Mongolia: The Thousand Camel Festival
- Expedition Type [ Desert Expeditions ]
- Difficulty [ Moderate ]
- Activities [ Bicycling, Camel Riding, Hiking ]
- Duration [ 7 Days ]
Expedition Timeline
Deep in the heart of the Gobi Desert, the Thousand Camel Festival is as much a tribute to the hardy animal as it is a celebration of Mongolia's legendary nomadic lifestyle. Learn about the desert's most important paleontological discoveries in Ulaan Baatar's Museum of Natural History, and fly to the heart of the Gobi's Lonkh Valley to hike through a stunning mountain terrain. Then head for Bulgan Soum and the festival, where you spend two days amid ornately decorated camels, watching races, playing polo and taking in the flurry of traditional music and dance that has remained unchanged for generations.
- Day 1
Arrive Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Today arrive in Mongolia’s capital, where traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries coexist with modern highrises. Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit The Museum of Natural History for insight into Mongolia’s natural riches. Especially fascinating is the dinosaur hall, which showcases spectacular fossils found in the Gobi Desert, including of the fierce tarbosaurus, a five-ton carnivore closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex, and petrified dinosaur eggs. Later this evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.
Chinggis Khaan Hotel [ D ]- Day 2
Ulaan Baatar/Gobi/Lonkh Valley
Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Dalanzadgad, the capital of Mongolia’s southernmost province, located in a semi-arid desert. The Gobi Desert is surprisingly a geographically diverse and fascinating region, a vast expanse covered in shifting yellow sands or snow, depending on the season. Some of the 20th century’s most important paleontological discoveries have been found in the Gobi. Upon arrival, driver through the remote landscape to the Lonkh Valley of Gurvan Saikhan National Park for a hike into the surrounding mountains. Gurvan Saikhan is a heady mix of sand dunes, ice-bottom canyons and breathtaking mountains, as well as 200 bird species and about 600 types of plants. After your energizing hike, drive to a ger near a nomadic family, your home for the next two nights.
Ger Family [ B L D ]- Day 3
Lonkh Valley
After breakfast, take your day-pack and starting to trek up Gobi Altai Mountain, which reaches heights of 6,000 to 7,000 feet. The challenging hike takes you through stunning montane terrain inhabited by rare wildlife, such as argali (mountain sheep) and ibex. After descending, return to your ger for dinner.
Ger Family [ B L D ]- Day 4
Bulgan Soum/Thousand Camel Festival/Flaming Cliffs
After breakfast, travel overland to Bulgan Soum to attend the opening ceremony of the Thousand Camel Festival. The lively, raucous festival — in the midst of the striking Gobi Desert scenery — is a celebration of the endangered two-humped Bactrian camel, an important element of the regional nomad lifestyle. Marvel at the colorfully decked out camels as they parade past or during the day’s many activities, including competitions for best-looking animals and a camelback polo match in the central square. You may even join the game, or ride a camel during the parade. Afterward, travel to the Flaming Cliffs, so named for the orange glow of the rocks at sunset. It was here in 1923 that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his team from the American Museum of Natural History discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. To the trained eye, the red sandstone of the Flaming Cliffs is rich in dinosaur fossils, and paleontological expeditions continue to make discoveries at this site. Explore the area by camelback before driving on to your award-winning lodge.
Three Camel Lodge [ B L D ]- Day 5
Thousand Camel Festival
Return to the Thousand Camel Festival to catch the thrilling camel race and competitions among local camel herders. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional music and folk dance performance by Altai Snowcock, a local youth group involved in the preservation and conservation of the surrounding area.
Three Camel Lodge [ B L D ]- Day 6
Ulaan Baatar
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Ulaan Baatar. Later this afternoon, visit the National Museum of Mongolia for an excellent overview of the country’s history and culture. The newly remodeled museum showcases early tools used in daily nomadic life, including Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, traditional clothing of Mongolia’s minority tribes, sacred religious relics, and agricultural, fishing, and hunting equipment. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner.
Chinggis Khaan Hotel [ B L D ]- Day 7
Depart Ulaan Baatar
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.
[ B ]
Departure Dates & Pricing
Prices are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy. Alternate Departure Dates can be arranged. Prices are subject to change.