Golden Eagle Festival expedition
- Region
- The Far West
- Duration
- 10 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate Half-day hikes or rides, some rough roads and simple camps.
- Season
- Autumn · Sep, Oct
- Style
- Small group or Private · Max 10 travellers
- Per person
- From $4,650Plan this adventure
Timed for Golden Eagle Festival: Early October, typically the first weekend (dates vary, verify yearly); a smaller Sagsai festival is often held in mid to late SeptemberVerify yearly
The adventure
Before the festival you sit in a Kazakh family's home, sharing tea while an eagle watches from its perch. Then you follow them to the festival ground and see the bird fly, a bond years in the making tested on a cold mountain morning.
- 01Both days of the Golden Eagle Festival near Ölgii
- 02Three nights with a Kazakh eagle-hunting family
- 03Ride out with a hunter and his eagle in the Altai foothills
- 04Kazakh music, embroidery and hospitality
- 05Ölgii market and town
- 06Return flights Ulaanbaatar–Ölgii included
Day by day
Every itinerary is a starting point. Your specialist can add rest days, swap camps or change the pace.
Airport welcome and transfer to your hotel. Over dinner your guide explains the festival, the family you will stay with and Kazakh customs.
- Activities
- Airport welcome
- Trip briefing
- Welcome dinner
- Tonight
- 4-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- Meals
- Dinner
The route
Distances in Mongolia are big and roads are often tracks. Expect some long days in the 4x4, broken up by stops with herders, picnics and leg-stretching walks.
- 1Ulaanbaatar
- 2Ölgii
- 3Sagsai
Where you'll sleep
A mix of family gers, small ger camps and a city hotel, chosen for their hosts, their setting and how well they look after the land.
What's included
- English-speaking local guide; Kazakh-speaking guide in Bayan-Ölgii
- Driver and 4x4 (Land Cruiser or Russian UAZ furgon)
- Return domestic flights Ulaanbaatar–Ölgii
- All meals as listed in the itinerary
- Hotel, guesthouse and family ger nights
- Golden Eagle Festival entrance for both days
- Border-zone permits
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- A dedicated Steppe & Sky specialist to plan your trip before you go
Not included
- International flights
- Visa, if required for your nationality
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
- Tips for guide, driver and host families
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Festival photography fees, where charged
- Single supplement
Good to know
- Early October in the Altai is cold: daytime around 0-10°C and nights well below freezing. Bring a down jacket and a warm sleeping bag.
- Family stays are simple, with shared sleeping space and outdoor toilets. They are the heart of this trip.
- Flights to Ölgii are sometimes delayed by weather; we build in slack and your specialist will advise on onward connections.
- Riding is optional and gentle, at a walk.
Dates & prices
Per person sharing, excluding international flights. Private trips run on any date you choose.
| Dates | Style | Availability | Per person | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept – 7 Oct 2027Festival expected 2-3 October 2027. Festival dates are checked every year. | Small group | Limited spaces | From $4,650 | Enquire |
| 30 Sept – 9 Oct 2027Festival comes first on this departure (days 3-4), family stay after. Festival dates are checked every year. | Small group | Available | From $4,650 | Enquire |
| 28 Sept – 7 Oct 2027Private trip around the festival. Price per person for two travellers. Festival dates are checked every year. | Private | Available | From $5,950 | Enquire |
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Ready when you are
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