Selena Travel

Golden Eagle Festival tour 2024

Golden Eagle Festival tour | Golden Eagle and Kazakh Eagle hunter

7days/6nights

Tour grade: Easy

From: US$ 2,550

Style: Traveller

  • Western Mongolia: Ethnic groups of Mongolia – Kazakh nomads,  meet a visiting eagle hunter family
  • Golden eagle festival: featuring talented eagle trainers and their magnificent Golden Eagles, as well as games between the nomads. 
  • Breathtaking scenery all the time and endless photo opportunities!
  • Meet people and make friends! You will be part of a group of 4-8 people during the tour as it is a group departure.

Tour Overview

Looking for an unforgettable experience that blends landscape and cultural sightseeing? Look no further than the Kazakh traditional eagle hunting festival! Last year, over 50 participants showcased their specially trained Golden Eagles in competitions of speed, agility, and accuracy. But that's not all – the festival also features traditional Kazakh games like Kokbar, archery, and horse racing.

This festival is a celebration of both the Golden Eagle and Kazakh traditional heritage. Attendance is limited to maintain the festival as a Kazakh event, but this presents a unique opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their culture. Join us for a few days of eagle training and cultural immersion, and discover the beauty of Mongolia's remote Buddhist monasteries and nomadic families. Whether you prefer horse-riding or guided walking, there are endless opportunities for photography and adventure. Don't miss out on this fantastic trip!

Tour map

Map of Golden eagle festival tour

Brief itinerary

  • Day 1: Oct 03. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, tour of the City
  • Day 2: Oct 04. Olgii town
  • Day 3: Oct 05. Golden Eagle Festival
  • Day 4: Oct 06. Golden Eagle Festival
  • Day 5: Oct 07. Ulaanbaatar - Terelj National park
  • Day 6: Oct 08. Ulaanbaatar city
  • Day 7: Oct 09. Departure from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
go to detail

Tour images

Kazakh Eagle Hunter with his eagle
Eagle Hunters during the Golden Eagle festival
Eagle hunters
Eagle Hunters

Full Itinerary

Day 1:

Oct 03. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, tour of the City

Meet our guide and driver at the airport after custom formalities and transfer to your accommodation. You visit the Gandan Monastery, housing a 26-meter-high gilded statue of the Buddha. Your tour also takes you to the Genghis Khan monument on the Sukhbaatar square and the National Museum, which has a number of fascinating displays of traditional Mongolian clothing and weaponry, as well as exhibits charting the course of Genghis Khan's empire-building.  In the afternoon, we visit Bogd Khan’s palace museum- residence of last king of Mongolia, and Zaisan memorial hill for the panoramic view of the city. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar hotel 4* or similar

Meals:

Lunch

Day 2:

Oct 04. Olgii town

We catch a flight to Olgii town in the morning. Upon arrival, meet your local guide at the airport and transfer to the ger camp or local hotel. Then we drive out from Olgii town and visit Kazakh nomadic family home. Witness the training and preparation for the wonderful Eagle Festival of the next 2 days. This is actually a big day for the people and the eagles at the same time. See and photograph the spectacular moments of the eagle training and prey catching etc. Enjoy the best of Kazakh cuisine. In the early evening, you will be transferred back to Olgii town.

 

Accommodation: Ger camp

Meals:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3:

Oct 05. Golden Eagle Festival

The first day of the festival: Eagle hunters compete with their beautiful traditional clothes, horse, horse decorations, their eagles and the eagle decorations while parading from the Olgii central square to the competition arena. Later in the afternoon the eagles compete with their speed, agility and hunting skills.

 

Accommodation: Ger camp

Meals:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4:

Oct 06. Golden Eagle Festival

Second day of the colorful festival. Today’s task for the eagles is catching the prey within the shortest time and they’re given scores. Kazakh traditional games like Kokbar etc are played among the spectators. The best eagles with their best trainers are awarded in the evening. Enjoy folklore concert from local theater in the evening.

