Golden Eagle Festival 2023
About this tour
The Eagle Festival or Golden Eagle Festival is a traditional annual festival held in Bayan-Ulgii province in Mongolia. At the eagle festival, Kazakh eagle hunters (Burkitshi) celebrate their heritage and compete in catching small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles thus showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers. Dressed in full eagle hunting regalia and mounted on decorated groomed horses, the entrants compete for the awards of Best Turned out Eagle and Owner; Best Eagle at Hunting Prey and Best Eagle at Locating Its Owner from a Distance. Other sporting activities include horse racing, archery and the highly entertaining Bushkashi - goatskin tug of war on horseback.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport where you will fly to Ulgii city, Bayan-Ulgii Province. When you arrive in Ulgii you’ll meet with our local guide and driver. We will drive to Altantsogts rock painting which is the largest and most famous rock painting in Mongolia. As with most of western Mongolia, Altantsogts is the homeland of ethnic Kazakhs. Then, we will take a short hike to the Tsambagarav mountain. This is Western Mongolia’s second highest mountain, and it is permanently snow-capped. After these activities, we will drive to a Kazak nomadic family for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Chikhertei, Mongolia to Tolbo Lake, Mongolia
Ready for a highlight of the trip! Drive to Altai county. We will visit a Kazakh Eagle Hunter's family and can learn about Kazakh Eagle hunting skills. It is a great way to see Kazak’s in their regular daily life and experience their amazing hospitality. On the way to the Kazak Eagle Hunter's family, we will stop by Tolbo Lake. It is about 50km south of Ulgii. This saltwater lake is high (2080m). The shoreline is treeless, and the water is clean. It is a great place for scenic photos.
Day 3: Altai Mountains, Mongolia
We will explore more of this scenic region and drive to Nutsgent Lake which is one of the highest lakes in western Mongolia. Here, we will do a short hike and then we will drive to the Uriankhai family and learn about their culture and lifestyle. We will learn archery in both the Mongolian and Uriankhai styles. Dinner will be traditional fare with the Urainkhai family, and we will then return to our guest house for the night.
Day 4: Eagle Festival, Mongolia
Ready for THE highlight of the trip! We will drive to the Eagle Festival or Golden Eagle Festival. This festival is an annual traditional festival organized in Bayan-Ulgii province of Mongolia. At the Eagle Festival, Kazakh eagle hunters celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers.
Day 5: Eagle Festival, Mongolia to Ulgii, Mongolia
We will continue our stay at the Eagle Festival, then drive to Ulgii city. In Ulgii, we will visit the following places: - Muslim mosque - Local museum - Flea-market - “Peace peak” for Ulgii city viewpoint
Day 6: Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast, we will take you to a local airport for a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Once you arrive in Ulaanbaatar, if time allows, we will visit the following places: · Sukhbaatar Square – Central point of Ulaanbaatar, government building, and Genghis Khan's Memorial. · Gandan Monastery – is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia, the main destination for pilgrims and monks. · National History Museum of Mongolia – Great place to be introduced of Mongolian history, culture, and ethnic groups. · Zaisan Hill – This peak provides a panoramic view of the capital city
What's included
What to know
Dressed in full eagle hunting regalia and mounted on decorated groomed horses, the entrants compete for the awards of Best Turned out Eagle and Owner; Best Eagle at Hunting Prey and Best Eagle at Locating Its Owner from a Distance. Other sporting activities include horse racing, archery and the highly entertaining Bushkashi - goatskin tug of war on horseback.
Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia