The Golden Eagle Festivals of Mongolia

The Golden Eagle Festivals of Mongolia

The Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia serve as the geographical and spiritual center for one of the world's most enduring and visually striking examples of human-animal symbiosis: hunting with golden eagles. Known as the Golden Eagle Festival (Mongolian: Бүргэдийн баяр; Kazakh: Бүркіт той), this annual gathering in Bayan-Ölgii Province is more than a competition. It preserves Kazakh identity and maintains a tradition spanning over two millennia. For travelers and cultural researchers, the festival offers a rare view of ancient nomadic life meeting modern globalization, showing the resilience of the Kazakh people in the Mongolian steppe.

The Historical and Cultural Tapestry of the Kazakh Berkutchi

Eagle hunting in Mongolia is deeply tied to the history and culture of the Kazakh people. While falconry exists worldwide, using golden eagles on horseback to hunt red foxes and hares is unique to Central Asian nomads.

Kazakhs make up roughly 90% of Bayan-Ölgii’s population. Between the 1840s and 1940s, Kazakh families migrated to the Altai Mountains to escape political pressures from the Russian Empire, Soviet, and Chinese regimes.

This isolation helped preserve traditions suppressed elsewhere. Unlike most Mongolians who follow Tibetan Buddhism, Kazakhs are Muslim and speak a Turkic language. Berkutchi (eagle hunting) is more than a sport; it is essential to their cultural identity. In 2011, UNESCO recognized eagle hunting as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the festival, formalized in 2000, helps elders pass skills to youth.

The Evolution of the Festival Circuit

The Golden Eagle Festival is not just one event. It includes multiple gatherings across Bayan-Ölgii and in Ulaanbaatar, ranging from international events to local competitions.

Festival Type	Location	Timing	Primary Focus
Spring Eagle Festival	Ulaanbaatar (Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex)	First weekend of March	Winter travelers’ access; cultural introduction
Nauryz Festival	Throughout Bayan-Ölgii	March 21–22	Kazakh New Year; music, food, family greetings
Altai Nomad Games	Altai Soum	Mid-September	Community-focused; authentic local sports
Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival	Sagsai Soum	Mid-September	Smaller crowds; popular with photographers
Golden Eagle Festival (Main)	Ölgii City (Bugat/Buyant)	First weekend of October	Largest event; international visitors; full program

The October festival is the largest, with 60–70 hunters competing for titles like “Best Eagle at Hunting Prey.” September festivals are smaller (40–50 hunters) but allow closer viewing.

The Avian Athlete: Taxonomy, Ecology, and Training

Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are the stars of the festival. With wingspans over 2 meters and strong talons, they are among nature’s most powerful predators. The bond between hunter and eagle is built through years of daily interaction.

Capture and Ethics

Kazakh hunters capture eagles from the wild, preferring females for their size and hunting skill. Birds are trained for 6–10 hunting seasons before being released to ensure wild populations remain healthy.

The Training Regimen

Training focuses on trust:

• Perch Stability: Eagles learn to stay on the hunter’s gloved arm, even on horseback.

• Lure Training: Eagles practice striking at moving targets (fox-skin lures).

• Voice Recognition: Eagles learn to respond to their hunter’s call from up to 1 km away.

The Festival Program

A standard festival lasts two days.

Day One: Opening and Calling Competitions

Hunters parade in traditional clothing made from fox, marmot, or wolf skins.

Main Event: Calling Eagle on Arm – Eagles are released from ridges while hunters call them from horseback. Judges score speed and accuracy.

Day Two: Action and Equestrian Games

• Dragging Prey: Eagles swoop down on fox-skin decoys dragged behind horses.

• Kokpar (Bushkashi): Horseback tug-of-war with a goat carcass.

• Kyz Kuar (“The Girl Chase”): A woman chases a man on horseback using a whip in a playful courtship game.

• Tenge Ilu: Riders grab coins from the ground at full gallop, showing balance and agility.

Logistics: Getting to Bayan-Ölgii

Bayan-Ölgii is roughly 1,700 km west of Ulaanbaatar.

Domestic Air Travel

Feature	MIAT Mongolian Airlines	Aero Mongolia	Hunnu Air
Aircraft	Boeing 737 / Embraer 190	Fokker 50 / Embraer 145	Embraer 190
Frequency	2–3 per week (Wed/Sat)	Variable	Variable
Baggage Limit	15 kg checked / 5 kg hand	15 kg total	15 kg checked / 5 kg hand
Hub	UBN (Chinggis Khaan)	UBN (Chinggis Khaan)	UBN (Chinggis Khaan)

Flights are limited during peak festival weeks; book early.

Overland Routes

A 24–36 hour drive is possible, with rough roads requiring 4x4 vehicles, like the UAZ-452. Ölgii sits at 1,710 m, with thin air and occasional smog from stoves.

Accommodation

Urban Hotels in Ölgii

• Best Western Premier Tuushin – modern amenities.

• Traveler’s Guesthouse – smaller, local option.

Ger Camps

• Heated with wood or dried dung

• Shared outhouse-style toilets

• Communal meals with Kazakh and Mongolian dishes

Homestays

• Live with eagle hunting families

• Experience daily nomadic life (milking yaks, tending livestock, training eagles)

• Off-grid and basic sanitation

Food: Altai Steppe Flavors

Dish	Description	Key Ingredients
Besbarmak	“Five Fingers”; national dish	Boiled mutton/horse on noodles with onion sauce
Kazy	Horse meat sausage	Horse rib, garlic, pepper
Baursak	Fried dough	Flour, milk, yeast
Laghman	Hand-pulled noodles	Meat, peppers, onions, potatoes
Suutei Tsai	Milk tea	Black tea, milk, salt, sometimes butter

Dining etiquette: Guests are honored with the best cuts of meat.

Handicrafts and Shopping

• Tuskiiz: Hand-embroidered wall hangings

• Shyrdak: Felt carpets with bold patterns

Recommended shops: Tirlik Black Market, Kazakh Souvenir, Kundiz’s Souvenir Shop, Halmira’s Workshop

Photography Tips

• Shutter speed: 1/1600+ to freeze wings

• Lens: 400–600 mm telephoto for action

• Arrival: Arrive a day early to photograph families arriving

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

• Five Holy Peaks (Tavan Bogd) – Khuiten Uul 4,374 m

• Potanin Glacier – Mongolia’s largest

• Lakes & waterfalls: Khoton, Khurgan, Baga Turgen

• Archaeology: Petroglyphs, Turkic Balbals, Scythian burial mounds

Best time to visit: June–October; late September–early October has autumn colors and first snow.

Ethical Tourism

• Use responsible tour operators

• Avoid disturbing eagles or staged hunts

• Support local families and artisans

Field Preparation

Layers:

• Base: moisture-wicking wool/synthetic

• Mid: fleece or down jacket

• Outer: waterproof/windproof shell

Equipment:

• Hiking boots

• Headlamp

• Water bottle and filter

• Sunscreen, lip balm, polarized sunglasses

Conclusion

The Golden Eagle Festival is more than a show—it is a living cultural treasure. Travelers to Bayan-Ölgii witness harmony between humans and eagles, experience nomadic life, and explore Mongolia’s stunning Altai Mountains. Respect for local customs, adaptability, and curiosity will make the visit unforgettable.

The Golden Eagle Festivals of Mongolia

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