Naadam Festival

10 days Days - Ulaanbaatar

SU-NF

Mongolia

Join us as we mingle with the crowds at Mongolia's most famous festival, witnessing centuries-old traditions of wrestling, archery and horseracing. Always a spectacular display of noise, colour and fun, we balance the excitement of the Naadam with the tranquil countryside and history of Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu Hiid.

Available dates:

Jul 9 -Jul 15, 2006

Costs

From $1655.00 USD / $1890.00 CAD
Single Supplement available

No Local Payment

Itinerary

Download Detailed Trip Dossier (DOC - 748KB)

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar 6th July. Arrive Ulaanbaatar and explore the city. Sukhbaatar Square, Gandan Hiid (Living Buddah Monastery), Bogdo Khan Palace Museum and the Museum of Natural History all offer an excellent introduction to this wild corner of Asia. Ulaanbaatar, meaning 'Red Hero', became the capital of Mongolia when it was proclaimed an independent state in 1924. Tonight we meet our fellow group members and Group Leader and are treated to a wonderful show of traditional arts, music and song, including the unforgettable 'throat singing' as a welcome to Mongolia

Days 2-3: Karakorum + Erdene Zuu 7th - 8th July. Today we journey to Kharkhorin, the capital of Mongolia in the 13th century during the rule of Genghis Khan. The main attraction is Erdene Zuu Hiid Monastery, built in 1586, the largest monastery and first Buddhist centre in Mongolia. Over 100 temples were constructed, but most were destroyed during the Soviet era, nevertheless, Erdene Zuu Hiid retains much of its former glory, and is a remarkable sight to visit. We spend two nights here in traditional Mongolian gers.

Days 4-5: Khustai National Park 9th - 10th July. We break our return journey at the Khustai National Park. Here Przewalski horses, known locally as 'takhi', were reintroduced after previously becoming extinct in their native land. We visit the research centre to learn about the breeding program here before entering the park to see if we can spot these rare animals in their native environment. We spend another night in gers, with plenty of time to relax before returning to the capital. The city is alive with excitement on the eve of the Naadam Festival, as we join the crowds who have travelled to the city to witness the main events of the days to come - competitions and demonstrations of the 'three manly sports' - wrestling, archery and horseracing.

Days 6-8: Naadam Festival 11th - 13th July. We make our way with the crowds to the Naadam stadium for the spectacular opening ceremony. Taking our place for the procession, we see not only the athletes, but monks, officials and local celebrities. The first rounds of wrestling and archery begin with horseracing the focus on the second day. These races are the domain of younger children, who compete for the title 'tumnii ekh' ('Leader of Ten Thousand'). Join the crowds in cheering the winners, and singing songs to the losers and mingle with the locals - often taking as much pleasure from watching the audience as observing the competitors! As the festival draws to a close, we travel to the splendid alpine scenery of Terelj National Park

Day 9: Terelj 14th July. After our busy days at the Naadam, we enjoy tranquil surroundings of this countryside retreat. After a night in traditional gers - accommodation we are now quite familiar with - we visit a local family to experience their nomadic lifestyle firsthand. There are opportunities for hiking, or simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

Day 10: Ulaanbaatar 15th July. With the city and its inhabitants still recovering from the festivities, we say our goodbyes to Ulaanbaatar, with our tour concluding today.