Naadam and Gobi Tour
3 % OFFTour description
We offer you a combination trip to the legendary Gobi Desert and the Great Naadam Festival, Mongolian’s joy. In the Gobi, you will view vast steppes, massive sand dunes, the ice canyon of the hot Gobi, wonderful natural creations, and ultimately bright stars in the inky black Gobi night sky. You will also visit a local nomadic family, ride two-humped camels and see the famous Flaming Cliffs where American explorer Roy Chapmen Andrews made his incredible discovery of dinosaur eggs and fossils. In the central Mongolia, you will visit the World Heritage site of Erdenezuu Monastery, the ancient capital Karakorum, spectacular Terelj National Park and other interesting sites. In Ulaanbaatar, you will visit Ulaanbaatar’s most popular sites and museums, have a pleasant shopping tour as well as experience the Great Naadam Festival with us.
Naadam is one of the most important public holidays or ceremonies of Mongolia and annually celebrated on the 11-12th of July. In Mongolian Naadam means the Three Manly Games. The Three Manly Games include wrestling, archery and horse racing, which are the sports of wisdom, courage and strength. Every year 512 wrestlers compete in the National Naadam. The Nachin or “Falcon” title is given to a wrestler who wins 5 rounds, Zaan or ‘Elephant” is a winner of 7 rounds. The wrestler who wins all nine rounds becomes the national wrestling champion and bestowed with the title Arslan or “Lion”. A wrestler who has been “Arslan” twice, is honored with the title of Avarga or “Champion”. In horse racing, horses of six different age groups participate, beginning from 2 to 6 year olds. The six horse races are held separately, according to the age of horses. Racetracks vary according to the horses’ age: 6 miles (10 km) for two-year-old colts, 16 miles (25 km) for stallions. In some races, more than 700 horses take part. Young children of ages 5 to 13 participate in the horse races. The first 5 horses to finish a race are called “Airagdakh” which means that the horses are sprinkled with airag. The title “Tumnii Ekh” or “Top Horse of 10,000” is given to the winning horse. Archery is another Naadam game in which many best archers from all over the country compete. The winner is given a title “Erkhiin Mergen Kharvaach” that means “Archer of Greatest Wisdom”.
| Group size | Hotel*** | Hotel**** |
| 2 pax | 2740 | 2900 |
| 3-5 pax | 2210 | 2372 |
| 6-10 pax | 2050 | 2209 |
| 11-15 pax | 1820 | 1982 |
Note: -Price USD/ per person
-Single supplement is available at 430 USD
SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE - 3-4 star hotel in twin/double occupancy in UB
- Tourist ger camps (twin/triple sharing)
- Airport/ hotel/ airport transfer
- Transportation by 4WD minivan with fuel
- Experienced driver
- Guiding/ interpreting service
- All meals (B, L, D)
- A bottle of water, daily
- Museums and folklore performance
- Entrance fees for national parks & protected areas
- Naadam Festival ticket
- Camel riding (1 hour) with guide
- Invitation letter if needed
SERVICE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE - Single supplement fees
- International airfare
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Excess luggage charges
- Video and photographing fees
- Extra and optional activities’ cost
- Tips for guide and driver
Discounts for: - For children of family tour (depending on age)
- Every 16th member is free for group tours
- Who brings minimum 3 pax
Tour itinerary day by day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. We will meet you at the airport with your name sign. Visit the National Museum of Mongolian History, Gandan Monastery and Genghis Square (Sukhbaatar Square), the city’s central square in front of the Mongolian Parliament building. Here we will provide you with some basic information about Mongolia and our capital, Ulaanbaatar.
