Travel to Mongolia and discover the iconic Naadam Festival
The ancient Greeks may have the Olympics, but the Mongols have Naadam. Mongolia’s annual circus-like Naadam Festival is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the era of the great Khans and their dynasties. Wrestling, archery and horse racing — the three skills that Genghis Khan considered essential for any Mongol warrior — are showcased at the country’s largest celebration of the “three manly sports”. On this 15-day adventure, go behind the scenes and meet the competitors in the lead up to the festival and discover some of Mongolia’s wild outback, visiting ruined monasteries, flaming cliffs and historic cities.
Why you’ll love this trip
- Visit the athletes’ training camps as they prepare to compete in the Naadam Festival.
- Live the nomad life with a family stay at a horse breeder’s camp – a rare and rewarding cultural experience to remember.
- Attend the Naadam Opening Ceremony and watch athletes compete for glory in wrestling, horse racing and archery.
- Encounter Mongolia’s stunning natural landscape with visits to places such as the Flaming Cliffs and sand dunes of Khongor.
- Spend time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s fascinating capital city, where traditional Mongolian life mingles with modern ways.
Inclusions and activities
Meals: 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners
Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Tourist Ger Camp (9 nights), Family Ger Camp (1 night)
Included activities
- Archery Training Camp
- Wrestling Training Camp
- Horse Racing Training Camp
- Baga Gazriin Chuluu – Hike
- Tsagaan Suvarga – Hike
- Vulture Canyon – Hike
- Khongor Sand Dunes – Dune Hike & Camel Ride
- Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs – Hike
- Ongiin Khiid – Ruins
- Karakorum – Erdenezuu Monastery
- Naadam Festival – Opening Ceremony
- Naadam Festival – Archery events
- Naadam Festival – Wrestling events
- Naadam Festival – Horse Racing events
Is this trip right for you?
- Staying in various tourist ger camps, you’ll be relatively comfortable as most of them will be 2-3 people sharing one ger, with comfortable beds and plenty of blankets, but the facilities are shared and separated from the gers which may take some getting used to.
- You will have an overnight family stay at a horse breeder’s camp and will need a sleeping bag for this night. This is an authentic local experience, so be prepared for basic, but very real conditions.
- This trip involves long drives across some rough terrain and to remote areas, away from modern facilities and conveniences. As you’ll spend a lot of time on the road, it is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey. You’ll travel through amazing landscapes and stay in some stunning locations.
- Depending on group size, you may be split into multiple vehicles throughout this trip. The leader will make an effort to rotate travellers through the vehicles so that everyone spends some time together on the drives.
- Vegetarians can be catered for, though choices may be limited. Please let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements when you book your trip. Some food will be traditional Mongolian style, but as the traditional diet consists solely of meat and dairy products, most meals are less challenging and based more on Russian or Western cuisine, which is now also common in the Mongolian diet.
Book for 2025 from £5,265pp
Dates: 28 June – 13 July 2025
Based on flights from Heathrow with Turkish Airlines – ask about regional departures
Interested in booking for 2026?
Dates: 29 June – 13 July 2026
Likely package price is approximately £5,200pp – flights can be added once available, with confirmation of total cost at that point
Deposit £200pp
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