Exciting 2 Days at The Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia

As a traveler, everyone wants to explore remotest places and as a photographer everyone wants to capture rarest photos. As a lucky one, I traveled to golden eagle festival and photograph Kazakh eagle hunters, traditional competitions, local life and Aisholpan the young eagle huntress. Mongolian Golden Eagle festival is getting one of the most attractive events in the world where we visited and photographed. It was an unforgettable  tour to experience Kazakh culture and eagle hunting tradition while capturing the event. Let’s see what we experienced and captured at The Golden Eagle Festival. 

Kazakh Eagle Hunters have long journey to the Golden Eagle Festival from nearby regions on horseback. 

Our trip started from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. We had three-hour flight to Ulgii city, the center of westernmost province of Mongolia where the Kazakh nation has been living for long time. The weather was nice and the city gave as a feeling of festive atmosphere, Kazakh eagle hunters held their eagles and arriving for the festival on horseback, the costume and horse equipment were so traditional and gorgeous. 

The festival is so important for them to attend and show their skills. It tells us the event is not only for the visitors to show but also it is a living tradition among the locals. 

We settled in local tourist camp which was located in outskirt of the city on the edge of Khovd river. Had lunch in traditionally decorated Kazakh Ger/yurt which was prepared as restaurant for visitors, served international style meals, including Kazakh food. We headed to local Kazakh family to experience their culture and lifestyle. The family, we visited was Manaa’s who was two times of Champion of the Golden Eagle Festival, was held in previous years. A winner of the festival is so respected and honored one among the locals, so it was proudly activity that we visited his family.The family lives in traditional Kazakh Ger dwelling during warm seasons and migrate several times with the herds and eagles like Mongolian nomads, but they live in small house during winter. We had warm talks about their daily life, meals, hospitality, marriage, kids, education and social life, economy, herds and the highlighted talk was about their eagle hunting traditions. It was truly awesome discovery for us and got the knowledge of their culture. We drove back to the camp and slept in nomadic dwelling Ger, night temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees in Celsius, so camp’s staffs had to heat up the Ger during the night, that was super service. 

 The Big Day- Golden Eagle Festival Starts

120 eagle hunters, the Kazakh men, holding their eagles on horseback and about 1,000 visitors came to the Golden Eagle Festival 2018. The opening parade was so impressive, golden eagles, participants, visitors and officials made this moment so amazing. 

 Opening parade of The Golden Eagle Festival 

The first competition was; the hunters calling their eagles from the top of the mountain and the eagle must reach on the arm of his master; which shows how their eagles feel affection for their masters. It also tells us how the ancient tradition is still living with no change until today among these stout-hearted Kazakh hunters. We could be at the right position to photograph the action moments that eagles coming down and landing on the arm of hunters. Thanks for the guide that help us to find the perfect position to shoot the competition.

Eagles listen to his master's calling and come down from the mountain to land on  arm of his master. Showing how eagle and man be loyal partners.  

We did not only capture that competition, but also attended private photography sessions which organized by our local photo tour specialists and that was superb service for photographers who needs uncommon photo shoots of the festival. Having good lunch and coffee rest in well equipped Ger, close to the festival that made our day easily, so we did spend our most of time to enjoy the festival and take pictures. The next interesting competitions were held around the arena, including archery, camel racing and coin grabbing. After the busy day, we visited local theater to enjoy national assemble concert tonight was also one of the cultural discovery of the Kazakh people.

Event scenery. Visitors and attendees celebrate the festival together. 

The Second day of the Eagle Hunting Festival with Aisholpan Nurgaiv

The second day of the festival, famous young eagle huntress Aisholpan Nurgayev and 2 times Champion Chai Murat came to the arena followed by some eagle hunters. That was surprising moment and they ere galloping through the game arena on horseback with their eagles looked so epic. We had special photographic arrangement with Aisholpan and some of young eagle hunters, was fantastic opportunity to take her pictures and that was the highlight of the festival for photographers. 

17 year-old Aisholpan Nurgaiv, at the Golden Eagle Festival

Aisholpan Nurgaiv, the young eagle huntress and the Champions of the previous years, came to the festival, made the festival more awesome. 

Next event was semi final competition of eagle calling. On of the highlighted events is the Hunting Game, Kykbar that shows how eagle and Kazakh man hunting together successfully, which has been happening for thousands of years. The eyes of the eagle, hunter’s focused face, his calling voice tone and the action of the eagle’s catching of prey was indescribable moment. The next thrilling game was tug of war on horseback with goat skin by young Kazakh men, measuring their skills of horsemanship and strength.

On of the highlighted events is the Hunting Game, Kykbar that shows how eagle and Kazakh man hunting together successfully, which has been happening for thousands of years.

The moment that the eagle catching her prey.

The root of the game is related back to the ancient army training and has been inherited by descendants of nomadic warriors. The competitions were not only for men, but Kazakh women also, played the game called Kyz Kuar - A race between a man and woman on horseback where the man steals a kiss and then flees, while the woman chases after and whips him. 

The competitions were not only for men, but Kazakh women also, played the game called Kyz Kuar.

Time to announce the winners of the festival

Local officials and juries were discussing over there, the competitors were coming back to the arena, the excited visitors were waiting to see the Champions and playing traditional music was covering around, it made feel that the festival is nearly finished. 

 52 year old experienced and honored eagle hunter became Champion again in 2018

The two times of Champion, Chai Murat, won again this year. Congratulations to his eagle and him! We had little interview about his eagle hunting lifestyle. He has been training eagle at his 30s, now he is 52 year old experienced and honored eagle hunter. The eagle won this competition, is 6 years old and has been fed since it was very young. And the hunter also said that he would let the eagle free to the wild when it reaches at the age of 8 or 9, because the younger the better eagle start to living in the wild without her master. His sons already started to train eagles and it is the way to inherit our traditions to the next generation. 

Balgan Handai, the young eagle hunter 

I had some thoughts like concluding what the festival is, how the ancient tradition is living today, who is Aisholpan and the eagle hunters why it has been captivating travelers from around the world and much more... Finally, I got the understanding of the tradition, culture, my own view of the festival and some stunning photographs. For the fellow travelers and photographers, I would like to say COME and EXPERIENCE  The Golden Eagle Festival 2022 on your own. It is my pleasure to share my photo-shoots and travel experience with you dear traveler. 

Group of travelers, photographers and the team of Ayan Travel spent two exciting days with eagle hunters at the Golden Eagle Festival.