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Go Mongolia
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GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVAL & ALTAI CULTURAL TOUR
2025-02-23
Location: Altai Mountains, Bayan-Ölgii & Khovd Provinces, Mongolia
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Best Time to Visit: Late September - Early October (Official Golden Eagle Festival) or Customized Private Festival (Available on request)
Tour Highlights
- Golden Eagle Festival: Witness one of Mongolia’s most remarkable cultural events, where Kazakh eagle hunters gather in traditional dress to compete with their trained golden eagles.
- Eagle Hunter Encounters: Meet local eagle hunters, learn about their training methods, and experience the close relationship between hunter, horse, and eagle.
- Kazakh Nomadic Culture: Stay in a traditional Kazakh ger, share meals with local families, and learn about the customs of Mongolia’s Kazakh communities.
- Horseback Traditions: Watch traditional horseback games, archery demonstrations, and festival competitions rooted in steppe culture.
- Altai Mountain Landscapes: Travel through the dramatic mountain scenery of western Mongolia, home to remote valleys, eagle hunting families, and rich nomadic heritage.
- Optional Wilderness Extension: Extend the journey with a guided eagle hunting experience, hiking, photography, or deeper cultural activities in the Altai region.
Itineraries
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Day 1: Arrival in Ulgii – Introduction to Kazakh Culture
- • Arrive in Ölgii, the capital of Bayan-Ölgii Province and the cultural heart of Mongolia’s Kazakh community.
- • Visit the Ölgii Museum to learn about Kazakh traditions, regional history, traditional clothing, and the heritage of eagle hunting.
- • Explore the local bazaar, known for handcrafted felt rugs, embroidered textiles, jewelry, and everyday goods from western Mongolia.
- • Meet a local eagle hunter for an introduction to the art of training and working with golden eagles.
- • Enjoy a traditional Kazakh welcome dinner featuring beshbarmak, one of the region’s most iconic dishes.
- • Overnight in a Kazakh ger camp.
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Day 2: Golden Eagle Festival
- • Attend the opening ceremony of the Golden Eagle Festival, where eagle hunters parade in traditional attire with their horses and trained eagles.
- • Watch the eagle calling competition, where hunters release their eagles from a mountainside and call them back with skill, timing, and trust.
- • Experience traditional Kazakh horseback games, including o Kokpar (Buzkashi),a fierce tug-of-war on horseback using a goat carcass, and Kyz Kuar (Girl Chasing), a traditional horseback game between men and women.
- • Enjoy an evening of Kazakh music, dance, and cultural performance.
- • Overnight in a Kazakh ger or local guesthouse.
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Day 3: Golden Eagle Festival
- • Watch the main eagle hunting skills competitions, where hunters demonstrate the speed, accuracy, and discipline of their trained eagles.
- • Witness the fastest eagle landing challenge, one of the festival’s most impressive displays of communication between hunter and eagle.
- • Enjoy a horseback archery demonstration highlighting the precision and movement of Mongolia’s warrior traditions.
- • Attend the award ceremony honoring the best eagle hunters of the festival.
- • Share a farewell dinner celebrating Kazakh hospitality, music, and tradition.
- • Overnight in a Kazakh ger.
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Day 4: Travel to Altai Mountains – Eagle Hunting Expedition
- • Drive toward the Altai Mountains, a remote region of high valleys, open steppe, and long-standing eagle hunting traditions.
- • Arrive at a local eagle hunter’s winter camp and learn more about daily life in this rugged mountain environment.
- • Spend time with the host family and hear about the techniques, responsibilities, and seasonal rhythms involved in training golden eagles.
- • Enjoy a traditional meal prepared in camp, with time to take in the quiet landscapes of western Mongolia.
- • Overnight in a wilderness ger camp.
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Day 5: Eagle Hunting in the Wilderness (Optional – can be replaced with hiking or cultural activities)
- • Choose between a guided eagle hunting experience, a scenic hike, or additional cultural activities depending on your interests and travel style.
- • For the eagle hunting option, ride with local hunters through the mountain landscape and observe how they work with their horses and eagles in the field.
- • Learn how golden eagles are handled, fed, called, and cared for by experienced Kazakh hunters.
- • Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the wide valleys and mountain scenery of the Altai.
- • Return to Ölgii town for a relaxed evening.
- • Overnight in a comfortable hotel.
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Day 6: Kazakh Family Visit and Return to Ulaanbaatar
- • Visit a local Kazakh family and learn about traditional felt-making, embroidery, and household crafts.
- • Enjoy a final Kazakh-style breakfast before transferring to the airport.
- • Depart from Ölgii Airport for Ulaanbaatar, concluding the tour with a deeper understanding of Mongolia’s Kazakh culture, eagle hunting heritage, and Altai landscapes.
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Why Choose This Tour?
- • World-Class Eagle Festival Experience: Witness the Golden Eagle Festival in Bayan-Ölgii, one of Mongolia’s most iconic cultural events.
- • Authentic Local Access: Meet real Kazakh eagle hunters and learn directly from the families who preserve this tradition.
- • Cultural Immersion: Stay in Kazakh gers, share traditional meals, visit local families, and experience western Mongolia beyond the festival grounds.
- • Altai Mountain Adventure: Travel through one of Mongolia’s most dramatic regions, with opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, photography, and wilderness exploration.
- • Exceptional Photography: Capture eagle hunters, traditional clothing, horses, mountain landscapes, and festival moments in one of Mongolia’s most visually striking settings.
- Optional Add-Ons
- • Train with an Eagle Hunter: Extend your stay to spend more time with a local hunter and learn about eagle handling, training, and daily care.
- • Photography-Focused Tour: Add extra time and guidance for photographers seeking portraits, landscapes, festival action, and golden-hour shots in the Altai Mountains.
- • Conservation and Cultural Support: Contribute to community-based efforts that help preserve eagle hunting knowledge, Kazakh craft traditions, and responsible cultural tourism.
What's in the package
What's Included:
- 24/7 In-country emergency support
- Detailed pre-departure summary & briefing
- Health & safety risk assessment
- All accommodation costs
- Full board meals for the entire trip
- All land transportation costs, airport pick-up & drop-off
- All activities listed in the itinerary
- English speaking local guides
What's Excluded:
- Mongolian Tourist visa.
- International flights.
- Meals not included in the itinerary and alcohol.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Expenses of a personal nature (e.g., mini bar, personal telecommunications, laundry, etc.).
- Any activities not included in the itinerary.