In the Altai Mountains of Bayan-Ölgii Province in western Mongolia, the land is harsh and rugged, with year-round snow and ice, a cold climate, barren terrain, crisscrossing mountains, and endless stretches of Gobi desert.
In such a desolate land, falcons have become the top predators. The strongest falcons can spot targets several kilometers away from hundreds of meters above and dive at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, leaving their prey with no chance of escape.
To survive in this harsh environment, a special group of “artisans” has emerged: the Kazakh falconers of Mongolia. They train falcons and hunt alongside them on horseback—a tradition that has been passed down for centuries.
This gave rise to the Kazakh people’s most spectacular and ancient event—the Falconry Festival. In 2010, this traditional festival was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
In Mongolia, the Falconry Festival is held twice a year.
One takes place in March at the Genghis Khan Equestrian Tourism Base on the southern outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. This festival aims to pass down the traditional customs, unique culture, and lifestyle of the nomadic people to future generations, while also attracting domestic and international visitors and showcasing Mongolia to the world through its ethnic traditions.
The festival primarily showcases the traditional skills of falconers working in harmony with their birds of prey. In addition, there are dog-handling performances, falcon demonstrations, falcon hunting displays, traditional Kazakh horseback games, bag-snatching contests, and coin-grabbing competitions. Falconers from across the region participate in competitions, demonstrating the finest techniques and mastery of their craft.
The other festival takes place in October in Bayan-Ölgii. This event is a true competition for falconers, rather than a performance for tourists. The finest falconers gather here, their birds soaring and hunting while the hunters chase on horseback—a truly spectacular sight. In addition, visitors can explore unique local handicrafts, enjoy performances on the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), and savor authentic skewers of beef and lamb. This is an experience of Mongolia in its most raw and genuine form.
Bayan-Ölgii is home to the falconers, and visiting here allows you to immerse yourself in their daily lives, sample local cuisine, learn the skills of falconry, and gain an in-depth understanding of the nomadic lifestyle of Mongolia’s Kazakh people.
