🦅 Altai Eagle Festival 6 Days Tour, Authentic Kazakh Tradition
📍 Western Mongolia | Altai Mountains | Altai Eagle festival | Eagle Hunter Family
🦅 Authentic Eagle Hunting, Nomadic Life & Living Altai Traditions
📅 Altai Eagle Festival Dates: September 12–13, 2026
The Altai Eagle Festival is an authentic regional celebration of Kazakh nomadic heritage, held in the Altai region of western Mongolia near Ulgii. Taking place on September 12–13, 2026, the festival brings together genuine eagle hunters from local Altai villages who continue to practice traditional golden eagle hunting as part of their everyday nomadic life.
Over two vibrant days, skilled hunters showcase the powerful bond between human, horse, and golden eagle through hunting demonstrations, speed and accuracy competitions, and traditional nomadic sports. Visitors witness dramatic scenes of eagles in flight, hunters dressed in richly decorated Kazakh attire, as well as horse and camel races, archery contests, and classic games such as Kokpar and Kyz Kuar. Folk concerts and cultural performances further enhance the festival’s lively and colorful atmosphere.
Unlike larger international events, the Altai Eagle Festival remains less crowded and deeply local, offering a more intimate and authentic cultural experience. Set against the vast open landscapes of the Altai Mountains, it provides a rare opportunity to witness a living eagle-hunting tradition passed down through generations and still actively practiced today.
This festival is ideal for travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences, meaningful encounters with local communities, and exceptional photography opportunities in one of Mongolia’s most remote and scenic regions.
⭐ Highlights – Altai Eagle Festival Tour
- 🦅 Altai Eagle Festival (September 12–13, 2026)
- Attend two full days of the Altai Eagle Festival, featuring real Kazakh eagle hunters, traditional competitions, and vibrant opening and closing ceremonies.
- 🏡 Stay with a Real Eagle Hunter Family
- Live with a Kazakh eagle hunter family in an Altai village and experience authentic nomadic life, hospitality, and daily routines.
- 🦅 Eagle Training & Hunting Experience
- Learn how golden eagles are trained and cared for, and witness a real eagle hunting demonstration on horseback (conditions permitting).
- 🐎 Support Your Host Hunter at the Festival
- Follow and support your host eagle hunter as they compete in the festival, creating a deep personal connection to the event.
- 🎭 Traditional Nomadic Games & Sports
- Enjoy horse racing, camel racing, archery, Kokpar, Kyz Kuar, and other traditional competitions.
- 🍽 Traditional Kazakh Cuisine
- Enjoy home-cooked meals, including the famous Besbarmak, shared with eagle hunter families.
- 🎶 Uriankhai Throat Singing Experience
- Visit a Uriankhai ethnic family and experience traditional throat singing, music, and Altai cultural traditions.
- 📸 Exceptional Photography Opportunities
- Capture eagles in flight, hunters on horseback, colorful costumes, nomadic life, and intimate cultural moments.
- 🌍 Authentic & Less Crowded Festival
- A regional festival with a genuine, local atmosphere—far less crowded than larger events.
Itinerary:
- 🍽 Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- 🏡 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family Homestay
- 🚗 Distance: ~120 km | ⏱ ~2–3 hours
✈️ Upon arrival at Ulgii Airport, you will be met by your experienced local guide and driver. Ulgii is the cultural center of Mongolia’s Kazakh community and the gateway to the Altai Mountains.
🍽 After lunch in town, travel into the Altai countryside toward a traditional Kazakh eagle hunter family, living in a remote Altai village surrounded by wide valleys and mountain ridges.
🏡 Upon arrival, receive a warm welcome from the family and learn about their nomadic lifestyle, horses, and golden eagles—symbols of pride, strength, and heritage.
🥘 In the evening, share a traditional Besbarmak dinner, the most important Kazakh ceremonial dish, prepared especially for guests.
🌌 Overnight with the eagle hunter family, experiencing authentic nomadic life far from modern civilization.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- 🏡 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family Homestay
🦅 Today is fully dedicated to understanding the ancient tradition of eagle hunting, passed down through generations.
You will learn:
- How golden eagles are raised and trained
- Daily routines of eagle care and feeding
- The bond between hunter, horse, and eagle
🐎 Join the eagle hunter on horseback and follow them across the open steppe and hills. Weather and wildlife permitting, witness or participate in a real eagle hunting demonstration, traditionally used to hunt fox, corsac fox, or rabbit.
📸 Extended photography sessions with eagles, hunters, horses, and the dramatic Altai landscape.
🔥 Evening by the stove with the family, sharing stories, tea, and nomadic hospitality.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏡 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family Homestay
🚐 After breakfast, travel to the festival grounds. Along the way, you will see dozens of eagle hunters riding on horseback, dressed in full traditional Kazakh clothing, proudly carrying their golden eagles.
🦅 Altai Eagle Festival – Day 1 Program
- Registration and credential verification of eagle hunters
- Opening ceremony of the Altai Eagle Festival
- Competition for the best Kazakh traditional costume
- Best eagle equipment and horse harness competition
- Horse racing events
- Eagle adaptation and obedience competition
- Tenge Ily – traditional coin-grabbing game while riding a horse
- Uriankhai archery competition
- Best Kazakh costume competition for couples
- Evening folk concert and cultural performances in Ulgii
🎯 You will support your host eagle hunter, following their participation throughout the competitions.
📸 A colorful day filled with portraits, action, emotion, and cultural storytelling.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast
- 🏨 Overnight: Eagle Hunter Family Homestay
🚐 Return to the festival arena for the most exciting and competitive day.
