Mongolian Yak Safari & Naadam Festival
Trip Length |
Trip Code |
| 15 days | PCYSN |
Minimum Passengers |
|
| 4 people | |
Maximum Passengers |
|
| 15 people | |
Countries Visited |
|
| Mongolia | |
Start City |
End City |
| Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
Mongolia is a land of stark and often spectacular beauty. This journey takes us from the capital, Ulaanbaatar, to the many contrasting features in the vast countryside, such as the endless steppes, the lakes of Arkhangai and the sands of the Gobi Desert. It is also a cultural journey where we meet and travel with the nomadic descendants of a people whose empire once dominated most of Asia. Karakorum (Harhorin) was the former capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire and the Erdene Zuu Monastery still reflects the faded glories of the past. We stay in gers (local style tents, also known as yurts) on our journey, and also join our Mongolian friends and their camels on a short desert trek. We may also come across wildlife in Hustai National Park and Zorgol Hairhan Mountain.
Ancient medieval games still survive in Mongolia and are part of the living cultural heritage of that country. Wrestling, horse races and archery are still the most popular sports. In July, the National Naadam is held in the capital and all across the country. The largest is in Ulaanbaatar. Herdsmen arrive on horseback from distant provinces, simultaneously training their horses. Such a journey lasts for anything between one to three months! A giant nomadic camp is set up on the steppe area outside Ulaanbaatar, during the night of July 10th. This program provides a close encounter with the Mongol ‘Three Manly Games’ of horseracing, wrestling and archery. The skills required for these activities date back to the medieval times of Genghis Khan armies, and perhaps even as far back as the time of the Huns.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar - 28 June
Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you are transferred to your hotel. As Ulaanbaatar hotels are subject to change, please check the itinerary your final documents to confirm your correct hotel. In the evening, you meet your tour leader and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Ikh Nart - 29th June
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Ger camp, Ikh Nart Nature Reserve
After breakfast we transfer to the railway station for our train into the Gobi. We travel for 6½ hours by local train to the station of Shivee Gobi, where we step off the platform into the wilderness of the arid Dorngobi (East Gobi) steppe. Our rugged vehicle awaits us and transports us 60 kilometres to our camp. This is not a huge distance, but in terrain like this we must go slowly. In the late afternoon we arrive at our destination - Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. After dinner we can relax and get used to our accommodation, which is traditional gers (also known as 'yurts' in Central Asia). Gers are the nomadic Mongolian homes, yet they are as portable as any tent. Our gers are furnished - each with three or four beds complete with linen, blankets and pillows. There are small stools, a table and a fire stove. Three quarters of the Mongolian population still live in gers throughout the year, despite enduring sub-zero temperatures for many months.
Day 3: Ikh Nart Nature Reserve - 30 June
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Ger camp, Ikh Nart Nature Reserve
We have a full day to explore Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, a community reserve protected by the local authorities and a place remote enough that very few tourists have found their way there as yet. The Mongolian Academy of Science have established a partnership with overseas zoologists to study wildlife here and by visiting we are helping to support both these conservation efforts and provide a sustainable income for the local people during the summer months. We are guests of the local Dalanjargal community and for our visit a low-impact ger camp has been set up. The premise is simple – when the camps are dismantled at the end of the summer, there should be no signs of where we have been, or at least no more than would be left by a nomadic family living according to centuries-old traditions. During our stay we have the opportunity to explore the reserve on foot and discover that it is a unique mix of arid Gobi steppe and huge rock formations and crevasses. Our local hosts will also offer us activities – whether learning about traditional crafts or teaching us the basics of Mongolian wrestling! This is a beautiful place to relax and simply appreciate the solitude of the Gobi.
Day 4: Ulaanbaatar - 1 July
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Accommodation: Narantuul Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
Today we drive for five hours back to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon left free for us to explore the capital. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's largest city - the name means 'Red Hero' and it is indeed shaped by the influences of the former Soviet Union in that most of the city is full of Russian-style apartment buildings. Sukhbaatar Square is the central point in town and is dominated by the Parliament building and a statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar (on horseback), the man who confirmed Mongolian independence from China. There are also statues of Genghis Khan and his sons – in recent years acclaimed as heroes from an earlier age. One optional sight you may wish to check out is the Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan - a controversial figure and the last king of Mongolia. His death in 1924 ushered in over 65 years of communism for the country. The Museum of Natural History is also fascinating, particularly the Dinosaur Hall.
Day 5-7: Khan Khentii Protected Area (Jalam Meadows) - 2-4 July
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Accommodation: Ger camp, Khan Khentii
Before leaving Ulaanbaatar we visit the magnificent Gandan Monastery - the largest and most important in the country (please note that no photography is permitted inside). From here we head back out to the countryside as we travel for about three hours (110 kilometres) into the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. The undeveloped nature of this diverse country is demonstrated for us as we travel for the first hour on tarmac roads and the second hour through a beautiful steppe valley and past many herdsmen, before finally making our way through forests to reach our second ger camp. Again, we are fortunate to stay here in a high protected environmental zone - our ger camp being the only one allowed within this area. We are located next to a river and use solar and wind power for our few electrical needs. The local herders will come to us to offer basic services - we can learn how to construct a ger, fish by traditional methods, ride mountain bikes or even read up on local history in a 'library ger'!
