SAGSAI GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVAL TOUR 2025

Our driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to the airport. Take a domestic flight to Ulgii town, the center of Bayan-Ulgii province where 90% of the population is Kazakhs who have their own language and unique culture. Meet local drivers and then visit the local museum, and to learn more about this place. Visit the spot where the whole province, the river Khovd, and the mountains will be seen from this point. After enjoying lunch in the town center visiting the local market and city sightseeing is optional. Overnight in Tourist camp. (L/D)

Drive to Sagsai village (35km), home to traditional eagle hunters. Visit an eagle hunter’s family to experience their way of life, learn about their bond with their eagles, and observe eagle training. Cultural exchange and traditional Kazakh meal with the host family. Enjoy lunch with the host Eagle Hunter family and return to Ulgii in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in the tourist ger camp. (B/L/D)

Drive to the festival site, set against the stunning backdrop of the Altai Mountains. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the vibrant energy of the festival grounds.

Cultural Immersion Day and Opening Ceremony

Happy Golden Eagle Festival! Explore the festival site, where you can engage with traditional Kazakh arts and crafts, listen to folk music, and witness the assembly of a Kazakh ger (yurt). The highlight is welcoming and seeing the Migration of nomads with the flocks of domestic animals, and participating in the procedure of assembly of Kazak Ger (yurt).

After welcoming the migration the most exciting moment is the “Opening Ceremony” which will be held with the eagle hunters’ parade arriving at the festival site.

The Eagle Calling Competition showcases the deep bond between Kazakh hunters and their eagles. From a mountaintop, eagles are released as their owners call them from below. The birds must recognize their master’s voice and land precisely on their outstretched arms.

Judges award points for speed, accuracy, and responsiveness, highlighting the hunter’s skill and the eagle’s training. This thrilling event sets the tone for the festival, offering a stunning display of tradition, trust, and falconry mastery.

After a full day of excitement at the festival, return to your hotel or ger camp in Ulgii. Enjoy a well-earned dinner and relax, preparing for another incredible and eventful day ahead. (B/L/D)

The second day of the Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival is dedicated to thrilling competitions that showcase the skills of Kazakh eagle hunters and their cultural traditions. The main event is the eagle hunting competition, where hunters release their eagles from a mountaintop and call them to land on a dragged fox skin, testing their hunting skills. The eagle must successfully catch the moving skin, demonstrating speed, accuracy, and gripping ability. This competition reflects how eagle masters and their trained eagles hunt together in real life, preserving an ancient tradition passed down through generations.

Other traditional Kazakh horse games include Tenge-Ilu, where riders gallop at full speed to pick up a coin from the ground, showcasing their agility and skill. Kokbar, a tug-of-war on horseback, is one of the most exciting competitions and a great source of pride for Kazakh men. It tests the riders' strength, skill, and teamwork as they compete for control of a goat skin, showcasing their horsemanship and endurance. Kizkhuar is a playful game between men and women, where a woman chases a man on horseback, sometimes playfully whipping him if she catches up. The festival ends with an award ceremony, honoring the best hunters and competitors.

After an exciting day, drive to Khovd town for an overnight stay in a local hotel. (B/L/D)

Take a flight back to Ulaanbaatar from Khovd town. Transfer to your own booked hotel in Ulaanbaatar and the tour ends. (B)

The atmosphere of the Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival