Close to the village of Bokonbaevo visitors have the chance to witness one of Central Asia’s oldest traditions: eagle hunting.

Central Asia is the birthplace of eagle hunting, as thousands of years ago nomads began to tame golden eagles to hunt food and provide furs for the harsh winters. This tradition still survives today, with a small number of expert hunters left who keep the ancient practice alive.

In Kyrgyzstan hunting with hawks or falcons is considered for amateurs: a real hunter will only use a golden eagle, considered to be the most intelligent and accomplished hunter on the planet and able to kill hares, foxes and even lynxes. It takes around three or four years to train the eagle and then the bird will hunt for 20 years before being released back into the wild.