Sagsai Eagle Festival Tour

Sagsai Eagle Festival 2026

Welcome to the Sagsai Eagle Festival tour, a two-day immersive journey into the heart of Altai. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of Sagsai soum, where traditional music, crafts, and warm hospitality set the stage for an unforgettable experience. In the Twin Lakes area, beyond the park’s stunning scenery, you’ll explore ancient petroglyphs that tell the story of Mongolia’s early inhabitants, adding a fascinating archaeological layer to your adventure. Explore the awe-inspiring Twin Lakes of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, with their serene reflections and rugged mountain vistas. Stay with a welcoming eagle hunter family in a ger/yurt, and gain a firsthand understanding of the rich nomadic traditions that have shaped this region for generations. You’ll have the chance to witness and participate in eagle hunting demonstrations, learn about the guardianship of these majestic birds, and savor authentic local cuisine. The tour culminates with a scenic return flight, leaving you with lasting memories of Mongolia’s wild beauty, cultural heritage, and ancient rock art

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Theme: Festival, Cultural
Available: 17-18th Sept.
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Group size: 8-10
Join for: $ 1970
Booking: open (seats available)

Traditional dance performance during festival

itinerary

Take the flight to Ulgii town from Ulaanbaatar. We will welcome you at the Ulgii airport and transfer you to one of the best hotels in Ulgii. After some rest, you will be taken to a restaurant for lunch and then taken on town exploration which includes visiting local town museum (offers insight into culture, flora and fauna of the region) and a hill top lookout (provides a panoramic view of the town). Free time to walk around the town square till the dinner at a restaurant.
#Accommodation: hotel
#Meals: L+D

After breakfast you will drive to Sagsai Village where you’ll experience the lively atmosphere of the Sagsai Eagle Festival. The festival begins with a look, a display into nomadic life, where you’ll see how nomadic herder families move and set up their ger (yurt), the traditional felt tent. This is a great chance to learn about their culture and capture some unique photos. After that, the eagle hunters’ parade gives you another fantastic photo opportunity. The hunters, dressed in traditional clothing, march through the festival with their majestic eagles perched on their arms. The colorful Kazakh folk music and dance performances will add even more energy and cultural richness to the event. Throughout the day, you’ll have plenty of chances to interact with the locals and eagle hunters, capturing intimate portraits of these fascinating individuals. The afternoon’s highlight is the eagle calling contest which is the first round of the main event. At the end of the day, head back to Ulgii town for dinner and a good rest, ready for another exciting day.
#Accommodation: Hotel
#driving time: 30min
#Meals: L+D

On Day 2, the festival continues with the second round of the competition: the eagle hunting contest. This is the ultimate opportunity for photographers to capture the raw power and grace of the golden eagles as they chase after fox skins dragged by their masters on horseback. The intensity and speed of the chase, combined with the breathtaking landscapes of the Altai Mountains, will provide dramatic shots of both the eagles in flight and the hunters in action. In addition to the eagle contest, there are several other traditional game contests to photograph, such as the Coin Grabbing competition, where riders on horseback attempt to grab coins from the ground, Tug of War and the Kizkhuar (traditional Kazakh couple’s game) are also visually rich events, full of energy and tradition. As the festival draws to a close, you’ll witness the closing ceremony, where the winners of the competitions are announced. After the ceremony, return to your hotel, filled with stunning photographs and unforgettable memories.

After the ceremony, drive to a true eagle hunter’s family. Warm welcome by the family who will be living in their egg like white yurts in their Autumn camp where you will experience eagle hunting culture. Enjoy the evening with the family, by sitting at their expansive dinner table.

#Meals: B+L+D
#Accommodation: Ger (felt tent)
#driving time: 1 hour (to the eagle hunter’s place)

In the morning you will mount on our small Mongolian horses and go to nearby mountain tops to experience amazing ancient eagle hunting activity along with true eagle hunters. Hunting real animals will require days sometimes. Enjoy the view from the mountain tops while getting high in search of a red fox. Return for late lunch. Get great insight into eagle hunting culture of Kazakhs and photograph the majestic golden eagle and its master who looks like a warrior in his traditional attire. While staying with this family you will have the opportunity to observe the daily lifestyle of mountain nomad people.
#Accommodation: Ger
#Meals: B+L+D

In the morning, begin your journey with a scenic drive through the mountains toward Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Your destination is the beautiful lake area, home to the peaceful Twin Lakes (Khoton,Khurgan) surrounded by towering forested mountains. This spot offers stunning views and is a great place for enjoying the nature, birdwatching etc. It’s also a summer camp for Kazakh nomadic herders. The combination of breathtaking scenery, vibrant birdlife, and the peaceful atmosphere makes this an unforgettable stop for nature lovers. Spend the night in a traditional ger.
#Accommodation: Ger
#Meals: B+L+D
#Driving time: 5 hour

In the morning, drive to a nearby valley and take a short hike to see a beautiful waterfall in the far end of this stunning valley (you can ride a horse instead of walking). The hike takes about 2 hours altogether. After enjoying the beauty of the valley, walk back to the vehicle and drive to the camp. Have lunch. After some rest, explore Bronze Age petroglyphs on a hill by the camp. While exploring, enjoy the breathtaking view around the lake.
#Meals: B+L+D
#Accommodation: ger

After the breakfast drive along Khovd river to Ulgii town through two small village centers. Give picnic lunch at the bank of Khovd river. Check in your hotel. You can go souvenir shopping for colorfully hand embroidered Kazakh hand crafts. We will gather for farewell dinner.
#Accommodation: Hotel
#Meals: B+L+D
#Driving time: 6 hour

We will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Ulaanbaatar. End of the tour.
#Driving time: 15min

FLIGHT: Mongolia’s national carrier (MIAT) operated three weekly flights from Ulaanbaatar, the capital, to Ulgii (Western Mongolia) in 2025.
The flight days were Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and the 2026 flights are expected to follow the same schedule on those days.

There is a nearby town called Khovd, about 220 km away, and MIAT operates three weekly flights there as well. However, the flight days are different: Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. It is possible to fly to Khovd if the flights to Ulgii are full.

FAMILY STAY: It is apparent that eagle hunter family can’t provide each tour guest with a private yurt (ger) because Kazakh yurts are large tents that can hold 5 to 6 people. However, the eagle hunter family will provide us two or three yurts and tour guests will share a yurt (ger) with other guests (up to 5 guests in one yurt).

TIPPING: Tipping is not common in Mongolia; however, it is customary and appreciated in tourism industry, especially by tour crews, eagle hunter/host family. The minimum recommended tip is $30, with higher amounts depending on your generosity, tour length and crew effort)

WEATHER: September is usually warm with temperature fluctuating between +1 to +15 during the day time.

-Meet real Kazakh eagle hunters
– Front-row access to the Sagsai Eagle Festival
-Stay with nomadic family in yurt
-Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
-Ride sturdy Mongolian horses through Altai mountains and Experince eagle falconry
– Local guides, comfortable transport, and full-service support

Fixed departure

17th-24th September