🦅 Altai Eagle Festival – Day 2 Program
- Shyrga Tartu – eagle speed and accuracy competition, where eagles dive from ridges to catch a moving lure
- Camel race
- Kyz Kuar – traditional horseback chasing game between young men and women
- Continuation of nomadic games
- Kokpar (Kukhbar) – intense horseback competition over a goat skin
- Award ceremony for festival winners
- Official closing ceremony
📸 This is the best day for dramatic action photography and close-up shots of eagles in flight.
🏨 In the evening, transfer to Ulgii city and check in to your hotel for a comfortable night.
- 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- 🏨 Overnight: Hotel in Ulgii
- 🚗 Distance: ~120 km | ⏱ ~2–3 hours
🚗 After breakfast, drive back toward Ulgii city.
🏡 En route, visit a family from the Uriankhai ethnic group, one of the indigenous peoples of the Altai region.
🎵 Experience traditional throat singing (Khoomei), learn about their musical instruments, and understand how Altai nomadic cultures differ from Kazakh traditions.
📸 Unique cultural photography and meaningful cultural exchange.
🍽 Return to Ulgii for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay.
- 🍽 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 – Altai Eagle festival tour
- 📅 Festival dates confirmed – The Altai Eagle Festival takes place on September 12–13, 2026.
- 📌 Early booking highly recommended – Flights and accommodation in Ulgii are limited during festival time and often sell out months in advance.
- ✈️ Domestic flights – Flights between Ulaanbaatar and Ulgii are subject to weather conditions and schedule changes.
- 🏡 Accommodation style – A mix of eagle hunter family homestays and hotel accommodation in Ulgii. Facilities in villages are simple but clean and authentic.
- 🌦 Weather conditions – September weather is generally dry and cool. Mornings and evenings can be cold; wind is common on open steppe and festival grounds.
- 🚗 Travel conditions – Some drives are on unpaved countryside roads. Travel times may vary depending on road and weather conditions.
- 🐎 Physical activity – Includes horse riding and outdoor walking. Suitable for travelers with average fitness.
- 🦅 Eagle hunting activities – Real eagle hunting demonstrations depend on weather, wildlife, and seasonal conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
- 📸 Photography – Excellent opportunities throughout the tour. Please ask permission before photographing local people.
- 🤝 Cultural respect – Guests are encouraged to respect local customs, follow guide instructions, and dress modestly during family visits.
- 💵 Cash & services – Limited ATMs outside Ulgii. Please bring sufficient cash for personal expenses and souvenirs.
🌍 Why Choose the Altai Eagle Festival?
- 🦅 Authentic Altai Eagle Festival – Experience the Altai Eagle Festival, a genuine regional festival with real Kazakh eagle hunters, not a staged performance.
- 🏡 Live with an Eagle Hunter Family – Stay with a real Kazakh eagle hunter family and experience true nomadic life, traditions, and hospitality.
- 🐎 Eagle Training & Hunting Experience – Learn how golden eagles are trained and witness a real eagle hunting demonstration (conditions permitting).
- 🎯 Personal Festival Connection – Follow and support your host eagle hunter during every stage of the festival competition.
- 🎶 Unique Altai Culture – Enjoy a rare visit to a Uriankhai family and experience traditional throat singing.
- 📸 Exceptional Photography – Eagles in flight, hunters on horseback, colorful costumes, nomadic life, and intimate cultural moments.
- 🌍 Less Crowded & More Local – A quieter, authentic local festival offering a deeper cultural experience away from mass tourism.
- ✨ Short but Deeply Immersive – Perfect for travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences in a limited time.
🎒 What to Bring
- 🧥 Warm layered clothing – Thermal layers, fleece, insulated jacket
- 💨 Windproof / waterproof jacket – Essential for open steppe and festival grounds
- 🧢 Cold-weather accessories – Warm hat, gloves, scarf / neck gaiter
- 👟 Footwear – Comfortable walking shoes or light hiking boots
- 🧦 Warm socks – Wool or thermal recommended
- 🐎 Comfortable pants – Suitable for horse riding
- 🎒 Daypack – For daily excursions and festival days
- 📸 Camera & accessories – Extra batteries & memory cards (cold drains batteries)
- 🔌 Electronics – Power bank, charging cables, travel adapter
- 🧴 Personal items – Toiletries, sunscreen, lip balm, wet wipes
- 💊 Medications – Personal medicine & basic first-aid kit
- 📄 Documents – Valid passport, visa (if required), and a copy of travel insurance
- 💵 Cash – Limited ATMs outside Ulgii
❓ FAQs – Altai Eagle Festival Tour
- 🦅 What is the Altai Eagle Festival?
- The Altai Eagle Festival is a traditional regional festival where real Kazakh eagle hunters compete, showcasing eagle hunting skills, costumes, horses, and nomadic games.
- 📅 When does the festival take place?
- The festival is held on September 12–13, 2026.
- 📍 Where does the tour take place?
- In western Mongolia, based around Ulgii and nearby Altai villages.
- ✈️ How do we get to Ulgii?
- By domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar. Flights are limited during festival season, so early booking is important.
- 🏡 What accommodation is included?
- A mix of eagle hunter family homestay and hotel accommodation in Ulgii. Village stays are simple, clean, and authentic.
- 🐎 Is eagle hunting guaranteed?
- Festival competitions are guaranteed. Real hunting demonstrations depend on weather, wildlife, and seasonal conditions.
- 🧭 How physically demanding is the tour?
- Easy to moderate. Activities include walking, horse riding, and outdoor sightseeing. No technical trekking required.
- 🌦 What is the weather like in September?
- Generally cool and dry. Days are mild, but mornings and evenings can be cold and windy.
- 📸 Is this tour suitable for photography?
- Yes. This tour offers excellent opportunities for wildlife, cultural, and action photography.
- 💰 When should I book?
- As early as possible. Flights and accommodation in Ulgii sell out quickly during the festival period.