GOBI DESERT – NAADAM FESTIVAL
Tour Highlights:
- Discover a part of the world that’s getting noticed for its beautiful nature and its hospitality nation.
- Attend the amazing Naadam Festival, and colorful opening ceremony and witness traditional games including national wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
- Explore the diverse landscape and must-see attractions of the world-famous Gobi Desert, including the world-famous Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), Khongor the biggest sand dunes in the Gobi, and Yol Valley its dramatic and very unusual scenery
- Also, visit Terelj National Park with its beautiful scenery, and Chinggis Khaan’s Statue Complex, which is the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue.


Tour Information
- Tour Code: GD-NF-1
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Availability: 10 July – 17 July
- Trip from: Ulaanbaatar
- Price: from US$ 1,860 p/p
- Age Requirement 0-95 yrs
- Max Group Size 12
BRIEF ITINERARY
10 Jul – Day 01: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
11 Jul – Day 02: Enjoy at Mongolia Naadam Festival for a full day
12 Jul – Day 03: Flight to Gobi- Bayanzag (flaming cliffs)
13 Jul – Day 04: Khongor sand dunes, the biggest sand dunes in Gobi
14 Jul – Day 05: Yol valley, Three beauties of the Gobi Mt. National Park
15 Jul – Day 06: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar -Terelj National Park trip
16 Jul – Day 07: Chinggis Khaan’s Statue Complex – Classic highlights in UB tour
17 Jul – Day 08: Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

July 10 – Day 01
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Tsogoo Travel Mongolia‘s driver in the arrivals hall at the international airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, be free at leisure and have a good rest to recover from the jet lag. If you feel like going for a walk and checking out places nearby, feel free to ask the hotel receptionist for recommendations.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: D
11 Jul – DAY 02
Enjoy at Naadam Festival for full day

Today, we will be attending the opening ceremony of the Festival of Naadam at Ulaanbaatar National Stadium. It’s Mongolia’s biggest, most colorful, and most important annual cultural event, focusing on three sports: horse racing, Mongolian-style wrestling, and archery. It’s no coincidence that all three skills derive from the capabilities of Chinggis Khaan’s legendary military – a force that conquered and controlled the largest empire the world has ever known.
- At 8 am pick up from the hotel lobby, join in Naadam group, and visit the central Naadam stadium.
- The first visit is to the stadium of the ankle-bone shooting competition.
- Next, visit the archery field. The field will be filled with men and women archers in colorful ethnic national costumes who shoot arrows from their bows.
- We will wander around outside of the Naadam stadium to watch locals who are dressed in their national costumes, food, trade corners, etc.
- Afterward, we will enter into the main stadium for the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival.
- Once finish the opening ceremony, we will watch the beginning of 1st part of Mongolian national wrestling. In the usual 512-wrestler tournament, there will be nine elimination rounds of wrestling over two days.
- After lunch, we will drive out of the city for an hour to Hui Doloon Hudag (the horse racing field of the Naadam festival) to witness the Naadam horse races, featuring children riding bareback across the steppe. All of these racers are gathered here from each corner of Mongolia.
- You will experience the brilliant madness of the horse race field and the unsurpassed cultural opportunity to watch the horse racing competition includes around 150-200 horses. Also, there are you will have a great opportunity to take photography of local horse trainers, peoples with traditional garments and so more contrast.
End of these experience, return to the city and transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L.

