Tour Dates: 15 Feb - 25 Feb, 2010
TOUR INTRUDUCTION:
A collection of the winter attractions: a winter horse race dedicated to the Lunar New Year celebration, Golden Eagle Festival, Thousand Camel sFestival in the Gobi Sesert and a life re-enactment of the Story of the Weeping Camel - a unique combination of reality, drama and magic, organized by Mongolia Expeditions.
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), tour briefing
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to a 4 star hotel in central city. Mongolia's sprawling capital that houses over a million inhabitants. The temperatures will till be below zero and the city gives a distinct feeling of resistance and survival against the harsh climate of Central Asia. Nevertheless, atmosphere of vibrant changes and springing towards modernization is dominating. Late afternoon tour briefing and a show of traditional music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner. (hotel/D)
Day 2: Winter horse race, visit to Hustai National park
Early in the morning take a 2 hour transfer west of Ulaanbaatar. Here, amidst vast hilly steppe there unwraps a spectacular sporting competitions - winter horse race. It is a tough and an extremely challenging sport cause the jockeys are boys in their early teens. They ride their mounts on a 20km track in freezing temperature aided by the wind factor. The race is dedicated to the annual Lunar New Year celebration so huge crowds of horse breeders and spectators but swarm the finishing line. For many Mongolian men and women it is also a place to show off their best traditional clothes, hats, snuff bottles and silver knives. Upon the race finish we continue to Hustai NP. This is where 19 years ago wild horses of Przewalski, the ancestor of modern horse were re-introduced to their historic home from European zoos after they had been extinct for 5 decades. Today it is by far the most successful nature preservation project in Mongolia with more than 200 heads of 'takhi', as they are called locally, living in wilderness and having even to withstand survival against wolves. We take a lunch in the park's visitor center and try to spot some wild horses. Then we take a 2 hour return drive to Ulaanbaatar for an overnight. Free evening. (hotel/B,L)
Day 3: Golden eagle festival in Terelj National park
Kazakhs, the Islam worshiping minority of Mongolia have preserved the ancient traditions of hunting with Golden Eagles. Caught at the age of 2 or 3 the eagles are trained to catch foxes, hares and other minor mammals. For one day the Terelj NP east of UB marking the southern limit of the Siberian taiga will become the meeting point of the best falconers. A short parade where all contestants ride on horseback with their birds on hand determines the best looking bird, horse harness and falconer outfit. Then comes time for real action: in a row the birds' speed and agility are tested. Depart in the morning from UB and return in the evening for an overnight in the hotel. Free evening. (hotel/B,L)
Day 4,5: The Thousand Camel Festival
After breakfast transfer to UB airport for an hour and a half flight to the Gobi Desert. Your guide will accompany you on board. Gobi in winter is a particularly pretty but rough place. Its vast plains are pleasantly warm during daytime when it is still. With winds rising temperatures plummet to freezing levels. Upon landing take a one hour transfer to the Three Camel Lodge - an island of luxury amidst desert. 370000 two humped or so-called "Bactrian" camels roam the vast spaces of the Gobi desert. They were domesticated thousands of years ago and are closely related to its endemic relative, the wild camel known in Mongolian as Khavtgai. For 2 days the festival unfolds around camel races, camel parade and a camel polo. Each day we take short trips to witness the festival's events returning to the lodge for meals and overnight. (lodge/B,L,D)
INTRUDUCTION TO THE WEEPING CAMEL STORY:
Have you ever seen The Story of the Weeping Camel or heard of it? It is an enchanting film that follows adventures of herders in Mongolia's Gobi desert who face a crisis when the mother camel rejects her newborn calf. Shot by a Mongolian and an Italian and nominated for Oscar for Best Documentary Feature the film has brought unique traditions of Mongolia's nomads to the world audience.
Mongolia Expeditions invites you to experience this unique combination of reality, drama and magic on our new project named "The True Story of the Weeping Camel" and a deep insight into a different way of life and the universal terrain of the heart. This live "re-enactment" of the film's story is organized during March-May, just after the birth giving season of camels.
Day 6: Travel to herders' camp
End of the festival. After breakfast we drive to a camel herders' camp in the middle of nowhere. A felt covered traditional tent/ger will be your accommodation for the next 3 nights. Your first question would certainly be: "And where is the poor baby camel?" By nature camels happen to reject their babies quite often due to various reasons so you would definitely see a poor youngster tethered nearby grieving for his mother. Traditional lunch will be offered to those curious; a more common to your taste meal will also be available. We explore the surroundings and learn about the living and survival in desert. (ger/B,L,D)
Day 7: Camel journey to bring a musician
In the Gobi there are no other means of effective communication but to physically travel if distances allow. Today you will be assigned a role of a messenger to fetch a fiddler from a tiny village in a day's travel distance from the camp. A camel will be selected for you and comprehensive instructions on riding given. You will ride across empty spaces heading towards distant mountain ranges. The oddly clear air shimmers with thousands of minute particles of frost. We stop few times during our challenging journey for hot drinks and leg stretching. Tonight we will spend the only overnight of your lifetime in a winter desert. A warm tent will be set up during the night and a simple but nutritious dinner served. This will be one in a lifetime experience, without doubt. (tent/B,L,D)
Day 8: Meet the musician & overnight in his village
Very early in the morning we ride for another hour to reach the village. Upon arrival we meet the fiddler in his home. A blue silken scarf, known as 'khadag' will be delivered to him together with the message. It symbolizes the clarity of your intentions. The remaining day we leisurely stroll around the village: possibly visit the local market, school etc. (ger/B,L,D)
Day 9: Return motorbike ride to the camp & re-adoption ceremony
After some rest and lunch together with the fiddler we travel back to the camp on Russian motorbikes or sidecars that serve as taxis among villagers. This will be another unique experience of your lifetime. Local riders will safely deliver you to the herders' camp. On arrival in the early afternoon everybody gathers near the mother camel and her baby to witness a touching scene. The fiddler plays a sad melody to the mother camel as if persuading her to re-adopt the poor baby and give her love and milk. The final is classical: the mother camel cries with real tears and lets the baby drink her nutritional milk. We all gather to celebrate the happy end of our story of the weeping camel. Overnight in gers. (ger/B,L,D)
Day 10: Return flight to UB, optional shopping
This morning we say goodbye to the hosts and take a return flight to UB. On arrival transfer to your hotel. Optional shopping in the afternoon. Farewell dinner. (hotel/B,L,D)
Day 11: Departure transfer
Today you will be transferred for your journey home. (B)
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
PRICE PER PERSON:
Minimum 2 pax: 2646 USD
3-4 pax: 2257 USD
5-6 pax: 1946 USD
Hotel single room extra: 120 USD
PRICE INCLUDES:
All accommodation (twin shared), all transfers including arrival & departure, internal flights, indicated meals (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), visits & national park fees, camping equipment, English speaking guide, expedition cook, local support
PRICE EXCLUDES:
Travel insurance, excess luggage fees on internal flights, meals not indicated, sleeping bags and pads, drinks, gratuities
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Mongolia
Local Culture
Festival Tours
Film/Film History
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 06027
