Selena Travel

Mongolia Naadam Festival tour 2024

Mongolia Naadam Festival Tour 2024 | Mongolia tour | Mongolian archer | Archery compatition  during the Naadam Festival

7days/6nights

Tour grade: Easy

From: US$ 1,600

Style: Traveller

  • Best features of Central Mongolia: Ancient capital Karakorum, Hustai National Park, Bayangobi desert and many more.
  • The Great Naadam festival – Mongolian archery, wrestling and horse races!
  • Active adventures: Horse riding, camel riding, and hiking
  • Cultural immersion with real nomads!
  • See the highlights of the nomadic capital Ulaanbaatar
  • Endless photo opportunities!
  • Meet people and make friends! You will be part of a group of 4-8 people during the tour as it is a group departure.

Tour Overview

  • Our fantastic Naadam Festival tour will take you to the Great Naadam opening ceremony in the Central Stadium, as well as to Mongolian natural and cultural highlights. When you take part in the Naadam festival, you will experience the thrill of watching hundreds of racing horses with their remarkable young riders, strong wrestlers performing the "Eagle Dance" and traditionally dressed archers competing. 

 

  • The Naadam festival tour include highlights of Central Mongolia such as Karakorum - the ancient capital of Mongolian Empire and Erdene Zuu - the first and most beautiful Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Elsen Tasarkhai small sand dunes (aka Bayangobi) and Hustai national park which is known as the home for wild Przewalski horse Takhi.

Tour map

Naadam Festival tour map

Brief itinerary

  • Day 1: Jul 06. Arrival In Ulaanbaatar
  • Day 2: Jul 07. Karakorum via Elsen Tasarkhai
  • Day 3: Jul 08. Exploring Karakorum
  • Day 4: Jul 09. Hustai National Park
  • Day 5: Jul 10. Ulaanbaatar via Horse racing venue
  • Day 6: Jul 11. Naadam Festival
  • Day 7: Jul 12. Departure From Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Tour images

Naadam Festival Wrestling
Naadam Festival horse racing
A camel breeder with his camels at Gobi desert Mongolia
Tamed horse of a nomad with traditional  with traditional saddles in the steppe, Mongolia

Full Itinerary

Day 1:

Jul 06. Arrival In Ulaanbaatar

Meet your driver at the airport after clearing customs & claiming your luggage. You will then be transferred to the hotel. We will meet again at 6 pm as a group for a welcome dinner at Mongolian restaurant. Meet your driver at the airport after clearing customs & claiming your luggage. You will then be transferred to the hotel. We will meet again at 6 pm as a group for a welcome dinner at Mongolian restaurant.

 

Accommodation

  • Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar Hotel 4* or similar /standard check-in time is 2 pm/

Meals Included

  • Dinner

Day 2:

Jul 07. Karakorum via Elsen Tasarkhai

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart to the west toward Karakorum, the ancient capital city of Mongolia, at 8 am. Break our drive at the Elsen Tasarkhai, aka Bayangobi sand dunes, around lunch time. Enjoy lunch then visit the Khugnu Khan Nature Reserve and Erdene Khamba monastery ruins.

We also do 1-hr camel riding in the afternoon. Continue our drive to Karakorum in the evening and arrive before dinnertime. Check into your accommodation and enjoy dinner.

 

 

Accommodation

  • Urgoo ger camp or similar /standard ger/

Meals Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch 
  • Dinner

Day 3:

Jul 08. Exploring Karakorum

In the morning, we will visit legendary monastery Erdene Zuu, the first Buddhist monastery of Central Mongolia, founded in 1586, and its surroundings such as the Turtle Rock and the Phallic stone etc. In the afternoon we will visit the Museum of Karakorum which gives a good introduction to Central Mongolia, its’ history and the UNESCO world heritage site Orkhon river valley. In the evening, pay a visit to the newly established Erdenesiin Khuree calligraphy center (workshop available for extra cost, paid on spot by the client if wishes to attend).

 

Accommodation

  • Urgoo ger camp or similar /standard ger/

Meals Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch 
  • Dinner

Day 4:

Jul 09. Hustai National Park

This morning, we drive back towards Ulaanbaatar and after a few hours’ drive, arrive at our camp for the night. Check in and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we will take a short drive to one of the most popular national parks of Mongolia, the Hustai National Park. Upon arrival, we will trek through the beautiful national park and try to view the endangered Przewalski wild horses (one of the last remaining wild horses). On this day, we will do 1 hour horseback riding in the rolling green hills of Mongolian steppe.  

