Throat singing in Mongolia

The art of Mongolian throat singing is a style in which one or more pitches sound simultaneously over a fundamental pitch, producing a unique sound. The history of Mongolian throat singing reaches very far back. Many of the male herders can throat sing, but women are beginning to practice the technique as well. The popularity of throat singing among Mongolian seems to have arisen as a result of geographic location and culture.

The open landscape of Mongolia allows for the sounds to carry a great distance. Ethnomusicologistsstudying throat singing in these areas mark khoomei as an integral part in the ancient pastoral animism that is still practiced today. Often, singers will travel far into the countryside looking for the right river, or will go up to the steppes of the mountainside to create the proper environment for throat-singing. And you have chance to see that in western Mongolia!

Our local agency can manage you best trip in Western Mongolia!

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Malchin peak in western Mongolian Altai Tavan Bogd national park

Malchin peak is one of five holey peaks of Tavan Bogd mountain.  Malchin is located just between Mongolia and Russia like two countries sharing this. Its top elevation of 4,050 m (13,290 ft.). Malchin peak is only one peak that can be climbed on its very top without any climbing equipment. All visitors who love hiking never skip Malchin peak as it has unreal views of Altai mountains from its top!

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Bear Valley in western Mongolia

Bear Valley is most amazing and spectacular place with fantastic landscapes, surrounded with green snow caped mountains with several waterfalls and crystal clear lakes that located in southwest of Altai Tavan bogd national park. This place is non accessible by any jeeps or transports as there are no special road to there. But during the early nomadic years people were using this valley as a short cut between  their winter place and summer places when they are migrating with packed camels and all livestock. And they were going through dramatic mountains, wild animals, beautiful lakes and wide and white rivers as milk that dividing the valley into two. Since that time this place was protected very well and path that left from this migration is now used for our horse riding and trekking itineraries. Of course for our trek we will use very old way of transportation which is packed camels and horses just like how local nomads do!

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White River Valley (Tsagaan gol)

White River Valley (Tsagaan gol) is place where the 4 season of the weather in one hour, where the mountains are meeting the sky and friendly Tuvan nomads showing you unexpected hospitality. This heaven located in very western part of Mongolia where Russian, Chinese and Mongolian Altai mountains are joining and Mongolian side of the mountains lasting with long Potanin glacier. But, the White River coming from that glacier and coming across all way through western Mongolia and ending at Black lake in Hovd province.

Eagle hunters in western Mongolia

Hunting with golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) is a traditional art of the Eurasian steppes, particularly defined as "Horse Riding Falconry" or "The Eagle Falconry" in Central Asia. It is a type of falconry.
History
In 936-45 AD the Khitans, a nomadic people from Manchuria, conquered part of north China.[3] In 960 AD China was conquered by the Song dynasty. From its beginnings, the Song dynasty was unable to completely control the Khitan who had already assimilated much of Chinese culture. Throughout its 300-year rule of China, the Song had to pay tribute to the Khitan to keep them from conquering additional Song territory. Despite the fact that the Khitans assimilated Chinese culture, they retained many nomadic traditions, including eagle hunting[6] (see the unknown Chinese painting from Song dynasty).
Kazakhs...
Kazakhs (Altaic Kazakhs or Altai-Kazakhs) living in Bayan-Ölgii Province of Mongolia continue to hunt with eagles today. There are an estimated 250 eagle hunters in the Western Mongolian province. Their falconry custom, so-called 'horse-riding eagle falconry', is unique in practice only with trained Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos daphanea) on horseback. Their hunting target is almost limited to Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) or Corsac Fox (Vulpes corsac). In the first week of October, 70 eagle hunters gather for the annual Golden Eagle Festival of Mongolia. They use eagles to hunt foxes and hare during the cold winter months when it is easier to see the gold colored foxes against the snow.

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Potaniin glacier in Altai Tavan Bogd national park

There are many glaciers in Mongolia on Altai range. Biggest glacier in Mongolia is Potanin Glacier on Altai Tavan Bogd national park. It's 20 km long, and it hase huge ice rivers on it!
Activities with glacier are: You can walk on the glacier with expert tour guide, take photos, experience it, camp just next to glacier! (sunset on Glacier)

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Altai Tavan Bogd national park in western Mongolia

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is located on the Western most point of Mongolia in Bayan-Ulgii Province. This vast mountainous park borders China and Russia with views of Kazakhstan from the highest peak in Mongolia. The snow-capped Kuiten Uul mountain,4374 m (14,201 ft), is the highest of the five peaks of Tavan Bogd Mountains (literally '5 Saints') that gives the park its name. It covers an area of 630,000 hectarce and is home to three large freshwater lakes and 34 glaciers, plus several waterfalls. The largest, Pontuninii Glacier, covers 23 sq km. Tavan Bogd Mountains are considered sacred to local Kazakhs, Tuvans, and Mongolians. The park stretches from Russia along the Chinese border, following the Altai Mountain Range that divides China, Russia, Mongolia.

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Kazakhs from Bayan-Olgii province strongly follow the roles of Islamic culture. They have Mosques at the center of the towns. Kazakh nomads have quite similar lifestyle as Mongolian nomads, but with little bit differences such as different way of killing animals, different language, different traditional clothing styles and even different music. Also Kazakhs are very famous in all over the world with golden eagle trainers and golden eagle hunters!

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Bayan-Ulgii province of Mongilai


Geography of Bayan-Olgii province (Mongolia)
Bayan-Olgii province is located in western part of Mongolia where it is bordering with Russia from north west side, and with china from south west side. There are also Mongolian provinces such as Uvs and Hovd are neighboring with Bayan-Olgii from east north, and east south.
The large part of Bayan-Olgii is Mongolian Altai which is a long mountain range starting from China going through Mongolia, Kazakhstan to Russian Siberia.
 10% of the province are covered with forest. Another place which Bayan-Olgii province proud about is Mongolian highest mountain peaks Tavan Bogd (five holly)  are located in Bayan-Olgii province.

