Mongolia Encompassed: Naadam Festival

Arrive at any time.

There are no activities planned until tonight's welcome meeting.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Watch the thrilling opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival, a Mongolian sports tradition that dates back to the time of Genghis Khan. Admire the colourful costumes of the participants, and observe demonstrations of the “three manly sports” — wrestling, archery, and horse racing. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the festival grounds and take in the exciting atmosphere. Later, opt to watch a cultural performance and dazzling fireworks at Central Square.

ACTIVITY: The Naadam festival, called local 'eriin gurvan naadam', or the 'three games of men', is the biggest festival in Mongolia. After the elaborate opening ceremony featureing dancers, athletes, and musicians, the competitions of Mongolia's three main sports begin. These are archery, wrestling, and horse racing.

ACTIVITY: Pop in for a visit to the No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.

The Down Syndrome Association of Mongolia is a non-profit organization that supports children who live with Down syndrome, and their families. The organization focuses on creating community awareness, advocacy, and educational efforts within Mongolia. The No Limits Cafe began as an effort to create job opportunities and training for young people with Down syndrome and their mothers who are often left out of benefitting from economic opportunities. Through the cafe, the program works to break down barriers for people and families living with disabilities.

Head out to see the finish line of the gruelling Mongol Derby — the longest horse race on Earth, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. During this annual race, competitors ride more than 1,000 kilometres across the steppe, retracing the former mail routes of Genghis Khan. Return to Ulaanbaatar and watch top athletes compete in the finals for Mongolian wrestling. Later, attend the closing ceremony of the Naadam Festival at National Sports Stadium.

ACTIVITY: The Naadam festival, called local 'eriin gurvan naadam', or the 'three games of men', is the biggest festival in Mongolia. After the elaborate opening ceremony featureing dancers, athletes, and musicians, the competitions of Mongolia's three main sports begin. These are archery, wrestling, and horse racing.

Take an early morning drive to visit the gigantic Genghis Khan statue, towering over the flatlands of Mongolia astride a majestic horse. Stop by the visitors' centre and enjoy panoramic views of the desert landscape. Continue to Gorkhi Terelj National Park and visit Turtle Rock and the Meditation Temple to learn about Mongolian Buddhism. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the ger camp, then head back to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy some free time in the city this afternoon, then meet your group and CEO at the hotel this evening.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Towering over the banks of the Tuul River, the 131ft tall Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue is truly a sight to behold amid the flatlands of Uzbekistan. According to legend, this is where the mighty Khan discovered a golden whip that aided his many conquests. Stop by the visitors' centre, then ascend into the head of the horse, where a panoramic view of the landscape awaits.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a free day exploring the city. Opt to take a morning city tour including visits to Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.

Spend a free day exploring this fascinating capital city.



Enjoy the sights of UB and opt to visit to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Explore the city— go shopping, drink a Chinggis beer, or visit some more museums.

ACTIVITY: Pop in for a visit to the No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.

The Down Syndrome Association of Mongolia is a non-profit organization that supports children who live with Down syndrome, and their families. The organization focuses on creating community awareness, advocacy, and educational efforts within Mongolia. The No Limits Cafe began as an effort to create job opportunities and training for young people with Down syndrome and their mothers who are often left out of benefitting from economic opportunities. Through the cafe, the program works to break down barriers for people and families living with disabilities.

Drive to the Dungobi Aimag region – Middle Gobi – stopping at the Choir Monastery on the way. Spend the night at the first Mongolian ger camp.

Leave the capital and head south through the steppe to the Middle Gobi.



Visit the Choir Monastery before continuing on to a small ger camp not far from Mandalgovi, the regional centre.

Additional Information: Gers are traditional Mongolian tents made with wooden frames and layers of felt. The camps we stay at will have 2 beds per ger with mattresses, linens, and extra blankets. They have a central stove to keep the place cozy and a small table and chairs.

