A 14-day small-group journey for up to 12 travellers, from the Gobi's Flaming Cliffs and Khongor Sand Dunes to the ancient ruins of Kharkhorin and the authentic Naadam Festival celebrated in the Mongolian countryside.
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Ask travellers why they want to visit Mongolia and often you will be told that it is to experience the world famous Naadam Festival which takes place every July. Indeed, it is an incredible festival and an excellent time to visit the country. But rather than enjoying Naadam in Ulaan Baatar, which can be overcrowded and touristy, we will travel instead to the countryside where the real flavour of this epic event can be experienced and enjoyed with the local people. The Naadam is one of several ancient festivals that define Mongolian culture and draw travellers from around the world. On this tour we will visit the cultural city of Ulaan Baatar before travelling south to the Gobi. Head to the Khongor sand dunes, the tallest dunes in Mongolia before discovering the flaming cliffs of Bayanzag, where dinosaur eggs were found in 1922 by Roy Chapman Andrews. Make our way north to the Ongi Monastery before heading to the town of Arvaikheer located on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. Here you will experience an authentic Naadam Festival, away from the crowds. Finally, your adventure ends with a visit to Hustai National Park which is home to the only truly wild horses on earth, the Takhi horse.
Mongolia – Naadam Festival
Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.
The highlights
Experience Mongolia's most celebrated national event in a genuinely local setting — attending the Naadam Festival's opening ceremony in Arvaikheer rather than the capital, with horse racing, wrestling, and archery unfolding across the open steppe in an atmosphere untouched by mass tourism.
Traverse the vast southern Gobi from the dramatic White Stupa cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga to the 40km-long Yol Gorge, the sweeping Khongor Sand Dunes — whose sands emit an eerie singing sound in the wind — and the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag, one of the world's most significant dinosaur fossil sites.
Follow Mongolia's spiritual and imperial heritage from the evocative twin-complex ruins of Ongi Monastery to Kharkhorin — the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire — and the walled sanctuary of Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the country.
Begin and end in Mongolia's vibrant capital, visiting the Chinggis Khaan Museum and the towering 45-metre equestrian statue, before returning via Hustai National Park — home to the rare Przewalski's horse, the last truly wild horse breed in the world.
Trip highlights for Mongolia – Naadam Festival
Full itinerary · 14 days
Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.
Our departures are guaranteed to run. We never cancel a confirmed tour.
| Departs | Returns | Status | Price pp | Single supp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2027 | 13 Jul 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,045 | +£450 | Book now |
Every one of our Mongolia journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before travelling, consult the latest UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mongolia. Mongolia is a safe destination for travellers; basic precautions against petty crime in Ulaanbaatar apply. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance.
Reviews from ninety-plus small-group adventures worldwide, written by the people who took them.
Make Mongolia – Naadam Festival your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Mongolia specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
Common questions
Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.
Yes, solo travellers are welcome on every small-group tour. A private single room is offered on every trip, with the single-room supplement listed alongside the departure price. If you’d rather share, you can opt for a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. Around 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you’ll be in good company.
Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.
The next available departures are 30 June 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.
Yes. Departures marked Guaranteed on this page run whether one traveller books or twelve. We never cancel a confirmed tour for lack of numbers, so you can book flights and time off around it with confidence.
Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
This tour visits Mongolia. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.
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