The trip will begin with a week of fishing with a Sage Experiences Outfitter in the Eg and Ur rivers for the world’s largest salmonid, the taimen, a vicious surface-oriented predator that averages 28” to 30” and fish exceeding 50-lbs with top water flies and streamers, along with abundant lenok, an Asiatic trout, which run from 15” to 25” targeted with lighter tackle. The rivers will be fished via jet boat across almost 70-miles of water. Each day you will return to the comforts of double-occupancy traditional Mongolian gers and hearty meals. After the fishing week, you will journey west to the Mongolian Gobi for private camel rides and sightseeing tours, intimate family experiences, and luxury accommodations. This experience will give an authentic look at nomadic life in the Altai Mountain and Yol Valley, a narrow rock canyon resting at 6,000-feet in elevation. Wrapping up the tour, you will take a short commercial flight to Ulgii to witness a traditional Eagle Festival that celebrates the nomadic life and millennia old hunting traditions of the Kazakh. This festival is a wonderful spectacle that attracts several hundred locals and artisan merchants to witness eagle hunters wearing traditional dress showcase their skills and compete in traditional games.
Dates
Eg-Ur Taimen Camp: August 31 – September 7, 2026
Gobi Desert Tour and Eagle Festival: September 8 – 14, 2026
Availability: 7 spots
Rates
Eg Ur Taimen Camp: $9,585 per person based on double occupancy
Gobi Desert & Kazakh Eagle Festival Tour: $7,500 per person based on double occupancy
EG-UR TAIMEN CAMP
Included: Transportation within the country including round-trip charter flight from Ulaanbaatar and camp, accommodations at the camp, two hotel nights in Ulaanbaatar, and all meals including beer and occasionally wine at the camp, guided fishing, demo fishing equipment (Sage rods/reels and RIO fly lines), flies, and fishing license.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Ulaanbaatar, additional nights/meals/incidentals in Ulaanbaatar, alcohol, medical evacuation coverage, staff and guide gratuities.
GOBI DESERT & KAZAKH EAGLE FESTIVAL
Included: Accommodations in ger camps in Gobi and Three Camel Lodge, Accommodation in UB on last night, internal round trip flights from UB to Gobi and Ulgii, ground transportation in Gobi and Ulgii, guided activities, National Park and Protected Area fees, road taxes, and all meals outlined in activity.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Ulaanbaatar, additional nights/meals/incidentals in Ulaanbaatar, alcohol, visa processing if needed, staff and guide gratuities.
Itinerary
August 29: Depart home.
August 30: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Here you will be met by a representative from the outfitter’s Mongolian travel partner and be taken to your hotel. That evening you will have the opportunity to see a traditional Mongolian performance, which is highly recommended.
August 31: After breakfast at the hotel, you will fly via private charter (approximately 3 hours) to camp. Fish for half a day upon arrival and overnight in ger.
September 1 - 6: Six full days of fishing for taimen and lenok with overnight accommodations at the Eg-Ur Taimen Camp.
September 7: Pack and fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel by a representative of the outfitter to overnight (hotel included).
September 8: Fly domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad in the Gobi Desert, and drive to Flaming Cliff. The day will start at an extinct volcano behind the camp that bears Bronze Age petroglyphs and burial mounds with an incredible view of the surrounding camp. In the afternoon, we will visit the world-famous Flaming Cliff known for its dinosaur fossils and otherworldly landscape. Return and overnight at Three Camel Lodge.
September 9: After breakfast, you will drive 1.5-hours to the Vol Valley, which rests at 6,000-feet in the Altai Mountain. There is a very easy hike through the canyon to enjoy the scenery and watch for the largest birds in the area, Lammergeyer or “Yol” in Mongolian a large bearded vulture in which the valley is named after, as well as watching Ibex scale the steep sides of the gorge. Before returning to the lodge, you will visit a local family for a special Mongolian BBQ, watch the family prepare the meal and experience the life of nomads in their natural environment. Return and overnight at Three Camel Lodge.
September 10: Today you will drive 40-minutes to a camel herder family that lives by the sand dunes. The group will take a camel ride towards the dune, go for a short hike, and camel ride back to the family before eventually returning to Three Camel Lodge. Three Camel Lodge is a luxury lodging experience in the Gobi Desert offering a variety of activities, including horseback and bicycle rides, as well as a sauna and massage. There is a nearby petroglyph site only thirty minutes away from the camp.
September 11: After a hearty breakfast, return to the local airport to take a 1-hour flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the Khubilai Hotel on the edge of the city to overnight.
September 12 - 13: You will be ground transferred to the airport for a 2-hour westbound flight to Ulgii. Upon arrival, you will collect your luggage and head out of town to visit a local Kazakh eagle hunter family that will graciously host you, with an intimate demonstration of their thousands of years old eagle hunting tradition. There will be a short drive to the Eagle Festival, where 30 – 40 eagle hunters from the region will get together to compete and showcase their skills. There are several hundred locals that go to this spectacle, which attracts vendors who bring their local handicrafts and souvenirs.
The main events of the festival include different types of competitions with the eagles to demonstrate which is the best trained, as well as traditional games including tug of war on a horse, archery, among others. This is more than a sporting competition, rather it serves as a local fair that brings together nomads with their best garments and horses, attracting a crowd together as a social event. It is one of the most photogenic festivals in Mongolia with dramatic colors and entertaining activities. After the festival, you will return to the ger camp for the evening and can visit the local market and souvenir shops in town. Overnight at the ger camp.
September 14: After breakfast at camp, you will head to a nearby airport for an 11:40AM flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival you will be transported to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar to overnight (hotel included in package).
September 15: Transfer to the Ulaanbaatar airport for flight home.
