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- Mounted sports and horse mastery — Fast-paced horseback races, mounted archery and team riding games put traditional riding skill on full display. These events aren’t staged pageantry: they show how central horses were to survival and travel, and watching riders control speed, aim and balance is genuinely jaw-dropping.
- Eagle-hunting demonstrations — Golden eagles and their handlers (often from Kazakh and Altai traditions) perform hunting displays that feel part wildlife documentary, part living folklore. The bond between bird and hunter, plus the up-close chance to see the raptors fly and land on gauntlets, is uniquely northern steppe culture.
- Throat singing, epic songs and shamanic performance — Khöömei (throat-singing), epic storytelling and shamanic rituals give the festival its oldest,
- Mounted sports and horse mastery — Fast-paced horseback races, mounted archery and team riding games put traditional riding skill on full display. These events aren’t staged pageantry: they show how central horses were to survival and travel, and watching riders control speed, aim and balance is genuinely jaw-dropping.
- Eagle-hunting demonstrations — Golden eagles and their handlers (often from Kazakh and Altai traditions) perform hunting displays that feel part wildlife documentary, part living folklore. The bond between bird and hunter, plus the up-close chance to see the raptors fly and land on gauntlets, is uniquely northern steppe culture.
- Throat singing, epic songs and shamanic performance — Khöömei (throat-singing), epic storytelling and shamanic rituals give the festival its oldest, spookier notes. The polyphonic singing and ritual drumming create an otherworldly atmosphere — you’ll feel the landscape in the music.
- Yurt camps, local food and grassroots hospitality — The festival’s yurt village is where culture is lived, not just presented: try kumis (fermented mare’s milk), simple stews, and share a fire with families. It’s the best way to experience daily nomadic routines and swap stories with locals without the tourist gloss.
- Crafts, horse gear and living traditions — Artisans demonstrate felt-making, leatherwork, ornate saddles and traditional costume skills that are still practical, not just decorative. Markets and hands-on workshops let you see how functional design and aesthetics grew from life on the steppe — and give you unique souvenirs that actually mean something.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.