Members save more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide
Unlock member discounts
Unlock exclusive discounts and inclusions
Members only pricing
Bonus hand-picked inclusions
Mongolia's Naadam Festival
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: CBSOS
Overview
Destination:
Mongolia,
Start:Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Finish:Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Finish:Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Duration:15 days
Type:Group tour (max 16)
Travel Period
June 2025 - June 2026
The ancient Greeks may have the Olympics, but the Mongols have Naadam. Mongolia’s annual circus-like Naadam Festival is a centuries-old tradition that dates 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 at the country’s largest celebration of the “three manly sports”. On this 15-day adventure, go behind the scenes and meet the competitors in the lead up to the festival and discover some of Mongolia’s wild outback, visiting ruined monasteries, flaming cliffs and historic cities.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A single supplement is available on this trip for hotel nights (4 nights) in Ulaanbaatar and 4 nights out of the stays at tourist ger camps. Your tour leader will advise you on where in the tourist ger camps you'll be able to have a single ger to you.
2. A sleeping bag is required for the family ger camp stays. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar at 20 USD. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to hire one.
3. Please provide your passport copy no later than 45 days prior to the departure. This is needed for purchasing Nadaam Festival tickets.
4. The visit to training camps heavily depend on the schedule set up by different teams which tend to change last minute. So the order of the visit to different training camps may change between Day 2 and Day 3. Your tour leader will be able to give you the exact details at the group meeting but we will visit the training camps of the three sports to give you the chance of observing and interacting with the athletes in preparation for their games.
5. Please note that if you are booked on the 2nd & 4th departure starting on 29 Jun 2024 (departure code: CBSOS2506292&CBSOS2509294), the order of destinations on the itinerary will be adjusted as below ( the included activities in each destination will remain the unchanged):
1. Ulaanbaatar: Group meeting
2. Ulaanbaatar: Horse Racing Camp
3. Ulaanbaartar: Archery & Wrestling Camp
4. Karakorum
5. Ongiin Khiid
6. Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs
7. Khongor Sand Dunes
8. Khongor Sand Dunes
9. Yol Valley
10. Tsagaan Suvarga
11. Baga Gazriin Chuluu
12. Ulaanbaatar
13. Ulaanbaatar - Nadaam Openning Ceremony & Archery events
14. Ulaanbaatar - Wrestling & Horse Racing events
15. Trip finish
For departures CBSOS250629 and CBSOS2506293, the itinerary will be as per the normal itinerary displayed.
2. A sleeping bag is required for the family ger camp stays. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar at 20 USD. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to hire one.
3. Please provide your passport copy no later than 45 days prior to the departure. This is needed for purchasing Nadaam Festival tickets.
4. The visit to training camps heavily depend on the schedule set up by different teams which tend to change last minute. So the order of the visit to different training camps may change between Day 2 and Day 3. Your tour leader will be able to give you the exact details at the group meeting but we will visit the training camps of the three sports to give you the chance of observing and interacting with the athletes in preparation for their games.
5. Please note that if you are booked on the 2nd & 4th departure starting on 29 Jun 2024 (departure code: CBSOS2506292&CBSOS2509294), the order of destinations on the itinerary will be adjusted as below ( the included activities in each destination will remain the unchanged):
1. Ulaanbaatar: Group meeting
2. Ulaanbaatar: Horse Racing Camp
3. Ulaanbaartar: Archery & Wrestling Camp
4. Karakorum
5. Ongiin Khiid
6. Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs
7. Khongor Sand Dunes
8. Khongor Sand Dunes
9. Yol Valley
10. Tsagaan Suvarga
11. Baga Gazriin Chuluu
12. Ulaanbaatar
13. Ulaanbaatar - Nadaam Openning Ceremony & Archery events
14. Ulaanbaatar - Wrestling & Horse Racing events
15. Trip finish
For departures CBSOS250629 and CBSOS2506293, the itinerary will be as per the normal itinerary displayed.
Show more
Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners.
- Transport: Private Vehicle.
- Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Tourist Ger Camp (9 nights), Family Ger Camp (1 night).
- Archery Training Camp.
- Wrestling Training Camp.
- Horse Racing Training Camp.
- Baga Gazriin Chuluu - Hike.
- Tsagaan Suvarga - Hike.
- Vulture Canyon - Hike.
- Khongor Sand Dunes - Dune Hike & Camel Ride.
- Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs - Hike.
- Ongiin Khiid - Ruins.
- Karakorum - Erdenezuu Monastery.
- Naadam Festival - Opening Ceremony.
- Naadam Festival - Archery events.
- Naadam Festival - Wrestling events.
- Naadam Festival - Horse Racing events.
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1: Ulaanbaatar
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.
Day 2: Archery & Wrestling Training Camp
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.
Day 3: Horse Training Camp
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.
Day 4: Baga Gazriin Chuluu
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.
Day 5: Tsagaan Suvarga
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.
Day 6: Yol Valley
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.
Days 7-8: Khongoriin Sand Dunes
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.
Day 9: Bayanzag Flaming Cliff
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.
Day 10: Ongiin Khiid
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.
Day 11: Karakorum
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.
Day 12: Ulaanbaatar
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.
Day 13: Naadam Festival - Opening Ceremony & Archery Events
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?
Day 14: Naadam Festival - Wrestling & Horse Racing Events
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.
Day 15: Ulaanbaatar
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.
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
Book now
Need help?
Price from
$6,190
$5,881
*
Member price from
$5,881*
per person
14 nights
Check departuresCan't find the answer you're looking for? Get in touch with our friendly Travel Consultants.
Call 1800 850 888Speak to one of our friendly consultants, available during business hours.
Mon to Fri · 9am - 5pm AEST
Speak to an expert in-store
Prefer to plan in person? Make an appointment at our Travel Store to speak with one of our experts
© 2025 Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) All rights reserved.