ACTIVITY: Established in 1779, the Choir Monastery had many lamas living there and was a major religious centre in the region. In the 1930s, there was a time of religious persecution in Mongolia and the monastery was destroyed. Today, its ruins are protected by the government.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Arrive at Yolyn Am — a narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikan mountains. It's an amazing place for hiking. Bring stable shoes and warm clothes, as some places are covered in thick ice year round.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Drive to Khongoryn Els. En route, stop by a local natural history museum. Enjoy the unique activities the Gobi Desert has to offer.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Stop by a small museum with collections of local flora & fauna in the area, along with dinosaur eggs and bones, stuffed birds and a snow leopard.

FREE TIME: Visit a local family, run around in the sand dunes, or ride a camel.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Gobi Desert. This morning, visit the biggest sand dunes in the western Gobi, then meet a nomadic camel-herding family. Opt to hike along other nearby sand dunes, and try riding a camel.

ACTIVITY: Visit Khongoryn Els, the biggest sand dunes in the western Gobi. They also are known as "singing sands" because the sand makes a musical noise as it moves with the wind.

Explore the Flaming Cliffs - a world renowned archaeological site for the vast amount of dinosaur bones and eggs found here.

Made of red sandstone, these cliffs and canyons offer visitors a scene of breathtaking beauty. Take some time to explore.

ACTIVITY: Explore the Flaming Cliffs. Made of red sandstone, the cliffs and canyons where fossils were found in recent years are a beautiful place to spend some time.

Drive through western parts of the Gobi Desert. In the surrounding mountains, visit the ruins of the Hoshuu and Ongiin Khiid monasteries.

Drive to the Delger Khangai Mountains area. Explore the ruins of the monasteries in the area.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Both these monasteries were important centres in the region before they were destroyed. The systematic destruction of religious sights under Communist rule was pervasive. Built in 17th century, the Ongiin Khiid monastery was among the largest temples in the country and was a home for over 1,000 monks. See the ruins and learn the sad history of the place.

Leave the Gobi Desert and drive through the Mongolian grasslands. Spend the next two nights with a local nomadic family, observing how they live. Enjoy a traditional meal with them.

Enjoy a long drive northwest, leaving the Gobi desert area and heading into the Mongolian steppe.



The nomads here live simple lives and move their cattle along the same routes their great-grandparents travelled hundreds of years ago.



In the evening, have dinner together with your hosts. One of the best things to try is the famous Mongolian barbecue.

Additional Information: Depending on the size of the nomadic family and their gers, accommodations can be very basic, with minimal to no facilities. In case if nomads can’t provide enough space for our group, we will camp nearby (camping gear is provided).

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Learn more about nomadic life in the steppes. Get to know your hosts and opt to participate in traditional activities such as milking a yak and preparing fresh dairy products. Discover what it takes to handle a Mongolian horse, and if the season is right, try airag (fermented mare's milk) - long important to cultures across Central Asia.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy a full free day. Opt to participate in local activities, or simply relax at camp.

Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. En route to tonight's ger camp, stop by the Karakorum Museum.

Journey to Kharkhorin, stopping at the beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery. Destroyed during the Communist era, this monastery is slowly being rebuilt.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: The beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery began its construction in 1586 and continued for over 300 years. It was the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. At its peak, the monastery housed over 1,000 monks and held 62 temples. In the 1930s, most of the temples were destroyed and monks killed in the Communist purges. Now, the monastery is slowly being restored.



Explore the monastery grounds and, if you're lucky, listen to monks chanting.

ACTIVITY: Considered the best museum outside of Mongolia's capital, the Karakorum Museum contains a treasure trove of ancient artifacts within, including pottery, metalwork and locally significant finds from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Stay in Khustai National Park—home of Mongolian wild horses. Here, look for Takhi horses in their natural habitat.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Home to the last of the truly wild horses in the world, the park is a wonderful chance to see the Takhi horses in their natural environment. At one point there were none in the wild, but after a hugely successful captive breeding program in various worldwide zoos, they were reintroduced.

Drive back to the capital for last minute sightseeing. Opt to see a local cultural show, an excellent display of dancing and Mongolian throat singing.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Explore with a few more hours in this international city.

Depart at any time.