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Ulgii, Bayan-Ulgii

The Last
Great Frontier

Where eagle hunters ride across ancient steppes and nomadic traditions have thrived for thousands of years. Your journey into the untamed heart of the Mongolian Altai begins here.

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3,000+
Years of eagle hunting
93%
Kazakh population
4,374m
Altai peaks
100%
Locally guided
Why Ulgii

A World Apart From
Everywhere Else

Bayan-Ulgii is Mongolia's westernmost province, a place where time moves differently. Bordered by Russia and China, it is home to a rich mix of peoples: predominantly Kazakh, alongside the Altai Uriankhai, Tsengel Tuvans, Dörvöd, and Khoshuud, each carrying centuries of nomadic tradition, language, and culture.

Unlike Ulaanbaatar or the Gobi, Ulgii offers something increasingly rare: authentic, unscripted encounters with nomadic families, soaring golden eagles, and landscapes that stretch endlessly under vast skies.

We connect you directly with vetted local Kazakh guides, people who were born into this world and know it as intimately as the eagle knows the wind.

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Kazakh eagle hunter on horseback in Western Mongolia
Oct

Golden Eagle Festival — annually in Ulgii

Experiences & Tours

Adventures Built
for the Bold

Every experience is guided by local Kazakh experts who speak English and live the traditions they share.

⭐ Most Popular
Golden Eagle Festival

Witness the world-famous Golden Eagle Festival each October — a UNESCO-recognised gathering where Berkutchi (eagle hunters) on horseback compete in speed, accuracy, and the ancient art of hunting with trained golden eagles.

📅 October (2–3 days) 👥 Up to 12 guests 🏕️ Ger accommodation included
From $390 / person
Book Now →
🏕️ Immersive
Nomadic Family Homestay

Sleep in a traditional ger, share meals of airag and beshbarmak, and learn what daily nomadic life truly feels like — from milking mares to felt-making.

📅 Year-round (3–7 nights)👥 2–6 guests
From $120 / night
Enquire →
🦅 Exclusive
Winter Eagle Hunting Expedition

Ride alongside a Berkutchi in the snow-covered Altai mountains for an authentic fox hunt. A raw, intimate experience for the truly adventurous traveller.

📅 Nov–Feb (4–5 days)👥 2–4 guests
From $650 / person
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🐴 Trekking
Altai Horse Trek

Multi-day horse trekking through the Altai mountains, crossing rivers, passing petroglyphs, and camping under skies with no light pollution.

📅 Jun–Sep (5–10 days)👥 2–8 guests
From $280 / day
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🌸 Festival
Nauryz — Kazakh New Year

Celebrate the Kazakh spring festival on March 21st with music, traditional games, feasts, and colourful ceremonies alongside local families.

📅 March 21 (2 days)👥 Up to 15 guests
From $190 / person
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📷 Photo
Photography Expedition

Designed for serious photographers — access to eagle hunters, landscape vistas, festival scenes, and nomadic portraits with a local fixer and guide.

📅 Year-round (5–8 days)👥 1–4 guests
From $480 / person
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Custom itineraries available — get in touch and we'll build the perfect trip.

About Ulgii

Ancient Culture,
Living Traditions

Bayan-Ulgii isn't just a destination. It is a civilization that survived the centuries intact.

Located at the very tip of Western Mongolia, Bayan-Ulgii province shares borders with Russia and China. It is home to a rich mix of peoples including Kazakhs, Altai Uriankhai, Tsengel Tuvans, Dörvöd, and Khoshuud, each with their own living traditions, languages, and nomadic heritage.

The people of Bayan-Ulgii are eagle hunters, horsemen, craftspeople, and storytellers. Their felt-lined gers, embroidered textiles, and the haunting sound of traditional instruments fill the valleys from spring through autumn.

Visitors are consistently struck by the warmth of local hospitality. You will be invited in, fed, and treated as family before you have even introduced yourself.

  • 📍
    Ulgii city — the provincial capital, with flights from Ulaanbaatar (1.5-2 hrs)
  • 🗣️
    Languages: English, Russian, Turkish, Mongolian, Kazakh spoken by our guides
  • ☀️
    Best season: July–October for warmth; November–February for snow and eagle hunting
  • 🛡️
    Safe & welcoming: Mongolia ranks as one of Asia's safest countries for travellers
Kazakh eagle hunter
Eagle hunter portrait
Mongolian steppe
"I have travelled to 60 countries. Nothing prepared me for Ulgii. It was like stepping into a world that the modern age simply forgot to reach."
— James R., traveller from the UK
Kazakh Traditions

A Culture That Breathes

🦅
Eagle Hunting

A 3,000-year-old hunting practice using trained golden eagles, passed from father to child through generations.

🏠
The Ger (Yurt)

The collapsible felt home of the nomad — assembled in under an hour, warm in -40°C winters, and home to entire families.

🐎
Horse Culture

Kazakh children ride before they walk. Horses are family, transport, and a source of fermented mare's milk (airag).

🎵
Music & Dombra

The two-stringed dombra lute is the soul of Kazakh culture. It is used for storytelling, celebration, and mourning alike.

🧵
Felt Crafts & Textiles

Intricate wall tapestries (tuskiiz), felt rugs (syrmak), and embroidered garments. Each pattern tells a story.

🌸
Nauryz Spring Celebration

The Kazakh spring equinox celebration on March 22nd is marked by communal feasts, traditional games, and music.

How It Works

Your Journey,
Simplified

We handle logistics, translation, and local connections, you just show up and experience it.

1
✉️
Send an Enquiry

Fill out our booking form with your dates, group size, and interests. We respond within 24 hours.

2
🗺️
Custom Itinerary

We design a personalized itinerary and match you with the best local guide for your trip style.

3
✈️
Arrive in Ulgii

Fly into Ulgii airport from Ulaanbaatar. Your guide meets you on arrival, no navigation stress.

4
🌍
Live the Adventure

Eagle hunters, nomadic families, mountain treks — your guide brings it all to life authentically.

Traveller Stories

What Our Guests Say

★★★★★

"The Golden Eagle Festival was the most extraordinary thing I've ever witnessed. Our guide Aibek made sure we were front-row, and his stories about the hunters made it profoundly meaningful."

S
Sarah M.
New York, USA · October 2024
★★★★★

"Three nights in a ger with a nomadic family completely changed my perspective on how life can be lived. No Instagram could prepare you for the raw beauty of this place."

T
Thomas K.
Berlin, Germany · August 2024
★★★★★

"The winter eagle hunt was terrifying and beautiful in equal measure. Riding through the Altai snow at dawn with a golden eagle on a hunter's arm — nothing else comes close."

R
Rachel T.
Melbourne, Australia · Feb 2025

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Emailinfo@visitulgii.com
LocationUlgii, Bayan-Ulgii Province, Western Mongolia
Response timeWithin 24 hours (often much faster)
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