Bayan-Olgii province divides into 13 counties around:

Olgii - the capital town of Bayan-Olgii province
  • Altai county - The center of Altai county is about 200 km from Olgii. Altai has a beautiful spots around, the home of Kazakh nomads. It is bordering with China from south side. In Altai county lives several Eagle Hunters and it's very good place for trekking, horse trek or camel trek!
  • Sagsai County - Sagsai is located in South west of Olgii, and it is 40 km from Olgii. In Sagsai you can find Dear stones from Turkic age, and this county is rich for Eagle hunters, so you can stay at Eagle Hunter's Family. Experience Nomadic life as well!
  • Sengel county - Center of Sengel county is located 100 km far west from Olgii. Sengel is bordering with China, Russia. At the Sengel County located Altai Tavan Bogd (five Holly peaks of Mongolia) Also you can find there Human stones, Rock arts which is biggest in Asia.
  • Ulaanhus County - Ulaanhus county located in North West from Olgii 45 km. Through Ulaanhus you can reach Altai Tavan Bogd national park.
  • Altantsogs county - Altantsogs is located in east from Olgii 45 km. In Altantsogs located another national park of Mongolia Tsambagarav which is higher than 4377 m. Eagle hunter Saylau from BBC human planet and first Girl Eagle hunter Aisholpan are also from Altantsogs county.
  • Bayannuur County - Located in east far from Olgii 150km.
  • Nogoonnuur County - Located east north from olgii 150km
  • Buyant county - Located south from Olgii 90 km.
  • Bulgan county - Located south from Olgii 300 km.
  • Tolbo county - Located from Olgii 80 km. In the Tolbo county also located 3d  biggest lake Tolbonuur.
  • Deluun - Located from Olgii 200 km to south. Kokh Serke national park of Mongolia is located in this county. Kokh Serke national park is home for lots of wild animals such as Ibex, wolves...



Mixed driving tour in western Mongolian Altai Tavan Bogd National Park July 14 to July 21, 2015

Altai mountains are attracting people from all countries. But this time our team were very happy to guide our first clients from Malaysia! It was very interesting to us exchange our opinions about religion and our custom. This people were very happy to visit our local Mosques, and meet Imam. The Horse riding experience was very good as well, when they first started riding our horses, meeting local people, visiting local families and houses they could realize that it is totally different horses and different life in western Mongolia!

It was very beautiful family, and we wish long life and good health!
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Tour with Groenwagen's family and Medcraft's family

This was one of the bigger and simple tours of Western Mongolia Travel Agency. We've met the family from the airport and headed to the Local restaurant Almali where we had so nice breakfast. During the breakfast and morning coffee, we discussed our incoming trip!

A mixed tour to Altai Tavan Boigd was a really good idea for these families, so we just started heading to that area. Our adventure started with an unexpected car break on the way just after 2 hours of driving. But it wasn't big deal as our driver was an expert mechanic. It took him only 30 minutes to fix the van and be ready for our next long driving journey!

Our camping spot was a long beautiful white river, around Tuvan nomads. The next day we headed to stay closer to Potaniin glacier. It was an unreal view there. During the night strong storm wind destroyed our dining room tent, and we were so lucky that our camping tents were OK!


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Trip hunting with Eagle 2015 March 15 to 24



Testimonial from Darryl Craig
I booked my tour through Western Mongolia Travel with Baldyrgan who is managing director. Had a fantastic experience and an amazing time. I was met with such kindness and hospitality. My guide Taskyn and driver Nurka were brilliant and the food was delicious, always in abundance. We had excellent chef! Thanks for everything, hope to return again soon!

Darryl from England



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Nauryz 2015 the Kazakh new year with Aisholpan

This year Nouryz Festival was very interesting compare to past years. Western Mongolia Travel did work with filming crew who were making films about 13 years old first girl eagle huntress. At this Nauryz festival there was happening final of the filming works in Mongolia.

Aisholpan was leading the parade with her father Agalai who is teaching Aisholpan to be Eagle Huntress, and he is famous Eagle Hunter as well. While they were staying at main square of Ulgii town, people of the town were very happy to see her as a famous Eagle Huntress and did enjoy photographing with her!

Aisholpan already has many fans and she is receiving many letters from all over the world. We are sure that Aisholpan will be in the future next hero of kids from the world, she will be next Mulan!

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Trip from July 2015


The guys from Los Angeles Andrew and Taylor. They were looking for adventures in western Mongolia. I was working as tour guide for one of local tour agency, and we met at air port of Ulgii province.
We started our journey from Mongolian one of most famous Festivals Naadam.
Naadam festival is celebrated in all over the Mongolia in memory of independence day of Mongolia!

Activities during this festival:
Opening ceremony
Mongolian wresting
Horse racing
Traditional folk concert

After this festival we headed out towards Altai Tavan Bogd national park which is located in western part of Mongolia where it is bordering with China and Russia.
There are five highest peaks of Mongolia: Huiten, Nairamdal, Olgii, Eagle and Malchin peak.
After long day of driving to Tavan Bogd we just set up our tents and prepared for camping.
Next day we started Horse trek to those high peaks. We did walk on Potaniin Glacier and climbed up to Malchin peak which higher than 4000 meters from sea level. View was just amazing. I hope the Guys from LA liked this view too!

We also visited some Kazakh nomadic families and Eagle hunter's family!


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