 

Accommodation: Ger camp

Meals:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5:

Oct 07. Ulaanbaatar - Terel National Park

Today, we will take a local flight from Olgii town back to Ulaanbaatar city. Arrive in the city by the morning/afternoon (flight time will be informed). Upon your arrival, we will drive to beautiful Terelj National Park. Check in to the ger camp and have lunch. In the afternoon, visit naturally shaped Turtle Rock and Aryabal Temple of Meditation. Dinner and overnight at the ger camp.

 

Accommodation: Ger camp

Meals:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6:

Oct 08. Ulaanbaatar city

In the morning, we drive back to Ulaanbaatar. On the way, we visit Chinggis Khan’s statue, the tallest horseman statue in the world. Continue drive and transfer to the hotel for check in. Free time. Enjoy traditional folklore concert from Tumen Ekh ensemble. Farewell dinner at local restaurant.

 

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar hotel 4* or similar

Meals:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7:

Oct 09. Departure from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

You are transferred to the airport/train station after breakfast. End of service.

 

Meals:

Breakfast

Date & Price

Tour Dates:

Oct 03rd - Oct 09th, 2024  
   

If you wish to take this tour as a private tour, just click the "Customize this tour" button at the bottom of the page and tailor-make the itinerary in anyway you wish. Upon receiving your request, one of our travel advisors will get back to you shortly with a proposal and quote.

 


Tour Price:

Pax 4-12 US$ 2550 per person
Single supplement charge US$ 300 
   

 

 

 

Included Services:

  • Full-time services of your English speaking local guide(s) throughout the tour
  • Sightseeing and entrance fees according to the itinerary
  • Private transfers (4WD Russian minivan+ Experienced driver) in Olgiis
  • Private transfers (Comfortable van/bus with AC+ Experienced driver) in Ulaanbaatar
  • Private transfers (4WD Japanese minivans + Experienced drivers) – 4 tourists in 1 van
  • Airport transfers
  • Twin/double share at good 4-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar (Holiday Inn or similar)– 2 nights
  • Twin share at good ger camp in Olgii & Khustai national park – 4 nights
  • Olgii-ULN flight ticket RT+ Tax (15kg luggage+ 5 kg carry on free)
  • Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
  • Golden Eagle festival ticket and arrangement
  • 0.5 l x 3 bottled water per day
  • Visa support invitation letter where applicable
  • Exclusive Golden Eagle Festival tour souvenir!

Not Included in the Service

  • International Airfare/train tickets + Tax
  • Travel insurance & Visa fees
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc. 
  • Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
  • Optional activities (additional horse riding and camel riding)

 

Tour Background

Accommodation info on your Mongolia tours 

Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, offers a variety of hotels ranging from basic guesthouses to high-end 5* hotel.

Some of our Mongolia tours do not include the hotel stays in Ulaanbaatar in the tour package, where clients can choose a hotel that suits their needs and budget. Please make sure to check your tour program`s Inclusions and Exclusions section to confirm if your hotel stay is included in the package.

If you wish us to book your hotel for you, your travel consultant will be happy to recommend and book an ideal hotel for you. 

 

Here are hotels that are recommended by us:  

  • Springs hotel (3*)
  • Holiday Inn (4*)
  • Best Western Premier (5*)
  • Shangri-La Hotel (5*)

 

Outside Ulaanbaatar: Outside of Ulaanbaatar where there are no hotels, tourist Ger (yurt) camps are the best accommodation for travelers. A Ger is Mongolian traditional dwelling made of felt layers and wooden construction, and the Mongolians have lived in Gers for thousands of years. Tourist Ger camps offer comfortable Gers with 1-3 beds with good bedding (1 Ger equals 1 hotel room), and also offer well-maintained public western style showers and WCs on their grounds. Some Ger camps offer en-suite bathroom facilities at additional charge, please ask your Selena Travel advisor for further details when booking your Mongolia tour. 

