In the villages around Lake Issyk-Kul there are still men who hunt with golden eagles. In Kyrgyz they are called berkutchi, from berkut, the word for golden eagle. It is a tradition that has been passed from father to son for centuries, and winter is when it comes alive: the hunting season, when the foxes have their thickest fur and every track shows in the snow. This is how it works and where you can see it.
A berkutchi hunts on horseback with a trained golden eagle. He rides out to open ground, usually a hillside with a wide view, and when a fox or a hare shows up, he takes off the eagle’s hood and lets it fly. A golden eagle is a large bird, strong enough to take a fox, and a well-trained one comes back to the hunter after each catch, even though it is not tied. Local hunters consider it much more prestigious than falconry with smaller birds.
Most eagles are taken young. From the first day, the bird spends hours with one person: the hunter feeds it, carries it on his arm and talks or sings to it so it learns his voice and responds only to him. Training takes several years, and not every eagle makes it. Part of it is teaching the bird the scent and shape of its prey, for example by dragging a fox skin behind a galloping horse. Golden eagles can live for decades, so a hunter and his eagle often spend a large part of their lives together.
The season runs roughly from October to February. In summer the eagles moult and don’t hunt; when the cold comes, the foxes grow their winter coat and the snow makes their tracks easy to follow. That is why, if you want to see a berkutchi in his element, winter is the right time to go to Kyrgyzstan.
Salbuurun is the old Kyrgyz hunt that combined three things: golden eagles, taigans (the national breed of hunting greyhound) and archery on horseback. Today it is also the name of a festival in Bokonbaevo, with eagle demonstrations, archery, horse races and wrestling. The date changes from year to year (the 2025 edition was in August), so check it before planning a trip around it.
The easiest place is Bokonbaevo, on the south shore of Issyk-Kul, where local hunters keep eagles and show visitors how they work. A demonstration usually lasts between half an hour and an hour: the hunter explains how he looks after the bird, you can see it up close, and he lets it fly. There are also demonstrations in other parts of the Issyk-Kul region and near Bishkek.
On our Kyrgyzstan Winter Tour, the morning after the night in Bokonbaevo is spent with an eagle hunter. For more ideas for the season, see 10 things to do in Kyrgyzstan in winter.
When is the eagle hunting season in Kyrgyzstan?
Roughly from October to February. In summer the eagles moult and don’t hunt, and in winter the foxes have their thickest fur and their tracks are easy to follow in the snow.
Where can I see eagle hunters in Kyrgyzstan?
The easiest place is Bokonbaevo, on the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, where local hunters give demonstrations of 30 to 60 minutes. There are also demonstrations elsewhere in the Issyk-Kul region and near Bishkek.
Is the Salbuurun festival held in winter?
Not necessarily. The date of the Salbuurun festival in Bokonbaevo changes from year to year (the 2025 edition was in August), so check it before you plan your trip.
Can I see an eagle hunter on a winter tour?
Yes. Our 7-day Kyrgyzstan winter tour includes a morning with an eagle hunter in Bokonbaevo, as well as horse riding, skiing in Karakol, hot springs and a night with a local family.
More on the season in our Kyrgyzstan in winter guide.