Sagsai is one of 11 villages in Bayan-Olgii province, and it is located 30 km (18miles) west from Ulgii. Sagsai or Sagsay is home to nomadic eagle hunters. The annual Sagsai Eagle Festival or Smaller Eagle Festival takes place in this village, and it is the second biggest nomad festival in western Mongolia and attended by over a thousand travelers from all over the world.
And if you’re planning on visiting an eagle hunter family and homestay, this is the place to visit. Here you can ride horses and get to know the ancient cultures of nomadic eagle hunters.
And if you love fly fishing, there is a good option for you. The village is located on the banks of three rivers. Turgel River, Sagsay River and Khovd River. The land around the village is very rich and the locals grow potatoes. There are several projects to plant and develop the Mongolian vegetable and fruit industry.
There is a sea buckthorn cultivation project on the Sagsay River with an area of 50 hectares. And in 2020, the Green Altai Iredui company began its project to cultivate the land and grow all kinds of trees.
There are also large investments from the Asian Trade Bank, which is going to cultivate more than 400 hectares and prepare the soil for growing vegetables, and then distribute them to the villagers.
In the center of Sagsai, there is an administration office, a theater, a school, a kindergarten, a hospital, a bank, an ATM, and shops.
The nomads of this village stay closer to the village in winter and the children can go to schools, but in spring and summer, they migrate very far to Dayun, which is the southern part of the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Migration to Dayun is one of the most difficult parts for the nomads who live in this region, it takes 3-4 days. To join winter nomad’s migration tour, please get in touch with us.
Suggested Tours:
Related Blogs:
Ölgii (Ulgii) sits at about 1,700 m in a dry valley of the Altai, with a cold semi-arid continental climate…
The Altai Mountains span Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. The Russian Altai has green forested valleys, rivers, Belukha (4,506 m,…
Mongolia and Kazakhstan do not share a border. At their closest point in the Altai Mountains they are separated by…
Khovd is a province in western Mongolia, between the Altai Mountains and the great lakes basin, often described as the…
Uvs Lake (Uvs Nuur) is Mongolia’s largest lake by surface area, roughly 3,350 km². It is a shallow, very salty…
October is the best month for culture and eagles in Mongolia, though not for classic trekking. On the first weekend…
September is one of the best months to visit Mongolia. The summer crowds have gone, rain is much less frequent,…
“Ger” and “yurt” describe the same type of round, portable felt home. Ger is the Mongolian word, meaning “home”, and…
Golden eagle photography rewards preparation more than luck. For birds in flight, start at 1/2500s, f/6.3, auto-ISO capped at 3200,…
The Mongolia Eagle Festival in Bayan-Ölgii runs in late September and early October at elevation 1,710 metres, where October average…
Mongolia hosts two distinct Kazakh eagle festivals each autumn in Bayan-Ölgii Province, the country’s western Kazakh-majority region. The Sagsai Golden…
Becoming a Kazakh burkitchi (eagle hunter) is a years-long family apprenticeship, not a course or a profession one applies for…
When most travellers think of falconry in Mongolia, they think of the golden eagle on a Kazakh hunter’s glove in…
After years of hunting partnership in the Altai Mountains, a Kazakh berkutchi (eagle hunter) traditionally releases his trained female golden…
In Kazakh nomadic culture of Mongolia’s Altai Mountains, the golden eagle is far more than a hunting bird. She is…
Winter eagle hunting in Mongolia is a centuries-old Kazakh tradition practised between October and April in the Altai Mountains of…
A golden eagle nest — properly called an eyrie — is a large platform of sticks and softer lining material…
Tourism plays a vital role in preserving heritage, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Altai mountains of…
Travelers searching for Top Tours for Eagle Hunting often dream of experiencing the raw beauty of the Altai Mountains, horse…
Mongolia is like no other place on earth, with wide-open landscapes, ancient traditions, and incredible sights at every turn. Known…
How to Plan a Trip: Altai Tavan Bogd Adventure – Mongolia’s hidden gem in the far west, promises an unforgettable…