Tour overview

This 15-day journey combines the Gobi Desert with Naadam, Mongolia's great festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing. A group leader travels with you, in a group of no more than sixteen, by private vehicle. You stay fourteen nights in Ulaanbaatar hotels, tourist ger camps and a night with a nomadic family, with most meals included.

Before the festival begins you visit the training camps where wrestlers, archers and young jockeys prepare, then spend a night with a nomadic family. Heading south, you explore the granite formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu and the White Stupa cliffs.

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You hike the Yol Valley, climb the singing dunes of Khongor and ride a two-humped camel, then watch the sun set on the Flaming Cliffs. After the ruined monasteries of Ongii and Erdene Zuu at Karakorum, you return to Ulaanbaatar for the opening ceremony and two days of Naadam events.

The physical rating is medium, with some long travel days. This trip suits travellers who want to see Mongolia at its most festive.

Trip highlights

  • Naadam training camps (Days 2–3)
  • A nomad family stay (Day 3)
  • The Yol Valley (Day 6)
  • The Khongor dunes (Days 7–8)
  • The Flaming Cliffs (Day 9)
  • The Naadam opening ceremony (Day 13)

Your route

9 stops from Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar

15-day route: Ulaanbaatar – Baga Gazriin Chuluu – Tsagaan Suvarga – Yol Valley – Khongor – Bayanzag – Ongii – Karakorum – Ulaanbaatar
  1. Ulaanbaatar Days 1–3
  2. Baga Gazriin Chuluu Day 4
  3. Tsagaan Suvarga Day 5
  4. Yol Valley Day 6
  5. Khongoryn Els Days 7–8
  6. Bayanzag Day 9
  7. Ongiin Khiid Day 10
  8. Karakorum Day 11
  9. Ulaanbaatar Days 12–15

Why choose this tour

Mongolia's biggest festival with tickets arranged. The highlights of the Gobi too.

Best suited to

  • Festival and culture lovers
  • Photographers
  • Adventurous travellers
  • Solo travellers and couples
Wrestlers practising beneath the Mongolian flag

Day-by-day itinerary

15 days from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

  1. Day 1 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar

    Welcome to Mongolia.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Naadam training camps Training camps

    Wrestlers and archers.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Horse-racing camp Nomad family

    Young jockeys.

    Hotel
    Family ger
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Baga Gazriin Chuluu Baga Gazriin Chuluu

    Granite formations.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Tsagaan Suvarga White Stupa

    Coloured cliffs.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Yol Valley Yol Valley

    Vulture gorge.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Khongor Sand Dunes Khongor

    The singing sands.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Khongor Sand Dunes Khongor

    A camel ride.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs

    Sunset on the cliffs.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Ongiin Khiid Ongii

    Ruined monasteries.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Karakorum

    The old capital.

    Hotel
    Tourist ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar

    Back to the city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  13. Day 13 · National Sports Stadium Naadam

    The opening ceremony.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Ulaanbaatar Naadam

    Wrestling and horse racing.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Red sandstone cliffs in the Gobi

Where you stay

  • Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Hotel
  • Naadam training camps (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Nomad family (1 night) Family ger
  • Baga Gazriin Chuluu (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Tsagaan Suvarga (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Yol Valley (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Khongor (2 nights) Tourist ger camp
  • Bayanzag (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Ongii (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Karakorum (1 night) Tourist ger camp
  • Ulaanbaatar (3 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 14 nights in hotels, ger camps and a family ger
  • Meals 14 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Private vehicles throughout
  • Naadam opening ceremony and event tickets
  • Visits to Naadam training camps
  • Gobi hikes and a camel ride
  • Group leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Sleeping bag for the family stay
  • Meals not included 2 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Erdene Zuu Monastery at Karakorum

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want comfortable hotels throughout
  • You dislike crowds
  • You dislike long drives
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–15 · Lunch: Days 2–12 · Dinner: Days 2–11
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Mongolia
Sand dunes in the Gobi Desert

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,565 per person, twin share, tour only. 2 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Mongolia?

UK citizens can currently visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the latest advice before travel.

What are the ger camps like?

Traditional felt tents with beds and bedding, with shared toilets and showers; hot water can be intermittent.

Are festival tickets included?

Yes, for the opening ceremony and the main events.

When does this trip run?

In late June and early July, timed for Naadam.

What is the family ger stay like?

Basic, with sleeping on the floor; bring or hire a sleeping bag.

How many people travel together?

No more than sixteen travellers, with a group leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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