12 Jul – DAY 03
Flight to Gobi Desert – Bayanzag, Gobi
In the early morning, you will be transferred to the city airport for a morning flight to the Gobi Desert (~1.5 hours). Upon arrival, your local Gobi tour guide will meet you and depart to the Bayanzag which is famous for containing exceptional dinosaur fossils in the heart of the Gobi Desert. Also, this area is well known for red tall hillocks formed as a result of wind and water erosion, which look like fire in the middle of the desert from a distance.
In 1923, Roy Chapman Andrews and an American expedition discovered the first nests of dinosaur eggs from Bayanzag. Their findings proved to the world that dinosaurs laid eggs…
We will explore significant areas, including the saxual trees, and wander on the red hillocks. Occasionally the pieces of fossilized bones and eggs are still found by visitors. If you find something, don’t touch it, because removing fossils without a permit is illegal.
Dinner and overnight at Tourist Ger camp near the Bayanzag.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.
13 Jul – DAY 04
Khongor sand dunes, the biggest sand dunes in Gobi
Today, we will drive through the wilderness of the Gobi to the extraordinary Khongor, which is one of the most scenic areas of the Gobi Desert. These impressive white sand dunes stretch more than 180km and the highest point is around 300m known as Duut Mankhan.
Upon arrival at the tourist camp near the sand dunes, we will have lunch and time for relaxing at the cozy Ger camp until Gobi’s hot temperature decreases.
In the late afternoon, we will visit the local camel herder family in their gear, and explore their unique nomadic lifestyle. Then, we will ride a camel and explore the area from the camel’s back. Around the area is the perfect place for camel riding. Mongolia is home to 2/3 of the two-humped Bactrian camels in the world. It is a gentle, calm, and extraordinarily patient animal.
Afterward, we will make a little excursion to the beautiful green oasis of Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River and sand dunes. Then, take a little drive to the highest point of sand dunes known as Singing Dune, and climb up to the Duut Mankhan.
When it is windy some of the dunes give a strange sound like the engines of an aero plane. From the top of the sand dunes, the view of the desert is awesome and a breathtaking view. If you want, we can see the amazing sunshine panorama of sand dunes from the top.
Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.


14 Jul – DAY 05
Yol valley, Three beauties of the Gobi Mt. N/Park
After breakfast, we will go ahead to the Yol valley (also called Yolyn Am & Eagle valley) situated in the “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park. This green valley is one of the main highlights in the Gobi Desert and sheltered by high cliff walls and covered with wild flowers and Gobi plants.
In winter season, a narrow stream in the valley creates ice on the bottom of the valley that even lasts during the summer months.
The walk through the valley is a lot of fun, about an hour walking there and an hour of walking back by walking the same route, where you climb over rocks and must jump over the small river. If this walking seems challenging, you can just walk to the middle of the way or horseback through the valley.
The high cliffs that flank the valley are very impressive. You may be lucky enough to spot wild sheep and goat, grazing high on the cliff walls.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.
15 Jul – DAY 06
Flight to Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park trip
Early this morning, transfer to the local airport for morning flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival in the city airport, depart for Terelj National Park. This is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia which is by its natural beauty, forested alpine mountains and interesting rock formations (Massive wool-sack weather conditions) very well known.
In the afternoon, we will explore the national park and see Turtle Rock – interesting rock formation looking like a turtle. Also, visit the Ariyabal meditation temple – surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations and sits on top of the mountain. From the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the Terelj National Park.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.


16 Jul – DAY 07
Chinggis Khaan’s Statue Complex – Ulaanbaatar city tour
After breakfast, we will return to Ulaanbaatar. On the way visit the “Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex” which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. There is a recreation area, restaurants, and souvenir shops occupy the base structure. From here, we use an elevator or walk to the head of the horse through the chest and back neck of the horse, where we can have farseeing and good panorama view over the complex area.
In the afternoon, explore the city and visit “Gandan” Monastery, Mongolia’s largest functioning Buddhist monastery including the Mongolian Buddhist University. The highlight of visiting to Gandan is a 26-meter-high majestic gilded indoor statue of Megjid Janraisig.
Continue to visit the Museum of Chinggis khaan National History – the museum presents Mongolian history and culture from prehistoric times to the present day.
Next, visit Sukhbaatar Square which lies at the heart of the city surrounded by important buildings such as a government palace, banks and theaters, and a post office. There is an equestrian statue of Sukhbaatar and a massive Bronze statue of Chinggis Khaan with his four warriors in front of Parliament House.
Our next highlight is a famous cultural show in the city, which features traditional performances by singers, dancers, and contortionists. It’s a great chance to hear Khoomii (throat singing) and see some fabulous costumes. After dinner, transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L, D.
17 Jul – DAY 08
Departure
You will be free at leisure in your hotel or wander around on your own until being escorted to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure flight home. End of service.
Meal: Breakfast

