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A landscape from Eastern Mongolia, the setting for the Naadam Festival · 4 days.

Eastern Mongolia · 4 days

Naadam Festival · 4 days

A four-day visit timed to Mongolia's national festival: wrestling, archery, and horse racing in Ulaanbaatar, with a day at Terelj National Park.

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Overview.

This 4-day Naadam Festival tour is timed to Mongolia's national festival, July 11 to 13 each year. Naadam dates back over 800 years and centers on three traditional sports – wrestling, archery, and horse racing – competed at the Central Stadium in Ulaanbaatar (wrestling and archery) and on the steppe outside the city (horse racing). Day 1 covers Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue. Days 2 and 3 are the Naadam days themselves: opening ceremony at the Central Stadium, wrestling and archery competitions, and the horse race finals at Khui Doloon Khudag (around 40 kilometers west of the city). Day 4 is the departure day with optional time in Ulaanbaatar before flights. The tour requires booking months in advance – Ulaanbaatar accommodation fills well ahead of the festival.

Region
Eastern Mongolia
Duration
4 days
Best season
July 11–13
Group size
2–6 guests

Pricing is tailored to your dates and group size. Final quote in USD, sent within 24 hours.

Departures

Departures run on request through the season, tell us your dates and we hold a date for you.

Quick facts

Total distance
~150 km (mostly Ulaanbaatar + Terelj day-trip)
Driving days
1 of 4
Longest single drive
1.5 hours (city to Terelj)
Maximum altitude
~1,800 m (Terelj)
Start / end
Ulaanbaatar
Group size
2–6 guests
Languages
English (Buya)

Day by day.

Day 1: Discover Terelj National Park & Chinggis Khan Statue

Experience the natural beauty of Terelj National Park, home to striking rock formations, lush valleys, and traditional ger camps. Do not miss Turtle Rock, a giant granite formation shaped like a turtle, and Ariyabal Meditation Temple, perched on a mountainside with peaceful surroundings and wide-open views. Horseback riding through the parks valleys. Nearby, the Chinggis Khan Statue rises 40 meters high, celebrating Mongolias legendary leader. Explore the museum inside and climb to the horse`s head for panoramic views you will never forget. Stay overnight in a tourist camp.

Day 2-3: Naadam festival days (July 11, 12)

The Mongolian Naadam Festival is the countrys most important cultural event, celebrated every summer, usually in July. It is famous for the “Three Manly Games”: wrestling, horse racing, and archery, traditional sports that have been part of Mongolia life for centuries. During the Naadam festival people wear traditional clothing, enjoy folk music and dance. The largest Naadam celebration takes place in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, while smaller events are heald across the country. Visitors from around the world come to experience the festivals excitement, bright colors and unique traditions. Stay overnight in a hotel.

Day 4: Departure Mongolia

You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport.

Why this trip.

This 4-day Naadam Festival tour is the only Mongolia tour we run that is fixed to specific calendar dates – July 11 to 13 each year. Naadam is the largest gathering in the Mongolian calendar; the country effectively closes for the three days. The three traditional sports – wrestling (no weight categories, single-elimination knockout, hundreds of competitors), archery (75 to 80 meter target, men's, women's, and children's categories), and horse racing (different races by horse age, run on the steppe over 15 to 30 km depending on category) – are competed at world level. The opening ceremony in the Central Stadium is the visual centerpiece. Day 1 at Terelj before the festival gives a cultural and landscape grounding before the Ulaanbaatar days.

For travelers comparing options: the 1, 2, and 3 day Eastern tours run year-round and cover Terelj and the short trips around Ulaanbaatar without the festival timing constraint. The 5-day, 6-day, and 7-day Central Mongolia tours can be timed to start or end during Naadam if your dates are flexible – but the 4-day Naadam tour is the only one specifically built around the festival days. Book at least 4 to 6 months in advance: Ulaanbaatar hotels and tickets to the Central Stadium opening ceremony fill well ahead.

What's included.

Included

  • Private vehicle and experienced local driver
  • English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour
  • All accommodation: 3 nights at your Ulaanbaatar hotel + 1 night at a Terelj ger camp (in some configurations) or 4 hotel nights (depending on dates)
  • All meals during the tour as listed in the day-by-day
  • Naadam Festival entry tickets: opening ceremony seat at the Central Stadium (Day 2)
  • All entrance fees: Terelj National Park, Chinggis Khan statue museum
  • Bottled drinking water throughout
  • Transport to and from the Khui Doloon Khudag horse race grounds

Not included

  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Mandatory travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
  • Optional activities not in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, laundry
  • Gratuities for guide and driver (appreciated but not required)
  • Museum camera fees where applicable
  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Day 4 departure airport transfer (we can arrange)

Travel insurance is required. We recommend SafetyWing or World Nomads, see the Before-you-go guide.

Where you stay.

