As seen on
Mongolia's Naadam Festival at Lake Khovsgol
Mongolia
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Essential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Duration:
13 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Witness local Mongolian athletes compete in archery, wrestling & horse racing
- Stay in traditional Ger Camps with local families
- Soak in hot springs surrounded by beautiful landscapes
- Explore the famous Amarbayasgalant Monastery
- Join the Lake's community to learn about their nomadic way of life
Witness Mongolia's biggest national holiday, the colourful and simply spectacular Naadam Festival, on this two week adventure deep in the natural landscape away from the capital. Join the local nomadic community in cheering on their three classic sports - horse racing, archery and wrestling set against the backdrop of the stunning Lake Khovsgol.
The festival will give you a wonderful insight into the culture and traditions of Mongolian people, amid jaw-droppingly scenic landscapes, and by getting off the beaten track staying at traditional Ger camps to get to know local nomadic people each step of the way. 'Naadam' is also known as the “Three Games of Men”; originating from the time of Genghis Khan in the 13th Century - created to encourage strength, wisdom and courage in his fighting troops.
We are escaping the bustle of the capital Ulaanbaatar to experience the festival amidst the glorious setting of Lake Khovsgul, located in the northwest of Mongolia at the foot of the eastern Sayan Mountains. It is 1,645 metres above sea level, 136 kilometres long and 262 metres deep, holding almost 70% of Mongolia's fresh water. It is also a refreshing setting to experience this highlight of the Mongolian calendar away from the crowds and tourists in Ulaanbaatar.
Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Flights
Transfer
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's largest city and the capital of the country. Situated on the Tuul River, on a windswept plateau at an altitude of 1350m, it is a city of contrasts, where modern meets tradition and bustle meets Buddhism. After checking into your hotel, the adventure begins with a city tour of some of the most spectacular sites. Visit Gandantegchinlen Buddhist Monastery (a Tibetan name that translates to 'Great Place of Complete Joy',) that houses a 26.5-meter-high golden statue of Avalokiteśvara, a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. It was restored in 1990 and still functions as a monastery. The excellent museum also gives us a great overview of mongol history and the life and conquests of Chingiis Khan.
Tonight you can enjoy a traditional concert as well as a welcome dinner to prepare you for the rest of the adventure ahead.
Day 2: Drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
After breakfast, leave early to Amarbayasgalant Monastery – one of the the largest monasteries in Mongolia, built in the17th century in the memory of the Bogdo Lama Zanabazar, head of the Mongolian Buddhist religion. The monastery and its surrounding sacred landscape has a unique cultural area within which nomads have lived for a number of years, worshipping these natural sacred sites.
Tonight we stay in traditional 'Ger' camps which are synonymous with the nomadic style of living in the Mongolian countryside.
Day 3: Visit a nomadic family
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Today we journey towards Lake Khuvsgul passing Erdenet city and the town of Bulgan. On the way we will stop and meet with local families to gain more of an insight into the traditional way of life in Mongolia. Tonight we stay another night in the Ger camps.
Day 4: Lake Khovsgol
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Arrive at the beautiful Lake Khuvsgul spanning 2,760km. The landscapes around are absolutely stunning, with forest backdrops, icy streams and and the crystal clear water of the lake. It is a beautiful location which will be your base for the next two days.
Day 5: Naadam Festival
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Naadam Festival is the biggest national holiday in Mongolia and it's not hard to see why! Famed wrestlers, horse racers and archers compete for grand titles in stunning shows of display in these three national sports:
Horse racing: The most impressive spectacle is surely the horse racing. The horses cover different distances according to their age. Azarga (stallions)- 28km, Ikh nas (horses more than 5 years old) - 30km, Soyolon(5-year olds) - 25km, Khyazaalan (4-year olds) - 22km, Shudlen (3-year olds) - 20km and Daaga (colts to 2 years old) - 15km. There are no limits on the number of horses participating; with usually 200-600 horses in each race. The five winning horses are honoured with a cup of mare’s milk (airag) on their neck, a blue scarf known as a khadag and a medal.
Day 6: Naadam Festival
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Wrestling: The rules are very simple. The wrestling area is unrestricted; there are no weight restrictions and the one who touches the ground with any part of the body, other than the feet, has lost. The winner continues to the next round whilst the loser has to stand under the wings of the proud winner.
Archery: Mongols are almost born with archery skills, an integral part of the nomad's lifestyle. From childhood, qualities such as perfect eyesight, measurement, patience and strength are harnessed in order to develop the child to become a good archer. Mongolian bows are very tight , so that it requires perfect strength to hold. As a rule, several teams of archers compete. Each team of 5-7 archers should hit 33 leather cylinders from a distance of 75 meters.
