Bayan-Ölgii Province

Mongolia’s westernmost province — home to its Kazakh minority and the living tradition of eagle hunting.

Bayan-Ölgii is Mongolia’s westernmost province, bordering Russia and China, and the center of the country’s Kazakh minority. Its main town, Ölgii, is the gateway to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and the base for meeting the Kazakh eagle hunter families who still hunt with golden eagles each winter.

Why visit Bayan-Ölgii Province

This is the one place in Mongolia where you can meet Kazakh eagle hunters in their own valleys, not as a performance staged elsewhere. Bayan-Ölgii combines that living culture with some of the country’s highest mountains, making it a rare combination of cultural depth and genuine wilderness.

Landscapes and experiences

Kazakh nomadic culture, distinct from the Khalkh Mongolian traditions seen elsewhere in the country
Golden eagle hunting families around Sagsai and the Altai foothills
The town of Ölgii, with its local market and Kazakh restaurants
Access point to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and the high Altai

Things to do

Meet an eagle hunter family and watch a hands-on eagle-training session
Attend the Golden Eagle Festival (early October) or a Mini Eagle Hunters gathering during the winter migration
Explore Ölgii’s local market and try Kazakh food
Continue into Altai Tavan Bogd National Park for trekking and lake camping

Best time to visit

October for the Golden Eagle Festival; February to April for the eagle hunters’ winter migration; June to September for trekking and general travel, when the high passes are clear.