Mongolia's Naadam Festival

Sainbainuu! Welcome to Mongolia. You can arrive at any time before your welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, you'll have the option to join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant. If you arrive in town earlier and have time, be sure to get out and explore 'UB', a fascinating town where elderly Mongolians in traditional dress mingle with the nation's young business elite. A great place to start is Gandan Khiid, Mongolia's largest and most important monastery. The Fine Arts Museum, Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan and Intellectual Museum are also well worth visiting.

Mongolia’s annual Naadam Festival is a centuries-old tradition, dating back to the era of the great Khans and their dynasties. Wrestling, archery and horse racing – the three skills that Genghis Khan considered essential for any Mongol warrior – are showcased today at the country’s largest celebration of the ‘three manly sports’. You’ll get a special insight into each of these sports over the next couple of days with visits to the training camps taking place in preparation for the festival. You’ll observe Mongolian archers lining up their shots, learn how precision and technique play a key role in successful archery and have a go at using the traditional bow and arrow yourself. You’ll also watch the wrestlers practice. Your leader will explain the rules of Mongolia wrestling and the various techniques and tricks. Some of these wrestlers are huge national celebrities! Learn to cook a Mongolian BBQ and share it with the wrestlers for lunch or dinner. Tonight, you’ll either stay at the wrestler’s camp or a ger camp nearby.

Wake up at the crack of dawn as the campsite comes alive and drive to another camp where the horse trainers and riders live during their Naadam preparations. Stop on the way at a supermarket to buy some small gifts for the families hosting you tonight – it’s tradition to bring gifts to visit someone’s home in Mongolia, and your leader can advise on what’s appropriate. Then onwards to the horse rider training camp to spend the day watching the horses and jockeys train. Your leader will tell you about why horses are so treasured by the Mongolian people. Mongolian nomads have developed deep relationships with animals over thousands of years and you will witness some of this during your time here today. Tonight, you’ll stay with a local nomadic family in their ger and learn about their life as nomads. This is truly incredible experience and you’ll get a very real insight into local Mongolian life. Bed down early tonight to rise at dawn with the trainers and riders tomorrow morning.

Today head to Baga Gazriin Chuluu, a series of granitic formations located in the Middle Gobi province. Ruggedly beautiful, the rocks are worshipped by locals who are known to make pilgrimages here, and it is rumoured that Genghis Khan also travelled to this site during his conquests. You’ll have the opportunity to hike in the area and take in the awe-inspiring views before heading onwards to a ger camp for the night.

Also known as the ‘white stupa’, Tsagaan Suvarga is well known for its formation of rocky cliffs that are composed of different ores. When exposed to oxygen, the rock turns different shades of pink, red and orange. The cliffs dates back as far as 10 million years, with the different coloured layers indicating different times in the rock's history. Hike and explore the nearby caves after lunch. Stay in the ger camp again tonight.

Carry on your journey to Yol Valley today – a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains of southern Mongolia more commonly known as the Vulture Canyon. Enjoy a walk through the narrow gorges, with soaring cliffs on either side and bearded vultures sailing high above. Enjoy a relaxed stay in your ger camp tonight.

Today you’ll drive to the giant sand dunes known as Khongor, Mongolia's largest and called the ‘singing sands’ by the locals. These monster dunes stretch for over 100 km and can reach up to 300 m in height, with sweeping, wave-like patterns of sand framed by a bright blue sky and lit by a relentless sun. The dunes’ nickname comes from the sound produced by small avalanches of sand on a windy day, and the noise has been likened the distant hum of an aircraft propeller. You’ll have two nights here, so take your time to walk up the sand dune or ride a two humped camel along the iconic singing sand dunes. Otherwise you’re free to read a book, catch up on some sleep or just relax around the ger camp.

Khongor Sand Dunes

Bayanzag is your destination today. The large orange tinted rocks here look like they are on fire during sunrise or sunset hours, hence 'flaming cliff'. You'll head out on a hike here with an impeccable view of the large Gobi Desert around it. Then, settle into your ger camp tonight.

Today will be a long travel day to the Ongiin Khiid. Ongiin Khiid refers to two ruined monasteries: Bari Lam Khiid, which was built in 1810 on the north bank of the river near the tourist ger camps, and Khutagt Lam Khiid, which was built in 1760 on the south side of the river and is only accessible when the water is low or frozen over. Once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, the complex was destroyed in 1937 as part of a communist purge. Since 1990, a small but growing contingent of monks has resettled amid the ruins, gradually restoring the ancient site. Spend the day exploring the ruins and visit the small museum, then return to the ger camp in the afternoon.

Drive to the ancient city of Karakorum. The city twice served as a capital during the reign of the Mongol Empire and at the creation of the Northern Yuan province. Stop in Övörkhangai Province and visit Erdenezuu Monastery, which is one of the earliest surviving Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia. The monastery was closed until 1965, when it was permitted to reopen as a museum but not as a place of worship. It was only with the collapse of communism in 1990 that religious freedom was restored and the monastery became active again. Today Erdene Zuu Khiid is considered by many to be the most important monastery in the country, though no doubt it’s a shadow of what it once was. While here you'll also visit the Karakorum Museum. The exhibits include dozens of artefacts dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, which were all recovered from the immediate area surrounding Karakorum. Exploring the open market in town is also an option today.

Return to Ulaanbaatar today and make the most of a restful night, as tomorrow marks the beginning of the Naadam Festival! If you’d like to keep exploring, though, perhaps pay a visit to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, a complex of five temples showcasing a wealth of Mongolian architecture and history, or the quirky Beatles Square. Surprisingly, the Beatles are credited as playing a large role in bringing democracy to Mongolia and have been honoured with a special monument. There's also usually a lot going on at Sukhbaatar Square today as people get ready for the festival starting tomorrow.

The Naadam Festival begins today and your group will get the opportunity to witness the opening ceremony, which features extravagantly costumed parades, traditional music, dance and historical reenactments. Truly a sight to behold! The archery competition also takes place today. You might recognise some of the competitors from visiting their training camps at the start of the trip. Who will be crowned champion?

Watch horse racing and wrestling today on the second day of the Naadam Festival. Cheer for your favourites as you watch them wrestle and ride for glory! After a big day at the festival head out for an optional final dinner with your group.

Say 'bayartai' to your group as your adventure draws to a close. There are no activities planned for the day. If you'd like to stay longer in Ulaanbaatar, it's recommended that you book additional accommodation well in advance due to it being peak season.