 10km far Bayan Olgi. Price for tourists>50 euro (2024). Eagles hunters come from any part of Olgy aimag, each year there is more and more eagle hunters who participate. After the registrations and the presentation of all the eagles hunters each one must demonstrate during the various tests the obedience and the bravery of his eagle. Also, it’s possible to see some equestrian Kazak games. Authentic atmosphere guarantee.
he traditional festival on Bayan Olgi will always be on 1st week end of October
At 60km far Bayan Olgi others eagle festivals mild and end September take place (check for excat dates!). On 2000 the Kazakh people decided to show the tradition costumes as eagle festival and 2 years later born the second festival who presents the same games as the traditional one. Prices for tourists should be:> 30euro /day
Sometimes private eagle festivals are also organized to, for example, celebrate a particular event in the region, a birthday, etc.
Each year in UB will held an eagle festival on 5th March
HUNTING WITH EAGLES: during the festival you can contact some Kazaks and ask them to go hunting with them on the mountains
Getting Olgy? You need >5-7 days to reach Olgi from UB 1600km. Some public buses reach the town in 4-5 days nonstop. The best is to rent a jeep on UB to not be without transportation when you will be on Olgy and so have an opportunity to see marvelous landscape. On Olgi if you are without jeep you can reach the traditional festival for some $ by taxi and of course more difficult to reach the other one as father.
Between UB and Olgy planes aren’t always daily, but during summer as during eagle festival it’s really difficult to find places as they are reserved early in season by the travel agencies. contact mejet69@yahoo.com to reserve places during touristic season!
By bus from UB: >50 euro per head and way (2024) and 1.5 day non stop trip with few stop!
How to move in Olgy area? (see the map) if to find a driver is enough easy prices are in any case enough expensive (always think to ask what include price…)
In front of the market you can find some collective taxi who run only if full and the go in small towns (sum) of the area.
Hotel and restaurant in Olgy: some hotels and restaurants. Attention please as during eagle festival it’s difficult to find a room, better to arrive some days before as also the reservation also made by your driver aren’t sure!
During summer some Tourist camps open near the river: you can sleep under a ger.
Ideas: in Olgy public baths.
Go to the market (close on Tuesday check!) During eagle festival buy your handicraft souvenirs on last day as you can get discount as after season finished!
ALTAI TAVAANBOGD PARK: 600 000 hectares. Many monads live from March to October on the marvelous area of the lake near Chinese border, be careful you will need as for all borders a special permit, inform yourselves before to leave from UB (and if possible before you leave your own country to get the permit and so leave for tour immediately, your driver can do it for you and he will told you which kind of documents you have to send him.)
How to buy tickets? Local agencies
TREK TAVAN BOGD
Worth to know (2019):
– going alone : difficult because of many tourist get lost or pass illegal the Chinese or Russian border without knowing it now you need a special permit to circulate in the park and you can buy this permit only in local agencies.
– you can ask to be driven in a point A and check in a point B (will cost 300$ 2 ways for the vehicle 2019) but you must take with your food, water. In the park no nomads, no village and no supermarkets. If you want to rent a horseman to bring your luggage in the park, it will be difficult as mostly horsemen are under contract with the local agencies….
– minimun 1 week you should have to stay, you need 1 day to go and return park-Olgy
– attention please, no road signs in the park ; weather changes quickly and easy to have 25 degree and negative temperature at night and also snow ! better to think to stay there some days more in case of problem. By example 1 day more in Maclin Pic can be necessary if you want to climb it in case of snow.
– don’t forget you are near China and Russia and so your permits will be controlled by Mongol military at the entrance of the park and if you don’t have them you have to return in Olgy with a fine and pay again the way back to the vehicle !
– you will meet only few tourists and nomads inside the park.
TSAMBAGARAV ULL NATIONAL PARK: 110 000 hectares, is on the way between Olgy and Khovd: really marvelous valleys around the 2 peaks of the park: the Tsast and Tsambagarav.
