Incredible Birding Adventure in Western Mongolia

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar | Capital city of Mongolia

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Meet your local guide and driver at Chinggis Khaan International airport and then transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we can take a short city tour. Stay in hotel. /L, D/

Day 2. Khovd Town | West Mongolia

Khovd is a base as a western Mongolian travel starting point and a home to ethnic diversities. Explore surrounding area, visiting old Manchu ruins and get food supplements for the next days. Stay in local hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 3-4. Lake Khar Us | Great Lakes Depression

A freshwater lake, fed by the Khovd River, has over 10 islands, of which Agbash Island is the largest. The lake is home to more than 260 species of birds, including Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Great-white Egret, Swan Goose, and 4 species of fish especially rich in Ruff and Altain Osman. Here we birding for 2 days and accommodating in tent camp. (B, L, D)

Day 5- 6. Mt. Jargalant Kharikhan | Mountain steppe

The next 2 days of birding, we arrive at Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain, is an isolated extension of the Mongol Altai mountain range. Located in the middle of Khar Us Lake Depression, the diversity of habitats and wildlife. The site supports two Globally Threatened species, Saker Falcon and White-throated Bushchat, as well as Cinereous Vulture and Altai Snowcock and Mongolian accentor. Stay in tent camping. (B, L, D)

Day 7. Mt. Tsambagarav | Eagle Hunting.

Once you arrived at west Mongolia especially as birder you should not miss this authentic experience of old falconry tradition. Visit Kazakh hunter family and spend a day with them to get keen knowledge of eagle hunting, hunter eagles and local nomadic lifestyle. You can also can take stunning photograph of hunter golden eagles, their masters on horseback along with dramatic Tsambagarav mountain. Sleep in nomadic dwelling ger/yurt. (B, L, D)

Day 8. Lake Tolbo / Ulgii Town

Lake Tolbo is a freshwater lake, located in Tolbo village, supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of the following water bird species, Great Cormorant; Whooper Swan; Bar-headed Goose; Common Goldeneye; and Northern Lapwing and more birds. Stay overnight in tent camp. (B, L, D)

Day 9-10. Lake Achit / Devel Island

Lake Achit is a shallow, tectonic lake, surrounded with semi-desert habitat near the lake, through steppe habitat to meadows. Parts of the site (specifically the channel between Achit Lake and the Khovd River and Dewel Island along the Khovd River) are designated as a nature reserve, and most of the site lies within Lake Achit and its surrounding wetlands Ramsar Site. Globally Threatened species using the site comprise Swan Goose, Houbara Bustard, Pallas’s Fish-eagle, Lesser Kestrel and Great Bustard. The site supports assemblages of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert and Eurasian high montane biomes. The site regularly supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Great Crested Grebe and Ruddy Shelduck. Birding here for 2 days and stay in tent camp. (B, L, D) 

Day 11. Bukhmurun village | Argali Wild Sheep

Today we drive to Khar Yamaat Mountain, in Bukhmurun village, alternatively called as a home land to the Ibex mountain goats. Here we can see ibexes and Argali wild sheep. Stay overnight in tent camp. ( B,L,D)

Day 12. Lake Uureg | Desert steppe

Globally Threatened species using the site are Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN), Pallas’s Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (VU) and Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (VU). The site supports species typical of the Eurasian steppe and desert and Eurasian high montane biomes. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea regularly occurs in numbers exceeding 1% of the flyway population. (B, L, D)

Day 13. Lake Uvs | Largest Lake in Mongolia

Many pools and ponds, which used to be suitable places for feeding and breeding of birds. The lake has good potential for the development of ecotourism and designated as a Ramsar Site, a natural World Heritage Site and a UNESCO biosphere reserve.The site supports species typical of the Eurasian steppe and desert biome. The site regularly supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Great Crested Grebe, also a globally threatened species such as White-headed Duck, Swan Goose, Pallas’s Fish-eagle  Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and more. We stay in local hotel or ger camp. (B, L, D)

Day 14. Ulaanbaatar | Capital city of Mongolia

Transfer to hotel from airport. (B, L, D)

Day 15-16. Hustai National Park |  Grassland mountain steppe

Visit Hustain Nuruu NP, designated as reintroduction of Przewalski's Wild Horse (Equus przewalskii), which was once extinct in the wild comprises an area of mountain forest steppe, grassland steppe and river valley, located in a southwestern extension of the Khentii Mountains. The area is important for a variety of bird species during the breeding season and on migration, due to the diversity of habitats in a small area. To date, a total of 169 bird species have been recorded here. We stay in tourist ger camp at the entrance of the park. (B, L, D)

Day 17. Ulaanbaatar | Capital city of Mongolia

Transfer to hotel from airport. (B, L, D)

Day 18. Departure