 

Accommodation

  • Hustai ger camp or similar

Meals Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch 
  • Dinner

Day 5:

Jul 10. Ulaanbaatar via Horse racing venue

After breakfast, we will drive to the Naadam festival horseracing venue and witness the horseraces. Afterwards, continue to UB, and arrive in town in the early afternoon. Visit the Central stadium where the archery & anklebone shooting competitions are held and see the most important competitions in the country for these sports. Dinner is independent and overnight in a hotel.

 

Accommodation

  • Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar Hotel 4* or similar

Meals Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch 

Day 6:

Jul 11. Naadam Festival

See the fantastic opening ceremony of Naadam festival in the central stadium where the president of Mongolia opens the ceremony, followed by 1.5 hr of entertainment, and the first round of wrestling match. After lunch, we will visit the Central Square of Ulaanbaatar, named after a hero of Mongolian people`s revolution in 1921, Sukhbaatar D. We will also visit the newly established Chinggis Khaan Museum, and the attend a traditional cultural performance by Tumen Ekh ensemble. Enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions.  

 

 

Accommodation

  • Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar Hotel 4* or similar

Meals Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch 
  • Dinner

Day 7:

Jul 12. Departure From Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

You will be transferred to the airport/train station after breakfast /or continue your post-tour to other parts of Mongolia/.  

 

Meals Included

  • Breakfast

Date & Price

2024 Tour Dates:

July 6-12

 

If you would arrange a private or customized tour just click the "Customize this tour" button at the bottom of the page. One of our travel advisors will get back to you shortly regarding your booking.


 

Tour Price:

Pax 4-12 US$ 1600 per person
Single supplement charge US$ 350

 

 

 


Included Services

  • Full-time services of your English speaking local guide(s) throughout the tour
  • Sightseeing and entrance fees according to the itinerary
  • Private transfers (Comfortable vehicle with AC + Experienced driver)
  • Airport transfers
  • Twin/double share at centrally located 4* hotel – 3 nights
  • Twin/double share at tourist ger camps - 3 nights
  • Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
  • Naadam Festival tickets and arrangements
  • 0.5 l x 3 bottled water per day
  • Visa support invitation letter where applicable /company invitation letter only; if needs consulate invitation letter, then additional cost shall be covered by the traveller/

Not Included in the Service
  • International Airfare/train tickets + Tax
  • Travel insurance & Visa fees
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc. 
  • Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
  • Optional activities: horse riding, archery, & camel riding etc.

DISCOUNT CONDITIONS:  
  • Children under 3 years old are allowed to stay in their parents room for free (not including an extra bed).
  • Children aged 4 to 11 years old receive a 40% discount on accommodation per night, inclusive of bed and breakfast.
  • Children 12 and above will be charged as adults.
 

 

 

Tour Background

Accommodation info on your Mongolia tours 

Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, offers a variety of hotels ranging from basic guesthouses to high-end 5* hotel.

Some of our Mongolia tours do not include the hotel stays in Ulaanbaatar in the tour package, where clients can choose a hotel that suits their needs and budget. Please make sure to check your tour program`s Inclusions and Exclusions section to confirm if your hotel stay is included in the package.

If you wish us to book your hotel for you, your travel consultant will be happy to recommend and book an ideal hotel for you. 

 

Here are hotels that are recommended by us:  

  • Springs hotel (3*)
  • Holiday Inn (4*)
  • Best Western Premier (5*)
  • Shangri-La Hotel (5*)

 

Outside Ulaanbaatar: Outside of Ulaanbaatar where there are no hotels, tourist Ger (yurt) camps are the best accommodation for travelers. A Ger is Mongolian traditional dwelling made of felt layers and wooden construction, and the Mongolians have lived in Gers for thousands of years. Tourist Ger camps offer comfortable Gers with 1-3 beds with good bedding (1 Ger equals 1 hotel room), and also offer well-maintained public western style showers and WCs on their grounds. Some Ger camps offer en-suite bathroom facilities at additional charge, please ask your Selena Travel advisor for further details when booking your Mongolia tour. 