Three or four nights at your Ulaanbaatar hotel (mid-range to good 3 to 4 star, central location). One optional night at a Terelj ger camp on Day 1 depending on the year's exact dates. Hotel choice and availability is finalized at booking – we recommend booking 4 to 6 months in advance to secure preferred hotels for the festival window. Bedding and breakfast are included at the hotel.

What to bring.

Smart-casual clothing for the Central Stadium and for evenings in Ulaanbaatar; comfortable walking shoes for the Naadam venues and the Terelj walking; a light rain shell (Naadam often coincides with summer thunderstorms); sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF, brimmed hat, sunglasses) for the outdoor opening ceremony and the horse races; layered clothing for cool mornings and warm afternoons; a small daypack and reusable water bottle for the festival days; a power bank (the long Stadium days drain phone batteries); and any personal medications.

See packing notes in our Before-you-go guide →

Common questions.

When is the Naadam Festival?

July 11 to 13 each year, fixed by national tradition. The opening ceremony is on July 11 at the Central Stadium in Ulaanbaatar. The main competition days are July 11 and 12 (wrestling, archery, horse racing). July 13 is a quieter closing day. The festival has been held annually for over 800 years and is the largest event in the Mongolian calendar.

What sports are competed at Naadam?

Three traditional sports: Mongolian wrestling (no weight categories, single-elimination knockout, hundreds of competitors – matches end when one wrestler's body or knee touches the ground), traditional archery (target at 75 to 80 meters, men's, women's, and children's categories), and horse racing (different races by horse age, run on the steppe outside Ulaanbaatar over 15 to 30 km – the jockeys are children aged 5 to 13). Ankle-bone shooting is sometimes included as a fourth event.

Where are the events held?

Wrestling and archery: the Central Stadium and surrounding grounds in Ulaanbaatar (close to the city centre, accessible by short drive). Horse racing: Khui Doloon Khudag, around 40 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar – the races finish in the early afternoon. Both venues are included in the tour with transport provided.

Is the opening ceremony included?

Yes. A reserved seat for the opening ceremony at the Central Stadium on July 11 is part of the tour. The opening ceremony combines a parade of athletes, traditional music and dance, an honour guard for the State Banner of Chinggis Khan, and the formal opening of the wrestling matches. It runs around 2 to 3 hours and is the visual centerpiece of the festival.

How early should I book?

At least 4 to 6 months in advance. Ulaanbaatar hotels for the Naadam window fill well ahead, opening-ceremony tickets are limited, and international flights into Ulaanbaatar in early July are heavy. We recommend booking by February or March for the same year's July festival. Late bookings (within 8 weeks) sometimes succeed but with limited hotel choices.

Can I skip Day 1 at Terelj and just attend the festival?

Yes – we can build a custom 3-day Naadam-only variant. Most travelers prefer the 4-day with the Terelj day because it gives a cultural-landscape grounding before the city-centric festival days, and because Day 1 is often a recovery day from international flights. Tell us your preference at booking.

What is included in the 4-day Naadam tour?

Specific inclusions confirmed at booking; typically: private vehicle and English-speaking driver and guide, accommodation (Ulaanbaatar hotel and optionally one Terelj ger camp night), meals as listed, opening ceremony seat at the Central Stadium, transport to and from the Khui Doloon Khudag horse race grounds, all entrance fees including Terelj and the Chinggis Khan statue museum, bottled drinking water. Excluded: international flights, departure airport transfer (arrangeable), gratuities, museum camera fees. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing before any payment.

Is Naadam suitable for families with children?

Yes – Naadam is one of the most family-suitable Mongolia experiences. The wrestling and archery are highly visual and engaging for children; the horse races (with child jockeys) are dramatic; the opening ceremony has costumes and music. Bring sun protection, water, and patience for crowds. Children under five may find the long opening ceremony tiring; we recommend a minimum age of around six.

Is Ulaanbaatar busy during Naadam?

Very. The country effectively closes for the three days. Hotels are full. Restaurants in the city centre are busy. The atmosphere is festive – families travel from across Mongolia for the festival. Traffic in the city is heavy on the morning of July 11 (opening ceremony) and on the horse race days. We build the daily schedule around the busy windows; the guide and driver know the routes.

Can I extend the 4-day Naadam into a longer Mongolia trip?

Yes – this is a common pattern. Most travelers either start or end their Mongolia trip at Naadam and add a 5 to 10 day country tour before or after. The Naadam window is fixed (July 11 to 13) so timing is straightforward: book the festival as the start or end and add Central Mongolia, the Gobi, or Northern around it. Tell us your total dates and we will draft the combined route.

Book this trip.

Baska replies personally, in your language, within 24 hours. We can adjust dates, routing, and pacing.

Chat on WhatsApp Baska replies within 24 hours, Mon–Sat (UB time). Or email us

Not sure which tour fits your dates? See the planning guide.

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