Golden Eagle Festival

Golden Eagle Festival is a must-see event in Asia, particularly in Mongolia. It is a festival to demonstrate the culture of the Kazakhs to the world and promotes their heritage to the next generations.

The main festival held in October is organized by the Mongolian Eagle Hunters’ Association. Bayan-Ulgii province is located 1600 km from Ulaanbaatar and a domestic flight is the preferred way of transport for people traveling from Ulaanbaatar. The October Golden Eagle Festival is the main festival, attracting a large number of tourists and photographers. There is a limited capacity for domestic flights and local accommodation. Therefore, we suggest you arrange and book the tour as early as possible if you are planning to participate in the October eagle festival.

There are two smaller Golden eagle festivals held in September. Up to 80 Eagle hunters participate in the October festival while up to 40 Eagle hunters contest in each festival of September.
2019 was the 20th anniversary of the October Golden Eagle Festival. The Golden Eagle Festival is of high interest to photographers.

What to See During the Golden Eagle Festival?

They celebrate the Eagle Festival for two days; it starts with the opening parade of well-dressed 70 to 80 Eagle hunters riding the horses and holding their eagles on their right arm. Many of the Eagle hunters arrive far away traveling with their eagles on horseback.   The Eagle Hunters compete for two days according to the following criteria;

      The bond between the eagles and hunters

·                 The Eagle Hunters’ clothing

·                The Eagle Hunters’ horse ornaments

·                You also see an archery

·                Check the eagle’s agility and ability to grip stuffed baits dragged by horses

·               The Eagles released from a hilltop should recognize the call of their trainers and sit on his arm

·               Camel or horse race

·               A coin grabbing on a horseback

·               Kyz Kuar-Women Chasing game

·               Kykbar – Tug of war played on horseback with goat skins

·               Concert of the Kazakhs

Eagle Festival Tour Meals

There are several temporary ger-restaurants around the festival area. The restaurants serve traditional Kazakh, Mongolian and western-style meals.

Where to stay during the Eagle Hunting Festival?

The festivals are held about 7 to 14 km out of Ulgii town. Therefore, it is available to stay in the town hotels and tourist ger camps. Alternatively, you can stay in the guesthouses and family runs gers of Ulgii. Staying with a Kazakh family is available either in the town or in the countryside.

Some facts about the eagles and hunters

·       The Kazakhs are a national minority in the whole country. Even though, they are a majority in the far western Bayan-Ulgii province. Mongolian Kazakhs have been keeping their culture and tradition well including Eagle Training and Eagle Hunting.                      Golden Eagles (Aquila Chrysacty) have incredible speed, great eyesight, and powerful feet with sharp talons. The Eagles are hooded by a specially made hood to keep them calm. It is removed when scanning areas of the steppes. The Eagles can spot even the slightest twitch from a great distance.

·         The second fastest bird for hunting on earth

·         They have an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years

·         They can live in many different types of climates from the fringe of the Arctic zone to the hot desert. They do not migrate

·         The average male eagle weight is 3.6kilograms (8 pounds) and for females 5 kilograms (11pounds). The hunting is done on a horseback. The greater weight female eagle is supported by forked support fitted to the saddle while traveling on the horseback

·         Wingspan ranges between 1.8 meters (6 feet) and 2.5 meters (8 feet)

·         Their diet is mainly small animals such as foxes, hares, and mice

·         The trained eagles have names

·         They release the eagles ceremonially in the wild after 6-7 years of hunting

·         Golden Eagle nestlings that lived and bred in the mountains are brought to train

·         The female species are trained as the female eagles are larger in body and have brave instincts

·         The Eagles have been trained by males. It is not unusual to see 9 10 years old boys training the Eagles. However, there are several huntresses now. One of them is Ashlopan, a teenage eagle trainer girl who participated in the Golden Eagle Festival and won prizes while competing with the male adult hunters.