8 Days • 7 Nights
Naadam Festival Journey
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll join the crowds at the Naadam opening ceremony and the wrestling, archery and thundering cross-country horse races, then head into the Terelj steppe for horse riding and nomad life, and fly to the Gobi for singing dunes and flaming cliffs. Deel-clad riders, ceremony and celebration fill the days.
With comfortable hotels and ger camps, private guides and festival access arranged, it is Mongolia at its most vivid and joyful.
Trip Highlights
- The Naadam festival opening ceremony
- Traditional wrestling, archery and horse racing
- Colourful deel costumes and celebration
- Horse riding across the Terelj steppe
- The colossal Chinggis Khaan statue
- The singing sand dunes of the Gobi
- The Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs'
- Nights in traditional ger camps
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Arrive in the capital, buzzing ahead of Naadam, and settle in with a welcome dinner.
Join the colourful Naadam opening ceremony at the stadium, then the traditional wrestling and archery competitions amid a festive, deel-clad crowd.
Head out to the steppe for the thundering cross-country horse races, where child jockeys ride for many kilometres, a thrilling and moving highlight of the festival.
Drive to the giant Chinggis Khaan statue, then into Terelj National Park, settling into a ger camp among the crags.
Explore Terelj — the Turtle Rock, the Aryabal temple and a horse ride across the steppe, visiting a nomad family.
Return to Ulaanbaatar and fly to the Gobi Desert, settling into a ger camp beneath enormous skies.
The singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els with a camel ride, and the red Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs' of dinosaur fame at sunset.
Fly back to the capital for your onward flight, with time for the cashmere shops and a final Mongolian breakfast.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and driver throughout
- 3N Ulaanbaatar (for Naadam), 2N Terelj ger camp, 2N Gobi ger camp
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at the ger camps
- Naadam festival access — the opening ceremony, wrestling, archery and horse racing
- An Ulaanbaatar city tour and the Chinggis Khaan statue
- Terelj National Park and horse riding
- Gobi touring — the singing dunes and the Flaming Cliffs
- A domestic flight to and from the Gobi
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Any visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (essential, with evacuation cover)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional activities and horse riding where not stated
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Many nationalities can now visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. Your passport should be valid at least six months — we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik. Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but the countryside is a cash economy with almost no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip beyond the capital
- Best season: Mongolia is a summer destination — June to September brings warm days and green steppe. The famous Naadam festival is in mid-July; winters are extremely cold and most camps close
- Ger camp life: You stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) with beds and a wood stove. They are comfortable but simple, with shared or private bathroom blocks; bring layers, a headlamp and a sense of adventure
- Long distances: Mongolia is vast and roads are often rough tracks, so expect long, scenic overland drives, with domestic flights for the Gobi and the far west, all arranged for you
- Big temperature swings: Even in summer, days can be warm and nights cold, so pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Nomadic etiquette: When visiting a nomad family's ger, enter with your left foot, never step on the threshold, accept offered food or drink with your right hand, and move clockwise inside
- Connectivity: Mobile signal is limited or absent outside Ulaanbaatar and the main towns — embrace the digital detox and the vast, silent landscapes
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water, and note that facilities are basic in remote areas. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential
- Power: Ger camps often have limited, generator or solar electricity for a few hours a day, so bring a power bank and a universal adapter (Mongolia uses type C/E plugs at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the remote ger camps where there are no restaurants, plus a welcome dinner in Ulaanbaatar. It is hearty, home-style cooking.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own guide and a 4WD driver across the countryside, with domestic flights for the Gobi and far west, all arranged for you.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities now visit visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. We confirm the requirements for your passport before you travel.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is the season — warm days, green steppe and open camps. The Naadam festival falls in mid-July, and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October. Winters are extremely cold.
What is a ger camp like?
A cluster of traditional felt tents (gers) with real beds, rugs and a wood stove, plus a central dining ger and a shared or private bathroom block. Comfortable and atmospheric, if simple — a magical way to sleep on the steppe.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, regions, camps and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add the Naadam festival, eagle hunters, Lake Khovsgol or a luxury camp. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How much driving is involved?
Mongolia is huge with few paved roads, so expect long, scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe and desert, broken by stops. Domestic flights cover the longest legs to the Gobi and the west.
When is the Naadam festival?
The main national Naadam is held in Ulaanbaatar around 11-13 July each year, with the opening ceremony, wrestling, archery and horse racing. We time this itinerary precisely around the festival dates.
Should we book early for Naadam?
Yes — Naadam is Mongolia's busiest and most popular time, so hotels, flights and festival access sell out well in advance. We recommend booking several months ahead.
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