Ancient Karakorum, Naadam Festival, and the Gobi
In the Realm of Genghis Khan
Overview
Mongolia is magnificently remote, its unfenced grasslands dotted with nomad camps and herds of yaks and horses. In this mesmerizing landscape, we’ll see the wild horses of Khustain Nuruu National Park and explore the ruins of Karakorum, once the capital of Genghis Khan’s empire. In the Gobi Desert, we hike in the dramatic Yol Valley, watch the sun set over the fabled Flaming Cliffs, and even ride a Bactrian camel. Along the way, we’ll be welcomed into an authentic nomadic culture with nights in traditional gers (yurts). We’ll also attend a local Naadam festival, a quintessentially Mongolian celebration with archery, wrestling, and cross-country horse races.
Arrive: Ulaanbaatar
Depart: Ulaanbaatar
Highlights
- Witness an authentic local Naadam Festival, an exuberant expression of Mongolia’s ancient culture
- Visit the ruins of Karakorum, Genghis Khan’s capital, meet traditional nomad families
- See the wild horses of Khustain Nuruu National Park
- In the Gobi, explore Yol Valley and the famous Flaming Cliffs
Itinerary
We explore the sites of the capital, including the thriving Gandan Monastery, home to several hundred monks, and the National History Museum, which offers utterly fascinating insights into Mongolian history with its displays of traditional implements of daily nomadic life. Each departure of our journey will feature a day at a Naadam Festival (the actual day varies with each trip), where we watch traditional Mongolian sports dating back to Genghis Khan’s time.
We head out across the grasslands to Khustain Nuruu National Park, established for the takhi, the last remaining species of wild horse. Extinct in the wild in the 1970s, this sturdy native is making a comeback here through international conservation efforts. One of our hikes brings us to the great standing stones at Ongot, a site that dates back to 500 AD. In the Orkhon Valley, the cradle of Mongolian civilization, we are welcomed into the home of a nomad family, and we visit the chanting halls at 16th century Erdene Zuu Monastery, the “Jewel Temple,” built over the ruins of Karakorum, capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. This has been a place of Buddhist worship for over 500 years.
In the vast Gobi Desert, we walk the trails of Yol Valley National Park and visit the renowned site of the “Fighting Dinosaurs,” where fossils of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat were discovered. We can ride a Bactrian camel in this dramatic desert, and explore the legendary fossil site of the Flaming Cliffs—stunning when illuminated by the oranges and golds of sunset. Flying back to the capital, we overnight in a traditional ger camp amid the rock formations and alpine mountains of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, a wonderful chance to experience local nomad hospitality on the steppes. Depart on Day 13 via Ulaanbaatar.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Although there is only minimal hiking, this trip involves rugged travel conditions in remote locations, simple accommodations in gers (yurts), and rough roads.
Review Trip Level Details
Mongolia has a relatively cool climate with short, mild summers and long, severe winters that last from October to April. Mountain weather is always unpredictable. We'll have many beautifully clear and sunny days with bright blue skies, but come prepared for at least some rain, wind, and some very cold nights and mornings. At high altitudes, nighttime temperatures can drop to 30°F! A dusting of snow is not uncommon here at this northern latitude, even in the summer.
Roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often very bumpy and dusty. In most cases, travel on these roads will be done in Toyota Land Cruisers, which are reasonably comfortable.
Mongolia is an exciting destination, and while tourism is growing rapidly, the infrastructure remains limited. The country is modernizing quickly from its Soviet-era standards, but they are not yet up to the level of many countries (particularly felt by travelers on the bumpy roads!). Roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often very bumpy and dusty. Travel on these roads might be done in Russian four-wheel drive vans, which are not up to western SUV standards, but are reasonably comfortable. Essential requirements for travel in Mongolia are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity, enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Client Testimonials
"The trip was wonderful! From the Lake to the Nadaam Festival to the steppes and the Gobi I felt we were given an insight to a fascinating country. "
Diane F.
Eagle Bay, NY
"A comprehensive journey into Mongolian culture, with absolutely delightful guides. The high level of amenities did not go unnoticed: food was very good and far more varied than we'd expected, and the accommodations were incredible! The hotel is 5-star, and even the ger camps were remarkably luxurious—we did not anticipate showers and western restrooms in remote camps, but they provided these and many more creature comforts."
Scott S.
Freestone, CA
"I loved this adventure. It allowed me to learn a great deal about Mongolia, which is an even more fascinating country than I expected. I especially appreciated the opportunities to meet with local people, who were remarkably warm and welcoming."
Terry A.
New York, NY
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.