Mongolia Highlights Tour with Local Naadam Festival 2027

Meet your travel team at Chinggis Khaan International Airport and transfer to your hotel. After a short rest, begin exploring Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's vibrant capital.

Visit Gandan Monastery, one of the country's most important Buddhist centers, where you can observe local religious traditions and admire the impressive statue of Buddha. Continue to the National Museum of Mongolia to discover the country's fascinating history, from ancient nomadic civilizations to the Mongol Empire and modern Mongolia. Complete the city tour at Sukhbaatar Square, the historic heart of Ulaanbaatar.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with your travel team, a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted and look forward to the exciting journey ahead.

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel north to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia's most beautiful and well-preserved Buddhist monasteries. Nestled in a peaceful valley beneath Burenkhaan Mountain, this remarkable religious complex was built in the 18th century in honor of Zanabazar, Mongolia's first spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant along the way before continuing to the monastery.

Upon arrival, explore the monastery's elegant temples, traditional architecture, and peaceful surroundings. Take time to photograph the historic buildings and mountain scenery while learning about Mongolia's rich Buddhist heritage.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Continue north toward Khovsgol Lake, one of Mongolia's most magnificent natural wonders. Enjoy a scenic journey through open steppe, green valleys, and forested mountains, witnessing the remarkable transition from central Mongolia's grasslands to the northern taiga.

Along the way, stop to meet local families and gain insight into Mongolia's traditional nomadic lifestyle.

Arrive at Khovsgol Lake National Park, where crystal-clear waters, pine-covered mountains, and peaceful lakeshore scenery create a breathtaking setting.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Happy Naadam Festival

Experience one of Mongolia's most treasured cultural celebrations in the beautiful surroundings of Khovsgol Lake. Unlike the large national celebration in Ulaanbaatar, a local Naadam Festival offers a more intimate atmosphere and an opportunity to experience this tradition alongside local families and communities.

Enjoy the festival's three traditional sporting events: Mongolian wrestling, archery, and long-distance horse racing. Watch skilled wrestlers compete for prestigious titles, archers demonstrate their precision, and horses race across the open steppe. The celebration is filled with colorful traditional clothing, local food, music, and the joyful spirit of Mongolian culture. After the festival, return to your ger camp and enjoy a relaxing evening beside the lake.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Horse Racing

One of the most exciting parts of Naadam is horse racing, where young riders race across open landscapes over long distances. Horses compete in age groups, covering distances from 15 to 30 km. At a local Naadam, races are smaller — usually around 50 horses — allowing you to get closer to the action. You can stand near the finish line and feel the excitement as riders and locals gather to welcome the horses back.

Wrestling

Mongolian wrestling is one of the main highlights of Naadam, performed in an open-field tournament with no weight classes. The rules are simple — the first wrestler to touch the ground loses — but the matches are rich in tradition, strength, and ceremony. At a local Naadam, typically 64 wrestlers compete, though this number can increase to 128 during special anniversary years. Wrestlers from the local area, along with regional champions and rising young athletes, compete over several rounds. Those who advance through 5–6 rounds earn new titles and recognition.

Archery

Archery is also one of the main parts of Naadam. Archers use traditional bows and it takes strength and good control to shoot accurately. At a local Naadam, archery is done in teams of 5–7 people. They shoot at small leather targets placed on the ground from about 60–75 meters away. When a shot hits the target, judges call it out loudly, and the crowd reacts. Because the festival is smaller, you can stand closer to the archers, watch how they shoot, and follow the competition more easily.

Leave Khovsgol Lake and take a short walk along the lakeshore before continuing your journey south. On the way, visit Uushgiin Uvur, an ancient deer stone site decorated with carvings from early nomadic cultures. Continue to Murun town for lunch, then drive on to Shine Ider village, passing through wide open landscapes and rolling hills typical of northern Mongolia. Arrive at your ger camp in the late afternoon, surrounded by peaceful natural scenery. Optional activities here include a short horse riding and visiting a local nomadic family.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

 Drive toward Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, a beautiful freshwater lake set at an altitude of 2,060 meters, surrounded by extinct volcanoes. The lake stretches over 20 km and is known for its clear water and sandy shores. Walk up to Khorgo Volcano crater for wide views of the surrounding landscape. The area also offers volcanic rock formations, small caves, and open grasslands to explore. Enjoy time by the lake, with an optional horse riding experience available.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Travel through the beautiful Khangai Mountains, stopping at Chuluut Canyon, a dramatic river gorge carved through ancient volcanic rock.
Continue to Tsetserleg town and visit the Zayiin Gegeen Monastery Museum to learn about the region's Buddhist history and cultural heritage.

Later, arrive at Tsenkher Hot Spring, surrounded by forested hills and mountain scenery. After several days of exploration, relax in the naturally heated mineral pools and enjoy the peaceful countryside atmosphere.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Discover Kharkhorin, the historic capital of the Mongol Empire and one of Mongolia's most important cultural destinations. Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, established in 1586 and considered Mongolia's oldest surviving Buddhist monastery. Explore its historic temples, Buddhist artwork, and distinctive surrounding walls with 108 stupas. Continue to the Karakorum Museum, where archaeological discoveries, historical artifacts, and detailed models reveal the fascinating history of the ancient capital. The region is part of the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, where centuries of nomadic history and Mongolian heritage converge.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Continue south toward the Gobi Desert as the scenery gradually changes from the green grasslands of Central Mongolia to the vast semi-desert landscapes of Dundgovi province.

Arrive at the atmospheric ruins of Ongi Monastery, once an important Buddhist religious center along historic travel routes. Explore the remains of the monastery, learn about its history, and enjoy the peaceful scenery of the surrounding hills and river valley. In the evening, take a short walk around the ruins and enjoy the changing colors of the desert landscape.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Travel to Bayanzag, famously known as the Flaming Cliffs, one of the world's most important dinosaur fossil discovery sites.

In the 1920s, American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews and his expedition team made groundbreaking discoveries here, including dinosaur eggs that transformed our understanding of prehistoric life.

Explore the striking red sandstone cliffs and surrounding saxaul forest, learning about the fascinating dinosaurs that once inhabited the Gobi. In the late afternoon, experience the spectacular golden-hour colors that give the Flaming Cliffs their name.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Drive 4–5 hours to the impressive Khongor Sand Dunes, known as the “Singing Sands.” Stretching over 180 km, these dunes rise up to 80 meters high in places and are bordered by a green oasis along the Khongoriin Gol river. Spend time exploring the dunes — walking, climbing, and sliding on the soft sand.

Visit a local camel-breeding family and experience a short camel ride across the desert landscape. In the late afternoon, walk to the top of the dunes to enjoy the vast views and peaceful atmosphere. Sunset here is a special moment — a perfect time to relax and take in the beauty of the Gobi.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Explore Yol Valley, one of the Gobi Desert's most surprising natural wonders. “Yol” means bearded vulture (Lammergeier), a bird often seen in this area. Located in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, this dramatic mountain gorge features towering rock walls, narrow passages, and a cooler mountain environment that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding desert.

Enjoy a scenic hike about 2 km through the valley while looking for wildlife such as ibex, wild sheep, and bearded vultures. Depending on seasonal conditions, patches of ice may remain in the shaded sections of the gorge.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

Travel north toward Baga Gazriin Chuluu in Dundgovi province, passing through the vast open landscapes of the Mongolian countryside. Along the way, stop in Mandalgovi town for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your journey.

Upon arrival at Baga Gazriin Chuluu, discover impressive granite rock formations rising dramatically from the surrounding steppe. Explore this fascinating natural landscape, known for its rocky outcrops, peaceful valleys, and beautiful panoramic views. Enjoy a short walk or light hike around the granite hills, with plenty of opportunities for photography. Spend the evening surrounded by the peaceful beauty of Mongolia's open countryside.

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp. Meals: Full board

After breakfast, drive back to Ulaanbaatar, completing your remarkable journey through Mongolia's northern lakes, historic landscapes, and the Gobi Desert.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax or shop for Mongolian souvenirs and cashmere products.

In the evening, attend a traditional Mongolian folk music and dance performance, subject to the seasonal schedule, followed by a farewell dinner with your travel team.

Accommodation: 4-star Hotel. Meals: Full board

Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure, taking home unforgettable memories of Mongolia's landscapes, nomadic hospitality, and vibrant cultural traditions.

Meal: Breakfast