Naadam Classic Tour

Naadam Classic Tour

Naadam is a traditional festival in Mongolia. The festival is also locally termed “eriin gurvan naadam” or “the three games of men”. The games are Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery and are held throughout the country during the midsummer holidays. Women have started participating in the archery and girls in the horse-racing games, but not in Mongolian wrestling. In 2010, Naadam was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. The main attraction of Naadam festival is opening ceremony and tickets are limited. Kharkhorin is located at the lower end of the upper valley of the Orkhon river, part of the World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape and 320 km from Ulaanbaatar.  Another landmark is the Erdene Zuu monastery. The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. 

July 10: Ulaanbaatar. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, capital city of Mongolia.Transfer to hotel. Short city tour. Overnight at the 4* hotel. (D)

July 11: Naadam. Tour the Opening Ceremony of Naadam at the Central Stadium. Enjoy sports and cultural performances, including wrestling and archery contest. In the afternoon, enjoy horse racing. Naadam’s Gala dinner with Mongolian folk music performance. Overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D-GALA DINNER)

July 12: Naadam. Morning visit horse racing area. Witness of 4 & 5 years -olds horse race. Overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

July 13: Ulaanbaatar/Karakorum. Transport to Karakorum(380km).Lunch on the way. Arrive at the camp late afternoon. Overnight in Ger accommodation at the tourist camp. (B,L,D)

July 14: Karakorum/Bayangobi. Visit Erdene Zuu, once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia. Tour of the monastery grounds and several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Drive to Bayangobi (80km). Overnight at ger camp near Bayangobi. (B,L,D)

July 15: Bayangobi/Hustain Nuruu. Drive to Hustain Nuruu (Pike Hustai) National Reserved area to have a view of Przewalski wild horses, recently re-introduced back into Mongolia(140km). Free time at leisure at the camp. Overnight in Hustai ger camp. (B,L,D)

July 16: Hustain Nuruu/Ulaanbaatar. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at the hotel in Ulaanbaatar. (B,L,D)

July 17: Ulaanbaatar. Tour the Gandan Monastery, followed by a tour of the Fine Arts Museum. In the afternoon, visit to the National History museum. Enjoy evening performance. Overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

July 18: Ulaanbaatar/Gobi Desert. Breakfast at the hotel. Transport to airport for flight to Gobi base camp. Arrive in the Gobi and transfer to the Ger camp. Excursion to Yol(Lammergier) Valley.Overnight in Ger accommodation, authentic Mongolian dwelling. (B,L,D)

July 19: Gobi Desert/Flaming Cliffs.  A day trip to Bayan Zag, the Flaming Cliffs* (98km), for exploring the Gobi “Cemetery of Dinosaurs” and the trail of Roy Chapman Andrews. En route visit Moltsog Els-sand dunes. Overnight in tourist camp. (B,L,D)

July 20: Gobi Desert/Ulaanbaatar. Late morning flight to Ulaanbaatar. After lunch, tour the “Gobi” cashmere factory for shopping original and pure cashmere gifts and garments. Overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 21: DEPARTURE (B)