Naadam Festival & Mystical Reindeer Herders
About this tour
Travelling through the northern regions of Mongolia will amaze you with its breathtaking alpine landscapes, unique Darkhad nomads’ warm hospitality, their peaceful way of nomadic life, and a hidden gem in the far northern Taiga – the Reindeer herders’ home, and their idiosyncratic traditions. This is the ideal place to escape from modern crowds and get off the beaten track.
On this tour, you will visit Ulaanbaatar city’s key spots about nomadic history, tradition, culture & their religion, and get involved in one of the world’s most colourful yet meaningful festivals, the Naadam Festival. Then head off from the modern-day crowds into a beautiful Darkhad valley between crystal clear lakes and streams, surrounded by steep sumptuous Khoridol Saridag Mountains. Meet there a nomadic family, spend days with nomads, experience their way of life, and do two-day horse trekking to the hidden gem Taiga forest to find and meet Reindeer herders and to visit a shaman. Join in this small group journey and escape to the modern-day wilderness here in Mongolia.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar city, our driver and English-speaking guide will pick you up from the airport and be transferred to your hotel in downtown. After you settled in, we will start a sightseeing tour including a visit to Sukhbaatar’s square. The Square is in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, in front of the Mongolian Parliament House. Across from the central square, we will visit the National Museum of Mongolia, the biggest museum with over 54000 exhibitions from the prehistoric period till the 21st century. Our next stop will be the Gandan Monastery. The monastery is the largest and most significant Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar city with over 200 years old. If time permits, we will visit Zaisan Hill memorial, the hill provides a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Naadam Center, Улаанбаатар, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up and head to the opening ceremony of the Naadam festival. The ceremony features traditional cultural and art performances including folk dancing, folk long song, throat singing, folk musical performances, a national army parade and more… After the opening, we will watch the first round of the Naadam’s wrestling, Naadam’s Archery, and anklebone shooting competition held nearby the central stadium. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 3: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Khui Doloon Khudag, Mongolia
After breakfast, we will drive outside of Ulaanbaatar to Khui Doloon Khudag a place where the Naadam’s horse racing takes place. Be ready for the real experience and see how passionate the locals are when the racing horses rush into the finish line. Horses are symbolic animals that we have been breeding for thousands of years. Racing horses are divided into 6 age divisions and you will see 1 or 2 divisions today. In the evening, we will visit the Bogd Khan’s Palace Museum to see a traditional performance of Tsam dancing and folk concert.
Day 4: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Murun, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up from your hotel, and afford you to the airport for a domestic flight to Murun, a provincial town of Northern Mongolia. After you arrive in Murun, our local driver will pick you up from Murun airport with his guaranteed 4WD vehicle and drive to a nomadic family in Tsagaan Nuur soum, the northernmost soum of Mongolia. En route to the nomadic family, you will enjoy the stunning backdrop as you drive around 6 hours north, towards the breathtaking alpine-like scene. Once we reach the home of a nomadic family, you have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle including how they milk cows, how they take care of their herds in the vast pasture land, and also you will get a chance to try what nomadic people do in their daily life. Overnight in a ger with a nomadic family.
Day 5: Zuulun, Mongolia to Ulaan Taiga, Mongolia
Today we will have breakfast with a nomadic family, then load our luggage on a horseback, and head to the Taiga forest by horseback riding, which is the only way to reach Taiga. After approximately 6 hours of horseback riding, we will reach the Taiga forest, and meet the Reindeer herders’ family. En route to the Taiga, we will cross rivers, muddy mountains, and dense forest covered steep mountains. Once we reach there, we will meet one of the reindeer herders’ families and learn about their life in the Taiga region. Overnight in a teepee in the Northern Mongolian Taiga.
Day 6: Ulaan Taiga, Mongolia
Today is a free day in the Taiga Forest with the Tsaatan Family. Today we will be a part of the Tsaatan family by having breakfast with the Tsaatan family, talking with the family members, helping them to do their daily routine, helping them to herd their reindeer, wandering through the boreal forest and photographing, experiencing the real wilderness and experiencing the Tsaatan people’s everyday way of life. The Tsaatan people do ride their reindeer but this is not for tourism entertainment and we do not promote it to our guests. As our animal welfare policy, reindeer should not carry more than half their body weight, and we should consider our body weight. However, at times our guests are invited to ride on a reindeer at the invitation of the owner of the reindeer. It is not something we pre-arrange as we do not arrange any artificial experiences as they damage the culture, the way of life and the animals. Often the Tsaatan people sell items made from the reindeer antlers but they are careful to harvest only from healthy animals. We support the purchasing of these items as they do not endanger the survival of the reindeer and also help to contribute directly to the local economy.
Day 7: Ulaan Taiga, Mongolia to Zuulun, Mongolia
It is time to say goodbye to the reindeer and reindeer herders’ family and load our luggage on the horseback and head back to our vehicle in the Tsagaan Nuur soum for our next destination. At the end of the day, we will meet again the nomadic family and stay with the family once again. Overnight in a ger with the nomadic family in Northern Mongolia.
Day 8: Zuulun, Mongolia to Murun, Mongolia
Today we will drive back to Murun town to be prepared for our flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Once we arrive in the town, you have some time to explore this remote town of the Mongol Nomads.
Day 9: Murun, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Ulaanbaatar. We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon, and you have time for visiting the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops or relax in your hotel until dinner. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 10: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Sergelen, Mongolia
Today is the end of the “2022 Naadam Festival & The Mystical Reindeer Herders” tour. Our team will transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight. Have a nice trip back to your home and thank you for choosing us.
What's included
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia