Discover Mongolia& Naadam festival 16 days
Overview
This two-week journey combines Mongolia’s must-see landscapes with the excitement of the Naadam Festival. Experience Naadam in Ulaanbaatar and again near Lake Khuvsgul, where you can meet local communities and enjoy traditional games.
Travel through the Gobi Desert, central Mongolia’s valleys and historical sites, and the pristine parks and lakes of the north. Along the way, experience nomadic life, enjoy traditional barbecue, and take part in short hikes, volcano climbs, and horse and camel rides—an authentic and memorable Mongolian adventure.
Excludes:
Items of personal nature
International travel
Alcoholic drinks, snacks, bar bills and laundry
Travel insurance
Single supplement
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Tour price:
2 PAX 3470$
3 PAX 2885$
4 PAX 2621$
Group Tour 2375$ (Single supplement 705$)
Includes:
2 nights in 3* hotel
13 nights in ger camps
Van Transfer
Horse & camel riding
English Speaking guide
Entry fees to national parks and the museums
Daily drinking water
Date:
29 June to 14 July 2027
7July to 22 July 2027
Meet your driver and guide for a sightseeing tour of Ulaanbaatar. Visit Genghis Khan Square and Gandantegchinlen Monastery, home to a 26-meter gilded Buddha statue. Enjoy panoramic city views from Zaisan Hill before heading to the impressive 40-meter Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, where you can learn about Mongolia’s legendary leader and admire the surrounding countryside.
Accommodation: Hotel
Today, we’ll explore Tsagaan Suvarga, meaning “White Stupa,” a spectacular natural formation in the Gobi Desert. Admire the colorful limestone cliffs shaped by wind and erosion, and enjoy a scenic walk with plenty of opportunities to capture stunning photographs.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Today, we’ll explore Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, meaning “Three Beauties of the Gobi,” known for its dramatic mountains and diverse wildlife. Visit Yoliin Am (Eagle Valley), a spectacular narrow gorge with towering rock walls and ice that can remain until late June. Enjoy a 2–3-hour round-trip hike through the scenic canyon, where you may spot ibex, wild sheep, and bearded vultures.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Khongor Sand Dune
Today, we’ll travel to Khongor Sand Dunes, among the largest dunes in Mongolia. Explore the green riverbank, visit a nomadic family, and enjoy an optional ride on a two-humped Bactrian camel. For a memorable adventure, climb one of the towering dunes to admire breathtaking panoramic views and discover why they are known as the “Singing Sands.”
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Flaming Cliff
We’ll travel to Ongi Monastery, crossing rugged slate mountains and the vast Ongi steppe. Once one of Mongolia’s largest monastic complexes, it featured more than 30 temples along the Ongi River before being destroyed during the 1930s socialist purges. Explore the atmospheric ruins, climb a nearby hill for panoramic views, and visit the active temple and traditional ger museum to learn about its history.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Ongi Monastery.
We’ll continue to the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag, famous for the discovery of the first dinosaur eggs in the 1920s by American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. Explore the striking red sandstone cliffs on foot, learn about the area’s remarkable paleontological history, and discover the saxaul trees that thrive in this unique Gobi Desert landscape.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Ancient Monastery Erdenezuu, Kharkhorin
We’ll travel to Kharkhorin, the historic capital of the Mongol Empire, founded by Chinggis Khaan in 1220. Located in the beautiful Orkhon River Valley, Kharkhorin offers a fascinating glimpse into Mongolia’s past. Visit the Kharkhorin Museum to discover artifacts from the ancient city, then explore Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of Mongolia’s oldest Buddhist monasteries, and admire its historic architecture and religious treasures.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Eagle Valley
Day 2: Tsagaan Suvarga
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar & Genghis Khan Statue
Day 8: Visit a nomadic family and enjoy Mongolian barbecue in Arkhangai province
We’ll drive through the scenic Arkhangai Province, stopping in Tsetserleg town to explore the local market. Visit a nomadic yak-herding family and enjoy a traditional Mongolian barbecue lunch while learning about their way of life. Continue through the beautiful countryside, stopping at the dramatic Chuluut River Canyon before arriving at Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Horseback Riding and Khorgo Terhiin Tsagaan National Park
Explore Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park, famous for its extinct volcanoes and beautiful freshwater lake formed by ancient lava flows. Hike to the rim of Khorgo Volcano for panoramic views of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan and the surrounding grasslands. In the afternoon, discover nearby lava caves, enjoy optional horseback riding, or relax along the scenic lakeshore.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Stay at Shine-Ider
We’ll travel along the shores of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, passing scenic grasslands where nomadic families bring their livestock to graze during the summer. Enjoy the beautiful countryside before arriving at your ger camp. Spend the afternoon exploring the surroundings, hiking, or relaxing at your own pace.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11:See Khuvsgul Lake and deer stones.
We’ll continue north toward Lake Khuvsgul, a stunning freshwater lake surrounded by granite mountains and Siberian forests at 1,600 meters above sea level. Along the way, visit ancient deer stones, remarkable Bronze Age monuments decorated with carvings of deer, suns, moons, and traditional symbols. Upon arrival, settle into a ger camp on the western shore of the lake and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Visit reindeer and take part in the local Naadam Festival.
Attend a local Naadam Festival near Khatgal, beginning around 10–11 a.m. Enjoy the opening ceremony and traditional competitions, including horse racing, wrestling, and archery. Experience the festive atmosphere, sample khuushuur, a popular Naadam dish, and browse local stalls.
On the way back to your ger camp, visit a Tsaatan reindeer-herding family who spend the summer near Lake Khuvsgul. Learn about their traditional lifestyle and their close relationship with reindeer in the surrounding taiga forest.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Uran Togoo extinct volcano
We’ll visit Uran Togoo, an extinct volcano in northern Mongolia, known for its forested slopes and scenic volcanic crater. Hike to the summit for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, and discover the small lake and lush vegetation on the volcano’s northern slopes.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14: Amarbayasgalant Monastery
We’ll travel through Bulgan Province and the copper-mining city of Erdenet before arriving at Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most beautiful and significant Buddhist monasteries. Built between 1727 and 1736, the monastery blends traditional Mongolian and Chinese architectural styles. Spend the afternoon exploring its historic temples and admiring the surrounding mountain scenery.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 15:Return to Ulaanbaatar
We’ll travel back to Ulaanbaatar, arriving in the late afternoon. After checking into your hotel in the city center, enjoy some free time for shopping, sightseeing, or relaxing at your own pace.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: B, L,
Day 16: Transfer to the airport
After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation: None
Meals: B
Backgrounds
Are you a good fit for the Explore Mongolia and Naadam Festival Tour?
Throughout the tour, you’ll stay in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar and ger camps in the countryside. The itinerary does not include strenuous activities, but Mongolia’s vast landscapes require long drives over varied terrain. Daily driving ranges from 4.5 to 6 hours, with Day 2 being the longest at about 7–8 hours including a lunch stop.
With support from your guide, you’ll enjoy light activities such as 1–3 hours of gentle trekking, 1–3 hours of horseback riding, and a one-hour camel ride. Climbing the Gobi’s high sand dunes can be challenging but is optional—lower dunes are also available. The ascent of Khorgo Volcano on Day 9 may feel slightly demanding due to the 2,000-meter elevation, but it is a short and manageable climb. All meals listed in the itinerary are included.
Meals
All meals listed in the program are included. Ger camps mainly serve Mongolian dishes with some European options. Lunch and dinner typically feature meat-based meals—often beef—alongside salads, soups, and vegetables. Breakfast usually includes tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs, and sausage, with some camps offering cereals, pancakes, cheese, and cookies. Lunch includes salads, Mongolian soups, a main course (rice, pasta, vegetables, beef, mutton, chicken, or local fish), dessert, and tea. Dinner is similar, with a main dish, salads, and dessert. You’ll also enjoy authentic home-cooked Mongolian meals with nomadic families.
Please inform us in advance of any dietary needs, and we’ll accommodate them. Each day, you’ll receive two 0.5 L bottles of water, or one 1.5 L bottle upon request.
Accommodation
The tour includes 13 nights in countryside ger camps and 2 nights in a centrally located 3-star traveler-style hotel. Hotel or ger upgrades are available for an additional fee.
Address:
Bayangol District, 1st Khoroo
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 16050
Contacts:
WhatsApp :+976 60192233
Email: info@horizonmongol.com
Blue Horizon Travel LLC
Company registration No: 8408505
Licensed Tour Operator
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
