inside the stadium of opening ceremony of the naadam festival in Ulaanbaatar
inside the stadium of opening ceremony of the naadam festival in Ulaanbaatar

Date: 04 Jul – 11 Jul

Dating from the Genghis Khan era, the Naadam Festival is a showcase for traditional sporting events and a summer celebration enjoyed throughout Mongolia from 11-12 July. The most spectacular events for visitors take place at the National Stadium in Ulaanbataar where nomads compete in wrestling, archery and horsemanship. Naadam Festival combined with Gobi and Central Mongolian highlights, this tour is one of the best tour itinerary.

  • Mongolia’s busiest travel route to Gobi Desert
  • Mongolia’s biggest festival Naadam together one trip

  • Length: 8 days

Day1. 04 Jul. Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff
Day2. 05 Jul. Yol Gorge
Day3. 06 Jul. Khongor Sand Dune
Day4. 07 Jul. Bayanzag
Day5. 08 Jul. Ongi Monastery Ruin
Day6. 09 Jul. Karakorum
Day7. 10 Jul. Naadam Festival: horse race
Day8. 11 Jul. Naadam Festival: opening ceremony


Prices

  • Tour type: Mongolia Group Tours
  • Group size: min 4pax – max 12pax
  • Age requirement: 12+ All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

1540 USD for solo sign up
1260 USD p.p for more than 2pax sign up

Included: 6 nights in  tourist ger camp (twin/double share), food service written in the itinerary, land transportation, English speaking guide service, mineral water, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs, Naadam Festival opening ceremony
Not included: Hotel expenses in Ulaanbaatar, gratuities for staffs, personal expenses, travel insurance

Single supplement: 240 USD


Detailed itinerary

  • Total driving distance: 1820 km
Day1. 04 Jul. Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff – colorful earth wall

We will pick you up from your accommodation at 08:00 o’clock & drive to Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff (470 km – 6 hours on the paved road). It is sheer slope and was an old seabed with sedimentary structure created by millions years and the different colors of the ground represent different times. The formation is over 50 m in its highest point and continues 400 m and looks like a ancient ghost city form a distance. There is no clear date of geography research work and it is good spot take rest and overnight place driving to South Gobi desert from Middle Gobi desert. We will do some hiking around the site. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. /L,D/

Day2. 05 Jul. Yol Gorge

After breakfast time, we will drive to Yol Gorge (200 km – 3 hours on the paved road). Yol means vulture in Mongolian and the gorge is located in Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range & stretches over 10 km. The narrowest part, only 3 or 4 person can pass in same time, of the valley is completely shaded from the direct sun shine by high cliff walls. Also, the valley is famous for the fact that there is ice created in winter by small stream of the valley present there even during the hot summer months until mid of Jul. We will do an hour hiking there & then also visit to the small natural museum. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. /B,L,D/

Day3. 06 Jul. Khongor Sand Dune – camel ride

After breakfast time, we will drive to Khongor Sand Dune (190 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). Khongor is biggest sand dune in the Gobi Desert that extend from 5 to 10 km in width, nearly 100 km long, with crests rising 80 to 300m above the surrounding landscape. The booming sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar when occurs windy day. Hence locals called it as Singing Sands. Near Khongor River at the northern edge of the dunes, there is an oasis. We will ride camels today to explore these massive sand-dunes and explore the area where climbing one of the dunes affords the energetic traveler with an unforgettable experience of endless vistas across a sea of daffodil-colored sand. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. /B,L,D/

Day4. 07 Jul. Bayanzag – dinosaur site

After breakfast time, we will drive to Bayanzag (150 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered this place and named as Flaming Cliffs. A lot of dinosaurs’ findings such as Protoceratops & dinosaur’ eggs have been found there in first time. The red colored cliffs themselves are very imposing from a distance, and are particularly fiery in the light of the setting sun. We will walk around the site. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.

Day5. 08 Jul. Ongi Monastery Ruin

After breakfast time, we will drive to Ongi Monastery Ruin (155 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). It is the ruins of a Buddhist monastery founded in 1760 and destroyed in 1937 by communist purges. Located on the shore of the Ongi River, the monastery was formerly one of the largest monasteries in Gobi Desert. Raw violence of the destruction at the site was still visible, still palpable, even though it happened over years ago. We will hike to the ruins for visiting to local ger museum displayed survived objects of destroyed monastery and a small lovely and active Buddhist temple. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. /B,L,D/

Day6. 09 Jul. Nomadic family & Karakorum – capital city of Genghis Khan

After breakfast time, we will drive to a nomadic family (200 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). Enjoy the joyful atmosphere and learn the clever nomads’ way of life by taking every chance of taking part in the nomadic life activities like a nomad. Then we will drive to Karakorum (40 km – 1 hour mostly on the paved road). Karakorum, the capital of Great Mongolian State where today there is a small local township. After 200 years its sacked by Chinese, Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia and by various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. We will respectively visit  to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum & other interesting historical sights there. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. /B,L,D/

Day7. 10 Jul. Naadam festival: Horse racing

After breakfast time, we will drive to Khui Doloon Khudag (325 km – 5 hours on the paved road). It is the big open valley or steppe for horse racing. We will see Mongols’ most favorite activity of Naadam festival, horse racing, featuring children riding bareback  across the steppe. Before dinner time, we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar (35 km on the paved road) & transfer you to your accommodation. /B,L/

Day8. 11 Jul. Naadam festival: Opening ceremony, wresting & archery.

We will pick you up from your accommodation (pick up time will be confirmed) & drive to the Tuv Tsengeldekh stadium. Annual opening ceremonies are held in this stadium & also wrestling too. Our lunch will be a traditional meal “Naadam khuushuur” which is considered among the Mongolian people must eat food of Naadam festival. After lunch time, we will visit to the archery court which is located in the next of the main stadium. Then you will have some free time stroll around there. Before dinner time, we will transfer you to your accommodation. /L/

  • End time: around 18:00 o’clock

Information

  • Personal departure: this tour is not possible for personal departure.
  • Trip grading: moderate
  • Child policy: 0 – 3 years old baby free of charge, 4 – 12 years old child: 30% discount (counted as 1pax)
  • Group policy: Up from 6pax please see our Group Service. Get better rate.
  • Discount policy: We always try to lower the our service prices by looking better solution for our customers. Here is several Discount Policy you can save until 10% that we can do on our best for our customers.

Please let us know should you have further inquiries! We are looking forward to assist you with organizing your stay in Mongolia and answering any questions you might have about this tour. We want your holiday experience in Mongolia to be as amazing as it is possible.

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