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Step into the heart of Mongolian culture on this fully-inclusive tour, timed to coincide with the spectacular Naadam Festival. Held every July, this extraordinary celebration of nomadic heritage brings competitors from across the country together to battle it out through the legendary 'three manly sports' of wrestling, archery and horse racing.
Beyond the festival, Mongolia's wild beauty unfolds at every turn. From the sweeping steppe to the vast Gobi Desert, meet nomadic families, uncover ancient sites from the time of Genghis Khan and spot wild horses at Khustai, soaking in the quiet wonder of one of the world's last great wildernesses.
Carefully crafted to combine ease with extraordinary experiences, you'll travel with an expert National Guide, sleep in premium gers and cross dramatic landscapes in comfortable 4WD vehicles.
Our Best of Mongolia & Naadam Festival tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site
Admire the striking red rocks of the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag
Wander Mongolia’s largest dunes at Khongoryn Els, stretching dramatically across the Gobi.
Discover the former capital of the great Mongol Empire and Mongolia's oldest Buddhist monastery
Spend two days at the annual Naadam Festival, cheering on the participants alongside the crowds of locals, as they compete in the traditional 'Three Manly Skills' – wrestling, archery and horsemanship.
Experience the nomadic lifestyle in comfort, sleeping in traditional ger camps with private en suite bathrooms, then unwind and recharge beneath the breathtaking, star-filled skies of the vast Mongolian steppes.
Venture into the plains of Khustai to see Przewalski's horses, the world's last truly wild horses known locally as takhi. This remarkable conservation success story offers a rare glimpse into Mongolia's untamed past.
Designed for comfort and depth, this epic adventure covers Mongolia's top sights while allowing time to truly soak in the country's rugged beauty. Expect long but rewarding days of travel through this extraordinary region.
Fly overnight to Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Start your explorations with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia. Here, observe the monk’s morning chants and learn more about Mongolian Buddhism. Then head to the heart of the city to explore Sukhbaatar Square and view the fascinating exhibitions of the Chinggis Khaan Museum. This evening, enjoy a lively folklore concert that features traditional songs, dances and music.
Leave the city and travel into the hinterland to discover the picturesque scenery of Terelj National Park. Start with a walk to the Temple of Meditation and around the iconic Turtle Rock working up an appetite for lunch at a ger camp. Pause at the impressive Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex before returning to Ulaanbaatar.
Transfer to the airport and fly to the Gobi Desert. Drive to the Yol Valley in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Take a scenic walk through Yoliin Am, a narrow gorge of ice formations and towering rocks. Overnight in a premium ger or hotel.
Drive through breathtaking desert landscapes, spotting camel herds and their herders as you go, to reach the spectacular Khongoryn Els, an area of towering sand dunes. Explore the dunes on foot, climbing to the top for panoramic views over the desert. Dine tonight under the vast and starry Gobi sky and relax in a premium ger camp for two nights.
Spend a full day exploring the beauty of Khongoryn Els, some of the world’s most spectacular sand dunes. Take a short walk to admire the contrasts between the shifting sands and green oases and visit a nomadic camel herding family to learn about their way of life. Here, you can taste camel milk yogurt, a Gobi Desert delicacy. In the afternoon, discover the ‘singing’ sand dunes.
Drive through magnificent landscapes to reach Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, to admire these red sandstone formations. Take a walk through the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery, keeping a look out for fossils, before a guided walk to discover more about the area’s rich paleontological history. Overnight in a premium ger camp.
Set out across the stark scenery of the Gobi to Ongiin Khiid, a monastery sat on the banks of the Ongi River. Wander around the ruins of two historic monasteries which were once among the largest in Mongolia and take a walk around the site to learn more about the area’s past. Spend the night by the river in a standard ger camp.
Drive across the steppe to Karakorum, a town on the Orkhon River. Explore the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the ruins of Genghis Khan’s capital Karakorum and the fascinating Karakorum Museum. Spend two nights in a hotel.
This morning, visit Erdene Zuu in time to witness the monks doing their morning chants, a deeply resonant experience. Later, visit a nomadic family who will guide you through an airag (fermented mare’s milk) tasting and show you how to prepare the traditional Mongolian barbeque dish, khorkhog.
Travel to Khustai National Park, home to Mongolia’s famous takhi, or Przewalski’s horse. Once extinct in the wild, this population of wild horses were reintroduced to their native habitat in the 1990s. Enjoy an early evening viewing of these majestic creatures before travelling on to your premium ger camp, set among the beauty of the rolling steppe.
This morning, enjoy a fun and fascinating show of nomadic culture at your ger camp, then drive back to Ulaanbaatar.
Travel to the Central Stadium where the highlight of your Mongolia adventure is about to begin! Mingle with locals and nomads as you watch the opening ceremony, with its procession of athletes, officials and monks before the games begin! Today, you can see archery, the first of the traditional three ‘manly sports’, and ankle bone shooting competitions.
This morning, travel out to Khuin Doloon Khudag for the Naadam Festival horse racing – a thrilling set of long-distance endurance races across the open steppe. Return to the Central Stadium this afternoon for the Mongolian wrestling which, along with horse racing, makes up the three ‘manly sports’ of the festival. Tonight, a farewell dinner offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on this once-in-a-lifetime experience with your fellow travellers.
Transfer to the airport. Fly to UK, arriving home the same or following day.
Our tours feature hand-picked properties selected for their comfort, modern amenities and convenient location for sightseeing. We occasionally include a stay in a guesthouse or lodge where we feel the character of the property will enhance your tour, or to allow access to a more unique and memorable location. Here is a taster of the type of hotels you will be staying in on your tour.
The Naadam Festival takes place every year in July, making this the most exciting time to visit Mongolia. Beyond the festival itself, July sits in the heart of the country's summer season, when the landscapes are at their most vibrant — the Gobi skies are clear and endless and the steppe comes alive with wildflowers and wildlife. Expect comfortable travelling conditions, warm days and cool, starry nights across Mongolia's remote and breathtaking terrain.
Places Visited: June Departure: UK - Ulaanbaatar (3N) - Terelj - Dalanzadgad (1N) - Khongoryn Els (2N) - Bayanzag (1N) - Ongii Hiid (1N) - Karakorum (2N) - Khustai National Park (1N) - Ulaanbaatar (3N) - UK || July Departure: UK - Ulaanbaatar (5N) - Terelj - Dalanzadgad (1N) - Khongoryn Els (2N) - Bayanzag (1N) - Ongii Hiid (1N) - Karakorum (2N) - Khustai National Park (1N) - Ulaanbaatar (1N) - UK
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Dedicated Solo departures are available on selected dates for this tour.
These solos-only departures feature smaller group sizes of up to 18, along with free airport lounge access.
There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
The same great Wendy Wu tour - just with an extra level of comfort. Enjoy relaxed 5-star city hotels, unique properties, and overnight cruises, each selected to deliver an elevated experience. See Upgraded Tour Hotels above for more details.
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