Zavkhan Trekking

On this trip you get to enjoy the wild beauty of the Altai Mountains, including nine to ten days of riding, with the added bonus of attending the Eagle Festival in Ulgii. This two-day festival really is one of the greats. If you think you've seen some strange and interesting festivals elsewhere, this is sure to impress even the most jaded festival-goer. Don't just take our word for it, this is what Emily from New Zealand thought of it:

"There's not much to be said about the Eagle Festival except that it was undoubtedly the best festival in the history of the universe and two of the best days of my time in Mongolia. Awesome, awesome, awesome..." Read more on Emily's blog.

Everyone dresses up in their best outfits, which are spectacular; even the camels get to wear brightly coloured rugs. There is a general air of chaos with no clear line between contestants and the watching crowd - sometimes you end up closer to the action than you might like!

A crowd favourite (amongst the women at least) is Kyz Kuar, the 'race between a man and a woman', in which the woman pursues the man, giving him a good whipping as they gallop across the steppe. Bushkashi, the tug-of-war with a dead goat involves two riders holding each end of the goat and trying to pull each other out of the saddle as they gallop randomly about - including into the crowd. Brutal certainly, but a true spectacle, and very fiercely contested. It's quite incredible how far out of the saddle a rider can be pulled without actually falling.

For a real test of horsemanship, riders lean down out of the saddle at speed to pick up small targets off the ground in the sport of tiyn teru. Very useful when you drop your hat. Archery from horse-back is another ancient skill on display, and evidently very difficult. Genghis Khan would not have been impressed! In the Mongolia of today it is not a skill in great demand (luckily for us).

When the riotous crowd of people, horses, camels and eagles gets too much, you can always pop into a ger for a cup of tea and khuurshuur (mutton pancake). We often stage our own mini festival during the ride so you can have a go at tug-of-war with a dead goat (or an old sack in our case) or try to chase and whip your fellow riders (not that we encourage that sort of thing of course). Some of our riders have actually ended up competing in the festival!

We will set up our own ger as a basecamp while riding in the mountains, and when attending the Festival. With a wood-burning stove inside, it is very cosy. You are welcome to sleep in it, as an alternative to your tent.

NOTE: in 2012 we will attend the Festival in Ulgii for a change, instead of the smaller event in Sagsai earlier in the month.

As with our Altai Expedition, this ride takes you to a remote and mountainous region, with demanding terrain and the possibility of early snow. Therefore it is essential that you are fit and active and willing to take on a challenge. If you are not familiar with the outdoors, or are unsure whether it is the right trip for you, we are happy to discuss it.

Trip Outline

Highlights

• Great riding and fascinating local culture in a remote corner of the Altai Mountains (see our Altai Expedition), plus...
• The two-day Eagle Festival.
• Beautiful Autumn colours in the mountains.
• The added challenge and fun of snow, as winter approaches.
• Help set up our own ger in the mountains and as a base while at the Festival.

If you would like to find out more about this ride, please contact us.