🦅 Golden Eagle Festival Tour Authentic Kazakh Eagle Hunting (6 Days)
📍 Western Mongolia | Altai Mountains | Golden Eagle festival | Eagle Hunter Family
🦅 Golden Eagle Festival Photography & Culture Tour – 6 Days
Authentic Kazakh Eagle Hunting & Cultural Immersion
This 6-day Golden Eagle Festival Tour offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s most authentic living traditions in western Mongolia. Combining deep cultural immersion with full access to the legendary Golden Eagle Festival, this journey takes you beyond spectatorship and into real Kazakh nomadic life.
Begin your adventure in Bayan-Ulgii, home of Mongolia’s Kazakh community, where golden eagle hunting has been passed down for generations. Stay with a real eagle hunter family in the countryside, learn how golden eagles are trained, handled, and cared for, and witness traditional hunting practices on horseback across the open steppe.
The journey continues with both official days of the Golden Eagle Festival, where master eagle hunters compete in skill, speed, and precision. Colorful traditional costumes, powerful eagles in flight, ancient nomadic games, and emotional ceremonies create an unforgettable cultural spectacle.
Designed for culture lovers, photographers, and adventurous travelers, this tour offers exceptional photography opportunities, meaningful cultural interaction, and a genuine connection with local communities. Held in the remote Altai region far from mass tourism, the Golden Eagle Festival Tour is not a performance—it is a living heritage and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
⭐ Golden Eagle festival tour highlights:
- 🦅 Live with a Real Eagle Hunter Family
- Stay with an authentic Kazakh eagle hunter family in the countryside and experience daily nomadic life, traditions, hospitality, and meals that are unchanged for generations.
- 🏹 Hands-On Golden Eagle Hunting Experience
- Learn how golden eagles are trained, handled, and used for hunting. Follow the eagle hunter on horseback and witness real hunting techniques in the open steppe.
- 🎉 Attend the World-Famous Golden Eagle Festival
- Experience both full days of the legendary Golden Eagle Festival, the most authentic eagle hunting festival in the world.
- 👘 Authentic Kazakh Culture & Costumes
- See genuine traditional clothing, saddles, horse gear, and eagle equipment used in daily nomadic life—not costumes made for tourism.
- 🐎 Traditional Nomadic Sports
- Watch thrilling competitions including Kokpar, Kyz Kuar, Shyrga Tartu, horse racing, camel racing, archery, and ancient horseback games.
- 📸 Outstanding Photography Opportunities
- Capture dramatic images of eagles in flight, hunters on horseback, emotional moments at the festival, and intimate family life in remote landscapes.
- 🏔 Remote Altai Landscapes
- Explore the vast open steppe and mountain scenery of western Mongolia, far from crowds and mass tourism.
- 🤝 Support a Competing Eagle Hunter
- Travel alongside and support your host eagle hunter as he competes in the festival—an emotional and deeply local experience few travelers ever have.
- 🥘 Traditional Kazakh Cuisine
- Enjoy home-cooked meals including Besbarmak, shared with nomadic families in a warm and authentic setting.
- ✨ Once-in-a-Lifetime Cultural Immersion
- This is not a show—it is real nomadic life, real competition, and a living cultural heritage found in very few places on Earth.
Itinerary:
- 🍽 Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- 🏕 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family (Homestay)
✈️ Upon arrival at Ulgii Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your local guide and driver. Ulgii is the cultural heart of Mongolia’s Kazakh community and the gateway to the Golden Eagle Festival.
🍽 After arrival, enjoy lunch in Ulgii city before departing for the countryside.
🚙 In the afternoon, drive across open steppe landscapes toward the home of a traditional Kazakh eagle hunter family.
🏡 Upon arrival, meet the family and learn about their daily nomadic life, livestock herding, and eagle hunting traditions that have been passed down for generations.
🥘 In the evening, enjoy a welcoming dinner with the family featuring Besbarmak, the most important Kazakh traditional dish, shared on special occasions.
🌙 Overnight stay with the eagle hunter family, offering a rare and immersive experience of authentic nomadic lifestyle far from modern tourism.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- 🏕 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family
🦅 Today is dedicated to experiencing the ancient art of golden eagle hunting, one of the world’s oldest hunting traditions still practiced today.
🎓 In the morning, observe how eagles are handled, trained, and prepared for hunting. Learn about the strong bond between hunter and eagle, training techniques, seasonal hunting practices, and the care of the birds.
🐎 Later, accompany the eagle hunter on horseback into the open steppe. Witness demonstrations of eagle hunting techniques and how eagles are released and recalled.
🦊 Traditionally, golden eagles hunt fox, corsac fox, rabbits, and other small animals during the winter season. This experience offers deep insight into real hunting life rather than staged performances.
📸 Enjoy an extended photography session capturing powerful portraits of eagle hunters, golden eagles, horses, and the dramatic Altai landscapes.
🌙 In the evening, return to the family camp, enjoy dinner, share stories by the stove, and experience genuine nomadic hospitality.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚗 After breakfast, drive back to Ulgii city together with the eagle hunter. The hunter will bring his eagle, horse, and equipment to prepare for the upcoming Golden Eagle Festival.
🎉 Along the way, feel the growing excitement as the city becomes lively with arriving eagle hunters from remote regions.
🏨 Upon arrival in Ulgii, check in to your hotel.
🤝 Spend the afternoon observing festival preparations and supporting your eagle hunter as he prepares to compete—an emotional and meaningful local experience.
🛏 Evening at leisure and overnight at the hotel.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚐 After breakfast, your guide and driver will transfer you to the festival site. Along the road, witness dozens of eagle hunters riding on horseback toward the arena, dressed in traditional Kazakh clothing with their golden eagles perched proudly on their arms.