Day 8-11: Yak Trek - July 5th - 8th
Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Accommodation: Camping, Khan Khentii
Today is the start of our unique adventure! After breakfast we load our luggage on to yak carts and start our trek around the southern fringes of Khan Khentii, a wilderness area three times the size of the USA's famous Yellowstone National Park. Our equipment is loaded on traditional wooden carts, which are then pulled along by yaks. The carts carry not only our personal gear and camping supplies, but all the components of a ger. Each night we will work together to assemble it so there is a communal space to share - this can be done surprisingly quickly with a little practice and everyone helping! You need to bring your own sleeping bag, preferably a 'three seasons' bag, since even during summer the temperatures can drop close to freezing on the steppe at night. We travel without support vehicles - we don't need them for our trek (maximum of 20 kilometres per day), nor would they be practical in this terrain! Instead we are accompanied by local herdsmen who monitor our slow and steady progress from their horses. It is said that Mongolians are 'born on horseback' and after watching them work with their animals, you will quickly understand why! We are also accompanied by a cook who provides each day with a mix of western and Mongolian cuisine. We are in a scenic area where rivers flow down broad steppe valleys, and we are certain to feel as if we are on the very edge of human civilisation. We have no particular end destinations nor do we looking to complete a particular number of kilometres each day. Our trek is in the spirit of a nomad, unpressured by targets or deadlines, simply appreciating the natural environment and choosing an idyllic camp each night. We are so far off the beaten track that the only sounds around us are of the rivers flowing, the nearby animals and the traditional songs of our herder friends. This will be the experience of a lifetime.
Day 12: Ulaanbaatar - July 9th
Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we return to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon free to explore further or do some final shopping. As well as choosing from the international cuisines available in the capital, there is an opportunity to enjoy an optional folk music performance tonight. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness the traditional 'throat singing' that Mongolia is famous for - a performance that really does have to be seen to be believed! The Mongolian Capital is a buzz as you witness the build-up to the country’s biggest festival.
Day 13: Rural Naadam Festival - 10 July
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
We depart Ulaanbaatar affter breakfast to one of the communities just outside of Ulaanbaatar and experience a rural Naadam. Thsi is an opportunity to experience the wrestling and horseracing up close and personal. Without all of the crwods but still the sdame festive feeling. Some say the rural Naadams give you a tru raw sense of how teh festival actually started over 3000 years ago.
Day 14: Naadam Festival Ulaanbaatar - 11 July
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
In the morning Naadam is officially opened by the President of Mongolia. Soldiers on horseback, sometimes dressed in Genghis Khan warrior regalia, first carry nine white horsetail banners around town. They collect the banners at the Parliament, where they are normally displayed, and then ride with them in procession through the city, before placing them in the centre of the National Stadium. This is the site where we view the opening ceremony. Usually the first round of wrestling starts immediately afterwards. Around 512 wrestlers from all across Mongolia will compete in the first round! But sometimes there are more than 700! There are no judges, no time limits and no weight limits! There is a chance to visit the archery competitions before heading out to the steppe areas on the fringes of the city (Hui Doloon Hudag) to view the third of the three events- the horse race . Herdsmen have come with their horses and all provisions for the festivities, which include airag or kumiss (fermented mare’s milk) for the merrymaking. Stroll around the area and you are likely to be invited in somewhere for a drink. In teh evening we enjoy our farewell dinner.
Day 15: Ulaanbaatar - July 12th
Meals included: 1 breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available. You may wish to extend your stay but if you do please book post tour accommodation well in advance as all the hotels become occupied during the Naadam Festival.
Your Trip
What to know
A good level of general fitness is required. You will trek on hilly terrain, generally on well-defined paths. Venturing well away from cities and remote areas, this trip takes you right off the beaten track. Accommodation and facilities may be basic but the rewards are immeasurable.
What's Included
Peregrine tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
Summary of accommodation, transport & meals
Accommodation
- 3 nights Comfortable hotel
- 7 nights Ger tent (4-share)
- 4 nights Camping
Meals
- 13 breakfasts
- 11 lunches
- 11 dinners
Not Included
International and domestic departure taxes, visas, insurance, other meals, departure transfer, any optional tours and activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.
What to know
VaccinationsVaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.
Visas and PermitsIt is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.
Mongolia
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for Mongolia. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.
You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.
Responsible Travel
Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.
Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.
The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.
Further Reading
MongoliaThere are a number of books which make interesting reading and provide an insight in the culture of Mongolia. Suggestions are:
The Lost Country:
Mongolia Revealed-Jasper Becker
The Last Disco in
Outer Mongolia-Nick Middleton
In Search of Genghis Khan-Tim Severin
Nomads and Commissars:
Mongolia Revisited-Owen Lattimore
In the Empire of Genghis Khan-Stanley Stewart
Mongolia-Lonely Planet
Mongolian Phrase Book-Lonely Planet
About this Information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!
Last Updated
1 May 2013