8 Days Camel Festival 2020

8 Days Camel Festival 2020

March (6-7)
General description
Imagine yourself being in the Gobi Desert in the winter. Snow covered plains, mountains and dunes are definitely adds paint to the beauty of desert. Except its natural charm, Gobi is also famous for its flora and fauna, dinosaur findings, nomads and camels. One of the camel related popular events is Camel Festival. Already about 20 years Camel Festival has been organized every year 7-8 March by local herder communities in order to preserve and protect two humped Bactrian Camel population in Mongolia. Another major contribution of the festival is to support local economy, to increase locales income and productivity thru tourism. It’s also playing huge role on passing Mongolian rich culture of camel breeding to the upcoming generation.

Itinerary

Day 1: Granite formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Stop At: Mandalgovi, Mandalgovi, Dundgovi Province
Ulaanbaatar – Baga Gazriin Chuluu 250km
• Visit one of the few rocky mountains of Gobi, Baga Gazriin Chuluu where you will find gorgeous looking granite rock formations shaped in different forms eroded by wind and other violent elements of Gobi. During mid 18th century some high ranked and locally respected Buddhist monks lived in the area, as evidence of their existence we will see some temple ruins and inscriptions on the rock. According to some historical sources, Chinggis Khaan also had lived here. It’s a great location for some pleasant hike.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/
• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight with a local family

Day 2: Three beautiful mountains- Gobi Gurvan Saikhan

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
Baga Gazriin Chuluu –Three beautiful mountains 440km
• Today we will reach Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park which covers some chain of mountain ranges as the southern end of the Gobi-Altai Mountain range. Gurvan Saikhan literally meaning “Three Beauties” referred to the highest three peaks of the range which is almost over 2800ms.
• Optional hike either in Yoliin Am or Bearded Vulture’s canyon or Mukhar Shivert valley. Regarding the snowfall and shade in the canyon, oftentimes there formed a high layer of ice cover which sometimes will stay till mid July. During our walk, we may either walk on top or bottom, or just see the parts of this ice. The canyon is surrounded with steep Rocky Mountains creating some shade which is pleasant to hike thru during hot days of Gobi desert. During out hike, you may notice some rodents such as pica and ground squirrel along with colorful wild flowers and plants. Although mountains are the home for wildlife like ibex, mountain goat and argali, the wild sheep
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight with a local family

Day 3: Khongor sand dunes

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
Gobi Gurvan Saikhan - Khongor sand dunes 180km
• Continue driving to west of the park to Khongor sand dunes which are known as the highest and biggest dunes in the country.
• Stop at Khongoriin Els or Khongor sand dunes. These are the most astonishing dunes of Mongolia with extension of over 180kms length and around 3-15kms width and average height is 80ms. The highest dune is 200ms and from the top these dunes you will capture amazing view of Gobi with the most beautiful sunrise and sunset. When you climb the dunes they shift and cause a sound of vibration which very much resembles to the sound of an airplane hence it’s also called Singing Dunes.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight with a local family

Day 4: Bayanzag-Flaming Cliffs

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
Khongor – Bayanzag 150km
• When you are in Gobi, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get on the Bactrian Camels. It’s obviously is one of the remarkable experiences to trek on the camels along the dunes.
• After morning camel ride we will continue our journey to Bayanzag- Flaming cliffs. Arrive at the cliffs of Bayanzag, most commonly known as “Flaming Cliffs” for its bister red color which is the cradle of dinosaurs. A Saxaul forest not far from the cliffs and cliffs themselves are true evidences of the time when Earth was still inhabited by massive creatures-the dinosaurs. American explorer Roy Andrews Chapman was the first to reveal dinosaur fossils and eggs in 1922 from Bayanzag and other neighboring localities which are today displayed in Mongolian dinosaur museums in Ulaanbaatar and other museums around the world.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight at local guesthouse.

Day 5: Camel Festival Day

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
• Today we will attend The Camel festival which begins in Bulgan village with a “parade” of camel riders coming from different parts of Gobi regions. Competitions of the day will include “best looking couple on camelback”, most adorable male and female camels as well as a camel polo tournament which takes place in the central square. There’s also an exhibition of paintings by local children who participate in the drawing contest called “Camel– My Friend’’.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight at local guesthouse

Day 6: Camel Festival Day

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
• Second day of festival starts with a race of grown up camels, later followed by the racing of the two-year-old camels. Although Mongolians don’t bet on the race, for your own pleasure, you may put bets on the camels. The first three winner camels in each group are awarded with golden, silver and bronze medals. In the afternoon, one of the most awaited competitions begins. This is called "The Camel Rally", a competition demonstrating scenes of catching, taming, training young camels and, finally, loading a camel with an actual ger like nomads during their migration. There are several groups with five members, each of which have different roles in the contest. The closing ceremony takes place late in the afternoon when the winners will be presented their trophies and prizes.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight with a local family

Day 7: Great white stupa in the desert

Stop At: Dalanzadgad, Dalanzadgad, Omnogovi Province
Tsagaan Suvraga /White Stupa 260km/
• Today we will be driving thru vast and empty rocky desert and semi-arid steppe to reach out White Stupa. Mongolians always have admired and honored this unique natural formation of 30ms height, abrupt, stupa shaped slopes as White Stupa. The place definitely will remind travelers some lunar landscape with its mystery of fossils hidden underneath and stunning color combinations. The area deemed to be bottom an ancient ocean.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

• Dinner: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

Accommodation included: • Overnight with a local family

Day 8: Back to Ulaanbaatar

Stop At: Töv, Mongolia
Tsagaan Suvraga – Ulaanbaatar 450km
• Return to Ulaanbaatar.
• Arrive in town, transfer to your accommodation.
• If time allows you can do some short city orientation and shopping with our guide.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We would prepare everything /vegan, vegetarian and meat/

No accommodation included on this day.