Golden Eagle Festival Experience
Experience Mongolia’s vast Gobi landscapes and the ancient art of Kazakh eagle hunting at the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival.
OVERVIEW
Experience one of Asia’s most exclusive cultural events at the Golden Eagle Festival in western Mongolia. Set against the majestic Altai Mountains, this journey offers privileged access to an ancient tradition preserved by Mongolia’s Kazakh community for generations.
Spend two full days at the festival witnessing powerful displays of horsemanship and the extraordinary bond between eagle hunters and their birds. Beyond the public celebrations, enjoy rare personal encounters through private visits to eagle hunters’ homes, where stories, traditions, and daily life are shared firsthand. Taste authentic Kazakh cuisine, observe trained golden eagles up close, and capture unforgettable moments in an unspoiled cultural setting.
This refined journey blends heritage, exclusivity, and authenticity, offering discerning travelers an intimate glimpse into one of the world’s last living hunting tradition.
from $2770
COUNTRY OF LOVE
BRIEF INTENERARY
A structured outline of the expedition, highlighting the key destinations and natural transitions throughout the 7 day journey.
- 1Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
- 2Day 2: Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue – Terelj National Park – Ulaanbaatar
- 3Day 3: Flight to Ulgii – Kazakh Family Visit
- 4Day 4: Golden Eagle Festival
- 5Day 5: Golden Eagle Festival
- 6Day 6: Flight back to Ulaanbaatar
- 7Day 7: Departure
Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, meet your guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. After some rest, enjoy a half-day city tour introducing Mongolia’s history and culture. Visit the National History Museum to explore traditional tools, crafts, and historical exhibits. Continue to Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of the capital, before ending the day at Zaisan Memorial Hill for a panoramic view of the city.
Accommodation: 4★ Hotel
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, drive east of the capital to visit the iconic Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex, the largest equestrian statue in the world. From the observation deck, enjoy sweeping views over the surrounding steppe and the Tuul River Valley.
Continue to Gorkhi–Terelj National Park, one of Mongolia’s most scenic and accessible protected areas. The park is renowned for its dramatic granite rock formations, wide open valleys, forested hills, and pristine rivers that capture the classic beauty of the Mongolian landscape.
Within the park, visit Ariyapala Meditation Temple, a peaceful Buddhist retreat dedicated to meditation and spiritual practice. The temple complex is set along a hillside path with meditation halls, statues, and sacred spaces, offering panoramic views of the surrounding valley and a deeply tranquil atmosphere.
What will you do?
- Enjoy panoramic views from the statue’s observation deck
- Visit a nomadic herder family and learn about daily life
- Experience horse riding on the open steppe
- Enjoy a gentle walk to the Ariyapala Meditation Temple area
- Experience tranquility, gain insight into Buddhist philosophy, and enjoy moments of quiet reflection away from modern distractions
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, fly to Ulgii, the capital of Bayan-Ulgii, a region renowned for its rich ethnic diversity and strong Kazakh heritage. The local Kazakh community shares many similarities with Mongolian nomadic life, yet maintains its own distinct traditions, language, and Islamic faith.
Upon arrival, explore the town and visit the local market, where you can browse beautifully crafted Kazakh handicrafts, including traditional textiles and handmade rugs. If time allows, visit a local museum showcasing the region’s cultural history and natural environment.
In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive to Tolbo Lake, a striking saline lake reflecting the dramatic peaks of the surrounding mountains. The lake is an important habitat for water birds such as swans and gulls and supports several species of fish.
Spend time walking along the eastern shoreline and visit a Kazakh nomadic family, gaining insight into their daily life, customs, and hospitality in this remote corner of Mongolia.
Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Golden Eagle Festival opens with a spectacular procession of Kazakh eagle hunters. Mounted on horseback and dressed in traditional hunting attire, the hunters proudly present their golden eagles, perched calmly on their arms as they enter the festival grounds.
Over the course of two full days, visitors witness an extraordinary display of ancient hunting skills passed down through generations. The festival features competitions that test the eagles’ speed, precision, and obedience, as well as the hunters’ mastery and bond with their birds. Beyond the contests, the event offers rich insight into Kazakh nomadic traditions, including horsemanship, cultural games, and everyday customs, making it one of the most authentic cultural experiences in Mongolia.
Festival Highlights
- Grand opening procession of eagle hunters riding on horseback with their trained golden eagles
- Eagle hunting competitions demonstrating speed, precision, and hunter–eagle teamwork
- Kokpar – traditional Kazakh horseback game involving goat-pulling
- Horseback skill challenges, including coin-picking at full gallop
- Traditional archery competitions performed by the Uriankhai people
- Horseback archery displays showcasing balance and control
- Traditional horseback wrestling highlighting nomadic warrior skills
- Evening Kazakh cultural performances featuring music, and dance
Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. The last day shopping including a visit to the Gobi Cashmere store.
In the afternoon, attend a traditional cultural performance featuring music, dance, and throat singing. End the day with a farewell dinner.
Accommodation: 4★ Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Price
Tour Price per Person
Tour Price
Tour Price per Person
2-3 pax: $3150
4-6 pax: $2910
7-9 pax: $2770
Single Supplement: $260
PS: These rates are calculated based on 2026 cost structures. For departures in 2027, prices may be subject to revision due to currency fluctuations (USD/MNT), supplier rate changes, and inflation. ________________________________________
Price Includes
✔ 3 nights in **** hotels in Ulaanbaatar
✔ 3 nights in local hotels in Ulgii
✔ Drivers & Private Land Cruiser transportation in Bayan-Ulgii
✔ Drivers & city transport in Ulaanbaatar
✔ Domestic flights (UB–Ulgii/Ulgii–UB)
✔ English-speaking guide
✔ Chef(s) in Ulgii
✔ Unlimited bottled water
✔ Golden Eagle Festival entrance fees
✔ Entrance fees to national parks & museums
✔ Meals as per itinerary
________________________________________
Price Excludes
✘ International airfare
✘ Visa fees
✘ Travel & medical insurance
✘ Alcoholic beverages
✘ Personal expenses (laundry, bar bills, phone calls)
✘ Excess baggage charges
✘ Single supplements
✘ Photography & video fees (where applicable)
✘ Optional activities
✘ Tips for guides & drivers
✘ Gifts for nomadic families
No comment