Eagle Hunting Festival
Kazakh nomads' Golden eagle hunting is one of the oldest ways of food hunting. Our ancestors in the Eurasian steppes mastered eagle hunting several thousand years ago, in the Andronov age — proven by Bronze Age petroglyphs. Hunting with birds and hounds has always been considered an art, and the hunt itself, with its graceful movements and the passion of the hunters, became a festival in its own right. Eagle hunting was practiced mainly in the western regions of Mongolia; each bird is trained to hunt a particular type of animal, chiefly foxes, corsacs, and hares. The hunter is known as a kusbegi or berkutchi, and the secrets of training these wild birds have been passed from father to son for generations. This 4-day program (excluding international travel days) brings travelers to Bayan-Ölgii province for the annual Golden Eagle Festival — visiting a real eagle hunter's family, then joining two full festival days of parade, competition, and traditional games. Easier–moderate difficulty; no experience necessary, and suitable for most ages and abilities.
Route Map
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Fly to Ulgii Town & Visit the Eagle Hunter Family
Transfer to the airport for the 3-hour flight to Ulgii town. Our local guide and driver meet you and drive 40 km on the dirt road, through mountainous valleys, to visit a Kazakh eagle hunter's family — a deep introduction to nomadic Kazakh culture and the art of hunting with eagles. Drive back to Ulgii town in the evening. Overnight in a local hotel.
Eagle Hunting Festival — Parade & Eagle Call Competition
Drive to Sagsai village (30 km on the dirt road) for the festival's opening day. Watch the parade of Kazakh hunters in full traditional regalia, mounted on horseback with their golden eagles perched on their arms, followed by the Eagle Call competition — testing each hunter's ability to call their eagle back from a distance. Drive back to Ulgii town for the evening. Overnight in a local hotel.
Eagle Hunting Festival — Fox-Skin Competition & Horseback Games
Return to Sagsai village for the festival's second day: the fox-skin competition, the real test of a hunter's ability as eagles catch a fox skin dragged behind a galloping horse. In the afternoon, traditional Kazakh horseback games follow — Bushkashi (a tug-of-war played with a goat skin), Kyz Kuar (a race between a man and a woman), and Tiyn Teru (riders picking coins off the ground at a gallop) — before points are tallied and winners declared at an award ceremony. Drive back to Ulgii town for the evening. Overnight in a local hotel.
Fly Back to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, fly back to Ulaanbaatar (3-hour flight). On arrival, your driver transfers you to your accommodation. Tour ends on arrival; exact timing depends on the day's flight schedule.