Naadam Festival Premium tour

Welcome to Mongolia, it is your day to meet your tour guide for the first time who will be waiting for you at the airport. Today we’ll drive to the Boutique Ger Family, on the way, we will visit the Khustai National Park (2h), where you can admire the famous completely wild Prjevalski horses, reintroduced to the Mongolians and inhabited again in Mongolian wild nature in the 1990s, after being captured to the zoos.
Tonight we will meet Ganaa’s family of 4 members who leads the local community “Eco- Progress” that is group of 10 other nomad families living around the national park. We will definitely have some fun time by playing traditional Mongolian games which also will give us great time to exchange our experience about ecology or nature with them and to learn more about Mongolians.
Meals: B,L,D
Distance: 100km 2h
Accommodation: Overnight at ger boutique of Ganaa’s nomadic family

Return to the airport to take the domestic flight to the Lake Khusvgul, the Blue Pearl of Mongolia. Enjoy your time to discover the path of carved deer stones in the area. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at the lake. Have dinner and stay overnight in a yurt.
Meals: B,L,D
Distance: 715km 1-2h in flight
Accommodation: Overnight at tourist camp

Today is a rest day to explore the area around the lake. We will go for horseback riding around the lake or it could be in the woods and see the lake from the top. It is the perfect time to get closer to the nomadic life and visit local nomads.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Overnight at tourist camp

We’ll begin our day by taking a domestic flight to Ulaanbaatar. Ensure you’re dressed comfortably as today we’ll embark on a short city tour and visit the Museum of National History. The museum showcases thousands of historical artifacts chronologically, from Neolithic petroglyphs to the Empire of Genghis Khan, offering insights into Mongolian culture and customs. Our next stop is Gandan Monastery, the largest in Mongolia, where you’ll learn about its daily operations and participate in a small benediction ceremony at a temple within the monastery. Afterward, we’ll head to Sukhbaatar’s Square, where a statue of the country’s hero, Genghis Khan, stands proudly. We’ll spend the night at the agency’s house and have dinner there.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 715 km (1-2 hours by flight)
Accommodation: Overnight at a 3-star hotel

Today is the Naadam Eve but we will go to the Khui Doloon Khutag racecourse, 30 km from Ulaanbaatar, to watch the horse racing. They are organized according to the age and sex of the horses. The racing distance varies depending on the category. Also, we will have some to enjoy the acrobatic performance of the riders during the equestrian aerobatics show before visiting a horse trainer. Winning the race means great glory for its trainer.
Surprisingly, we will end the adventurous day with the Mongolian traditional performance.
Meals: B,L,D
Distance: 30km 1h
Accommodation: Overnight at the 3* hotel

Let’s kick off the first day of festivities with Naadam, known as the “festival of the 3 men’s games,” Mongolia’s National Holiday. Celebrated across the country, these two days of sporting competitions bring Mongols together in provincial towns, villages, and especially in the capital. Participants test their virility in traditional Mongolian sports tournaments: national wrestling (Mongolian bukh), archery (on kharvaa), and horse racing (khurdan morinii uraldaan). While archery is open to women and horse riding to children, both boys and girls participate.

You’ll attend the opening ceremony of Mongolia’s largest Naadam, held in the Ulaanbaatar stadium. The program includes a military parade, traditional dances, songs, and speeches from the Mongolian President, followed by the national wrestling competition held throughout the day in the main stadium. After witnessing these intense battles, you’ll head to the annex stadiums for the archery and knuckle-throwing (shagai) tournaments, where you’ll discover their important symbolism.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a 3-star hotel

Today, we’ll take a domestic flight to The Great Gobi. Upon landing in Dalanzadgad, the capital of the South Gobi, we’ll hop into our van and start the journey to the Yol Canyon. Yol Canyon is located in the national park of Gobi Gurvan Saihan, also known as Three Beauties of the Gobi. We’ll visit the small Natural Museum before concluding our day with a stroll through Yoliin Am Canyon, famously known as the valley of the vultures.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 590km (1-2h in flight)
Accommodation: Overnight at a tourist camp

Today, we embark on a journey to the edge of the Gurvansaikhan Gobi National Park, home to the renowned Khongoryn Els, also known as the “Singing dunes.” These majestic sand dunes stand over 300 meters tall, span 12 kilometers wide, and stretch over 100 kilometers in length. Scaling these dunes can be a challenging endeavor, but reaching the summit offers a breathtaking panorama of the desert below. As you stand atop the dunes, you’ll be captivated by the vast expanse of hills and the gentle caress of the wind, which creates a mesmerizing singing sound as it sweeps across the sand.