PRICES & INCLUSIONS
1 – 2 pax – US$ 2.060 per person
3 – 5 pax – US$ 1.960 per person
6 – 12 pax – US$ 1.860 per person
* A tour price is based on a group of 2 adults sharing one room.
* If there are more people in your group of family or friends there will be more discounts.
* This tour package can be fully customizable to fit your travel plan between 01 Jun to 15 Sep and 2025/2026!
What’s included in the Price?
What’s NOT included in the Price?
FAQ & HELP
Travel FAQ's MONGOLIA
Here are the most common questions asked by our travelers. Please follow the links to get the answers. If you cannot find your answers, please send us your questions via email or on our Tsogoo Travel Mongolia Facebook page. We will email you back with your answer, and update it on our website for other travelers.
Accommodation: Hotel
What type of accommodation will we be staying in?
According to the Mongolian rating system, 2-5-star hotels are approved to receive foreign guests.
Our accommodations are carefully chosen, based on our research, our experience, and feedback from clients, to provide the best combination of high-quality accommodations, affordability, and convenient location.
We give clients the opportunity to stay in a wide range of accommodations, depending on tour from 3* to 5* hotels in cities and the best tourist Ger camps in countryside trips.
Does the hotel staff speak English?
Most staff working face-to-face with customers in 5-star hotels can speak English well. As for those working in 4-star and 3-star ones that contracted with Tsogoo Travel Mongolia, English is not a barrier to simple conversation. It’s suggested to ask the clerk at the front desk for help if anything is needed. They will be happy to help you.
What time can I check in and check out of the hotel?
Generally, the earliest check-in time of the hotel is 14:00 p.m., and the latest check-out time is 12:00 a.m. at noon. When you need to check in early, please let us know in advance because the earliest check-in time is dependent on whether the room is vacant or not on the day when you arrive, and the late check-out time may cost extra money.
We are a family of 4 with two young kids. What type of room we will get for our Mongolia tour?
Hotels in Mongolia can accommodate a maximum of 3 in one room due to local fire codes. We will get two separate rooms for your family based on two double occupancy rooms. We will request adjoining rooms, which have limited availability in Mongolian hotels, or rooms next to each other.
What facilities and services do our hotels normally provide?
All hotels on your Mongolia trip have a Foreign Currency Exchange Service, a business center with access to the Internet and fax, a postal service, a gym, a sauna, and massage service, and an International Direct Dialing telephone in your room. You may also find a hair dryer, iron, converter, and adaptor (subject to limited supplies) with housekeeping. Some 4 and 5-star hotels have swimming pools.
Can I store excess luggage at the starting point hotel if we are returning there later?
Most starting point hotels can store your excess luggage for you free of charge.
Do I need to bring a power plug adapter when I come to Mongolia?
Keep in mind that Mongolia uses 220V of electricity, which is higher than that Western countries use. A power plug adapter will do you a great favor if you want your electronic products to run properly during your Mongolia stay. What to do if forgot to pack it in your bag? Don’t worry. An adapter or converter is easy to get everywhere in Mongolia just by turning to your tour guide or the hotel staff.
Weather and Best Time to Visit Mongolia?
What is the best time to go?
The best time to visit Mongolia is during the Mongolian summer, from the mid of June till the last week of August. This is the safest time of the year to travel to Mongolia in terms of weather, sunny days throughout Mongolia, and sufficient rainfall to make the steppes lush and green.
June and September are both very pleasant times to visit Mongolia. September, autumn is enjoyable, colorful, not hot, and not cold. Nomads have plenty of dairy products and are busy processing milk and preparing for winter. The beautiful countryside of Mongolia is even more beautiful and picturesque with the autumn colors.
Months to Best:
- July is the best time to see the Mongolia Naadam Festival.
- The best season for Gobi Desert tour: is from June to September and October is shoulder season.
- July to August is the best season to travel to Northern Mongolia and Khuvsgul Lake tour and September is shoulder season.
- The first of October is a chance to see Golden Eagle Festival in Altai, Western Mongolia.
- February is the best time to experience Mongolia’s winter season.
What months in Mongolia are considered green Peak Season (High Season), Shoulder Season, and Low Season?
Generally and traditionally, the Peak Season refers to July and August; the Shoulder Season refers to May, June, September, and October; the Low Season refers to January, February, March, April, November, and December.
How to Pack for Mongolia trip
What gift would you recommend we bring to Mongolia?
Our tours are designed to enhance your learning, discovery, and people-to-people experience. For instance, all of our tours include a home visit to nomadic families and exploring their daily lifestyles. If you would like to bring some gifts to them, suggested items include Swiss pocket knives, a flashlight for men, some candies, small toys, crayons/colored pencils for housewives and kids are just as fine. Whatever gift you choose to present, the recipient will be most grateful.
