Bayan-Ulgii is another world. Kazakh is the language here, snow peaks hold up the sky, and the thousand-year art of hunting with golden eagles is still alive.
In eight days we stay two nights with an eagle hunter's family, reach the glacier of Tavan Bogd, and watch the Golden Eagle Festival that opens each October.
Аяллын маршрутDay by day
Аравдугаар сарын хөтөлбөр баярын өдрүүдтэй давхцуулан гардаг.October departures are timed to the festival weekend.
A three-hour morning flight lands us in Ulgii. We eat at a Kazakh restaurant, wander the bazaar with its camel-wool stalls, and sleep at a ger camp on the edge of town.
Нислэг 3 цаг3 hour flightГэр баазGer camp
2-3-р өдөрDays 2 and 3
Бүргэдчин айлд хоёр шөнөTwo nights with an eagle hunter's family
We drive toward Sagsai and settle in with Dalelkhan, an eagle hunter our team has known for years. Two days of riding out with the eagles, helping with the herd, and learning the rhythm of a Kazakh household. Evenings bring dombra music and a bowl of beshbarmak.
120 кмkmзамdrivingАйлд хоноглоноHomestay
Бүргэдчид ангаа эхлүүлж байнаHunters riding out for the day
Following the Tsagaan Gol valley we climb to the Tavan Bogd base camp. The drive is long, but the five sacred peaks grow with every hour. We sleep in expedition tents with a camp cook keeping everyone fed.
180 кмkmзамdrivingМайханExpedition tent
5-р өдөрDay 5
Потанины мөсөн голThe Potanin glacier
Өглөө эрт гарч, Малчин оргилын харалдаа өндөрлөгт гарна. Доор Потанины мөсөн гол 14 км үргэлжилнэ. Энэ бол Монголын хамгийн том мөсөн гол. Цэлмэг өдөр Хүйтэн оргил бүх сүр жавхлангаараа харагдана.
An early start takes us up to the viewpoint facing Malchin peak. Below, the Potanin glacier stretches for 14 kilometres, the largest in Mongolia. On a clear day Khuiten, the country's highest summit, stands in full view.
12 км явган12 km hikeМайханExpedition tent
Потанины мөсөн гол дээрээсLooking over the Potanin glacier
6-р өдөрDay 6
Хотон, Хургана нууруудThe lakes of Khoton and Khurgan
Coming down from the mountains we enter the valley of two great lakes. Wooden bridges, autumn caravans of nomad families on the move, deep blue water. We camp on the shore and cook over an open fire one last time.
Back in Ulgii we join the biggest event of the year. Over a hundred eagle hunters compete: calling their eagles from the mountain, horse races and the fierce game of kokpar. October departures are scheduled around this day.
200 кмkmзамdrivingГэр баазGer camp
Алтын бүргэдийн баяр, ӨлгийThe Golden Eagle Festival, Ulgii