Naadam festival - Karakorum tour

TOUR OVERVIEW

Experience the fascinating nomadic culture of Mongolia, enjoying the summer Naadam festival with horse racing, wrestling and archery competitions. Naadam, literally means “games” and takes place from 11th to 13th July every year. It’s believed to be celebrated since the early Middle Ages, being already held during Chinggis Khaan times, presumably with a different format than it’s now. Its origins probably come from the ancient military parades, wedding assemblies, hunting competitions and old sporting activities. Now, the dates have been fixed to celebrate the 1921 revolution, which marked the independence of Mongolia.
The biggest celebration is held in capital of Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar, in the National Sports Stadium and its surroundings, but most of the cities and towns across Mongolia have their own Naadam celebrations, evidently smaller. It’s a time when Mongols get dressed with their finest deel, their traditional colorful silken robe, the typical boots and the touch of a hat. Like all the valued festivities, it all begins with a ceremony. Dancers and musicians make the delights of the public while athletes and horse riders march across the National Sports Stadium in Ulaanbaatar, something like the Olimpic Games Opening Ceremony, but in the genuine to Mongol style. And after the ceremony, the competitions begin. 

Naadam was inscribed on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2010.

category:

Naadam tour


AVAILAble:

July


Duration:

7 Days / 6 Nights


Destination:

Central Mongolia

Tour grade:

Standard


Distance:

920kms


Highlights:

Karakorum - Erdene Zuu Monastery

Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes

Hustai National Park - see Asian wild horses

Terelj National Park

Naadam festival - Opening Ceremony

horse and camel riding

nomadic family visit

real Mongolian barbecue - Khorkhog


DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1. July 10 – Khui Doloon Khudag – Horse racing
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Khui Doloon Khudag

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We will pick you up from your accommodation and drive to Khui Doloon Khudag (20kms from Ulaanbaatar), to see the glorious horse races with young jockeys. The horse race takes place on the open steppes by age category (6 ages), from two-year-old horses to full-grown stallions. The racing distance depends on horse’s age. For example: two-year-old horses race 15 km, while the full-grown horses race 30 km in the open field. Surrounding areas of the horse race finishing point are full of people who have arrived from every corner of Mongolia with their fastest horses, put up colorful tents and the festival trade. In the afternoon we come back to town to see archery competitions in the Naadam festival stadium.

DAY 2. July 11- Naadam festival Opening Day
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Naadam Stadium

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Today is the opening day of the Naadam Festival. After having breakfast we will drive to the central stadium of Ulaanbaatar to see the delightful opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival. The Festival starts with a transferring ceremony of the nine white banners from the government house to the Naadam stadium followed by a horse parade. Chingghis Khaan used to use the nine banners during festivals and in peaceful times. Next, magnificent opening ceremony takes place. Traditional wrestling, archery and horse race are main highlights of the festival. As well as, you will see anklebone shooting, traditional performances.

DAY 3. July 12 – Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes – Camel riding
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FACILTIES: Standard Gers & Tepees: 10 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers & Wooden houses: 9 Restaurant: 1 Sanit...
Ger Camp
Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

FACILTIES: Standard Gers: 23 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers: 0 Restaurant: 1 Sanitary: Western style hot shower &am...

Drive to beautiful Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes. Elsen Tasarkhai is one of the most picturesque places of Mongolia and is part of the 80 km long Mongol Els Sand Dunes. This place is a wonderful combination of pretty sand dunes, majestic granite mountains, grassy green land, a clear fresh spring and a tiny lake. Indeed, here you can enjoy seeing the combination of Gobi and Khangai Natural Zones. Visit to the Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes and Erdene Khamba Temple in picturesque Khugnu Khan Mountain. Enjoy riding a two-humped camel, walking and climbing on the sand dunes. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

DAY 4. July 13 – Karakorum – Ancient Capital of the Great Mongol Empire
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FACILTIES: Standard Gers & Tepees: 10 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers & Wooden houses: 9 Restaurant: 1 Sanit...
Ger Camp
Karakorum

FACILTIES: Standard Gers: 23 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers: 0 Restaurant: 1 Sanitary: Western style hot shower &am...

Today we will drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Karakorum (Kharkhorin) was the capital of Great Mongolian Empire of Chinggis Khaan in the 13-14th Centuries. Visit one of Mongolia’s largest monastery “Erdene Zuu”, Museum of Karakorum and surrounding sites of Karakorum: the Great Khaan’s monument, the legendary Turtle of Karakorum and the Phallic Rock statue. Erdenezuu Monastery has a complex of 108 stupas and over 10 temples that contain rich displays of Mongolian Buddhism. The Erdene Zuu Monastery and ruins of Karakorum were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996. Dinner will be Mongolian barbecue Khorkhog. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

DAY 5. July 14 – Hustai National Park.
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FACILTIES: Standard Gers & Tepees: 10 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers & Wooden houses: 9 Restaurant: 1 Sanit...
Ger Camp
Hustai national park

FACILTIES: Standard Gers: 23 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers: 0 Restaurant: 1 Sanitary: Western style hot shower &am...

Drive to Hustai National Park, where re-introduction of the wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky's horses) has taken place since 1992. Takhi is last wild horse subspecies surviving in the 21st century. It was discovered in western Mongolia in the late 1870s by the Russian explorer N.M. Przhevalsky. Spend rest of the day hiking around in the surrounding mountains and evening visit to the wild horses while they come to drink in the evening. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

DAY 6. July 15 – Terelj National Park, Turtle Rock and Meditation Temple – Horse riding.
B  L  D

FACILTIES: Standard Gers & Tepees: 10 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers & Wooden houses: 9 Restaurant: 1 Sanit...
Ger Camp
Terelj National Park

FACILTIES: Standard Gers: 23 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers: 0 Restaurant: 1 Sanitary: Western style hot shower &am...

This morning we will drive to the beautiful Terelj National Park. Terelj National Park is a picturesque place with high granite cliffs eroded by natural forces creating a wonderful landscape of granite rocks as if carved by some giant sculptor. Visit to the Turtle Rock formation, the symbol of the national park and “Aryabal” meditation temple where you will enjoy the best view of the park. Visit to local nomad family, experience their daily lifestyle; enjoy some horse riding through the beautiful park area. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

DAY 7. July 16 – Chinggis Khaan Statue – Ulaanbaatar.
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Chinggis Monument

FACILTIES: Standard Gers: 23 Wooden house: 0 Deluxe Gers: 0 Restaurant: 1 Sanitary: Western style hot shower &am...

Drive to the Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex. The 40 meter high stainless steel statue of Chinggis Khaan on the horseback is the largest of its kind in the world. View the surrounding area from the open balcony on Chinggis Khaan’s horse’s head. Continue driving back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, and you will be transferred to your accommodation. End of tour.

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Tour price

group size
price/per person
2 pax
1110$
3-5 pax
910$
6-8 pax
810$
Deposit
20% of tour price

Inclusion & Exclusion

Include

4 Nights in Tourist Ger camps

4 WD Vehicle in the countryside

Airport transfers for arrival / departure

Meals as listed (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)

Sightseeing and Entrance fees according to the itinerary

English speaking guide

Daily water supply

1 hour Camel and 1 hour Horse riding with

Support of local guide

Visa support invitation letter where applicable

not include

Accommodations in Ulaanbaatar

International airfare / train  tickets+tax                                        

Travel insurance / Visa fees

Items for personal use

Alcoholic drinks

Gratuities & Tips for staffs

Single supplements