Stay: Hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Meet at the hotel and drive south to the beautiful Baga Gazariin Chuluu local protected area. Visit the some spots in Baga Gazariin Chuluu: a temple ruin used by Buddhist monks, a hole with Holy Water for the eyes and a small cave. Walk over pretty rocky granite hills to admire the natural beauty. Overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we continue driving to one of Mongolia’s great natural beauties, Tsagaan Suvarga – “White Stupas”. These colorful cliffs were part of an ancient sea bottom millions of years ago. Nowadays it is a natural wonder with fantastic color combinations. Walk through Tsagaan Suvarga and enjoy the fantastic views.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Yoliin Am – “Bearded Eagle Canyon”. Yoliin Am is a strictly protected area since 1965 and it is located in the Gobi Three Beauties National Park. Yoliin Am is famous for its high & narrow canyons, frozen summer stream and wild life such as bearded eagles, wild Argali sheep, ibex, and Mongolian mice. The stream remains frozen even in July, the hottest month of the year. Visit a small museum of the Gobi Three Beauties National Park and enjoy the picturesque Bearded Eagle Canyon, its wildlife and frozen summer stream.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we will drive west to Khongor Sand Dunes. Khongor is one of the largest sand dunes in Mongolia. Its height reaches to 300 meters and extends from the northwest to the southeast over 180 km. The place is famous for its magnificent sand dunes, “Singing Dune”, the highest, Green Oasis and beautiful sunsets. Drive to the highest sand dune. Climb the Singing Dune and enjoy the ultimate amazing view of the Gobi sand dunes and the Green Oasis from the top of the dune. Enjoy the beautiful Gobi orange sun set in the evening.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we visit and enjoy the hospitality of a camel breeder’s family, learn about Mongolia’s traditional nomadic way of the life and enjoy a ride on a camel. Visit and walk around the Green Oasis or “Cool Spring”. Enjoy taking pictures, relaxing or trekking by the dunes and admire the Gobi beauty.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Bayanzag – “Flaming Cliffs” via Western Beauty mountain range. This place is famous for its dinosaur fossils, eggs and the special Gobi tree, the “saxaul”. In 1922 American explorer Roy Chapmen Andrews and his expedition members found the first dinosaur eggs as well as numerous fossil skeletons of dinosaurs that lived 70-80 million years ago. Visit the Flaming Cliffs. Walk in the Gobi “saxaul” forest and enjoy its natural beauty.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early morning Gobi sunrise. After breakfast we will drive north to the Ongi Monastery ruins over the vast 80 km long “Ongi Steppe”. Visit the Ongi Monastery ruins. The monastery was established in the 1760s by Bari Yonzon Khamba. During its peak use, the monastery had over 1000 monks and a complex of around 30 temples. The Ongi Monastery is still active but now only a few monks perform its functions.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Karakorum (Kharkhorin) was the capital of Great Mongolian Empire of Chinggis Khan in the 13-14th Centuries. Visit one of Mongolia’s two largest monasteries, “Erdenezuu”, Museum of Karakorum and surrounding sites of Karakorum: the Great Khan’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 Erdenezuu Monastery and ruins of Karakorum were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will drive east to 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 the Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes and Erdene Khamba Temple in picturesque Khugnu Khan Mountain. Enjoy walking and taking pictures.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Return to Ulaanbaatar. Visit the Buddha Park, featuring a 23 meter tall statue of Buddha and the Zaisan Hill War Memorial. The huge monument on the top of the hill was created as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War II. Zaisan Hill overlooks the city and offers the best panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding sacred mountains.
Stay: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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. After the opening ceremony we will enjoy seeing the Mongols’ Three Manly Games, wrestling, archery and horse riding. Watch the first round of traditional wrestling, archery and ankle bone shooting competitions. Then we will drive to Khui Doloon Khudag to see the glorious horse races with young jockeys.
Stay: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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 tors as if carved by some giant sculptor. Visit the Turtle Rock formation, the symbol of the national park and “Aryabal” meditation temple where you will enjoy the best view of the park.
Stay: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Return to Ulaanbaatar. Visit the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum, the last Mongolian king’s winter palace. Later we will go shopping at a cashmere factory outlet store, a souvenir shop or whatever else you want to do. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Mongolian folklore performance of song, dance, music and contortionists followed by a farewell dinner at a fine Mongolian restaurant.
Stay: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meet at the hotel and transfer to the airport for departure.
Meals: Breakfast
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