The Golden Eagle Festival, held annually in Bayan-Ulgii Province, Western Mongolia, celebrates the ancient art of eagle hunting and the unique cultural heritage of Mongolian and Kazakh nomads. This two-day event, organized by the local Golden Eagle Hunter’s Association since 1999, showcases the remarkable skill and bond between hunters and their golden eagles.
The festival’s main attractions are two competitions: the eagle training competition and the eagle hunting competition. In the training event, eagles demonstrate their agility, obedience, and responsiveness by soaring from the sky to their handlers and capturing lures. The hunting competition, the festival’s highlight, tests the eagles’ ability to track and catch prey as hunters, on horseback, navigate the mountains with their skilled birds.
These events require immense teamwork and years of dedicated training, honoring the ancient Kazakh tradition of eagle hunting while promoting eco-tourism in this stunning and remote region. Plan your visit to experience this breathtaking display of heritage, skill, and adventure in Mongolia’s rugged landscape.