 

Meals while you are on Selena Travel tours in Mongolia

In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, a great variety of restaurants can be found and you will be eating at some of the best restaurants of Ulaanbaatar on your Mongolia tour while in the capital. Once you are outside the capital, Ger restaurants in Ger camps, local cafes in the small towns and sometimes nomadic families will be the places where you will be eating most of your meal. Ger restaurants often offer set continental breakfasts, set menu lunches and dinners consisting of salad or soup, main course and dessert.

 

While on the tour, during your longer driving days you will take packed lunch from Ger camps, often vegetable salad, main course such as fried chicken/noodles/dumplings and a small dessert, while hitting the road. Most of the food restrictions and allergies such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and many others, can be accommodated with easy on your Mongolia adventure.

 

 Luggage allowance on Selena Travel tours 

If you are on an overland only tour across Mongolia, the recommended weight of your luggage is 20kg per person (max). However, kindly note that domestic flight luggage allowance per person is 15 kg (10 kg for the check in luggage and 5 kg for the carry on luggage). It is possible to purchase extra luggage space which costs US$2 - 5 per 1kg.

 

DESTINATION & ATTRACTIONS BRIEF INFO

The Naadam festival is the biggest and most joyful celebration of the Mongols. It takes place on the 11-12th July annually. 

The festival itself originated from the era of Hunnu Empire (209 BD) and was originally organized as a competition to test the skills of Mongol warriors between tribes. The festival comprises the "Three Manly Sports": wrestling, horse racing and archery. A fascinating and interesting event for all is where the 9 White Flags of Chinghis Khan are carried in a ceremonial parade from the State Parliament House to the Central Stadium and many other events to name a few.

512-1024 wrestlers compete on the green field of the State Central Stadium-there is no time limit, no weight category and the arena is not fixed. They have the most number of tricks and the Mongolian national wrestling is the most challenging wrestling in the world. Mongolian wrestlers wear traditional Mongolian boots and special clothes for wrestling, Zodog - a small open-fronted vest.

It's impossible to imagine the Mongols without their horses. Mongol horse is small in body but as strong as rocks! There are 6 different categories of Mongol national horse racing depending on the age of horses. The riders, both boys and girls are aged between 5-12 and the distance of the race ranges from 15-30 km. Horses race on natural track and natural barriers. The racers train their horses for a month on a strict diet and everyday training.

There's no need to argue on that the Mongols are the best archers in the world. Archery, originating from time immemorial, is the oldest sport of the Mongols. Traditionally, this was only men's sport but nowadays both men and women compete in separate divisions. Male archers shoot on a 75m range while female archers shoot on a 60 m range.

Why to take a Naadam festival tour? Naadam festival tour includes the Mongolia Great Naadam Festival Holiday that takes place in mid July once a year. Naadam festival tours are the highlight of Mongolia and the Naadam festival itself is a fantastic event. We invite you to our Naadam festival trips in Mongolia.

Tour Map

Tour Reviews

Mar 19, 2024.  The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer

Aug 10, 2012. Gobi & Karakorum Explorer tour Our recent "The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer" tour with you was excellent, everything exceeded our expectations! It was a super trip in our lives and we loved our Mongolia holiday so much. Our guide Joe was kind, well organised, accurate and informative, polite and caring and always provided us with timely information. And our driver Jack is super, very friendly, professional and always on time. We are wild travelers, having been to many places in the world - but Mongolia is still truly unspoiled and uncontaminated. Selena Travel's services were perfect right from the very first email. We would like to thank Selena Travel, our guide and our driver for having made this Mongolia experience a truly beautiful one with so many wonderful memories.

by Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia

Aug 08, 2012.  Gobi & Karakorum customized 11 days tour

Sending you some of our nicer pictures. Some are chosen for their beautiful scenery while the rest are just us happily playing and goofing around. There are a couple of shots of us doing some Mongolian wrestling, as suggested by Oyuna since we missed out on the mini-Naadam festival. She said since we missed it, we might as well organise our own festival by playing some Mongolian games. Haha... We had so much fun playing those games!!! :)OK, I hope you like the pictures we send you. Best regards to everyone at Selena Travel and thank you once again for all your assistance.

by Margaret Suganda

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