NAADAM FESTIVAL-WONDER OF THE GOBI

Price from: 2190USD
/per person based on 2 people/
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Availability: 2024 Jul 05 - Jul 12
Group: maximum 16 travelers for this trip

Trip summary
In Brief
In Detail
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Trip summary:

Mongolia is wonderful country and the safest country to visit. Mongolia is known for many things – wide – open skies, Genghis Khan, Gobi Desert and more.

One of the highlight of this tour is attending the exciting “ Naadam Festival of Mongols” that the nomads have cherished for thousands of year. In 2010 the festival was entered into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and is great celebration of the Central Asian nation’s culture. Join us to discover the big part of the experience and enjoy the most colorful and amazing festival of Naadam which is held on every year in July. The Naadam Festival celebrates the three manly sports (or Eriin Gurvan Naadam) which are wrestling horse-racing and archery. More recently forth game, knuckle-bone flicking was added to the competitions. The festival is celebrated throughout the country but the biggest ceremony is in Ulaanbaatar. The atmosphere is a big part of the experience and all dress in their traditional clothes DEEL for occasion.

On this exciting 8 day tour you won’t only attend Naadam Festival also we will visit highlights of the Gobi Desert.

Gobi Desert –ancient home land of Dinosaur, Singing Dunes, through the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Gobi Gurvan Saikhan means Three Beauties of the Gobi and this range marks the eastern end of Gobi Altai mountain range, past Yulture’s Gorge, “Flaming cliff” of Bayanzag

Terelj National Park, which is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia. The National Park is by its natural beauty, forested alpine mountains and interesting rock formations (Massive woolsack weather conditions) very well known.

Relaxing in wild nature and explore nomadic life style... driving, walking, horse and camel riding, climbing to sand dunes are the main activities.

Brief Itinerary:

Day	Activities	Meals	Accommodation
Day 01(5 July)	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to Hotel	-	Hotel***
Day 02(6July)	Fly to Gobi Desert- Bayanzag flaming cliffs	B , L, D	Ger camp
Day 03(7July)	Khongor - the biggest sand dune in the Gobi	B, L, D	Gercamp
Day 04(8July)	Yol Valley – Dungenee canyon	B, L, D	Ger camp
Day 05(9 July)	Fly back to UB – Terel National Park	B, L, D	Ger camp
Day 06(10 July)	Genghis Khan statue complex –Ulaanbaatar, cultural show	B, L, D	Hotel***
Day 07(11 July)	Naadam festival –opening ceremony, wrestling, archery, horse racing	B, L, D	Hotel***
Day 08(12 July)	Departure	B

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 -July 5 - Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

On arrival at Genghis Khaan International Airport then we transfer to the Hotel to freshen up and you may need some time to relax from the long –distance flight or possibly from jet lag

Accommodation: Hotel, Meals: not included on this day

Day 2 -July 6 Flight to Gobi Desert –Bayanzag (flaming cliffs)

Early in the morning transfer to the airport for flight to Dalanzadgad wich is a town of South Gobi.

Upon arrival and drive to the Bayanzag known as Flaming cliffs and enjoy the day hiking amongst colourful sands of red, yellow, and orange. Bayanzag is a world-renowned dinosaur fossil exploration site, discovered in the 1920’s by Mongolian and Roy Chapman Andrews American

Paleontologists. After lunch we are free to explore the region and feel like dinosaur hunters because even now many dinosaur fossils remain. As scientists defined it was an inland sea bottom some 200 million years ago. Dinner and overnight ger camp.

Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: Flight for 1.30hrs, 110km, driving for- 2hrs

Day 3 -July 7 Khongor sand dunes-visit camel breeder family & Camel trek

This morning, we will drive west to the extraordinary sand dunes of Khongoriin Els, Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. The Khongoriin Els stretch for 200km and 12km in width and the highest dunes are 300m high in places. The dunes are known as the “Singing Dunes” due to beautiful sounds created by patterns in the dunes on a windy day. These oases are sanctuaries for birdlife including snow white swans. After lunch and check-in we will take some personal rest and refreshment in the camp.

In the afternoon we will visit local camel breeding family to experience the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle. Its chance to try drinking Hormog (fermented camel milk).

The sand dunes are the perfect place for camel riding, which is relatively easy with their gentle gaits and soft comfortable back. Mongolia is home to 2/3 of the two-humped Bactrian camels in the world. The Gobi has 100 000 camels, which we are typically used by herders for transportation of their gers.