 

Food on Selena Travel tours 

In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, a great variety of restaurants can be found and you will be eating at some of the best restaurants of Ulaanbaatar on your Mongolia tour while in the capital. Once you are outside the capital, Ger restaurants in Ger camps, local cafes in the small towns and sometimes nomadic families will be the places where you will be eating most of your meal. Ger restaurants often offer set continental breakfasts, set menu lunches and dinners consisting of salad or soup, main course and dessert.

 

 While on the tour, during your longer driving days you will take packed lunch from Ger camps, often vegetable salad, main course such as fried chicken/noodles/dumplings and a small dessert, while hitting the road. Most of the food restrictions and allergies such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and many others, can be accommodated with easy on your Mongolia adventure.

 

 Luggage allowance on Selena Travel tours 

If you are on an overland only tour across Mongolia, the recommended weight of your luggage is 20kg per person (max). However, kindly note that domestic flight luggage allowance per person is 15 kg (10 kg for the check in luggage and 5 kg for the carry on luggage). It is possible to purchase extra luggage space which costs US$2 - 5 per 1kg.

 

DESTINATION & ATTRACTIONS BRIEF INFO

Historically, nomadic Kazakhs of Western Mongolia depended on Golden Eagles for hunting. The Berkut Association is a community-based association consisting of local Kazakhs who are committed to preserving their traditional heritage and conserving the Golden Eagle. All proceeds from the festival's ticket sales will go to the Berkut Association, which will use these funds to further the goals of the organization including arranging the eagle festival each year. The Golden eagle festival will be held on 03 – 04 Oct 2015.

One of the last true wilderness areas of Asia, the stunning beauty of the magnificent Altai Mountains will be the backdrop for this extraordinary Eagle Festival. A highlight of any trip to this region is interacting with local Kazakhs and learning about their unique culture. Approximately ninety percent of the population of Bayan-Ulgii is Kazakh and though their pastoral-nomadic lifestyle is similar to that of Mongolians, these Kazakh-speaking nomads are predominantly Moslem. Passed down from their Turkic ancestors, many Kazakhs are still hunting with trained Golden Eagles whose vision is eight times more acute than humans.
 
Female eagles are preferred since they are believed to be more aggressive and weigh as much as fifteen pounds (nearly one-third more than the males). Kazakh women are renowned for their skills in embroidery and appliqué-hand-crafted felt carpets line the floor of their gers and delicately embroidered tapestries adorn the walls in a dazzling mosaic of colors.

Tour Map

Tour Reviews

Mar 18, 2024.  The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer

Aug 10, 2012. Gobi & Karakorum Explorer tour Our recent "The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer" tour with you was excellent, everything exceeded our expectations! It was a super trip in our lives and we loved our Mongolia holiday so much. Our guide Joe was kind, well organised, accurate and informative, polite and caring and always provided us with timely information. And our driver Jack is super, very friendly, professional and always on time. We are wild travelers, having been to many places in the world - but Mongolia is still truly unspoiled and uncontaminated. Selena Travel's services were perfect right from the very first email. We would like to thank Selena Travel, our guide and our driver for having made this Mongolia experience a truly beautiful one with so many wonderful memories.

by Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia

Aug 08, 2012.  Gobi & Karakorum customized 11 days tour

Sending you some of our nicer pictures. Some are chosen for their beautiful scenery while the rest are just us happily playing and goofing around. There are a couple of shots of us doing some Mongolian wrestling, as suggested by Oyuna since we missed out on the mini-Naadam festival. She said since we missed it, we might as well organise our own festival by playing some Mongolian games. Haha... We had so much fun playing those games!!! :)OK, I hope you like the pictures we send you. Best regards to everyone at Selena Travel and thank you once again for all your assistance.

by Margaret Suganda

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