By nature camels happen to reject their babies quite often due to various reasons so you will definitely see a poor youngster tethered nearby grieving for his mother. Through ritual and music, nomadic families reconcile the mother and calf.
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Details:
Price
Description
Price
Base Price
USD
2240
Groups of 4-6
USD
2240
Groups 2-4
USD
2560
* Foreign exchange rates are provided as a convinience only. The actual rate you pay may vary.
Description:
Trip offered February 28 - March 11, 2011
For more info visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_the_Weeping_Camel
Day 1
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), tour briefing
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to a 3 star hotel in the center of Mongolia's sprawling capital that houses over a million inhabitants. The temperatures will be below zero and the city gives a distinct feeling of resistance and survival against the harsh climate of Central Asia. Nevertheless, atmosphere of vibrant change, springing towards modernization dominates. Late afternoon tour briefing and a show of traditional music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner.
Dinner included
Overnight in hotel
Day 2
Golden eagle festival in Terelj National park
Kazakhs, the Islam worshiping minority of Mongolia has preserved the ancient traditions of hunting with Golden Eagles. Caught at the age of 2 or 3 the eagles are trained more... to catch foxes, hares and other minor mammals. For one day the Terelj NP east of UB marking the southern limit of the Siberian taiga will become the meeting point of the best falconers. A short parade where all contestants ride on horseback with their birds on hand determines the best looking bird, horse harness and falconer outfit. Then comes time for real action: one after another the birds' speed and agility are tested. Depart in the morning from UB and return in the evening for an overnight in the hotel. Evening at leisure.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight in hotel
Day 3
Flight to Gobi and travel to herders’ camp
After breakfast transfer to UB airport for an hour and a half flight to the Gobi Desert. Your guide will accompany you on board. Gobi in winter is a particularly pretty but rough place. Its vast plains are pleasantly warm during daytime when it is still. With winds rising temperatures plummet to freezing levels. Upon landing, we drive to a camel herders' camp in the middle of nowhere. A felt covered traditional tent/ger will be your accommodation for the next 3 nights. Your first question would certainly be: "And where is the poor baby camel?" By nature camels happen to reject their babies quite often due to various reasons so you will definitely see a poor youngster tethered nearby grieving for his mother. Traditional lunch will be offered to those curious; a more common to your taste meal will also be available. We explore the surroundings and learn about life and survival in desert.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included
Overnight in nomadic tent called ‘Ger’.
Day 4
Camel journey to bring a musician
In the Gobi there are no other means of effective communication except to physically travel if distances allow. Today you will be assigned the role of messenger to fetch a fiddler from a tiny village in a day's travel distance from the camp. A camel will be selected for you and comprehensive instructions on riding given. You will ride across empty spaces heading towards distant mountain ranges. The oddly clear air shimmers with thousands of minute particles of frost. We stop few times during our challenging journey for hot drinks and leg stretching. Tonight we will spend the only overnight of your lifetime in a winter desert. A warm tent will be set up during the night and a simple but nutritious dinner served. This will be a once in a lifetime experience, without doubt.
3 meals included
Overnight in nomadic Ger/tent
Day 5
Meet the musician & overnight in his village
Very early in the morning we ride for another hour to reach the village. Upon arrival we meet the fiddler in his home. A blue silken scarf, known as 'khadag' will be delivered to him together with the message. It symbolizes the clarity of your intentions. The remainder of the day we leisurely stroll around the village: possibly visit the local market, school etc.
3 meals included
Overnight in nomadic Ger
Day 6
Return to motorbike ride to the camp & re-adoption ceremony
After breakfast together with the fiddler we travel back to the camp on Russian motorbikes or sidecars that serve as taxis among villagers. This will be another unique experience for you. Local riders will safely deliver you to the herders' camp. On arrival in the early afternoon everybody gathers near the mother camel and her baby to witness a touching scene. The fiddler plays a sad melody to the mother camel as if persuading her to re-adopt the poor baby and give her love and milk. The final is classical: the mother camel cries with real tears and lets the baby drink her nutritional milk. We all gather to celebrate the happy end of our story of the weeping camel. We then take a 2 hour transfer to the Three Camel Lodge - an island of luxury amidst desert.
3 meals included
Overnight in Ger
Day 7-8
The Thousand Camel Festival
370,000 two humped or so-called "Bactrian" camels roam the vast spaces of the Gobi desert. They were domesticated thousands of years ago and are closely related to its endemic relative, the wild camel known in Mongolian as Khavtgai. For 2 days the festival unfolds around camel races, camel parade and a camel polo. Each day we take short trips to witness the festival's events returning to the camp for meals and overnight.
Day 9
Return flight to UB, optional shopping
This morning we say goodbye to the hosts and take a return flight to UB. On arrival, we transfer to your hotel. Day at leisure or optional shopping in the afternoon. Farewell dinner.
Breakfast, dinner included
Overnight in hotel
Day 10
Leisure day in Ulaanbaatar or shopping. Guide and vehicle service will be provided.
Breakfast in hotel
Day 11
Breakfast in hotel and transfer to airport and see you off.
Conditions:
Price includes:
-all transfers
-return flight ticket to Gobi
-meals according to the program
-5 night accommodation in hotel UB
-5 night accommodation in camping (nomadic Ger)
-experienced guide
- All equipments including Mongolian national dress “dygil”
-Entrance tickets to the all festivals, parks and museums.
*This tour can be connected with other Mongolian winter tours (Central Mongolia tour, Buddhist sights in Mongolia etc.). We can organize individual tour according to your destination interest or plan. We also organize Russian visa support, tickets, accommodation and transfers.
