Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 99
BOB KRIST
Our rare “back of beyond” adventure brings
you from the fascinating eagle hunter cultures
of the Altai Mountains in Mongolia’s wild
west to the epic setting of the vast Gobi
Desert. In the Altai, you’ll
witness the thrilling Golden
Eagle Festival as Kazakhs
come from afar on horseback
to show off the skills of their
majestic trained eagles—a
truly spectacular display of
this ancient and vanishing art.
The opportunity to meet and mingle among
them, watch their amazing horsemanship,
and visit local families is an unforgettable
experience. Heading to the Gobi, you’ll walk
on the golden Moltsog Els dunes and in the
glacier-carved Yol Valley, then watch a blazing
sunset at the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where
the first dinosaur eggs were found.
Days 1-7 Ulaanbaatar / Ulgii / Golden Eagle
Festival After exploring Ulaanbaatar, we head
to the grasslands below the snow-dusted peaks
of the High Altai to witness the Golden Eagle
Festival, where Kazakhs parade on horseback
dressed in their traditional hunting finery,
accompanied by magnificent golden eagles
perched on their arms. We watch as the
eagles fly down from cliffs to attack their
decoy targets in the valley below, with the
crowd erupting in cheers at a successful “kill.”
While here, we have wonderful opportunities
to visit nomad families in their gers and
explore hidden archaeological sites with
amazing petroglyphs.
Days 8-13 Gobi Desert / Three Camel Lodge
The remote Gobi was the site of some of the
most important paleontological discoveries of
the 20th century. With overnights at the award-
winning Three Camel Lodge, we climb the dunes
in the stunning Moltsog Els, explore precious
petroglyphs, and hike in Yol Valley National Park,
habitat of Argali mountain sheep and soaring
lammergeiers. For a grand finale, we head to
the famed Flaming Cliffs, where in 1923 Dr. Roy
Chapman Andrews and his exploration team
from the American Museum of Natural History
found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world
had ever seen. Scientific expeditions continue
to make significant discoveries here, and we
have a chance to experience an unforgettable
sunset that paints the cliffs in a soft orange glow.
Depart on Day 13.
Western Mongolia, one of the last true wildernesses on the planet, is home to the fascinating Kazakh eagle hunters.
PHOTO: JOSEF FRIEDHUBER
WOLFGANG KAEHLER
“This was a fantastic
trip, and not
one we could
have managed on
our own.”
John S., Laurel MD
HIGHLIGHTS
• Witness the annual Golden Eagle Festival
in Mongolia’s “wild west”
• Explore the Gobi’s celebrated Flaming
Cliffs, hike in Yol Valley National Park
• Enjoy Three Camel Lodge, an
award-winning ger camp in the heart
of the Gobi
DETAILS
• 13-day trip begins and ends in
Ulaanbaatar
• 8 nights ger camps, 4 nights hotels
• All meals included
DATES
Oct 3-15, 2017
TRIP COST
$6495 (10-15 members)
$6795 (5-9 members)
Single supplement: $1730
Internal airfare: $1225 (subject to change)
TRIP LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rugged road travel, walking and light
hiking, cultural adventures