Day 7: Shine-Ider
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Today we say goodbye to the festivities and drive to Shine-Ider another Ger camp, surrounded by beautiful landscape. It is the perfect place to relax and soak up the tranquil natural surroundings.
Day 8: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Our adventure in Mongolia continues to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake passing through Shine-Ider village on the way. An astonishingly beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by extinct volcanoes at an altitude of 2.060m, the lake is 16km wide and 10m deep with its deepest point at 28 meters and over 20km in length. It has lovely sandy shores and enough warm water which is wonderful for swimming. The area offers great adventures with its caves, mountain cliffs and Khorgo volcano crater. Spend the two days enjoying the lake's beauty.
Day 9: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Your second day enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the lake community.
Day 10: Tsenkher Hot Spring
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Today we head to Tsenkher Hot Springs & Spa. This natural hot spring is located 30km from Tsetserleg town, centre of the Arkhangai province. It is situated between lush forested hills and breathtaking mountains with the water from this geological spectacle emerging from the ground at 85.5°C. Relax in the hot springs admiring the beautiful Mongolian landscapes that surround.
Day 11: Drive to Tovkhon Monastery
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
Today we travel to Tuvkhon Monastery (2400m), a UNESCO World Heritage site situated atop a small mountain with breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding area. This is where Zanabazar, the head and founder of Mongolian Buddhism, created his famous art works and also the national script ’soyombo’ in the 16th Century. The scenery, particularly as you enter the Orkhon Valley is breathtaking. We will continue to Orkhon Waterfall, one of the most magical sites in Mongolia.
Please note that females are able to visit the Monastery, but are not permitted to summit the mountain top behind it, which is an optional short, there & back extension.
Later, head to our Ger camp for the night for an excellent meal prepared by our nomad host family.
Day 12: Drive to Kharkhorin & visit Erden Zuu Monastery
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Ger
In the 13th Century, Genghis Khan began the largest empire the world has ever seen; stretching from the Sea of Japan to the Danube in Hungary. He founded the cosmopolitan city of Kharkhorin (also known as Karakorum) as his capital, although it was later moved to Peking by his grandson, Kubilai Khan.
Once in the town, we will explore the stunning temples of the 16th Century Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, surrounded by monumental walls and 108 white stupas. It is probably the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery in the country, having withstood (though been significantly damaged by) the purge of monasteries in 1939 by Communist leaders. Since the 1990s the monastery has become, once again, a place of Buddhist worship. We will also explore the local craft market where you have some time to pick up some last minute traditional gifts.
Tonight is your final night in a traditional Ger.
Day 13: Ulaanbaatar
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Today we return to the capital where the remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy. Tonight there will be a farewell dinner with a cultural performance to celebrate your incredible festival experience in Mongolia.
Day 14: Transfer to the airport
Flights
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Your adventure comes to an end today with a transfer back to the airport for your flight home, taking with you many wonderful memories from Mongolia!
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Inlcluded
- Flights & airport taxes
- Insurance
- Visas (around £40)
- Drinks & snacks
- Tips
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice Responsible Tourism, using accommodation run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual options, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.
This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
The accommodation on this adventure involves both hotel stays and camping in gers/yurts. The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Ulaanbaatar (2 nights): Grand Hill Hotel: Damdinbazar street-52, Bayangol district, Bayangol, 212513 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Tel: +976 7711 5599. City centre location, with Wifi
Ger Camping (9 nights): A ‘ger’ or ‘yurt’ is a large felt tent made from sheep's wool, which results in a warm, cosy and waterproof shelter. The centre of the yurt houses a metal wood burner with a chimney for all smoke to escape through the roof.
Yurts house either 2 or 4 simple, but comfortable beds with plenty of extra blankets to pile onto your sleeping bag (please bring a winter season bag), should you feel chilly. If you are travelling with a group of friends then we are happy for friends to share a yurt (4 people), or YellowWood can arrange the rooming for solo travellers to share with others of the same gender.
Facilities
Facilities vary depending on where we are staying. The ger camps tend to have running water and warm showers available, but when we are staying with families, there are only likely to be outdoor toilet facilities, and not showers or hot water. Please note that there is generally no electricity in the camps, and limited mobile signals, if any.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be a minimum of 2 experienced, approachable and knowledgeable guides; one from the UK YellowWood team, and an in-country local guide who will be with us for the duration of the holiday.
This ensures you the perfect balance of information and support on your trip, with your Mongolian guides offering insight into local life and customs, as well as routes during walking/horse riding excursions, whilst your YellowWood guide ensures the smooth running of your adventure.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures an optimal level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a larger group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it out for you. Our links with in-country travel experts often mean that we can assist you in developing a personalised itinerary. The accommodation on this adventure involves both hotel stays and camping in gers/yurts. The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Am I fit enough?