From this elevated vantage point, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the endless mountains on one side and the expansive steppe on the other. The effort expended to reach the summit is truly rewarding, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to feel the silky sand beneath your feet and marvel at its enduring constancy.

Moreover, today’s adventure provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the nomadic way of life of the Gobi region. You’ll have the chance to join in the daily chores of the local nomads, spending time with a host family and experiencing life in the desert firsthand. Enjoy camel rides amidst the captivating landscapes of the Gobi, exploring this adventurous terrain atop a two-humped camel, a traditional mode of transportation in Mongolia.

Camels play a vital role in Mongolian daily life, serving as transportation and providing smooth, warm, and silky wool. As you navigate the Gobi landscape on camelback, you’ll gain insights into the unique bond between the nomads and their animals, further enriching your experience of this remarkable region.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 150km (3-4 hours)
Accommodation: Overnight at a tourist camp

In the morning, we will embark on a journey through the Ongi Valley, making our way to the Flaming Cliff. Be sure to dress comfortably, as today’s adventure will involve walking over the cliffs, where the path can be quite slippery. Providing a brief background of this iconic location, we’ll learn that it was here, in 1922, that the American expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews made significant discoveries, unearthing numerous dinosaur fossils, including the first dinosaur fossil egg. As we traverse this historic land, you’ll have the opportunity to tread where history was made.

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the remarkable sight of the “Flaming Cliff,” named for its fiery appearance, particularly striking in the evening light. Without the telltale signs of excavation, it’s easy to see how this imposing cliff might go unnoticed. After a satisfying lunch, you’ll have the chance to explore the surrounding area, including Bayanzag and the nearby Zag forest, known for its Saxaul trees. These unique landscapes offer a glimpse into the diverse natural beauty of the region.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 130km (3-4 hours)
Accommodation: Overnight at a tourist camp

Today, our journey begins with a visit to the historical site of Ongi Monastery, marking the start of our Gobi tour. Nestled along the banks of the Ongi River, this vast ruin holds a significant place in Mongolian history. Established in 1760 within a picturesque gorge, the monastery fell victim to the communist purge of 1937, much like many other religious sites. Despite its turbulent past, one of the original buildings was painstakingly restored in 2002, offering visitors a glimpse into its former glory. As we explore the monastery grounds, we’ll also have the opportunity to visit a small Ger museum, housing sculpted stones salvaged from the destruction, as well as various religious artifacts and fossils discovered on-site. As the day draws to a close, the soft glow of the setting sun bathes the surroundings in an enchanting atmosphere.

Continuing our journey, we’ll make our way to Baga Gazriin Chuluu, a mesmerizing landscape where towering granite steles appear to have been placed by ancient civilizations. Amidst the vast steppe, these imposing ochre-hued rocks conceal the remnants of a 17th-century temple, adding to the area’s mystique. Here, amidst this surreal backdrop, we’ll set up camp, providing the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the night sky, free from the distractions of light pollution, and revel in the awe-inspiring sight of countless stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 470km (6-7 hours)
Accommodation: Overnight at a tourist camp

Today we will leave for Ulaanbaatar. Once we get there, take some time for yourself and enjoy the city. Maybe take a few more photos of city life and indulge in some shopping. If you need help, just let us know; we’ll be there to guide you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 270km (4-5 hours)
Accommodation: Overnight at the 3-star hotel

Depending on your flight time, you can enjoy more in UB city and then we will drive you to the airport to say goodbye/Bayartai/.