Naadam Festival Tour
Mongolia's Naadam Festival is the country's most important celebration -- a three-day national holiday built around the 'Three Manly Games' of wrestling, horse racing, and archery that have been contested on the Mongolian steppe for centuries. This tour puts you in the stadium seats and along the racecourse for the full event, then takes you into the countryside to see the landscape that shaped it.
Naadam has been held every July since at least the era of Chinggis Khan, and the competition format has barely changed: 512 wrestlers in single elimination, child jockeys racing horses across 25 kilometers of open steppe, and archers hitting leather targets from 75 meters. The opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Ulaanbaatar is the start, but the real atmosphere is at the horse racing grounds outside the city, where families camp for days and the finish line is a wall of dust and noise. After the festival, the tour moves into Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and the central Mongolian steppe -- the same grassland that produced the horsemen and wrestlers you just watched compete.
- 4WD Vehicle
- 1-12 guests
- 6-Day, 5-Night
- Fulltime English Speaking Tour Guide
- Available July Only (Naadam Festival Period)
INCLUTIONS & EXCLUSIONS
Inclusions:
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- All transport in private 4WD vehicle
- Naadam Festival opening ceremony entry
- Horse racing viewing at Khui Doloon Khudag
- Wrestling and archery competition access
- 4 nights hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar
- 1 night at traditional ger camp in Terelj
- All meals during Terelj day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Mongolia visa fees
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals in Ulaanbaatar (abundant restaurant options)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional cultural show (~$20 per person)
- Personal purchases and souvenirs
- Tips for guide and driver
from our gallery
Upon landing at Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) in the Khushig Valley, you will be met for your transfer into the heart of Ulaanbaatar. The drive takes you across the rolling grasslands that surround the city, providing a scenic introduction to the Mongolian landscape before you enter the capital’s energetic urban sprawl. Ulaanbaatar itself is a striking blend of the old and the new, where modern commercial districts and grand Soviet-era boulevards are framed by the Bogd Khan mountain range and the Tuul River. It is a city defined by its vibrant contrasts, from the quiet dignity of historic temples to the bustling pace of a fast-growing central hub. After reaching the city center and finalizing your check-in at the hotel, you will have time to refresh and settle into your room, allowing you to catch your breath and prepare for the cultural immersion that awaits in this mountain-ringed metropolis.
The tour heads out of the city toward the vast eastern steppe to visit the Chinggis Khaan Statue complex at Tsonjin Boldog. Rising 40 meters high in gleaming stainless steel, this is the tallest equestrian statue in the world, marking the legendary spot where the Great Khaan is said to have found a golden whip. You can take an elevator through the tail of the horse to emerge on its mane, where you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the rolling hills and the Tuul River valley. Afterward, you will enter Gorkhi Terelj National Park Click to open side panel for more information for lunch and check-in at your ger camp, surrounded by a dramatic landscape of Mesozoic-era granite plutons sculpted into surreal shapes by millions of years of erosion. This unique geology, composed primarily of coarse-grained granite, provides a stunning backdrop for spotting red deer or the majestic Golden Eagles that soar above the rugged cliffs.
In the afternoon, you will head to the Aryapala Temple Meditation Center, trekking along a scenic pathway where 144 plaques inscribed with Buddhist wisdom guide your thoughts toward reflection. The experience culminates in a climb up 108 stone steps to the main temple, where the elevated vantage point offers a breathtaking panorama of the park’s forested mountains and rocky spires. To wrap up the day, you will return to your camp for a traditional Mongolian dinner and a restful night in your ger, perfectly positioned to enjoy the stillness of the wilderness.
Your day begins at the break of dawn as you depart from your ger camp in Gorkhi Terelj National Park. The two-hour drive back to the capital transitions from the jagged granite peaks of the park to the vibrant energy of pre-Naadam Ulaanbaatar. This morning is dedicated to the traditional sports that precede the main opening ceremony. At the Archery Field near the National Sports Stadium, you will witness the high-stakes first round of the National Archery Competition. Archers in stunning silk deels demonstrate incredible focus, aiming for rows of cylinders called “surs” from distances up to 75 meters. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the knuckle-bone shooting tents, where teams compete in Shagai—a UNESCO-recognized game of skill where players flick sheep ankle bones at a tiny target with surgical precision.
By midday, you will head west out of the city toward the Khui Doloon Khudag valley, the legendary grounds for Naadam’s horse racing. July 10 is a thrilling day here as it features the races for four-year-old (Khyazaalan) and three-year-old (Shudlen) horses. Unlike the stadium events, this is a raw display of endurance on the open steppe, where child jockeys guide their steeds across 15-17 kilometers of rolling hills. The atmosphere is electric, filled with the dust of the plain and the “Giingoo” songs of the riders. After the races, you will return to the city for a comfortable overnight stay at the historic Ulaanbaatar Hotel, conveniently in downtown. Free evening.
The morning kicks off with a surge of national pride as the Nine White Banners are ceremoniously escorted from the Government House to the Central Stadium by the honor guard. You will settle into the stands to witness an explosion of color and culture during the Grand Opening Ceremony—a mesmerizing spectacle of traditional dance, morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) melodies, and powerful throat singing that traces the history of the Mongol Empire. It is a sensory feast where the air is thick with anticipation and the vibrant deels of the crowd create a living tapestry of Mongolian heritage under the eternal blue sky.
By midday, follow the irresistible aroma of sizzling oil to the clusters of food cabins surrounding the stadium for a true festival staple: khuushuur. These crispy, meat-filled fried pockets are the fuel of the festival, best enjoyed piping hot while you drift back to the arena for the afternoon’s main event. Under the midday sun, the first rounds of wrestling begin, featuring hundreds of titans in traditional zodog shuudag performing the ritual eagle dance before testing their strength in a display of raw power and technique. As the matches wind down, the rest of the evening is yours to spend at your leisure, allowing you to soak in the city’s celebratory atmosphere independently with no formal dinner scheduled.
City tour begins in the morning, where you will meet your local guide in the hotel lobby to commence a deep dive into the history and soul of Ulaanbaatar. The tour starts at the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery, the spiritual heart of the nation and a living monument to Mongolian Buddhism. As you wander through the sprawling complex, you will experience the serene atmosphere of spinning prayer wheels and the aromatic scent of juniper incense while monks perform their morning chants. The highlight of the visit is the Megjid Janraisig Temple, which houses a breathtaking 26-meter-high gilded statue of Avalokiteśvara, adorned with precious stones and standing as a magnificent symbol of national pride and religious revival.
Next, you will move from spiritual heights to imperial history at the Chinggis Khaan Museum. This world-class facility is the largest of its kind in Central Asia, offering a comprehensive look at over 2,000 years of Mongolian statehood. Across its meticulously curated galleries, you will explore the legacy of the Great Mongol Empire and the Golden Lineage of the Khans through rare artifacts, exquisite royal regalia, and immersive displays that chart the rise of the world’s largest contiguous land empire. Following this cultural immersion, you will enjoy a welcome lunch at a premier Mongolian restaurant, sampling traditional dishes that have sustained nomadic people for centuries.
In the evening, you can enjoy a show featuring incredible throat singing and the famous horse-head fiddle music. Dancers wearing colorful traditional clothes perform stories of nomadic life through elegant movements. It is a wonderful way to experience Mongolia’s history and spirit through music.
Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure.
