Altai Eagle Festival Tour September 2024 - Mongolia
About this tour
Meet the Kazakh Eagle hunters. The rodeo of eagle hunting. A fantastic opportunity for photographers and adventurers alike to see these magnificent birds up close. There are approx. 400 eagle hunters in Bayan-Olgii aimag. The eagle hunters from around regions gather to test their finely trained birds in singular contests of speed and agility in these few days. During the festival we also see some Kazakh Traditional Horse Games like “Bushkashi” (Try to take out from each other the goat skin on horseback),”Kiss woman on horseback"," Pick up coins from the land on horseback” and others. In the evening we enjoy to have the Kazakh Concert with some traditional songs and music.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulgii, Mongolia
September, 20 12:00-14:00 Lunch 18:00 Dinner and entertainment Overnight in nomadic style ger/wooden house for 2 people.
Day 2: Ulgii, Mongolia to Tolbo Lake, Mongolia
Festival Day 1 / September, 17 10:00 Opening ceremony, introductions, Eagle Hunting history and practice. 10:30 Parade of all participants. 10:30-13:00 Eagle Call Tests hunter’s ability to ‘call’ Eagle to their horse from a distance 13:00-13:30 Break for lunch 13:30-15:00 Fox Skin The real test of a hunter’s ability, Eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse. 15:00-16:00 Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with killed goat, common throughout Central Asia Archery Same time will be started Western Mongolian Archery Competition. Archery people will shoot from bow to balls. 16:00-16:45 Kyz Kuar A race between a man and woman on horseback 16:45-17:30 Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the race 18:30 Ethno-Concert with traditional music and dance in Kazakh Theater (Olgii town) Overnight in nomadic style ger/wooden house. BLD
Day 3: Ulgii, Mongolia to Tolbo Lake, Mongolia
Festival Day 2 / September, 21-22 10:00-13:00 Eagle Call Tests hunter’s ability to ‘call’ Eagle to their horse from a distance 13:00-13:30 Break for lunch 13:30-14:15 Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the Race 14:15-15:30 Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with killed goat, common throughout Central Asia 15:30-16:15 Kyz Kuar A race between a man and woman on horseback 16:15-17:00 Awards and Closing ceremony Overnight in nomadic style ger/wooden house. BLD
Day 4: Ulgii, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast, we will head for Olgii airport and for Ulaanbaatar. (B)
What's included
Accommodation: 3 overnights in nomadic style Kazakh ger/yurt or wooden house per 2 persons with hot shower and toilet facilities. Meals: Our cook will prepare the meals. We pride ourselves in having cooks adapt to both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips. There are always vegetables available, and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips. For breakfast we can buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area sometimes. Transport: Comfortable bus will transfer to/from local airport and the festival place everyday.
Personal needs, Alcohol drinks and laundry
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with us.
Route & locations
Ulgii, Mongolia