Journeys: Mongolia & The Naadam Festival

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. After your welcome moment, join your group for an orientation walk around Ulaanbaatar on your way to an optional welcome dinner.

• Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group

Watch the thrilling opening ceremony of the Naadam festival, a Mongolian sports tradition that dates back to the time of Genghis Khan. Admire the traditional costumes of the participants, and observe demonstrations of the “three famous sports”—wrestling, archery, and horse racing. Take a lunch break and then head back to the stadium to watch an afternoon of Knuckle Bone Games, Archery, wrestling and time to explore the areas on your own.

• Naadam Festival (Eriin Gurvan Naadam)

Head out to see the finish line of the grueling Naadam Festival Horse Races — some of the most unique horse racing in the world. During this annual race, competitors ride between 15-30 kilometres around the stadium. Visit the Khui Doloon Khudag, known as Q7 to the locals. This is the legendary horse racing field for the Naadam Festival. Today we'll experience the Soyolon Race, a race of 5-year old horses considered to be the fastest and most powerful horses. Enjoy some traditional Mongolian street food for lunch at a local Khuushuur stand. Afterwards, return for the Daaga race, a race for 2-year old horses.

• Naadam Festival (Eriin Gurvan Naadam)

Mongolia's rich history is on full display at the National Museum of Mongolia. Explore the museum with your National Geographic Expedition Leader learning about the traditional ethnic groups of Mongolia and view some of the archaeological artifacts on display. We then make our way to the Gobi, one of the world's largest deserts, which covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. On the way, stop for a picturesque pond-side picnic at Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain, a sacred mountain considered to be the most beautiful in central Mongolia. Arrive in the afternoon to our first traditional Mongolian ger, a round, felt-covered tent with simple furnishings–we will stay in this style of local accommodation through day 12 of the trip. Tonight at camp, get competitive and try your hand at some traditional Mongolian Games, like The Knuckle Bone game and Khorol, a Mongolian style dominoes.

• National Museum of Mongolia Visit & Tour
• Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain & Picnic Lunch

Continue onwards as the group drives to the Dungobi Aimag region—Middle Gobi—and witness the astonishing granitic formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. Set off on a hike around the small but historic national park, and visit the site of ruins of an old temple dating from the 17th century hidden in the massif granite. Rest after your hike as we drive to South Gobi and upon arrival, check into your lodge for the evening.

• Baga Gazriin Chuluu National Park Hike

Start today with a hand-on activity to learn to build a Mongolian ger (yurt) and try your hand at archery, one of the most beloved sports in the country. Journey to the magnificent gorges of the Altay Mountains to the Gurvan Saikhan National Park, a vast protected area that comprises canyons, sand dunes, and a steppe. Stop for a hike in rugged Yolyn Am, the “valley of the eagles,” keeping an eye out for ibex, gazelles, argali sheep, and countless species of birds. This evening we'll return to the ger camp for a relaxing evening under the stars.

• Nomadic Family Desert Ger Building & Archery Lesson Experience
• Yolyn Am Visit

Our morning begins as we drive to Moltsog Els Sand Dune and witness the seemingly never ending waves of sand. Visit the homes of the local camel herders, then walk over the ever-changing dunes. Return to the camp for lunch and some activities at the camp, like traditional massage by a local shaman or take a cooking class. For dinner, travel by 4x4 to the Flaming Cliff, a rust-coloured sandstone landscape where a vast amount of dinosaur fossils and eggs have been found. Learn about the discoveries made here and spend time exploring the dramatic crags and canyons and enjoy a firery red sunset before heading back to camp for the evening.

• Moltsog Els Sand Dunes
• Free Time
• Flaming Cliffs Visit

Visit the ruins of Ongiin Khiid, a complex of Buddhist monasteries and universities which were tragically destroyed during the communist purges. Tour the site and learn about the monks who have returned here in recent years, bringing new life to the complex.

