Bird Watching · BM-RWT1

Magnificent Raptors of Mongolia

Rolling Steppes, Siberian Taiga Forest, Saxaul Trees, and Gobi Altai

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Duration: 9 days; Duration
Group size: Max 20; Group size
From, per person: $2,159; From, per person

Overview

Rolling Steppes, Siberian Taiga Forest, Saxaul Trees, and Gobi Altai Mountains

Mongolica team collaborating with Mongolian Ornithological Society arranges professional birding holidays to the genuinely fantastic birding sites in Mongolia. You can see a many species of raptors in different natural habitats during this trip, driving through a variety of natural landscapes from Mongolian rolling steppes to the Siberian taiga forest in the country made famous by the Great Chinggis Khaan. Experience these natural habitats found in Mongolia with excellent company and professional guides for to find international star raptors including Saker & Amur Falcons, Lesser & Common Kestrels, Upland & Long-legged Buzzards, Cinereous, Bearded & Himalayan Vultures, and Steppe, Golden, and Booted Eagles and many more!

At a glance

Duration: 9 days
Group size: Maximum 20 Pers.
Price: from $2,159 per person
Departures: 15 - 23 AUG 2023
Physical rating: Easy/Moderate walks
Trip code: BM-RWT1

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Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Our crew will pick you up at the Chinggis Khaan International airport after your arrival in Ulaanbaatar which is the capital of Mongolia and check in a hotel. You will have a bit rest at the hotel. After lunch (in case you arrive before lunch), will visit Tuul river forest near Ulaanbaatar. We will see Azure Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Azure-winged Magpie, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Upland Buzzard and possibly Hen Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. Will have WELCOME DINNER at one of the most famous restaurants in Ulaanbaatar and return to the hotel. Food: Welcome dinner at a restaurant. Road: Total coverage 30 km on paved road (30 minutes’ drive).

Day 2. Khustai NP

After breakfast, we will drive to Khustai National Park which is a home for re-introduced Przewalski’s Wild Horse (Equus przewalskii). Interesting raptors in the park are Golden Eagle, Saker Falcon, Cinereous Vulture, Common Kestrel, Amur Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Black Kite, Upland Buzzard possibly Long-legged Buzzard and also Daurian Partridge, Mongolian Lark, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Meadow Bunting. In the park’s comfortable restaurant we will have a dinner with Mongolian cold beer. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Tourist Ger Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 80 km on paved road and 15 km on dust road (2-3 hours’ drive).

Day 3. Ulaanbaatar

Transfer to Ulaanbaatar in late afternoon. Relax and prepare for the busy birding in Gobi region. Food: Tourist Ger Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 80 km on paved road and 15 km on dust road (2-3 hours’ drive).

Day 4-5. Yolyn Am (Gobi Altai Mountains)

Upon arrival in Dalanzadgad town, we drive straight to the high mountain and check in a tourist ger camp. In this hotspot we see many birds of prey including Upland Buzzard (dark morph), Bearded & Himalayan Vultures, Saker Falcons along with Kozlov’s and Brown Accentors, Mongolian Finch, Crag Martin, White-winged Snowfinch, Black Redstart, and Beautiful Rosefinch and Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings. Down the desert steppe, we find the pretty Oriental Plover. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Tourist Ger Camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 50 km on paved road (1 hour’ drive and 1 hour’ flight).

Day 6. Bayanzag (The Flaming Cliff)

The first place which yielded eggs of giant dinosaurs. Steep red cliffs are a suitable nesting place for lizard-eating Lesser Kestrel. Visit endemic saxaul trees and find Long-legged Buzzard. Food: Tourist Ger Camp –Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 120 km on dust road (3-4 hours’ drive).

Day 7. Gorkhi-Terelj NP

Upon breakfast, we drive to the airport in Dalanzadgad town to catch the flight to Ulaanbaatar city. After landing in Ulaanbaatar city, we drive straight to the Terelj NP which is the southern end of Siberian boreal forest. We will see Eastern Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Northern Goshawk. Meantime, we will see Olive-backed Pipit, Pine Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Rosefinch, Taiga flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, and Red-throated Thrush. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast; Tourist Ger Camp – Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 60 km paved road (1-2 hours’ drive & 1 hour flight).

