Mongolia
Naadam Festival & the Nomadic Life
Discover Mongolia: Naadam Festival & the Nomadic Life
Trip Dates July 2-13* 2027
Does Not Include International Travel Days
Join us for an extraordinary journey to experience the legendary Naadam Festival, a celebration of Mongolia’s warrior heritage through the thrilling events of wrestling, horse racing, and archery. As we explore the stunning Gobi Desert, the vast steppe, and the rugged mountains, you’ll immerse yourself in the timeless culture of the Mongolian nomads—riding horses across endless plains, living in traditional gers, and learning about a way of life that has endured for centuries. This is more than a trip; it’s a rare opportunity to witness the spirit of Mongolia, where adventure and history come alive.
Trip Highlights:
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Mongolia, where you’ll explore the vast Gobi Desert, discover dinosaur fossils, and ride Bactrian camels.
Ulaanbaatar & Archery
Dive into Mongolia’s storied archery tradition with a hands-on lesson from a skilled local archer. Learn the precision and focus behind this ancient practice as we perfect our bow and arrow skills.
Gobi Desert
We fly to South Gobi Province and embark on a journey through one of the most remote and stunning regions in the world with vast landspaces, unique wildlife and dinosaur fossils!
The Steppe
We’ll travel to the Mongol Nomadic Cultural Heritage Center, where a local family shares nomadic traditions like games, food, and music. Experience a steppe traditions demonstration, experience the daily life of the nomads firsthand.
Wild Horses & Nomadic Life
We’ll explore Hustai National Park, home to the world’s last wild horses, the Przewalski’s horse, which were reintroduced in the 1990s. From here, we’ll head to Hugnu-Tarna National Park, where we’ll spend two nights at a ger camp near the Elsen Tasarhai Sand Dunes and spend time with nomadic families. This experience will give us a rare, authentic insight into the everyday life of Mongolia’s nomadic people.
Naadam Festival
We’ll cap off our journey by joining in the excitement of Naadam Festival, the celebration of Mongolia’sThree Manly Sports: wrestling, archery and horse racing, officially begins with the pageantry, music and dancing of the Naadam opening ceremony at Ulaanbaatar’s Naadam Stadium.
After watching the ceremony, take in the wrestling, archery and anklebone shooting tournaments.
Other Important Notes:
- You may need to plan additional travel days on the front and back end of this trip.
- You need a valid passport for at least six (6) months beyond the intended period of stay.
- This is an estimated price for the trip; the final amount may vary due to factors beyond our control, such as political changes, inflation, exchange rates, and other unforeseen circumstances.
- Trip Insurance is highly recommended for this trip.