You are visiting remote and mountainous areas of Mongolia and your itinerary involves some walking over rough terrain and some optional horse riding. All walking and riding is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops. You will be carrying just a day pack and bottle of water.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you therefore need to be a regular walker and in good physical condition. You do not need to be experienced in trekking, however. Any horse riding will be suitable for beginner riders, and will be supported with guides and horse handlers.
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements. Clients are advised to get into a regular walking pattern before the trip as convenient.
NB: If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip! itself.
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Ulaanbaatar. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Airport & Arrival Info
Chinggis Khaan International Airport is the main international airport in Mongolia, located 18km SW of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. It is a small, though fully functioning, airport with 2 ‘terminals’ that you may arrive into, at different ends of the same building.
You will be met at the airport by your YellowWood guide and a local driver for transport to central Ulaanbaatar (approx 30 mins)
On arrival you:
- Pass through Immigration
- Collect your baggage
- Meet your YellowWood Guide & driver (they will have your name on a board, along with the YellowWood logo)
- Exchange Currency: The easiest is probably to use the ATM in the airport, however, there is however, there is also the option of exchanging currency in Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon, during the city tour.
Toilets can be found in the arrivals lounge.
Hotel Arrival
On arrival at your city centre hotel, you will be welcomed and have time to settle into your room.
Once the group have all arrived (they may be on a variety of different flights), you will be heading to a local restaurant for lunch and a trip briefing. This will be followed by a very interesting City Tour of Ulaanbaatar to kickstart your holiday!
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking and horse riding (if you are likely to do this) with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Mongolia
For information on Mongolia, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specific information.
Reviews
Will
"Experience of a lifetime. This is the kind of trip where booking through a company like YellowWood makes perfect sense. We wouldn’t have achieved anything like the experience we had without the knowledge and expertise of YellowWood (if we tried to do it alone, frankly, almost all of it would have been impossible.) Our lovely guide Dawaa was so warm, informative, professional and was a really calming influence - she allowed us to really soak up the experience safe in the knowledge that we were in very reliable hands. Our drivers, despite speaking only a few words of english were so much fun, they really felt part of the group and everything they did for us was done with a smile."
Please take into consideration the time of year when you are travelling before making your final packing decisions.
Unless your itinerary includes camping or stays in Gers, towels and other basic amenities are provided.
Please bring a full first aid kit and any prescription medication with you. Consult your doctor regarding advice around inoculations and the prevention of disease contraction.
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- Passport & insurance documents
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Credit / Debit card for ATMs in town
- Phone & charging cables / plugs / adaptors
- Day bag
- Money belt
- Antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape). anti-diarrhoea tables - we recommend getting hold of some Ciprofloxacin (a quinolone antibiotic) ahead of the trip. It’s great for traveller's diarrhoea
- Washbag & usual contents
- If applicable, feminine hygiene products
- Insect repellent
- Sun cream
- Hand gel
- Fully charged power pack and cables
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be low in the evenings. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended - they pack small too!
- Walking trousers for trekking. Soft shell fabric is ideal.
- Shorts for warmer days
- Sandals or trainers - worn in please!
- General socks / underwear
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in
- Some “smarter” outfits / evening wear
- Warm hat & gloves
Items for Camping
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops. Technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather
- Thermal base layers are ideal when camping & also useful if you get cold weather
- Winter sleeping bag (0ºc comfort rating). Many of the yurt camps will have quilts and blankets but this is about planning for all eventualities
- Silk or thermal sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold or you may prefer the hygiene/ comfort of your own bag
- Inflatable pillow, or pillowcase you can stuff with spare clothes - adds comfort
- 20-30L rucksack with waist (& ideally chest) strap for hiking
- Walking boots - already broken in...
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners for both day sack and kit bag) to keep kit dry. Esp. important for sleeping bags & spare clothes
- Water-to-Go filtration water-bottle & additional storage water-bottle - ideally 2 litres per person
- Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out
- Standard large rucksack or large duffel style bag are all suitable for your baggage for this adventure
Optional
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection
- Flask, if you enjoy hot drinks on the go
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Purification tablets as alternative to Water Purification Bottle
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Lightweight waterproof trousers
- Waterproof socks
- Warm hat & gloves
- Clothes washing hand wash
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates & add any extras or 'Add on' adventures. Complete our Booking Form
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
'Make Booking': You will be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit if booking >56 days before your adventure, or full payment if 56 or <56 days before your adventure. Your monies are held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Enter booking information for all guests in your party.
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Do not book transport/flights until we have emailed you to confirm your booking (receipt of your booking form is not confirmation). We will change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding', when it becomes payable online.
This payment is due 56 days before departure date (we send reminders).
Contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking.
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Enquiry Process
We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to answer your questions and help you plan your adventure from the information you submit here.
Or please call us directly: