Mongolia - Land of the Great Khan - Ulaan Baatar Naadam Festival (16 days)

Every summer, Naadam, 'Mongolia's national games', are held over 2 days in the capital Ulaan Baatar. Still very much a nomadic people, Mongolians from all over the country converge on the capital to participate in and watch the competitions of the summer sports and an atmosphere of festive excitement descends on this normally sleepy city! Horse racing, wrestling and archery are the three age-old competitions which traditionally measured the courage strength and daring of nomads and warriors alike. Both men and women compete in the archery competitions and children, some as young as five, compete in the horse racing. We join the festival at its start in the grand Ulaan Baatar stadium where a colourful opening ceremony takes place before the contests begin. After time watching some of these events, we journey out of the city to join the melee at the horse racing grounds.

Dramatic Deserts, Rolling Steppe, Forested Mountains
Arriving in the capital Ulaan Baatar we first spend time at the Naadam festival. Heading out across the steppe we eventually arrive at our encampment at the foot of Hogno Khan (Mountain) where we stay in traditional gers (nomadic felt tents). Our next stop is at Karakorum from where Genghis Khan led his nomadic hordes out of Asia on horseback; we visit Erdene-Zu, Mongolia's first Buddhist monastery. Heading deep into the Gobi desert we hope to meet nomadic families grazing their herds. At Bayanzag we visit the site where dinosaur eggs were found in the 1920s and also see the Moltsog sand dunes, before continuing to the last camp on our Gobi quest in the foothills of the Gurvansaikhan Mountains. Flying back to Ulaan Baatar, we head through the Terelj National Park to Khan Khentii, a Protected Area on the edge of Siberia where our ger camp is in a strikingly beautiful setting. There are a number of easy day walks and the chance to try some gentle rafting on the Tuul River.

• Day 1: Join Ulaan Baatar
  
• Day 2: In Ulaan Baatar
  
• Day 3: In Ulaan Baatar, eve of Festival at Hui Doloon Base Camp
  
• Day 4: At Naadam Festival
  
• Day 5: At Naadam Festival
  
• Day 6: Drive to Hogno Khan
  
• Day 7: Free day at Hogno Khan; optional walks
  
• Day 8: Drive Karakorum; visit Erdene-Zu Monastery
  
• Day 9: Drive across desert to Saikhan Ovoo Ger Camp
  
• Day 10: Drive to South Gobi via Bayanzag Site
  
• Day 11: Visit Yol Valley Museum; walk in Yol Valley
  
• Day 12: Fly to Ulaan Baatar; free afternoon
  
• Day 13: Visit Ganden Lamasery; drive Jalman Meadows
  
• Day 14: In Jalman Meadows; day walks and optional rafting on Tuul river
  
• Day 15: Drive back to Ulaan Baatar
  
• Day 16: In Ulaan Baatar; tour ends.
  

Operated by Explore Worldwide (GK, SGK1)

Departures: July only for the Nadaam Festival

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