Classic: Naadam Festival Mongolia (AMNF)
Countries Visited: Mongolia
Trip Style: Classic - Designed for maximum variety, these trips are geared towards travellers searching for a healthy mix of active exploration, uncommon landscapes, amazing wildlife and local cultures.
Service Level: Standard
Great value, reasonable prices, quality experiences Comfortable and varied tourist-class accommodations chosen for location and character Mix of public and private transport for the best overall experience All the top highlights included, plus plenty of time to explore on your own
Physical Demands Rating: 1 - You'll have to walk around on your own, climb some stairs and carry your own bag. Easy does it.
Group Size: Max 15, avg 12
Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 10 dinners
Accommodations: Hotels (4 nts), nomad family stay/camping (1 nt), Mongolian gers (9 nts, multi-share).
Highlights
Watch the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival, cheer on wrestlers and archers, listen to famous throat singing, sleep in traditional gers, devour Mongolian barbecue in the grasslands
Description
Wander the land that gave the world Genghis Khan and experience the rich pageantry and intense competitions of the legendary Naadam Festival. Witness giants wrestle, archers hit impossible targets and horses race across grasslands to glory. Travel the region's steppes and sand dunes to uncover storied Buddhist monasteries and cultural treasures on this unique adventure. Overnight in gers with local families for extraordinary cultural experiences you won't soon forget.
Trip Style: Classic - Designed for maximum variety, these trips are geared towards travellers searching for a healthy mix of active exploration, uncommon landscapes, amazing wildlife and local cultures.
Service Level: Standard
Physical Demands Rating: 1 - You'll have to walk around on your own, climb some stairs and carry your own bag. Easy does it.
Group Size: Max 15, avg 12
Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 10 dinners
Accommodations: Hotels (4 nts), nomad family stay/camping (1 nt), Mongolian gers (9 nts, multi-share).
Highlights
Watch the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival, cheer on wrestlers and archers, listen to famous throat singing, sleep in traditional gers, devour Mongolian barbecue in the grasslands
Description
Wander the land that gave the world Genghis Khan and experience the rich pageantry and intense competitions of the legendary Naadam Festival. Witness giants wrestle, archers hit impossible targets and horses race across grasslands to glory. Travel the region's steppes and sand dunes to uncover storied Buddhist monasteries and cultural treasures on this unique adventure. Overnight in gers with local families for extraordinary cultural experiences you won't soon forget.
Call (407) 833-8330 for more information or to book today! Mention code 12340004
- Tour Operator
- G Adventures
- Duration
- 15 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Ulaanbaatar | Day 1 Ulaanbaatar There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. Included Activities: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting |
| Day 2 | Amarbayasgalant | Day 2 Ulaanbaatar/Amarbayasgalant (1B, 1L, 1D) Enjoy a bumpy ride out to the Amarbayasgalant Monastery, the second-most important in Mongolia, located in the beautiful Iven Gol Valley. Additional Notes: Gers are traditional Mongolian tents made with wooden frames and layers of felt. The camps we stay at will have 4 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. Included Activities: Amarbayasgalant Monastery Visit Transport: Private Vehicle (6.00 hour(s), 350km) |
| Day 3 | Uran Togoo | Day 3 Amarbayasgalant/Uran Togoo (1B, 1L, 1D) Continue on to the beautiful Selenge River. Arrive in the afternoon and stretch your legs after the long drive with a hike to the nearby volcanic crater at Pot Mountain. Included Activities: Pot Mountain Hike Transport: Stop for lunch and photos along the way. Private Vehicle (8.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 4 | Selenge | Day 4 Uran Togoo/Selenge (1B, 1L, 1D) Enjoy free time in this scenic region and learn more about Mongolian nomadic culture. Opt to taste traditional Mongolian barbecue which is made only during ceremonies, or family celebrations. |
| Day 5 | Khovsgol | Day 5 Selenge/Khovsgol (1B, 1L, 1D) Spend the day travelling to scenic Khovsgol Lake. Included Activities: Lake Khovsgol and Park Visit Transport: Private Vehicle (6.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 6 | Khovsgol | Day 6 Khovsgol (1B, 1L, 1D) Enjoy a free day at Khovsgol lake. Try your hand at archery, go horseback riding, or hiking. |
| Day 7 | Jargalant | Day 7 Khovsgol/Jargalant (1B, 1L, 1D) Travel through the Lake District of Mongolia, looking for wildlife on the way. Spend the evening at a ger camp on Zuun Lake. Transport: Private Vehicle (8.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 8 | Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake | Day 8 Jargalant/Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (1B, 1L, 1D) Continue on with another long day of scenic driving to reach Great White Lake. With two days to explore, there are plenty of ways to spend time here. Additional Notes: Please note that facilities at this home are very basic, and travellers will use open-air "bush toilets" in nature, or a bush toilet enclosed by a small hut for privacy. Transport: Private Vehicle (3.00-3.50 hours) |
| Day 9 | Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake | Day 9 Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (1B, 1L, 1D) Spend a full day exploring the area. Climb the crater of a nearby volcano and crawl inside lava tubes. Spend a free afternoon in the area horseback riding, fishing, or mingling with the locals. Included Activities: Khorgo Volcano Visit |
| Day 10 | Tsenkher | Day 10 Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake/Tsenkher (1B, 1L, 1D) Stop en route to Tsenkher in the small town of Tsetserleg to visit the monastery museum. Opt to visit the handicraft shops here or the bakery. Stay in a ger camp nearby with options to visit the springs, go horseback riding, or chat with the locals. Included Activities: Zayain KhUree Monastery Museum Transport: Private Vehicle (7.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 11 | Elsen Tasarhai | Day 11 Tsenkher/Elsen Tasarhai (1B, 1L, 1D) Drive to Elsen Tasarhai. Enjoy the activities that so called little Gobi sand dunes has to offer- hiking in sand dunes, visit an ancient stone carving, and soak in the desert atmosphere. Included Activities: Elsen Tasarhai Sand Dunes Visit Transport: Private Vehicle (5.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 12 | Ulaanbaatar | Day 12 Elsen Tasarhai/Ulaanbaatar (1B, 1L) Travel back to Ulaanbaatar in time for the Naadam Festival ceremonies. Over the next few days, enjoy the opening ceremony, wrestling, archery, Naadam horseracing, and the closing ceremony, as well as free time for exploring Ulaanbaatar. Transport: Private Vehicle (5.00 hour(s)) |
| Day 13 | Ulaanbaatar | Day 13 Ulaanbaatar (1B, 1L) Watch the opening ceremony. Observe some of the wrestling matches and also the archery contests. With free time, opt for a wonderful cultural show or souvenir shopping. Included Activities: Nadaam Festival (Eriin Gurvan Naadam) |
| Day 14 | Ulaanbaatar | Day 14 Ulaanbaatar (1B, 1L) Head out to see the finish line of the Naadam horserace. Enjoy a free afternoon before attending the Festival Closing Ceremony in the evening. Included Activities: Nadaam Festival (Eriin Gurvan Naadam) |
| Day 15 | Ulaanbaatar | Day 15 Ulaanbaatar (1B) Depart at any time. |
- Disclaimer
Local Flights: All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Dossier Disclaimer:The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
