Staying with a Kazakh Nomad family tour

Overview

Embark on an experience of a lifetime to a different world - to the remote, far west of Mongolia. Bayan-Ulgii is the country’s westernmost province neighboring both Russia and China, and a close distance of about 40 kilometers is between its edge and Kazakhstan. It is the country’s only Muslim and Kazakh-majority province. Kazakhs are the country’s largest ethnic minority group making up about 4% of the total population. They speak their mother-tongue besides the nation's official language and maintain their own culture distinct from Mongols, although sharing a similar livestock-herding nomadic lifestyle. 

One of Kazakhs’ ancient traditions, which they are known for, is hunting with Golden Eagles. These large raptors are trained to hunt foxes, rabbits, and even wolves! Also, Kazakh women are famous for their traditional embroidery. They are celebrated for their colorful needlework, used to decorate the insides of gers (yurts). This is a great opportunity to stay among a nomadic family and experience a way of life that seemingly has not changed much for hundreds of years.

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Itinerary

• 2 overnights in 4 star hotel in UB
• 2 overnights stay with Nomadic Family
• 1 overnights in local hotel or ger camp in Ulgii

• Hotel
  Day 1

  Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

  Upon arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will be met by our representative and transferred to a centrally located hotel. After checking in at your hotel, we will take you on a city sightseeing tour. Ulaanbaatar reveals traces of its historical periods through its blend of modern glass buildings, Soviet-era architecture, TIbetan Buddhist monasteries, and the ger (yurt) districts spread out on the outskirts.

• B/L/DCamping
  Day 2

  Fly to western Mongolia, Bayan-Ulgii

  Catch a flight to Ulgii, capital of Bayan-Ulgii province in westernmost Mongolia. This province is home to the Kazakh people of Mongolia. At the local airport, you will be met by our English-speaking guide and driver. After lunch, we will drive to Dayan Lake. On the way, we will see Bronze-age deer stones and Turkic-era human-shaped stones. Then we will arrive before dinner at our host Kazakh family. For the next few days, stay in one of their ger (yurt). Kazakh families are usually quite large, consisting of three generations: grandparents, parents, and children.

• B/L/DFamily stay
  Day 3-4

  Stay with our host family

  These days, we'll spend time with the Kazakh family. There will be plenty to see and do. We’ll get up at the same time as nomadic people and help with their daily chores. You can experience milking cows, horse riding with Kazakh herdsmen if you want, watch how they take care of their animals, and help them with processing dairy products, as well as sample their traditional food. Experience the lifestyle of authentic nomads. 

  The eagle hunters will show us their training methods - you will be introduced to the art of eagle hunting. You can talk with the hunters (through an interpreter) about how they train and hunt with their eagles. The tradition of hunting with eagles goes back thousands of years on the steppes of Central Asia.

  You will also see how Kazakh embroidery is made. If you want, you can take a few hours of embroidery lessons. Kazakh women are celebrated for their colorful needlework used to decorate the insides of their homes.

  On our last evening of staying with our nomadic friends, to celebrate, we will have a besbarmak dinner. Besbarmak, meaning “five fingers,” is eaten with the hands. This is a combo of delicious stewed mutton, horse-meat sausages, all types of fresh vegetables, and steamed dough-rolls with a sprinkle of onions.

  After lunch on our final day, we’ll say "goodbye" to our Kazakh friends and drive back to Ulgii. There we can visit a local Muslim mosque, open market, and museum. Also, we can go shopping for cashmere, and for local arts and handicrafts. Stay overnight in a hotel and enjoy the luxury of a hot shower!

• B/L/DHotel
  Day 5

  Fly back to Ulaanbaatar

  Head to the airport for your return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival and leisure until farewell dinner.

• Day 6

  Departure

  Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

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