NAADAM FESTIVAL – PHOTO TOUR
Tour Highlights:
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Take a trip to Mongolia to join the Naadam festival in two different locations (Ulaanbaatar and the countryside), which is the best way to experience Mongolian culture, tradition, arts, music, and lifestyle. Mongolian Naadam Festival is a national holiday and is so traditional, colorful, and thrilling event, held in July, annually all over the country.
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This our Special Naadam Tour, you have an opportunity to arrange private photography sessions, giving you a great chance to capture Mongolia’s unique Naadam festival and portraits of well-dressed Mongolians along with enjoying local and city Naadam on the same trip. Visit the grand opening ceremony of the official Naadam and other cultural events in Ulaanbaatar and then jump to the country road to reach the local Naadam festival which is smaller but not too tourist and crowded so it gives you the chance to explore this unique event at your own pace. You will not only experience the cultural heritage of Mongolia but also enjoy the picturesque landscapes of the country and it is one of the most scenic objects for photographers.


Tour Information
- Tour Code: NF-PT 01
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Availability: 06 July – 13 July
- Trip from: Ulaanbaatar
- Price: from US$ 2.095p/p
- Age Requirement 0-95 yrs
- Max Group Size 12
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 01 – 06 Jul: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Day 02 – 07 Jul: Lake Ugii, Arkhangai province
Day 03 – 08 Jul: Erdenezuu monastery in Kharkhorin
Day 04 – 09 Jul: Local Naadam in Kharkhorin
Day 05 – 10 Jul: Drive back to Ulaanbaatar & Deeltei Mongol Festival
Day 06, 07 – 11, 12 Jul: Naadam Festival Days
Day 08 – 13 Jul: Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01 – July 06
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. Take a city tour depending on your arrival time. Ulaanbaatar, the contemporary city, surrounded by four holy mountains. Keeps some of the historical aspects from nomadic dwelling districts and centuries-old Buddhist temples to modern constructions. Visit the Gandan Monastery, the Chinggis Khaan National Museum of Mongolia, which represents Mongolian Culture starting from the Stone Age to the 21st century, and Buddhism, Sukhbaatar Square (also known as Chinggis Khaan Square). In Gandan Monastery, you can take photos of local prayers, monks, the biggest standing indoor Buddha statue, and temples’ own figure.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L, D.
Day 02 – July 07
Lake Ugii Arkhangai province
Drive to Lake Ugii to visit and photograph nomadic people. We arrange and prepare everything ready for your photographs deep inside of Mongolia nomadic life and especially with a combination of your request, the interest of classic portraits, showing the nomad’s costume and heritages which all give a real sense of their unique and unchanged lives for thousand years. Stay overnight in tourist ger camp
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.


Day 03 – July 08
Erdenezuu monastery in Kharkhorin
Heading to Kharkhorin village, the next shooting spot is Orkhon Valley listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You and your team find your own style of photography for Kharkhorin–the ancient capital city of the Mongol Empire, the oldest surviving monastery Erdene-Zuu, and other historically and naturally iconic landscape locations. All these places can be good practice, composition, and exposure lighting for historical shots, architecture shots, and incredible landscapes.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.
Day 04 – July 9
Local Naadam in Kharkhorin
Today we will have the first experience of the Naadam festival in Kharkhorin with locals. It is a great chance to enjoy three classic Mongolian sports, horse racing, wrestling, and archery. Spending the time to see and capture photographs of the festival and people. Take pictures of portraits of local nomads in colorful national costumes.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.


Day 05 – July 10
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar & Deeltei Mongol Festival
Leave early in the morning to Ulaanbaatar to enjoy Deeltei Mongol Festival (Traditional Costume Festival). Deel is a national costume that makes the festival more colorful and more traditional. It is good to tell you that foreigners are able to participate in this festival by dressing in Mongolian costume and joining the parade in the central square. There are also more cultural activities organized.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 6 -7 & 11 -12 July
Naadam Festival Days
Start the Naadam festival in the central stadium to watch the Grand Opening Ceremony which begins with the nine white banners delivered into the central stadium from the Government palace of Mongolia on the nine magnificent horses. Other festivity performances continued with arts and music stars, monks, soldiers, horses, and much more…
After the ceremony, the national wrestling competition will begin. Archery competition also starts outside the stadium, where female and male archers compete. Enjoying and walking around the stadium to celebrate the festival like locals.


Naadam festival, is the biggest national holiday in Mongolia. Enjoy festival colors and tradition: famed wrestlers, horse racers, and archery athletes will compete for the best titles. Naadam festival brings together the country’s sporting men and women from the remotest regions to compete at the national level in the capital city. It is also a celebration of common people – herders who ride into town and urbanities who leave their flats and offices to watch the games- gathering where they have the opportunity to participate in the events, to barter, mix, sing, and enjoy life to the full.

Horse racing: The most impressive spectacle is surely the horse racing. The horses cover different distances according to their age. Azarga (stallions) 28km, Ikh nas (horses more than 5 years old) 30km, Soyolon (5-year olds) 25km, Khyazaalan (4-year olds) 22km, Shudlen (3-year olds) 20km and Daaga (colts to 2 years old) 15km. There are no limits on the number of horses participating; usually 200-600 horses in each race. The five winning horses are honored with a cup of mare’s milk (airag) on their neck, a khadag (respectful blue scarf), and a medal.

Wrestling: The 512 wrestlers fight in the stadium, for the prestigious title “State Titan”. Both the “Titan” himself and the trainers, have the opportunity to choose partners during the first few rounds, thus reducing the number of less experienced wrestlers early on and creating more excitement for the final matches at the second day. The rules are very simple: The wrestling goes as a tournament and wrestle area is unrestricted; there are no weight-classes and the one who touches the ground the any part of the body, except palm other than the feet, has lost. The winner continues to the next round. The loser has to stand under the wings of the proud winner. The wrestlers wear tight pants and a small vest with arms across the shoulders, which barely cover their well-trained bodies.

Archery: Mongols are almost born with the archery skills, an integral part of nomads’ lifestyle. From the very childhood such qualities as perfect eyesight, measurement, patience and strength are nourished to develop a good archer. Mongolian bows are very tight ones, so that it requires a pure strength to stretch it out. As a rule, several teams of archers compete. Each team of 5-7 archers should hit 33 leather cylinders from a distance of 60-75 meters, depending on male and female.
Day 8 – 13 July
Departure Day
Transfer to Chingis Khaan International Airport or Train station and depart Mongolia.
Accommodation: Hotel4*. Meals: B

PRICES & INCLUSIONS
1 – 2 pax – US$ 2.295 per person
3 – 5 pax – US$ 2.195 per person
6 – 12 pax – US$ 2.095 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 06 July – 13 July, 2025/2026!
What’s included in the Price?
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Accommodation: Hotel****,*
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Standard ger camp in the countryside
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Guiding and interpreting service
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Full board meals mentioned in the itinerary
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Transport: vehicle 4×4 or minivan
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Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks
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Museums and cultural performance
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Camping equipment
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An hour horse and camel riding
What’s NOT included in the Price?
- Visa to Mongolia (Get in advance),
- International flights &Travels insurance
- Hotel early check-in and late check-out
- Tipping and other personal expenses
- Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
- Excess luggage charges – 1.5$ per kg for internal flights
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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