NAADAM FESTIVAL IN MONGOLIA
A cultural tour of Mongolia

Unforgettable experiences of the landscapes and cultures of Mongolia. Experience Mongolia’s century old Naadam Festival-wrestling, archery and horse racing. Journey to visit the ruins of Karakorum, Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's 13th century capital and heart of the mighty Mongolian Empire and Okhon river Valley, cradle of Mongolian civilization. Explore the legendary “Flaming Cliffs” in Gobi desert, where in 1922 explorer Roy Chapman Andrews made his spectacular finds of dinosaur fossils.

Day 01 Arrive Ulaanbaatar
This evening you are scheduled to arrive in Ulaanbaatar, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Khan Palace Hotel (1 night)

Day 02 Ulaanbaatar / Middle Gobi (220 kms)
After an early breakfast, leave Ulaanbaatar. On the way to the Gobi visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu Lake and the ruins of Sum Khukh Burd Temple. Spend the night in traditional Mongolian gers at our Middle Gobi camp.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 03 Middle Gobi / Tsagaan Suvarga (280 kms)
Today we head to Tsagaan Suvarga, which is a strangely shaped, white limestone rock formation that is about 30m tall.
Overnight: Ger Camp (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 04 Tsagaan Suvarga / South Gobi / Eagle Valley / Tsagaan Suvarga
A full day excursion to Yol Valley (Eagle Valley) National Park for hiking and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape. Have a picnic lunch in the Yoliin Am National Park. Spend the afternoon hiking or relaxing. Return to the camp and spend the night. (B, L, D)

Day 05 Tsagaan Suvarga / Khongor sand dunes (200 kms)
After breakfast drive to Khongor sand dunes known as Singing dunes. Have packed lunch on the way. Visit and possibly climb up Mongolia’s biggest sand dune.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 06 Khongor sand dunes / South Gobi / Bayanzag (150 kms)
After an early breakfast at the camp, start the drive towards Karakorum. On the way explore the world famous Flaming Cliffs (BayanZag), the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery and the trail of the paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Visit a local camel breeding family and go on a short camel ride. Have dinner and spend the night in the ger camp near the Flaming cliffs.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 07 Bayanzag / South Gobi / Ongyn Khiid (150 kms)
This morning we head north. Stop for the night in a ger camp near Ongyn Khiid. Visit a local small temple museum. Have dinner and spend the night in the ger camp.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 08 Ongyn Khiid / Karakorum (300 kms)
Continue driving to Karakorum. Arrive at Karakorum in the afternoon. Shortly after arrival, witness an archery competition.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 09 Karakorum / Erdene Zuu (150 kms)
Visit Erdene-Zuu, which was once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia,which was almost destroyed in the 1930s. Go on a tour of the monastery grounds and see several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. Drive to the Tsenkher hot springs. Enjoy a natural hot bath and foot massage at the ger camp.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10 Erdene Zuu / Ogy Nuur Lake (240 kms)
Drive to Lake Ugiy in Arkhangai province. Enjoy bird watching by the lakeshores and spend the night in the ger camp located on the shore of the Ogylake.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 11 Ogy Nuur Lake / Ulaanbaatar (350 kms)
Drive to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Khan Palace Hotel (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 12 Ulaanbaatar
Attend opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival plus a Naadam Gala Dinner and Folk Concert in the evening. The highlight of the Mongolian festival calendar, the Naadam Festival dates back several centuries and takes place each year July 11-13. Originally a test of a nomad’s aptitude, it requires strength, stamina, accurate marksmanship and skillful horsemanship. Given the equine nature of nomadic life, much importance is placed on the horse races. Drawing herdsman from hundreds of miles around, races are staged on the vast steppes covering distances of up to 20 miles. We highly recommend booking early for our Naadam Festival departure. Festival gala dinner. Overnight at the hotel.  (B, D)

Day 13 Ulaanbaatar / Hustain Nuruu Natural Reserve (130 kms)
After very early breakfast drive to Hui Doloon Hudag for horse racing of Naadam Festival. Enjoy seeing horse races and local atmosphere. Drive further to Hustain Nuruu Natural Reserve. Drive deep into the Natural reserve to search for wild horses (TAKI). Travel back to the Hustai Nuruu camp, have dinner and spend the night.
Overnight: Ger Camp (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 14 Hustai Nuruu Natural Reserve / Ulaanbaatar (120 kms)
Drive to Ulaanbaatar.  The rest of the day is free leisure.
Overnight: Khan Palace Hotel (1 night) (B)

Day 15 Depart Ulaanbaatar
This morning we are transferred to the airport. (B)

Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures June 30
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar with hotel taxes International airfares & Departure/airport taxes Ger camp (2 persons or 1 person ger) Insurance / Visas Meals as mentioned B-Breakfast L-Lunch D-Dinner Tips / Gratuities All ground transfers & sightseeing mentioned with local English speaking guide   Entrance fees
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 4340 US $ 880
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1300 USA - West Coast US $ 1200 Canada - East Coast US $ 1300 USA - East Coast US $ 1200
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 04 and a maximum of 15 participants.
Notes
The only hotels in Mongolia are in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Throughout the countryside accommodation is offered in the form of traditional Mongolian ‘gers.’ These ger camps are slightly modified for foreign tourists but in effect offer a traditional experience and the opportunity to experience Mongolia’s wilderness. Most ger camps are situated in attractive areas:  on the shores of small rivers, nestled under rocky hills or on vast open plains and all under amazing night skies. The gers are made from wooden frames with layers of canvas and felt. Interior wood is usually carved or brightly painted and they are equipped with 2 beds and a small table and stools. There is a central stove for wood-fire heating at night. Communal bathroom facilities are in basic but clean blocks nearby and with hot water (an impressive feat in the middle of the Gobi desert!).  There are also restaurants and bars in a separate concrete building, or sometimes in large gers. Whilst visiting Mongolia is hugely rewarding, it is a wilderness destination and the accommodation is basic; however, we do use the best gers available in each area and the itinerary above has been put together to enable stays in the best camps at the most attractive locations.
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.