They live in remote places hundreds of kilometers from civilization, carefully preserve their traditions and pass them on from generation to generation. The Golden Eagle Festival is also known as the Altai Eagle Festival. When Lauren McGough found out about it she said, "I have to see it. Eagle hunting is a deep rooted practice of Central Asia and has been around for thousands of years. They hunt fox in the first days snowed in October onward to the spring. There are only good reasons why you must choose our Mongolian Travel agency. They look, speak and dress differently, and they pray to different gods, the Mongols being largely Tibetan Buddhist and the Kazakhs predominantly Sunni Muslims. Travel to the northern Mongolia; popular for its high mountain, beautiful river, thick forest and crystal clear Khovsgol lake. With Aisholpan Nurgaiv, Daisy Ridley, Rys Nurgaiv. In the Mongolian steppe, hunters partner with golden eagles to catch game. Today, several forms of this art still exist in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, in Xinjiang in China, and in the province of Bayan Olgii, in Mongolia, where many Kazakhs live.Although Turks are renowned for hunting with eagles, they also train wood pigeons, peregrine falcons and saker falcons. Only females are taken, as they are larger than more powerful and aggressive than the males- with a wingspan of 2.5 meters and weighting up to 7 kilograms when fully grown. One of the great eagle hunters, 70-year-old Olmarke, poses for a photograph near the Altai Tayan Bogd national park in western Mongolia. Eagle hunting is a traditional type of falconry that was practised in the Eurasian steppe. It is not just a festivity, but also is an ancient hunting tradition with eagles and unique cultural heritage of Kazakh minority of Mongolia. Berkutchi is a man who hunts with eagles, most often with the largest – golden eagles. Our experienced travel experts have the resources at hand to make your dream holiday a reality. Maybe they migrated to somewhere else. Golden Eagle Festival, Mongolia is probably one of the most surreal and captivating festivals you will ever have the privilege to see! Hunters start feeding the eagle with hand after returning home and build trust. Crucially, however, the Kazakhs and Mongols share a nomadic heritage, living in extended families and moving camp several times a year in search of pasture for their livestock. Send Quick Email, All rights reserved by Travel Buddies Co.,Ltd 2009-2020. You will follow eagle hunter by horse or it is also optional that you can follow eagle hunter by van or jeep. Kazakh nomads have been grazing their livestock near the Altai Mountains for many hundreds of years. Month & length of travel, interests and wishes, Address: Door #5, Building #30, 5th khoroo, Sukhbaatar district, UB, Mongolian Eagle hunters | Golden Eagle Training & Hunting, post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-12561,single-format-standard,mkd-core-1.2,mkdf-tours-1.4,voyage-ver-1.8,mkdf-smooth-scroll,mkdf-smooth-page-transitions,mkdf-ajax,mkdf-grid-1300,mkdf-blog-installed,mkdf-header-standard,mkdf-sticky-header-on-scroll-up,mkdf-default-mobile-header,mkdf-sticky-up-mobile-header,mkdf-dropdown-default,mkdf-dark-header,mkdf-fullscreen-search,mkdf-search-fade,mkdf-medium-title-text,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7,vc_responsive. An eagle hunter can travel over kilometers of land in a day, usually on horseback, but often on foot. Hunters have to prepare their horse, and they must be healthy. Experience authentic challenges among participants from a 13 years old child to the old men who traveled even over hundreds of km for the festival. Footage of Kazakh eagle hunters riding on horseback across the vast landscape of Mongolia’s Altai Mountains inspired gasps of awe when shown as part of the BBC’s Human Planet series in 2011. Later that day you will visit the local museum and at the end of the day, you will enjoy your dinner with the Kazakh traditional folk concert. I have to do it." The taming and training an eagle takes a few months before going for a try. Today it is practiced by Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in contemporary Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as diasporas in Bayan-Ölgii Provinces Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia, and Xinjiang, China. And their eyesight is amazing, markedly better than a human’s; their eyes seem to burn with a real intelligence and ferocity. In 2008 this