Can I bring my laptop, iPad, or iPhone when traveling to Mongolia?
Internet access is available at almost all hotels on your Tsogoo Travel Mongolia itinerary. In most hotels, you can access free Wi-Fi internet. Outside of the city, some tourist Ger camps offer little charged or free internet access. So you may want to bring your own laptop.
We recommend you bring a converter to Mongolia. As throughout Mongolia, the AC power standard is 220V/50Hz. So you may use the converter for a 110-volt electrical appliance. Usually, the four and five-star hotels provide adapters, but we still suggest you bring a converter.
What are the appropriate clothes for travel in Mongolia?
Mongolia is a vast country with various climates and four distinct seasons. Thus travelers may need to pack different clothes at different seasons. But weather patterns at any time can change rapidly. One minute you’re walking around in a T-shirt and sandals, you need an overcoat and boots, then it’s back to T-shirts. This is especially the case during autumn and spring.
Suggest you check the climate of your travel season, and month and then choose the appropriate clothes. In most cases, you will not need to bring towels as you will be provided in the hotels and tourist Ger camps. In general, you should take easily dry clothes and prepare an umbrella for a rainy day. In addition, we suggest you also bring along a first aid kit with the commonly used medicines.
What is Mongolian Currency?
The official currency is the Tugrug (MNT=₮). Denominations come in 20.000₮, 10.000₮, 5.000₮, 1.000₮, 500₮, 100₮, 50₮, 20₮ and 10₮. The official exchange rate at this time (July 2022) is 3.150₮ to 1 U.S dollar. Visitors are advised to carry credit cards – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Union Pay– and traveler’s checks that can be accepted by most hotels and major stores and can be exchanged for cash of MNT.
Accommodation; What's Tourist Ger camp
Tourist Ger camp is a traditional style accommodation with full-service facilities, most commonly used outside of the city. The Ger is a round structure of walls, poles, and a peaked roof covered with canvas and felt, and tightened with ropes.
Tourist Ger camp – consists of 20-30 Gers (Mongolian traditional dwelling), a restaurant, some entertainment facilities, western style toilet, and hot water showers. Each Ger has 2 to 4 beds and is furnished with a table, chairs, and wood stove. Most visitors prefer to stay in Ger, which provides an authentic taste of Mongolian culture and adventure, their most enjoyable experience in Mongolia.
What meal is included? What is the restaurant like?
We select restaurants based on our experiences, client satisfaction, location, and cuisine. Normally we include three meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) each day during the whole trip.
In Ulaanbaatar, you can expect a good variety of quality restaurants with international foods. Breakfasts usually are served in western style at the hotel where you stay in Ulaanbaatar.
We mostly use the following restaurants for lunch & dinner on the city trip: “Modern Nomads”, “bd’s Mongolia Barbeque”, “City Nomads”, “Khaan Ger” and hotel restaurants for dinner where you stay. Lunch & dinners are m& served in Western food, and sometimes Mongolian food, or a combination.
Outside of the we generally eat breakfast and dinner in tourist Ger camp and some days of longer trips take a packed lunch. Your packed lunch will be carried in appropriate containers to prevent spillage or spoiling. Ger camps serve both Mongolian and international foods, and there will usually be a choice of the main dish.
Any problem for a Western tourist in Mongolia?
About it. Mongolian and Western cuisines are both available throughout Mongolia. If you require special meals due to religious or medical limitations, please inform us so that arrangements can be made in advance.
Will you provide vegetarian (including no chicken/seafood) meals for me?
Make the arrangement according to your requirements. So if you have any special requirements for your food, please let us know so that we can inform the restaurants beforehand to meet your needs.
What's Camping Tent?
We use camping tent for some of our remotest trips, places with no tourist Ger camps or local hotels.
Mongolia offers fantastic camping possibilities in beautiful landscapes.
On all of our camping trips, we provide our guests with high-quality 2-3 people tents, mattresses, and other necessary camping equipment. No formal toilet or shower facilities will be available. You will use a sheltered hole for the toilet and a sheltered shower. Also, we will provide you with water for washing up.
camping days, we usually send vehicle support with an expedition cook for a group tour.
e group is less than 7 travelers may not be accompanied by a cook. In this case, the guides and drivers will be cooking for you. All our guides have had basic cooks training, but not all of them are great chefs, so if you feel like it, they will be happy to let you assist them. On expeditions where there is no vehicle support, there will be dried and canned foods available, but fresh fruits and vegetables often cannot be transported beyond the first couple of days. For groups of more than 6 travelers, we usually send a cook, which in this case you shouldn’t worry – the food will be just great! Please let us know if you have any food preferences or restrictions, or if you are following a special diet.
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