Golden Eagle Festival is a cultural and adventurous attraction for both local and foreign travelers and photographers. It is not just a festivity, but also is an ancient hunting tradition and unique cultural heritage of Kazakh minority of Mongolia.
If you want to know one strong reason – why you must travel Mongolia, Golden Eagle Festival is the answer which is one of the must-see events in Asia, especially in Mongolia. This fascinating festival is held in the Western part of Mongolia by the local Kazakh minority to bring and promote their heritage to their next generation and to the world.
Local Kazakhs show their eagle hunting culture and their unique traditions. It starts with the opening parade with well-dressed hunters and is about authentic competitions of eagle training skills and hunting with golden eagles.
Specially trained eagles catch small stuffed animals such as foxes and hares. In addition, some uncommon cultural events and small competitions are organized including, traditional coin grabbing games while riding on horseback; popularly known as Uriankhai archery competition. After enjoying the festival, you can visit the local theatre to enjoy the folk performance in Ulgii town.
The country’s increasingly popular Golden Eagle Festival is trying to figure out how to maintain those now that it’s in the spotlight. 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 the Eagle Training and Eagle Hunting.
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 and attracts a huge number of tourists and photographers. There is a limited capacity for domestic flights and local accommodation.
Therefo
re, 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 is the 20th anniversary of the October Golden Eagle Festival.
The Golden Eagle Festival is in high interest to the photographers. 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 faraway traveling with their eagles on horseback. The Eagle Hunters compete two days according to the bond between the eagles and hunters.
There are several temporary ger-restaurants around the festival area. The restaurants serve traditional Kazakh, Mongolian and western-style meals.
You should eat and drink in the ger restaurants because the temperature may drop below 0°C. The festivals are held about 7 to 14 km
out of the 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. Golden Eagles (Aquila Chrysacty) are born for hunting; they 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 Eagles have been trained by males. It is not unusual to see 9- and 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.