Day 8. Ulaanbaatar City

In the evening we will return in the Ulaanbaatar city. Shopping and farewell dinner. Overnight in a hotel. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner. Road: Total coverage 60 km paved road (4-5 hours’ drive).

Day 9. Departure

Transfer to Chinggis Khaan international airport will be the end of our services in Mongolia.

Trip details

Physical rating: Easy/Moderate walks

The price includes: The price includes all transport, food and accommodations within Mongolia, nomadic family visit, Expert bird guide, camel/horse trek, city tour & shopping.

Trip Information

Date & Duration: This tour will run in August 2023. And it continues for 9 days including arrival and departure date in Mongolia.

Group Limit: Minimum 4 persons and maximum of 14 persons, plus guides

Accommodation: Please note that the hotels you are staying at are below the average of international hotels, but those are clean, comfortable, and has en-suite rooms.

No tented camping during this trip. You will stay overnights in permanent tourist ger camps, which have gers (yurts) for accommodation, and separate blocks with European style toilets and shower rooms, as well as a restaurant. Each ger is equipped with small wood or coal-burning stove, which fired by a worker of the camp. Deluxe en-suite gers are also possible in some sites, but it charges a little bit higher than the standard ones.

Meals: All main meals are included in the price. The breakfasts will be very simple. We will have bread/toast, cheese, butter, jam, eggs, sausage and cereals for breakfast. Depending on the time possibilities, we will have picnic lunches packaged from the tourist ger camps or restaurants. Sometimes we will have lunches in local restaurants. Evening meals will be well prepared Mongolian and European-style dishes served in the hotel restaurants and at the ger camps. Food is generally good, it may lack a variety (e.g. meat, vegetables, rice, French fries).

Payment: The deposit 30% of all cost per person should be paid by wire transfer or by visa cards before 3 months. Be sure that you have read our terms & condition on our website before you make payment. If you pay it through our website, our collaboration with Golomt Bank has been taken care of the transfer security.

Includes:

Accommodation (3 nights’ hotel in Ulaanbaatar city; 5 nights’ tourist ger lodges)
Transport (Ground transportations by 4WD vehicles, including petrol; Two-way domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar city and Dalanzadgad town)
Meals -7 breakfast, 7 lunch; 8 dinner
Entrance fees to all National Parks and road tolls
English speaking bird guide
Drinking water will be provided. It will be appreciated if you could bring your refillable bottle.

Excludes:

Last dinner on 22 August (It will be your free choice)
International transportation
All types of insurance
Visas
Departure tax
Alcoholic drinks and items of personal nature
Binoculars, telescopes, and tripods
Extra luggage
Optional tours

We cannot warranty:

Occasional flight delays or cancellations
Poor road conditions
Items of personal nature
Adverse weather conditions

Physical Rating: The tour is suitable for every bird watcher with different levels of skills and ages. Our experienced guide will do his/her best to explain everything about birds, wildlife, culture etc.

We will do easy and moderate walks during this trip. There will be optional hard walks in the mountains.

Road and Transport: We will mostly drive on the paved road during this trip. The longest drive will cover 120 km a day, which will take about -1-2 hours with shortstops. Mitsubishi Delica or Russian Furgon or County Bus will be employed depending on the number of participants and their interests. 3-4 clients will occupy a car in case we do not hire a county bus. Our experienced and skilful drivers will drive safely on the occasion of the off-road journey.

Weather: Temperature is generally warm or hot during days in early and mid-June, mostly being 20-24 degrees Celsius. You can check the weather forecast on http://www.tsag-agaar.gov.mn/eng while you are packing or staying at the hotels in Mongolia where it is possible.

Money: You can change your US Dollar or Euro and other foreign currency into Mongolian tugriks (MNT) at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport just after your arrival. Alternatively, you can ask your guide and drivers to stop for changing money at any bank or official currency exchange offices in Ulaanbaatar. Remember it might be a problem if you try to change them outside of Ulaanbaatar as the banks there could have a limited amount of foreign currency. You can change the money only for your need for beers or any other alcoholic drinks, snacks, and personal items. A fine bottle of beer costs about 4000 -6000 MNT at the restaurants of tourist ger camps, but in the supermarkets, it will be cheaper. The official currency rate can be found at https://www.mongolbank.mn/eng/default.aspx.

Destinations on this trip: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Yolyn Am, Bayanzag, Ulaanbaatar, Khustai Nuruu National Park