• Ongiin Khiid and Hoshuu Monasteries Visit

Drive to the breathtaking Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses rolling hills and pastureland, traditional pastoral societies, and archaeological remains. We'll arrive to our camp for lunch and settle in for the day. Enjoy free time to relax before an early start tomorrow, or if you have the energy, opt to do some eassier hikes around the camp.

Rise early this morning with the local Yak Herding Family to assist them in milking their yaks. Head off for a visit to Orkhon Waterfall and walk to the observation point for an incredible view of the caved out cliffside. Lunch will consist of buuz, Mongolian dumplings that we'll learn to make in a local cooking class. In the afternoon, visit the Yak Herder Family again and learn to make yak tea, cheese and even alcoholic yak yogurt that you milked earlier this morning. Try your hand at spinning yarn from yak and sheep wool. As a source of food, clothing material, transport and even a cultural symbol, yaks play a vital role in Mongolia. This evening return to your camp for a traditional Mongolian barbecue, prepared over hot stones.

• Orkhon Waterfall Hike
• Mongolian Dumpling (Buuz) Cooking Class
• Yak Milking with Herding Family
• Yak Family Farm Experience
• Khorkhog (Mongolia Traditional BBQ)

Drive to the city of Kharkhorin and onward to nearby Karakorum, Mongolia’s ancient capital. Here, Genghis Khan established his headquarters in the early 13th century. Explore the remains of the Erdene Zuu Monastery, considered Mongolia’s earliest centre of Buddhism, and meet with the head monk to learn about the communist purges that decimated much of the country’s Buddhist heritage. Visit the Karakorum Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the 13th and 14th centuries as well as a scale model of the ancient capital. Finish up the day with a relaxing drive to the ger camp for the evening.

• Erdene Zuu Monastery
• Karakorum Museum

This morning, drive to Khungu Khan Mountain to hike the beautiful Uvgun Monastery, perfectly on display atop the boulder covered mountain. From the monastery, admire the spectacular view of sand dunes expand into the distance and summer flowers decorating the banks of the spring water. Enjoy the hike down and return to the ger camp for time at the camp.

• Uvgun Monastery Hike
• Free Time

Travel by 4x4 to Khustai National Park, where some of the Earth’s last wild horses roam. The takhi or Przewalski’s horse native to these grasslands had nearly vanished from the wild, until the species was reintroduced here as a result of a successful captive breeding program. Meet with park staff to learn about the takhi reintroduction project, and keep an eye out for these stocky, coffee-coloured horses that have never been domesticated. Settle into your ger for the night.

• Khustai National Park (Khustain Nuruu) Visit

Spend today driving through the Mongolian countryside to Ulaanbaatar. The drive is long and the group will arrive by the early evening. Stop to stretch your legs and have a chance to buy some souvenir like locally produced cashmere. This evening, pay a visit to Cafe No Limits, a G for Good project supporting youth with Down Syndrome who work alongside their mothers to serve delicious teas, coffee and snacks. Enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by a memorable performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance.

• Mongolian Cultural Show
• Cafe No Limits Visit

Travel by 4x4 to Gandan Monastery, one of the most important temple complexes in all of Mongolia to learn about the history of Buddhism and see the monks chant. Depart for Nalaikh Ger Village, where upon arrival you will be welcomed to enjoy a local lunch of Mongolian Buuz dumplings with some of the families who call this place home. After learning about life in a ger village, explorations today conclude at the statue of Chinggis Khan. The statue of Mongolia's most emblematic figure is observed as you take an elevator to the head of the horse to get the best view of both the statue itself, and the vast expanse of Mongolian mountainside completely surrounding the behemoth statue. Return to Ulaanbaatar for a farewell dinner with your group and National Geographic Expedition Leader.

• Gandan Monastery Guided Tour
• Nalaikh Village Family Ger District Lunch
• Genghis Khan Monument Visit

Depart at any time.