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Naadam Festival in Central Mongolia 06-14 July 2008 |
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The highlight of this tour in Central Mongolia is
the annual Naadam Festival. This sporting
event takes place in very city, town and village
across the country, and includes horse racing,
wrestling and archery competitions.
Locals from miles around come and join in the festival,
all on horseback and wearing their best clothes,
to enjoy the carnival like atmosphere. We will see
Naadam in the town of Tsetserleg, capital of Arkhangai province.
Besides the festival, this tour offers opportunities
to see the varied and beautiful landscapes of
Central Mongolia: mountains, desert,
steppe and forest. You will meet
local nomadic families and witness their ancient
lifestyle, and you can choose to fish, swim or
ride horses.
In the forest on the edge of the Khangai mountains,
hot mineral springs spout from the earth,
and the water has been piped into lovely outdoor
baths where one can relax and enjoy this unusual
location. The surrounding hills are inhabited
by nomadic families with their herds of yaks and
horses, and during the summer months the wild
flowers are gorgeous. You will spend time here
hiking in the mountains, or riding horses,
or simply relaxing.
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Our
Tour Grading |
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This walking
holiday in Mongolia is suitable for people of any
fitness or ability, as you can choose when or if
you go walking every day. In between the festival,
visiting the monastery and hot springs, there will
be time to do some hiking in the surrounding area.
All nights are spent at ger camps, which are located
in some of the most beautiful areas of Mongolia.
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Itinerary
2008
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06 July
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Arrive Ulaanbaatar.
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07 July
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Jeep to Khogno Khan. Hike
on the mountain.
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08 July
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Jeep to Kharkhorin. Visit
Buddhist monastery.
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09 July
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Jeep to hot mineral springs.
Visit nomadic family.
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10 July
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Hiking or horse riding in the mountains.
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11 July
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Join Naadam Festival. Jeep to Ikh Tamir.
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12 July
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Jeep to "Little Gobi". Ride camels in the desert.
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13 July
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Return to Ulaanbaatar.
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14 July
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Depart.
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Wrestling
is one of the three manly sports taking place
during the annual Naadam festival. Champions are
national heroes
and are given the title of "falcon",
"elephant",
"lion"
or "Titan" according to how many rounds
they win. There are no weight categories, nor
time restrictions, and several pairs of wrestlers
compete
at the same time. Winners makes peace with their
loser, then parade around a flag on a pedestal,
imitating a garuda
bird. Mongolian wrestling is not unlike Japanese
sumo wrestling,
and indeed several Mongolians have reached the
highest level in sumo.
