Naadam Sands with Mongolia Naadam Festival

Included In-Country Services

Mongolia’s Gobi Desert & Mongolia Naadam Festival

Flat, arid plains stretch for hundreds of miles, interrupted by an occasional nomadic tent or a herd of camels. Kites circle overhead in the cloudless sky and the sun beats down relentlessly on everything below. The Gobi desert is the least populated area of Mongolia and despite its arid climate it supports a diverse array of bird and animal life. The people have a reputation of being the most friendly in Mongolia – as visitors are a rare treat they are often welcomed like the prodigal son. The sites of the Gobi are varied and unique, like the valley known as Eagle Valley, whose depths support huge glacial sheets, sometimes even in the hottest summer months, or the massive sand-dunes called “The Singing Dunes ”. Of great interest to travelers and scientists alike are the dinosaur remains scattered throughout the Gobi rocks and desert floor. Upon return to Ulaanbaatar City, you’ll attend the Mongolia Naadam Festival.

Day One in Mongolia

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Welcoming Dinner

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar from Beijing on the train or the on a MIAT flight; transfer to a 4-star hotel for dinner and the night.

Day Two in Mongolia

Fly to South Gobi Desert to Start the Desert Portion of our Journey before Attending the Famed Mongolia Naadam

Today we will take either a morning or day flight to the capital of the South Gobi Province, Dalanzadgad depending on the domestic flight schedule. The flight takes one and a half hours. On arrival at the local airport you will be met by our local jeeps and drivers and taken to the ger camp for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the sand-dunes and the flaming, red cliffs at Bayanzag. Dinosaur remains were found in this area on the famous American expedition of the 1930s. There will be opportunities to meet local nomadic families and camel breeders. The wildlife in the area is abundant and the desert plants are vibrant and varied. The areas you will be visiting are situated in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, which encompasses the ‘Three Beauties’ peaks and the most easterly points of the Altai Mountains. Return to the ger camp for dinner and overnight.

Day Three in Mongolia

As We Travel via Mongolia’s Gobi Desert – We’ll be Visiting the Famed Yolyn Am Ice Gorge

Today we will make a day trip to the Gobi Desert’s Yolyn Am. This is a long valley with high cliff walls, which shade some areas of the valley floor from the sun for the entire year. Walk through the valley, see the ibex grazing on the cliff faces and visit the Natural History Museum. Return to the ger camp for dinner and the night.

Day Four in Mongolia

Gobi Desert Jeep Trip towards the famed Gobi Sand Dunes aka “Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes”

We will drive to the west today, along the Altai Mountain range until we reach Khongoriin Els. These are Mongolia’s largest sand-dunes. The drive is about 6 hours long. We will stay overnight in a nearby ger camp.

Day Five in Mongolia

Today You’ll be Exploring the Gobi Desert’s Khongorin Els Sand Dunes

Explore these massive sand dunes, which rise to a height of 800 meters in some places, before returning to the Gobi ger camp, near Dalanzadgad for dinner and the night.

Day Six in Mongolia

Flight Back to Ulaanbaatar

Today you will take the return flight from Dalanzadgad to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival you will be taken to your hotel.

Day Seven in Mongolia

Mongolia Naadam Festival’s Opening Ceremony

A full day at the Mongolia Naadam in the city. In the morning you will see the flag-carrying ceremony at Sukhbaatar Square, followed by the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival in the stadium. We will then go to see the archery competition, close to the Mongolia Naadam stadium. After lunch you will be taken to the horse racing competition and see the finish of the race. The evening program will be the folklore show performed especially for the Mongolia Naadam. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day Eight in Mongolia

Overland Jeep Trip to Central Mongolia

Today we begin the drive into the central areas of Mongolia. The scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. We will stop for lunch on the way and reach a place called ‘Piece of Sand’ in the late afternoon. This stretch of sand is a long strip that originates in the Gobi and stretches all the way into the central aimags of Mongolia. It is about a 6-hour drive from Ulaanbaatar, mainly on paved roads. We will have dinner and stay overnight at a ger camp.

Day Nine in Mongolia

Overland Jeep Trip to Karakorum

Continue on to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, from where Chinggis Khaan launched his cavalry. The most obvious landmark in Karakorum is that of the massive walls of the Erdenezuu Monastery. After breakfast at the ger camp you can explore this monastery. It was built in 1586 and is surrounded by an immense 400m x 400m wall. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the ornate temples, only a few of which remain standing after the communist purges. In earlier times the grounds held over 60 temples with 10,000 monks using them for their daily worship. Dinner and overnight at the ger camp in Karakorum.

Day Ten in Mongolia

Overland Jeep Trip to Orkhon Waterfall and Orkhon River

Today we will make a day jeep trip to the Orkhon Waterfall, which is situated in the Orkhon Valley. This valley is known as the cradle of Mongolian civilization as many of Mongolia’s ancient monuments lie within its borders. Today we will visit some of its natural beauties. The Orkhon Waterfall marks the halfway point of the Orkhon River, the longest river in Mongolia. The area surrounding the waterfall is green and forested and we will spend the day walking in the area and having a picnic lunch. This area of Mongolia is well known for producing the best ‘airag,’ or fermented mares’ milk, in the country. Many locals love to challenge you to singing games – the loser has to consume a whole bowl of ‘airag’ so beware when visiting local families! Return to Karakorum in the evening for dinner and the night.

Day Eleven in Mongolia

Overland Jeep Trip to Khustain Nuruu National Park

After breakfast we will leave Karakorum and drive for about six hours to Khustain Nuruu National Park. This place is famous for its successful project reintroducing the Przjevalski horses (Takhis). They hold not only the love of locals but attract the sympathy and support of many world wide people such as Julia Roberts who shot ‘Out in the Wild’ with our company here. Dinner and overnight will be at a local ger camp.

Day Twelve in Mongolia

Overland by Jeep to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast we will return to Ulaanbaatar in the vehicles. It is about a 2-hour drive, on paved roads. On arrival in the capital you will be taken to your hotel.

Day Thirteen in Mongolia