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Golden Eagle Festival
The Eagle Festival is the annual celebration of Kazakh eagle hunters (bürkitshi) in western Mongolia’s Bayan-Ölgii province. The best-known event is the autumn Golden Eagle Festival on the steppe near the provincial capital, Ölgii. Smaller gatherings also take place around Sagsai, so check which festival your trip actually includes before booking.
Recent dates: compare the events
There is more than one “Eagle Festival” in autumn. Tour operators and local associations have recently listed the following patterns, but you should still reconfirm for your travel year:
| Event | What operators commonly list |
|---|---|
| Sagsai Golden Eagle | Around , with several operators listing those dates in both 2024 and 2025. It usually draws around 40–50 hunters and plenty of photographers, but queues tend to feel more relaxed. |
| Ölgii main festival | Held on in 2024, with operator reviews placing the venue around Buyant soum / Shar Lake. Listings for 2025 commonly gave , with more than 60 hunters and several hundred visitors. This is the largest event. |
| Other western events | Local festivals may also appear around Altai sum, Tolbo Lake and Altantsogts in September. Check the place name carefully when joining a tour. |
| Spring “eagle” events | e.g. at Chingisiin khuree near UB for Nauryz — not the autumn western festival. |
Where each festival takes place
- Ölgii main festival: a temporary steppe arena outside town; 2024 information specifically placed it around Buyant soum / Shar Lake, not in an indoor city venue.
- Sagsai: held around Sagsai soum and its valley, roughly 35–40 km from Ölgii. The atmosphere feels closer to a village celebration.
- Getting there: most travellers fly from Ulaanbaatar (UB) to Ölgii and continue with a tour vehicle. The road distance is about 1,600 km, so few visitors drive the full way; domestic flights also sell out quickly in festival season.
How to confirm the exact dates
- Use the current-year itinerary from a local guide or licensed tour operator; they usually update their dates when the association announces them.
- Cross-check the Wikipedia “Eagle festival” entry and reliable local operators, making sure the listing clearly says Sagsai or Ölgii.
- Book flights and accommodation early. Ölgii rooms and domestic seats are tightest around the main October weekend.
What you’ll see
- Eagle contests: hunters ride to a ridge and release their golden eagles towards a fox- or rabbit-fur lure, or call the birds back to land on an arm. Speed and accuracy are scored.
- Horsemanship and dress: traditional Kazakh clothing and equipment are judged, and the opening often includes a mounted parade of hunters carrying their eagles.
- Steppe side events: kokpar, kiz-kuar and horse racing, with wrestling or crafts depending on the organisers.
- A different pace: Sagsai is generally more relaxed and gives photographers a closer view. The main Ölgii event receives more tour groups, so arrive early to choose a good position.
Photo etiquette
- Ask before close portraits; agree on any paid photo fee first.
- Do not touch eagles, horses, tack, or costumes; stay behind marked lines during contests.
- Do not ask hunters to remove an eagle’s hood for a shot; don’t reposition people in the opening parade.
Language note: Bayan-Ölgii is predominantly Kazakh, so Kazakh is the main everyday language; Mongolian is also widely useful. Mongol Talk can play short Mongolian phrases for practical questions, while a guide is best for longer conversations.
Useful conversations with Mongol Talk
You: “How do I get to the Eagle Festival site?”
Then ask: “May I take a photo?” “What time is the next event?” “Where is the toilet?”
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