🎉 The first day focuses on cultural identity, tradition, and ceremony.
🦅 Festival Day 1 Program
- 📋 Registration and credential verification of eagle hunters
- 🎊 Grand opening ceremony of the Golden Eagle Festival
- 👘 Competition for best Kazakh traditional costume
- 🦅 Best eagle equipment and horse harness competition
- 🏇 Horse race
- 🦅 Eagle adaptation competition (obedience and response to the hunter)
- 🪙 Tenge Ily – traditional coin-grabbing game on horseback
- 🏹 Uriankhai traditional archery competition
- 💑 Best Kazakh costume competition for couples
- 🎶 Evening folk concert at the local theater in Ulgii city
📸 This day offers vibrant cultural photography with color, movement, and emotion.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
🚐 After breakfast, return to the festival grounds for the most competitive and action-packed day.
🎯 This day focuses on true hunting skills, speed, precision, and the bond between hunter and eagle.
🦅 Festival Day 2 Program
- 🎯 Shyrga Tartu – eagle hunting competition measuring speed and accuracy in catching a fox or rabbit-skin lure
- 🐪 Camel race
- 🏇 Kyz Kuar – traditional horseback chasing game
- 🎲 Continuation of nomadic games
- 🐐 Kokpar (Kukhbar) – intense horseback competition over a goat skin
- 🏅 Award ceremony honoring festival champions
- 🎊 Official closing ceremony
📸 Outstanding opportunities for dramatic action photography, dust-filled scenes, soaring eagles, and emotional celebrations.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
🚐 After breakfast, transfer to Ulgii Airport.
✈️ Flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
👋 End of an unforgettable journey into the heart of Kazakh nomadic culture and the world’s most authentic eagle hunting tradition.
ℹ️ Tour Notes – Golden Eagle festival tour
📅 Early Booking Is Essential
The Golden Eagle Festival is the busiest travel period in western Mongolia. Domestic flights and hotels in Ulgii are very limited and often sell out months in advance. Most travelers book at the beginning of the year to secure availability.
✈️ Domestic Flights
Flights between Ulaanbaatar and Ulgii are limited. Flight times may change due to weather or operational reasons. Early booking helps secure preferred schedules.
🏨 Accommodation Standard
Hotels in Ulgii are clean and comfortable but simple, reflecting the remote location. The countryside stay is a traditional family homestay with basic facilities and shared bathrooms.
🎉 Festival Schedule Flexibility
Festival programs are organized by local authorities and may change slightly due to weather or cultural considerations. All major events and competitions are usually held.
🌦 Weather Conditions
Early October weather is cool to cold, especially in the mornings and evenings. Wind and occasional light snow are possible. Warm clothing is essential.
🚙 Road & Travel Conditions
Travel outside Ulgii is mostly on unpaved roads. Driving times may vary depending on road and weather conditions.
📸 Photography & Equipment
Excellent photography opportunities are available. Guests should protect cameras from dust, cold, and wind. Extra batteries are recommended.
🤝 Cultural Respect
Eagle hunters and nomadic families are proud of their traditions. Always follow your guide’s advice, ask permission before close-up photos, and respect local customs.
⚠️ Wildlife & Hunting Note
Eagle hunting demonstrations follow traditional practices. Actual hunting depends on weather, season, and wildlife movement and cannot be guaranteed.
🌍 Why Choose the Golden Eagle Festival Tour?
- 🦅 Truly Authentic – Real Kazakh eagle hunters, real eagles, real traditions—not a staged show.
- 🏡 Live the Culture – Stay with an eagle hunter family and experience genuine nomadic life.
- 🎉 Full Festival Access – Attend both days of the world-famous Golden Eagle Festival.
- 📸 Incredible Photography – Eagles in flight, nomads on horseback, powerful cultural moments.
- 🏔 Remote & Unspoiled – Held in western Mongolia, far from mass tourism.
- 🤝 Support Local Heritage – Your visit helps preserve an ancient, living tradition.
🎒 What to Bring for Golden Eagle festival tour
- 🧥 Warm Clothing – Thermal layers, fleece or down jacket
- 💨 Windproof / Waterproof Jacket – Essential for open steppe and festival grounds
- 🧢 Cold-Weather Accessories – Hat, gloves, scarf
- 👟 Footwear – Warm, comfortable walking shoes or boots
- 📸 Camera Gear – Camera, lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, dust protection
- 🎒 Daypack – For daily essentials during festival and countryside visits
- 🧴 Personal Items – Toiletries, sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer
- 💊 Medications – Personal medicine and basic first-aid items
- 🔌 Electronics – Power bank, charging cables, travel adapter
- 📄 Documents – Passport, visa (if required), travel insurance copy
- 💵 Cash – Limited ATMs outside Ulgii city
❓ 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 the festival held?
- Near Ulgii, in western Mongolia.
- 📅 When does it take place?
- Usually in early October each year (exact dates may vary).
- ✈️ How do we get to Ulgii?
- By domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar. Flights are limited during festival time.
- 🏨 What accommodation is provided?
- Local hotels in Ulgii and a traditional eagle hunter family homestay in the countryside.
- 🌦 What is the weather like?
- Cool to cold, especially mornings and evenings. Wind and light snow are possible.
- 📸 Is this tour suitable for photographers?
- Yes. It offers some of the best cultural and action photography opportunities in the world.
- 🧭 Is the tour physically difficult?
- No. Easy to moderate pace, with light walking and some long drives.
- 🏡 Do we really stay with an eagle hunter family?
- Yes. You will stay with a real Kazakh eagle hunter family and experience their daily life.
- 🎉 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 booked at the beginning of the year.