In the evening, we will explore the singing dines and climb to the highest points, opportunity to see the breathtaking view of the surrounding area and amazing sunshine panorama of sand dunes.

Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 160km, driving for- 3,5hrs

Day 4 -July 8 Yol Valley, Three beauties of the Gobi National Park

After breakfast we drive through the Dungenee canyon and Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park reach the Yol valley. Gobi Gurvan Saikhan means Three Beauties of the Gobi. The national Park’s landscape is extremely varied, with rocky and sandy desert plain, precipitous cliffs and ravine, salt pans, and oasis. We visit a spectacular natural sights of this region – Yolyn Am. Yolyn Am means Vulture’s mouth and is a canyon so deep and narrow that even in the height of summer winter ice can remain on the valley floor.

This region is also renowned for the diversity of its wildlife and many endangered species if you may be lucky enough can be found here, including Khulan, Ibex, Argali grazing high on the cliff walls

We explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 190km, driving for- 3,5hrs

Day 5 -July 9 Flight to Ulaanbaatar –-Terelj National Park trip

Today we say goodbye to our Gobi side paradise before taking the morning flight to Ulaanbaatar.

Upon arrival in the city, drive continues to Terelj – the most and interesting National Park. Lush alpine pastures and forests of larch and pine make for a peaceful and relaxing setting. It makes an ideal base to explore the surrounding area. Our ger camp is set in a beautiful location amongst towering pock pillars and forests of Siberian Larch.

After lunch visit to Turtle Rock formation – the symbol of the National Park, then hiking to Ariyabal meditation temple-sits at the top of the mountain. From the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the Terelj National Park. Return to the ger camp dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Ger camp, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Total distance: UB- Terelj NP -80km, driving for 2hrs

Day 6 -July 10 Genghis Khan Statue – Ulaanbaatar- city tour& watch the preparations for Naadam

After light breakfast we drive to Ulaanbaatar . On the way we visit Genghis Khan’s Statue Complex - the biggest (40m tall) equestrian statue in the world. Explore the statue complex, have good panoramic view from top of the statue. Lunch will be at the Genghis Khan statue complex.

Return back to Ulaanbaatar upon we arrive to the city, our city tour starts in earnest. We visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most famous functioning monastery in Mongolia. Here we will see the impressive Golden Buddha Statue of Migjid Janraisag and may experience monks in worship.

After lunch we will visit the National History Museum and see sights from Mongolia’s history from pre-historic times the Mongol Empire up until Mongolia’s more recent communist past.

Next stop is Sukhbaatar Square, the town’s central square named after the people’s revolutionary hero. There is an equestrian statue of Sukhbaatar and a massive Bronze statue of Genghis Khan with his four warriors in front of Parliament house.

This evening we will enjoy a performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance “Wonders of Mongolia” folklore show by famous Tumen-Ekh ensemble. The most interesting performances are the throat singing, contortionists and Tsam dancers, Khoomii or throat singing is a musical art delivered with the help of a guttural voice and specific way of breathing. This is one of the most successful folk art groups to share traditional Mongolian music with the world.

Accommodation: Hotel, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 80km, driving for- 2hrs

Day 7 -July 11 Naadam Festival & wrestling, archery, Horse racing

This morning we transfer to Central stadium and see the fantastic “Great Naadam” festival opening ceremony followed by wrestling, archery and knuckle-bone flicking competitions. It’s Mongolia biggest and amazing cultural event. After opening ceremony, we watch the first round of wrestling and then we will visit naadam archery field and ancle-bone shooting beside central stadium. The archery field will be filled with men and women archers in colorful ethnic national costumes who shooting arrows from their bows. This kind of contest was in existence in the 13th century and was in use until recently.

Lunch will be at local restaurant in the city. In the afternoon we will drive to Khui Doloon Hudag where the Naadam Festival horse racing place. You will experience the brilliant madness of the horse race field and the unsurpassed cultural opportunity to watch the horse racing competition included around 280-350 horses. There are you will have a great opportunity to take photography local horse trainers, peoples with traditional garments and so more contrast.

We enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening. Dinner is at Veranda Mediterranean restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 8 -July 12 Departure

As your memorable trip comes to end, transfer to airport for your flight to home

Meals: Breakfast