Mongolia's Altai Eagle Festival

• Accommodations as noted in the itinerary.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner every full day of the tour (9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners).
• Restaurant tips for included meals.
• Services of experienced, English-speaking local guides, drivers, and other staff, as noted in the itinerary.
• One arrival and one departure transfer. Additional arrival and departure transfers available at additional cost.) MIR will arrange for travelers to be met upon arrival and seen off on departure, whether or not we make your air arrangements.
• Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private vehicle (type of vehicle depends on number of travelers in your group.)
• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees, as outlined in the itinerary.
• Special events, excursions, and cultural performances, as outlined in the itinerary.
• Baggage handling where available - though porters are rare in the more remote parts of the program.
• Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
• Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international airfare is not included in the land tour cost).
• Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.
• Altai Eagle Festival entrance fees.

• Internal airfare (internal airfare is quoted separately and is subject to change by airlines).
• International airfare or taxes/fuel surcharges.
• Meals not specified as included in the itinerary.
• Baggage handling.
• Single supplement charge, if requested or required.
• Items of a personal nature (phone calls, email, laundry, alcohol, excess baggage, etc).
• Gratuities to guides, drivers, and support/service staff (at restaurants, hotels, etc.).
• Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR’s control.
• Travel and trip cancellation insurance.

Level 4: Rigorous Touring

This program is rated as rigorous touring due to several factors. Outside of the capital, there are almost no roads, so overland transfers around Ulgii will involve very rough and bumpy drives over dusty and unpaved tracks in basic vans, Russian jeeps or other vehicles. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot, both in the city and out of it. In the city, you’re likely to encounter uneven surfaces and attractions accessible only via steep staircases. Museums generally do not have elevators. In the rural areas, there will be a variety of challenging terrains, especially on the hike on Day 7

To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two to three miles a day; hike for 4-5 hours on uneven, rough terrain on one day; and must be able and willing to handle the rustic accommodations in Ulgii. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Other challenges include overall shortcomings in the tourism infrastructure in remote Mongolia. Past travelers have also encountered challenges with plumbing, bureaucratic service, variety of locally available foods, and availability and quality of public restrooms.

This tour maintains a focus on cultural interaction; we will be visiting gers, and participants may share meals with local residents. It is therefore important that tour members have a desire to involve themselves in the local culture in order to enjoy this trip. If you are looking for a less adventurous experience, MIR offers flexible/private and scheduled small group tour options featuring more comfortable accommodation and which do not venture into the remote and undeveloped Mongolian desert. Please ask for details on these tours (Mongolia Explorer: Gobi & Beyond and Essential Mongolia) as well as a custom private journey which may be a better match for your interests and physical capabilities.