This special tour is designed to bring you into the colorful event of the year letting you to discover a lifestyle, arts and music that reflect the true national identity and culture of Mongolian people. While touring in the Mongolia‘s heartland - a classic landscape of rolling hills, steppe, grasslands and mountain forests, you will enjoy the uniqueness of the nature and the peaceful lifestyle of nomads. Held annually between July 11-13, the great Naadam festival is thrilling three-day sporting event that has been happening for centuries since Chingis Khaan time. Now it formally commemorates the 1921 revolution when Mongolia declared itself a free country. The festival highlights Mongolia’s “three manly sports”- horseracing, wrestling and archery. Naadam festival brings together country’s sporting men and women from the remotest regions to compete at the national level in capital city. It is also celebration of common people- herders who ride into town and urbanities who leave their flats and offices to watch the games- gathering where they have opportunity to participate in the events, to barter, mix, sing and enjoy life to the full. 11 days/10 nights 3 nights in hotel 7 nights in tourist camps Total distance by land – 1500 km Highlights : Colorful event of the year- Naadam festival Ancient monasteries Natural hot spa Wonderful nature scenery, and wildlife

Mongolian Wrestling Horse racing Game Archer

ITINERARY:

July 3. Arrival. Transfer to the hotel. City sightseeing with visits to Gandan monastery and Bogd Khaan winter Palace museum. Hotel.

July 4. Drive to Amarbaysgalant monastery. The Amarbayasgalant Monastery, the monastery of Tranguil Felicity, is located 360km north of Ulaanbaatar and is one of the favorite destinations for visitors.

Built between 1727 and 1736, it is once of the very few monastery to have partly escaped the destruction of 1937, affer which only the buildings of the central section remained.The monastery was originaly built to house the remains of Zanabazar. On the western and eastern side of this courtyard were two identical halls, the Bell and Drum Towers, and to the north stood the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the guardians of the four directions. Past that, one came to second gourtyard with the Tsogchin Dugan, the main hall, set on a terrace, and flanked on either side by hexagonal pavilions, called the Halls of History.

July 5.Overnight at the basins of Orkhon river. Visit Nomad family. Family stay.

July 6. Arrive at the Ogii lake – a lake of 27 sq.m of area. The lake offers charming view extending for a far horizons. The lake abounds various types of fish and birds, which creates a wonderful natural beauty, a place of complete tranquility. Tented camp or tourist ger camp.

July 7. Tsetserleg town – center of Arkhangai province which is one of the most beautiful Mongolia’s provinces, with mountains, cliffs, fast-flowing rivers and lush green forests. Peaks of the Khangai mountain range are seen in the south and Bulgan mountain rises sharply to the north. Visit local museum Zayiin khuree temple museum for interesting local exhibits and buddhist art works. Arrive at the Tsenkher hot -spa late afteroon and have relax hours at the resort. Tourist ger camp or tented camp.

July 8. Arrive at the Kharkhorin – the ancient capital and one of the important sites of Mongolian history and culture. From here the Chinggis khan and his sons ruled the Great Mongolian Empire during XIII century, and it was a political and trade center through which passed legendary Silk Road, the main commerce network of whole Eurasia. Visit to Erdene Zuu monastery built on the ruins of Kharkhorin city in XVI century. Drop local market of traditional artworks and antique items. Tourist camp or Tented camp.

July 9. Bayangobi - lovely area presenting the contrast of Mongolian nature - small sand dunes, open valleys, green hills and extending mountain ranges which are seen in far horizons. Walking in the vicinity areas. Tourist ger camp or tented camp.

July 10. We will head back to Ulaanbaatar and have overnight stay at the Hustai National Park - unique landscape that features mountain steppeland. The one and only species of wild horse, the Takhi (Prjewalski horse), which was discovered at the end of the XIX century, is being reintroduced to Mongolia in Hustai Park during last 10 years. Now the number of Takhi horses has reached up about 200. We will have an opportunity to watch Takhi wild horses at the pasture site and other wildlife within this magnificient natural park. Tourist ger camp or Tented camp.

July 11-12. Early morning depart to Ulaanbaatar for colorful ceremony of Naadam festival opening in the central stadium. Attend festival activities: horse race, archery and traditional wrestling competition. We will go for a amazing performance of traditional folk song and dance. Have a visit to State department store for a beautiful souvenirs and mongolian natural products. Farewell dinner. Hotel.

July 13. Transfer to the Airport and Depart Ulaanbaatar.