Khazahk nation’s Golden eagle hunting is one of the oldest ways of food hunting. Our ancestors in Eurasian steppes mastered eagle hunting several thousand years ago, in the Andronov age. A proof of this fact is Bronze Age petroglyphs. Hunting with birds and hounds has always been considered an art. The actual course of hunting, graceful movements of animals, emotions and passions of the hunters made it a festival. A steppe hunter derived great pleasure from the tandem of a dog and a hunting bird.
- Thousands of years of tradition
Length: 4 days
Date: This year, the following 5 eagle festivals will be held in Bayan-Olgii province.
Group1: 08 Sep – 11 Sep (Nomadic)
Group2: 15 Sep – 18 Sep (Blue)
Group3: 16 Sep – 19 Sep (Ayan)
Group4: 22 Sep – 24 Sep (Ulaankhus)
Group5: 29 Sep – 02 Oct (Association)
Type: Mongolia Group Tours
Area: West Mongolia
Difficulty: easier – moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities)
Prices
This is a join tour & the price of the trip is determined by how many people join the trip. Please carefully check what is include and what is not include in the prices!
1000 USD for 1pax
640 USD p.p for 2pax
530 USD p.p for 3pax
480 USD p.p for more than 4pax
Included: Accommodation, food service, coach bus transportation, English speaking guide service, mineral water, event ticket and Government charges
Not included: RT domestic flight to Ulgii town (Why are domestic flights not included?), gratuities for staffs, personal expenses, travel insurance
Single Supplement: 120 USD
Detailed itinerary
Day1. Fly to Ulgii town & visit to the eagle hunter family
Day2. Eagle hunting festival
Day3. Eagle hunting festival
Day4. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar
Day1. Fly to Ulgii town & visit to the eagle hunter family
We will pick you up from your accommodation (pick up time will be confirmed) & transfer to the airport. Fly to Ulgii town (3 hours flight). After you landed there, our local guide & driver will pick you up & drive to the eagle hunter family (40 km on the dirt road). We would drive through beautiful mountainous area via beautiful valleys to the destination. We would have some stops to get pictures of beautiful landscape pictures and the nature. We would visit eagle hunter’s family where you would have chance to get in to the nomadic culture and would have deep knowledge of hunting with eagles. Before dinner time we will drive back to Ulgii town (40 km on the dirt road). Overnight in the local hotel.
Day2. Eagle hunting festival.
After breakfast time, we will drive to Sagsai village (30 km on the dirt road). Day one of the festival starts with a parade of Kazakhs in their full traditional regalia. They are mounted on horses with one arm outstretched, a Golden Eagle perched in situ. Then, the show will continued by Eagle Call competition that tests hunter’s ability to ‘call’ Eagle to their horse from a distance. Before dinner time, we will drive back to Ulgii town (30 km on the dirt road). Overnight in the local hotel.
Day3. Eagle hunting festival.
After breakfast time, we will drive again to Sagsai village (30 km on the dirt road). On day two the eagles submit to a test of their hunting ability. It is competition for fox skin. It is the real test of a hunter’s ability, eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse. After lunch time, next event will be emerged on the scene. These are: Bushkashi – Tug of war played on horseback with goat skin, Kyz Kuar – A race between a man and woman on horseback, Tiyn Teru – Riders compete to pick up coins from the ground while the horse gallop. During the afternoon of day two the points are tallied & the winners are declared at a award ceremony. In the evening, we will drive back to Ulgii town (30 km on the dirt road). Overnight in the local hotel.
Day4. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar.
After breakfast time, we will fly back to Ulaanbaatar (3 hours flight). After you landed in the city, our driver will pick you up and transfer to your accommodation.
End time: Depends flight schedule. Usually in the afternoon.
Total driving distance: 200 km
Information
- Above prices are changeable by changing components (kind of services) of the itinerary.
- Domestic flight companies accept only 10kg-15kg lugguge incuding your carry on bags too for free transfer.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you are in correct pick up location at correct time as stated on your booking form.
- No smoking in travel vehicles or aircraft.
Please let us know should you have further inquiries! We are looking forward to assist you with organizing your stay in Mongolia and answering any questions you might have about this tour. We want your holiday experience in Mongolia to be as amazing as it is possible.
Few words about Kazakh eagle hunters
Eagle hunting was mainly practiced only in the western regions of Mongolia. Each bird was intended to hunt a particular type of animals. Apart from foxes, golden eagles usually catch corsacs and hares. Strong, rapacious, well-trained eagles proved good for hunting hoofed animals and even wolves. Hawks are used for geese and bustards. Sparrow-hawks are as a rule used for hunting hares while goshawks are used for quails. Falcons and marlins proved to be excellent for hunting smaller birds. In the past, hunting birds were extremely expensive: a good golden eagle could cost 5-6 camels and a falcon cost 1-2 camels.
Eagle hunting season starts with first night frosts and continues from November through February. This schedule was set in olden days because furry animals have the best fur in winter. Falcon and Merlin hunting starts in late September when birds are preparing for migration and lasts until the first snow falls.
As a result of several centuries of selection, people of the region developed a special breed of hounds. Its distinguishing features are an outstanding ability to chase a prey, sharp-sightedness, and speed. Mostly, tazy are used to hunt hares, badgers, marmots, foxes and wolves without guns. Tazy are beautiful, graceful and elegant dogs with a sense of dignity. Tazy can be translated as “clean”. Kazakhs of the past maintained a special treatment for these dogs: tazy was designated a special place in a yurt covered with a warm soft cloth and a special felt sack was taken for each hunting to keep the dog warm during hunting. As a legend talks, an excellent tazy was accepted as bride-money estimated at 47 horses.
Hunting with Golden Eagle is one of the most unique features of the Kazakh life. The hunter is named kusbegi or berkutchi. The experience of wild birds training was gained by Kazakh kusbegi by centuries, the secrets were impacted from the father to the son and kept deep secret. At the present time we can meet few people with such name. These masters have innate gift of wild birds training. For hunting they tame falcons, golden eagles and eagles. Names of birds are given depending on their appearance and battle characteristics. The hunting with Golden Eagle are during ten centuries.
