Eagles and Mongolian Hunters

Steppe Riders and the Golden Eagle – An Unmissable Highlight of Mongolian Photo Tours

The culture of using golden eagles for hunting among the Mongol people—especially the Kazakh community in the Bayan-Ölgii region of Western Mongolia—is considered one of the most ancient and distinctive traditions of the nomadic world.

This is also one of the prominent experiences that draws many photographers to Mongolian photo tours to capture rare moments.

For the Kazakh people, the golden eagle is not only a powerful predator but also a symbol of strength, pride, and the spirit of freedom on the Altai steppes. Each eagle is raised by a berkutchi (eagle hunter) as a family member, staying with them from a young age until mature enough to return to the sky.

The Golden Moment for Photography Tours in Mongolia

The sight of riders in traditional fur coats, galloping across the vast steppe while the golden eagle swoops down to hunt, has become a “classic” scene for those participating in a Mongolian photo tour.

Strong light, a majestic setting, and the fierceness of the eagle create emotionally rich moments, the “dream” of many wildlife and travel photographers.

Nowhere else in the world is the traditional golden eagle hunting scene recreated as vividly and authentically as in Bayan-Ölgii.

From Survival to Art

In the past, the Kazakh people hunted with eagles to survive the harsh winter. But today, they hunt primarily to preserve their culture and pass on memories to the younger generation. Eagle hunting has become a form of living art, a sacred ritual that expresses the harmony between man and nature.

Every year, in the autumn, the Bayan-Ölgii region organizes the famous Eagle Festival, attracting numerous tourists, photographers, and Mongolian photo tour groups. This is an occasion for the berkutchi to demonstrate their skills in calling the eagle and riding their horses, as well as introducing nomadic life to friends around the world.

A Living Heritage in the Modern Era

Even as nomadic life is gradually changing, the berkutchi still consider training the eagles and maintaining the hunting custom a mission of cultural preservation.

They live with the eagles, share food, and keep each other warm during winters that drop to tens of degrees below zero. And when the eagle is mature enough to return to nature, they perform a release ritual, an act of gratitude and respect.

It is this sacredness that makes the eagle hunting culture not just visually beautiful, but also spiritually profound, a factor that creates a huge attraction for Mongolian photo tours.