EAGLE FESTIVAL
Introduction
Hunting with eagles is a Kazakh winter hobby, not a profession, and it’s estimated that there are about 600 practitioners living in Bayan-Ölgii. Ölgii’s Eagle Festival (often called the ‘Golden Eagle Festival’ or simply ‘the Eagle Festival’) has soared in popularity since the heroics of Aisholpan, a plucky 13-year-old Kazakh girl, were portrayed in the 2016 film The Eagle Huntress.
A photographer’s dream, the programme kicks off around 10am on the Saturday with a fashion parade of sorts, as the mounted eagle hunters – resplendent in embroidered winter furs and brandishing their birds – are judged on their attire. The festival’s various competitions and displays – including one called shakhyru, during which the eagle must catch a piece of fox fur pulled behind a galloping horse – are staggered over the weekend.
The festival culminates on Sunday, when a live fox (or sometimes a wolf pup) is released as bait for the top three eagles to hunt; note that some may find this somewhat distressing, as the fox or pup is killed.
The festival also includes traditional horse games and camel races. The most exciting are kokpar (a tug-of-war with an animal skin between two riders) and tenge ilu (a competition in which riders must swoop down to pick up a scrap of material from the ground at full gallop).
DAY 1. ULAANBAATAR
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel and take city tour depending on your arrival time. Visit Gandan monstastery for capturing the essence of Mongolian’s beliefs, traditions and religious life. You’ll also get a chance to take shots of view of sedentary nomadic dwelling districts. After that visit Sukhbaatar square, National History Museum, Bogd Khan Winter Palace and Zaisan Hill.
(Overnight at hotel – D)
DAY 2. ULGII
Take a flight to Ulgii town which is the capital of the Bayan-Ölgii province of Mongolia, located in the extreme west of the country. This, and the remoteness of the city from Ulaanbaatar (over 1,000 miles away) gives the place a pleasing ‘frontier’ feeling and It lies on an altitude of 1,710 meters (5,610 feet). Most inhabitants of Ulgii are Kazakhs (93%).
(Overnight at hotel – B,L,D)
DAY 3-4. THE EAGLE FESTIVAL
A fantastic opportunity for photographers and adventurers alike to see such an authentic hunting competitions of Kazakh locals up close.
The Eagle Festival, Kazakh eagle hunters celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills both of the birds and their trainers. Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy, as well as for the best traditional Kazakh dress, and more. Today there are approx. 700 eagle hunters in Bayan-Ulgii province.
(Overnight at hotel in Ulgii – B,L,D)
DAY 5. VISIT KAZAKH NOMADIC FAMILY
After breakfast, drive for visiting Eagle trainer family. There we have an opportunity to have sufficient time to understand, immerse in and photograph their way of life and traditions.
(Overnight at hotel – B,L,D)
DAY 6. FLY BACK TO ULAANBAATAR
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Free in the afternoon. Take your time to exploring around Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy folk music concert followed by farewell dinner.
(Overnight at hotel – B,L,D)
DAY 7. DEPARTURE
After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport. (B)
10 September to 10 October (depending on preset date of the year)
Double occupancy: USD 2800 per person
Single occupancy: USD 3000 per person
Group discounts available on request for 4 persons or more.
Includes:
- Airport pick up and drops
- 4 nights’ accommodation outside of UB at ger camps/hotels with applicable of all taxes
- Meals stated in the program
- All transportation inside Mongolia
- Monument and National Park entrance fees
- Services of accompanied English speaking guide from arrival in UB till departure
- 1 bottle of mineral water per day
Excludes:
- Hotel stay in UB
- International and local airfare / airport tax
- Items of personal nature such as table drinks, telephone calls, laundry, tips, porterage, mineral water at restaurant & hotel / Camera fee (still / video)
- Any tipping for guide(s) & driver(s)
- Any other services which are not mentioned in above tour inclusion
