Epic Gobi & Orkhon Valley Mongolia 12 days tour with Naadam Festival -2026

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. After clear customs and claim your luggage, you will be greeted by your driver at the exit and then transferred to your hotel. After check-in, free at leisure for the rest of the day to refresh yourself from jet lag. 
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: not included this day

This morning at 9 am, you will meet with your guide and driver at your hotel and head to Terelj National Park. This is one of the nearest and the most breathtaking sightseeing from the capital Ulaanbaatar and the landscape is impressive with the magnificent rocky mountainous scenes and a lucid river and green groves. 
     En route, visit “Genghis Khan Statue Complex” which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. You can go inside and enjoy museums, souvenir shops. Next, see Turtle Rock – the symbol of the National Park. You can take a photo of the rock and climb on the rock if you want. Also, visit the Ariyabal meditation temple - stand on the top of the hill, you will be amused by the whole park view. Dinner and overnight at beautifully located tourist Ger camp.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

 In the early morning, you will be escorted to the city airport for a flight to Gobi town Dalanzadgad. First we will visit Gobi Museum of Nature and History in Dalanzadgad. Then depart to the mountain valley named “Yol Valley”- which shows unusual scenery where you will do pleasant hiking to reach the end of the gorge with thick ice layers throughout the year. Surrounding mountains are home to eagles, elusive wild sheep and ibexes, many birds of prey, and numerous small rodents.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, our excursion will start at 8am to the extraordinary Khongor sand dune the largest and most breathtaking sand dunes in Mongolia reaching as high as 100-300 meters (328,08 – 984,25 feet) above the ground. This is undoubtedly among the most spectacular of the country. The sand dunes make you feel extraordinary comfort and infinite peace. Reach the tourist camp around lunch time and relax until Gobi hot temperature decrease. In the evening, visit local camel herder family in their ger, and experience their nomadic lifestyle and ride a camel to explore the area. Next excursion is to a beautiful green oasis of Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River and sand dunes.  Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

On this day, our trip will continue to Bayanzag, which means ‘rich in saxaul shrubs’, was once an ancient sea bed. This amazing place is more commonly known as ‘Flaming Cliffs’ and place where a lot of Paleontological findings have been discovered. Once arrival, you will explore around significant area, including the saxaul trees and wander on the red hillocks. There is a good chance to gaze at the billions of stars in the evening.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, we will head to the Gobi Desert and come around lunchtime to the Tourist camp. This bare steppe area along the Ongi River makes a good resting place to break a trip between the Gobi Desert and the Central Mongolian steppe. Ongi temple was once one of the biggest monasteries. But it is today a small museum. Refresh at the ger camp and take a walk among the ruins and visit the reconstructed temple museum.
If you want, you can have a pleasant massage and sauna at the camp. The rest of the day is yours to relax on your own.

 Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Today we will drive to Orkhon Valley which is accepted as a “Cultural Landscape” of the UNESCO World Heritage. Orkhon waterfall was formed by volcanic eruption and earthquakes some 20000 years ago.  After having lunch, take an excursion to the waterfall and then explore the area from horse back for one hour.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

After breakfast, our excursion continues to Kharkhorin, a small village, and one of the country's major tourist destinations. Historically once was an ancient capital of Mongol Empire and one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, we will visit the museum of Karakorum and learn more about the Mongolian history. Continue the guided tour to the magnificent and the oldest Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu. 

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

 In the morning at 9 am, drive to the Hustai National Park, where world’s last wild horse (never domesticated), Takhi inhabit.  Upon arrival at Hustai, visit small Ger information center- shows some detailed information about last truly wild horses. Enjoy lunch at the tourist camp. Rest and refresh until afternoon, in the evening, do walking to see the horses in their natural habitat.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After relaxing breakfast, we will take short drive to Hui Doloon hudag (horse racing field of Naadam festival) to see Naadam horse races. The horse race encompasses around 150-200 horses.
      Then return to the city center and enjoy to see traditional costume show “Deeltei Mongol” at Sukhbaatar square. In the afternoon, continue to explore the city and visit the Museum of Mongolian National History – the museum presents Mongolian history and culture from prehistoric times to the present day. Dinner is at your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival takes place at the central stadium. It’s Mongolia’s most important festival and biggest national holiday, which allows travelers to observe and experience authentic Mongolian culture.

The Festival includes 3 manly games: horse racing, Mongolian-style wrestling, and archery.

•  At 8 am picked up from the hotel lobby, join in Naadam group and visit central Naadam stadium.

•   First your guide leads you to the stadium of an ankle-bone shooting competition.

• Then, you can enjoy archery competitions outside of the stadium before the opening ceremony starts.

• At 11 am The Opening Ceremony starts once “Nine White Banners” are carried by honored guard from Government Palace to be settled in the middle of Stadium
  Once finish the opening ceremony, we will watch the beginning of 1^st part of Mongolian national wrestling. In the usual 512 wrestler tournament, there will be nine elimination rounds of wrestling over two days

In the afternoon, we will explore the city and visit Zaisan Memorial Hill is a popular tourist attraction and one of the highlights of Ulan Baatar because of the fantastic views it offers over the city. The evening is dedicated to visiting the “Folklore show”, which is featuring traditional performances by singers, dancers, and contortionists. It’s a great chance to hear Khöömii (throat singing) and see some fabulous costumes.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*,  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

As your memorable trip comes to end, then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to your next destination or home.
Meals: Breakfast,