🦅 Golden Eagle Festival Tour Authentic Kazakh Tradition (5 Days)
📍 Western Mongolia | Altai Mountains | Golden Eagle festival | Eagle Hunter Family
🦅 Golden Eagle Festival Photography Tour 5 Days
This 5-day Golden Eagle Festival Photography Tour takes you to western Mongolia to capture the world’s most iconic eagle hunting event. Photograph Kazakh eagle hunters in traditional dress, powerful golden eagles in action, dramatic horse games, and authentic nomadic culture against the stunning backdrop of the Altai Mountains. Designed for photographers, the tour offers close access, optimal shooting locations, and rich cultural encounters in a truly unique setting.
⭐ Highlights
- 🦅 Attend the World-Famous Golden Eagle Festival
- Witness one of the most spectacular cultural events in Central Asia, where skilled Kazakh eagle hunters compete using trained golden eagles in centuries-old hunting traditions.
- 🐎 Authentic Nomadic Sports & Traditions
- Experience thrilling horseback competitions such as Kokpar, Kyz Kuar, horse racing, camel racing, archery, and traditional games that bring nomadic life vividly to life.
- 👘 Colorful Kazakh Culture & Costumes
- Admire beautifully embroidered traditional clothing, handcrafted eagle equipment, horse harnesses, and vibrant cultural performances during the festival.
- 📸 Exceptional Photography Opportunities
- Capture dramatic action shots of soaring golden eagles, horseback riders, dust-filled steppe scenes, and intimate cultural moments—ideal for photographers and culture lovers.
- 🏔 Explore Remote Western Mongolia
- Discover the unique landscapes of Bayan-Ulgii Province, framed by the Altai Mountains and wide open steppe, far from mass tourism.
- 🏡 Visit a Golden Eagle Champion Family
- Enjoy an exclusive countryside visit to the home of a festival champion, learning about eagle training, family life, and nomadic heritage passed down through generations.
- 🥘 Taste Traditional Kazakh Cuisine
- Share a home-cooked Besbarmak meal with a local family and enjoy regional dishes in Ulgii restaurants.
- 🤝 Local Expert Guide & Cultural Insight
- Travel with knowledgeable local guides who provide deep insight into Kazakh history, customs, and eagle hunting traditions.
- 🛏 Comfortable Hotel Stays in Ulgii
- Relax each night in comfortable hotels after full days of cultural immersion and festival excitement.
Itinerary:
- 🍽 Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
✈️ Upon arrival at Ulgii Airport, you will be greeted by your local guide and driver and transferred into the heart of Bayan-Ulgii Province. This relaxed first day allows you to acclimatize and gently ease into Kazakh culture.
🏞 Visit Friendship Hill, the best viewpoint in town, offering sweeping panoramic views of Ulgii city framed by the Altai Mountains—an excellent introduction to western Mongolia and a great spot for photography.
🏛 Continue to the local museum to gain insight into Kazakh nomadic traditions, golden eagle hunting heritage, and the history of ethnic Kazakhs in Mongolia.
🛍 In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore local markets, souvenir shops, and Kazakh antique stores, where you can find handmade crafts, felt items, and traditional accessories.
🛏 In the evening, relax at your hotel, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the world-famous Golden Eagle Festival beginning tomorrow.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚙 After breakfast, drive to the festival site with your guide and driver. Along the road, you will encounter eagle hunters riding on horseback, dressed in traditional Kazakh clothing, carrying their majestic golden eagles—one of the most iconic sights in Mongolia.
🎊 Today marks the ceremonial and cultural heart of the festival. The atmosphere is festive, colorful, and filled with music, horses, eagles, and nomadic pride.
🎉 Golden Eagle Festival – Day 1 Program
- 📋 Registration and credential verification of eagle hunters
- 🎊 Grand opening ceremony of the Golden Eagle Festival
- 👘 Best Kazakh traditional costume, eagle equipment, and horse harness competition
- 🏇 Horse race showcasing nomadic riding skills
- 🦅 Eagle adaptation competition (bond and obedience between hunter and eagle)
- 🪙 Tenge Ily – traditional horseback coin-grabbing game
- 🏹 Uriankhai traditional archery competition
- 💑 Best Kazakh costume competition for couples
- 🎶 Evening folk concert at the local theater in Ulgii town
🛏 Return to your hotel in the evening and rest after an exciting cultural day.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚙 After breakfast, return to the festival grounds for the most action-packed day of the event, focused on eagle hunting skills and traditional nomadic sports.
🎯 This day highlights the true mastery of golden eagle hunting, testing speed, accuracy, and cooperation between hunter and bird.
🏆 Golden Eagle Festival – Day 2 Program
🎯 Shyrga Tartu – eagle hunting competition (eagles judged on speed and precision when catching a lure made from fox or rabbit skin)
- 🐪 Camel race across the open steppe
- 🏇 Kyz Kuar – traditional horseback chasing game between young men and women
- 🎲 Continuation of cultural nomadic games
- 🐐 Kokpar (Kukhbar) – intense horseback competition over a goat skin
- 🏅 Award ceremony honoring the festival champions
- 🎊 Official closing ceremony
📸 This day offers exceptional photography opportunities with dynamic action, dust, horses, and soaring eagles.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚗 Today you travel into the countryside to visit the family of a Golden Eagle Festival champion. Eagle hunters traditionally live in remote pastoral areas, and the drive may take 2–4 hours, depending on their seasonal location.
🏡 Experience authentic Kazakh nomadic life and learn firsthand about eagle training, daily herding life, and family traditions passed down through generations.
📸 Enjoy a private photo session with the eagle hunter, their golden eagle, horses, and traditional clothing—an unforgettable cultural encounter.
🥘 Share a traditional Kazakh lunch Besbarmak, prepared by the host family, symbolizing hospitality and respect.
🍽 In the evening, return to Ulgii city for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🚐 After breakfast, transfer to Ulgii Airport.
✈️ Flight back to Ulaanbaatar and end of the tour with unforgettable memories of Mongolia’s eagle hunting heritage.
ℹ️ Tour Notes – Golden Eagle festival tour
📅 Early Booking Strongly Recommended
- The Golden Eagle Festival is the busiest travel period in western Mongolia. During festival dates, domestic flight tickets and hotel accommodations in Ulgii are very limited and sell out quickly.
- Most international travelers and tour operators book their tours at the beginning of the year, so early confirmation is highly recommended to secure availability and stable pricing.
✈️ Domestic Flights
- Flight schedules between Ulaanbaatar and Ulgii are limited during the festival period. In some cases, flight times may change due to weather or operational reasons. Early booking helps ensure confirmed seats on preferred dates.
🏨 Accommodation Availability
- Hotel options in Ulgii are limited and fill up fast during the festival. Hotels are clean and comfortable but simple by international standards due to the remote location. Early booking guarantees the best available rooms.
🎉 Festival Program Flexibility
- The Golden Eagle Festival schedule may be adjusted by local organizers due to weather or cultural reasons. All major competitions and ceremonies are usually held, but exact timing may vary.
🌦 Weather Conditions
- October weather in Bayan-Ulgii can be cold and changeable, especially in the mornings and evenings. Warm clothing, windproof jackets, and gloves are strongly recommended.
🚙 Road & Travel Conditions
- Roads outside Ulgii city are mostly unpaved. Travel times to the countryside and eagle hunter families may vary depending on weather and road conditions.
📸 Photography Considerations
- The festival offers outstanding photography opportunities. Guests should bring protective gear for cameras due to dust, wind, and cold temperatures.
🤝 Cultural Respect
- Eagle hunters and nomadic families are proud of their traditions. Always ask before taking close-up portraits and follow your guide’s advice during family visits.
🌍 Why Choose the Golden Eagle Festival?
- 🦅 World-Famous Eagle Hunting Festival: Experience the legendary Golden Eagle Festival, the most authentic celebration of Kazakh eagle hunting traditions anywhere in the world.
- 📸 Perfect for Photography: Short, well-timed itinerary focused on the best action moments—eagles in flight, hunters in traditional dress, horse games, and cultural performances.
- 🏔️ Stunning Altai Mountain Setting: Photograph dramatic landscapes that perfectly frame the festival and add depth to your images.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Authentic Cultural Access: Meet real eagle hunters and learn about their centuries-old falconry traditions and nomadic lifestyle.
- 🌍 Local Expertise & Smooth Logistics: Guided by experienced local teams ensuring the best viewpoints, cultural insight, and seamless travel.
- ✨ Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience: Witness and photograph a tradition found nowhere else on Earth—powerful, colorful, and unforgettable.
🎒 What to Bring
- 🧥 Warm Clothing – Layered clothes, insulated jacket
- 🧢 Cold-Weather Gear – Hat, gloves, scarf
- 💨 Windproof Jacket – Essential for open festival grounds
- 👟 Comfortable Shoes – Warm, sturdy walking shoes or boots
- 📸 Camera & Accessories – Extra batteries, memory cards, lens protection
- 🧴 Personal Items – Toiletries, medications, sunscreen, lip balm
❓ FAQs – Golden Eagle Festival Tour
- 🦅 What is the Golden Eagle Festival?
- An annual cultural festival where Kazakh eagle hunters compete using trained golden eagles, preserving an ancient nomadic tradition.
- 📍 Where is it held?
- Near Ulgii, western Mongolia.
- 📅 When does it take place?
- Usually in early October (exact dates may vary).
- ✈️ How do we get there?
- By domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar. Flights are limited during festival time.
- 🏨 What accommodation is used?
- Best available local hotels in Ulgii. Clean, comfortable, but simple due to the remote location.
- 🌦 What is the weather like?
- Cool to cold, especially mornings and evenings. Occasional wind or snow is possible.
- 👕 What should I pack?
- Warm layered clothing, windproof jacket, gloves, hat, and comfortable shoes.
- 📸 Is it good for photography?
- Yes. One of the world’s best cultural and action photography events.
- 🧭 Is the tour physically difficult?
- No. Easy-paced, with walking and some long drives on unpaved roads.
- 🏡 Do we visit an eagle hunter family?
- Yes. Includes a visit to a Golden Eagle Festival champion family.
- 🎉 Is the festival schedule guaranteed?
- Main events are held, but timing may change due to weather or local decisions.
- 💰 When should I book?
- Early booking is essential—most tours are reserved at the beginning of the year.