unique tradition of capturing, training and hunting was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. What do Kazakh eagle hunters eat and drink ? Most of the Kazakh eagle hunters live in Sagsai, Ulgii, Altantsugts, Deluun, Altai soum, Tolbo and Ulaanhus soum. Berkutchi has a special philosophy. Falconry has taken place on the steppes of Central Asia for thousands of years. See more ideas about Eagle hunter, Eagle, Mongolia. One hunter said that he had more than twenty eagles in his life. The 6000-year-old tradition of eagle hunting in the far west of Mongolia is a fascinating aspect of Mongolian culture that first drew me to the country. Learn about eagle hunting, experience nomadic life, visit different nomadic families, learn horse riding, make eagle fly from your arm, or also make eagle land on your arm. But now people find that difficult. They look noble and distinguished- just like their masters. His eagle is his family member so he often worries about her survival back in the nature. The plumage of gold on its neck and nape gives this bird the name golden eagle. Since such practices were suppressed in Kazakhstan during Soviet rule, Bayan-Ölgii has become the core of the sport. A fox is an easy prey, and when hunting in pairs, eagles are capable of bringing down a wolf. Now he doesn’t have any more eagle as the last one left a year ago. Every year around October, Mongolia holds the Golden Eagle Festival where Kazakh eagle hunters celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small prey. By choosing our agent, you can save time and hassle by booking all of your itinerary services directly with a specialized local guide. In the morning after breakfast you can do short riding or hiking around. Get acquaint with the culture and history, life style and traditions of the Mongolian Kazakh nomads. The winters used to be a lot of colder and longer, and there are fewer eagles now making their nests around these parts. And they love to kill for you. Appropriate candidate must be able to live without its mother and learn to live with people. Cherish winners of the festival and share their victory. Mongolian eagle hunters Kazakh people eat horse meat called kaz and drink milk tea. Mongolians have a special relationship with golden eagles. The festival date is fixed and the first weekend of every year. They wear fox fur jacket, hat and skin gloves. Photo: Christopher Michel (CC BY 2.0). And now it’s your opportunity to join a Kazakh eagle hunter family and hunt with them in the High Altai mountains. You can attend cultural exhibitions, as well as witness eagle hunters, dressed in full regalia, compete for the title of the best. Berkutchi is a man who hunts with eagles, most often with the largest – golden eagles. The Kazakhs have the tradition of hunting with trained Golden Eagles that has been passed generation to generation. Planning Mongolia Tour ? The Kazakhs of Mongolia train their eagles to hunt wolves and here the bird of prey is often considered a family member. In Mongolia (and other areas of Central Asia) it has been used for hunting in a traditional form of falconry for thousands of years, with petroglyphs from the Bronze age depicting this ancient sport. Make sure to check the detailed program and experience lifetime event. After booking a tour with us and later your plans have changed, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time. Explore the highlights of West such as Ulgii town, Kazakh culture, Altai tavan bogd national park, Shiveet hairhan – and eagle hunters. By noon you will need to say goodbye to eagle hunter that was hosting you. It is hoped that, once released, a trained eagle will go on to breed the next generation of eagle hunters. Then without warning, it will raise its wings and dive like a bullet, leaving a rush of air in its wake as the hunter makes screeching sound, urging it on. The Golden Eagle Festival or Eagle Festival ... run by the Mongolian Eagle Hunter's Association. The isolation of the Kazakhs’ land from the rest of Mongolia only that divide. It’s sad to think that after hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years the hunters are slowly dying out. Discover the best destinations of Mongolia from the Gobi desert to the beautiful lake Terkh in Central Mongolia. “For a Mongolian, it is a pride to train racehorses. Now there are only 250 to 300 golden eagle hunters left that transmit traditions through generations. Mongolian eagle hunting festival is premium festival takes place in Olgii, western Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar. Sunday CLOSED They love you. Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, one of the most polluted cities on earth, but is where most of the hunters’ children end up, looking for better opportunities. Another unique competition challenges Kazakhs play; a traditional game challenges horse-riding skill and strength. Eagles become more acquainted with hunting environment that helps them to master the skill. The Golden eagles can live for up to thirty years. These two days event challenges eagle hunters’ and eagles’ speed and alertness as the owner calls the eagle from the distance and the eagle distinguishes him/her flying and landing upon their arms. It is a festival to demonstrate the culture of the Kazakhs to the world and promotes their heritage to … Having so solitude and space on journeys to this otherworldly place is deeply affecting. “The Golden eagle festival” become twice a year to protect eagle hunting tradition and increase tourist. One of the great eagle hunters, 70-year-old Olmarke, poses for a photograph near the Altai Tayan Bogd national park in western Mongolia. This tradition was brought to the Mongolian steppes by the Kazakhs, who are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Mongolia. The skill of hunting a golden eagle … Over 100,000 Kazakh people live in western part of Mongolia such as Bayan-Olgii, Khovd and Uvs province. Directed by Otto Bell. Golden Eagle Festival is a cultural and adventurous attraction for both local and foreign travelers and photographers. ET and 7 p.m. PT on CBS Air Date: Oct 17, 2018 VIEW TOUR. The frozen air, when vastness of the plains and the never-ending skies filled with fear some dark clouds make one feel inconsequential. Eagle hunting in West Mongolia, and the truth about the Eagle Festival. 12-06-18 Ulgii city Bayan-Ulgii, Mongolia, © 2020 Way to Mongolia & Meet our privacy and policy. Why not contact us with your interests? Mongolian eagle hunting festival . There are more than 20 different ethnic groups reside in Mongolia and the largest minority group is called Kazakh. To help achieve these core values, we closely monitor client satisfaction and are consistently seeking new ways to exceed our clients’ expectations. The big loop tour is a great choice for those who are soft adventurous and are interested in exploring many destinations possible in 2 weeks. Golden eagle hunting is- one of the most unique features of Kazakh nomads. Though these people are most famous for hunting with golden eagles, they have been known to train northern goshawks, peregrine falcons, saker falcons, and more. There’s also horse racing, Buzkashi, and many other activiti… The young choose the easier life in the cities far away. You will know your personal travel consultant both by name and by face, as we make it a practice to greet our clients personally and go through the entire trip. Local people call eagle hunters Berkutchi. You will meet an eagle hunter. They continued to live as semi-nomadic herders in western Mongolia, where traditional hobbies such as hunting with golden eagles continued, passed from generation to generation. The environment has changed since his childhood. The ethnic Kazakhs in Bayan Olgii, Western Mongolia, partake in the ancient sport eagle hunting (i.e. The eagle, a magnificent and beautiful bird, and often depicted throughout history as a symbol of power and strength, and at the Golden Eagle Festival you can witness this with your own eyes. They use the fur for clothing and making hat. Hunting with Mongolian Golden Eagle Hunter. By Lucy Xu. It’s because we’re constantly looking for ways to make your vacation in Mongolia as unforgettable as possible, from the way we plan the trip to the authentic experiences you’ll enjoy while away. Clad in animal skins to ward off the sub-zero temperatures, the weathered-faced father and son each rode with one arm outstretched and a huge, blindfolded golden eagle perched on their hands. It was started as one of the means to preserve the eagle hunting tradition and showcase it to the tourists. Older the eagles, smarter they become. Also beautiful dressed couples will be awarded among participants. After all, you need not just get along with the bird and tame it, you must become one with it. You will drive back to Ulgii town and transferred to your Hotel room where you can have a hot shower. Golden eagles are the one used for hunting. The golden eagle is a perfect predator. Eagle hunting is not easy work. When the eagles are not hunting they wear special caps to blind them and keep them calm. Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian Steppe, practiced by ancient Mongolic and Turkic peoples. Also they take it on hunt. The Berkutchi is a falconer who hunts with the golden eagle. Golden Eagle Festival and Altai Mountains Tour Hiking and Horse Riding Expedition 11 days - €2450 Golden Eagle Hunting Festival in Mongolia Immerse yourself in the heartland of uniquely captivating images Untouched virgin landscape, snow-capped mountain ranges, big … In Mongolia, Eagle festival has organised since 2000. They want to be with you. There are no more than fifty to sixty of the true hunters left, and each winter claims a few more. Sep 5, 2013 - Explore John Squires's board "Mongolian Eagle Hunters", followed by 311 people on Pinterest. If it sees the fox in the valley below, the eagle takes its time waiting for the right moment. The Kazakhs are different people from the Mongols in many ways. Mongolian eagle hunting festival is premium festival takes place in Olgii, western Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar. The challenge calls Golden eagle to attack fox skin that dragged by their owners on horseback and judge on their speed and technique. Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Eagle Hunting: Marketization of Traditional Practice. Eagle hunters take a baby eaglet from the nest or capture an adult mountain eagle from the wild. Local people call eagle hunters Berkutchi. Remote nomadic families are supporting themselves using one unconventional method – hunting with golden eagles. By the time eagle lands on its prey, hunter feeds eagle with piece of the meat and separate the eagle claw from the fur to avoid damage. A Golden Eagle History. Since we began we’ve created unforgettable travel experiences all over Mongolia for thousands of clients from all over the world. The golden eagles that live in the high Altai mountains, in far-western Mongolia, build their nests in the crags of the area’s rugged peaks—there aren’t many trees. There is a … After the Mongolian revolution of 1921, a permanent border was established, partitioning Mongolia from China and Russia, and so the Kazakh herdsmen were given an accidental home within Mongolia. From the Mongolian eagle hunters ; Kazakh people’s face you can easily tell how harsh the weather is in the mountain and their living in remote wilderness. We pride ourselves on our original thinking. Eagles are blindfolded because they can feel safe and calm. Aisholpan Nurgaiv is the first well known eagle huntress from Altantogts soum, Mongolia. One of the last true wilderness areas of Asia, the stunning beauty of the magnificent Altai Mountains will be the backdrop for this extraordinary Eagle Hunting tour. There are seven kinds of dark-coloured eagles in Mongolia such as Booted eagles, Greater Spotted Eagle, steppe eagles, Golden eagles, Imperial eagle, white-tailed eagle and mountain-hawk eagle. Discover how Golden eagles are good at hunting with the help of their owner’s alertness. The skill of hunting a golden eagle is a true art and hard work. They look for an eagle of about four years’ old that has lived in the wild and been on a hunt. Golden Eagle Festival Tours Mongolia | Western Mongolia | Eagle Hunting | Mount Khuiten Malchin peak climb | Altai Tavan Bogd National Park... Mon - Sat 8.00 - 21.00. Mongolian eagle hunter. When the times comes to let them go, it’s the hardest thing a man can ever do. Of course, before going hunting with a golden eagle, eagle hunters need to tame and train their just captured bird. One of the Mongolian ethnic groups is the Muslim Kazakhs of Turkic origin. Now there are fewer hunters in Bayan-olgii and hunting with eagle is no longer real man’s game. Religion in Mongolia – Buddhism and Shamanism, Altai nomads eagle hunting festival – February 23 and 24, Winter golden eagle festival – March 05 and 06, Golden eagle hunting festival – first weekend of October. Photo by Joel Santos / Barcroft Media via Getty Images . Following her, there are 12 eagle huntresses practice the tradition in Tolbo, Ulaanhus, Altai and Sagsai soum. Hunters catch young bird from the eagle nest which built high on the rock. Those added touches include several that no Mongolia-based travel agency offers. Hunting wolves with eagles was the “sport of kings”. The golden eagles are like no other bird. 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