Best of Mongolia & Naadam Festival
Beyond the festival, Mongolia's wild beauty unfolds at every turn. From the sweeping steppe to the vast Gobi Desert, meet nomadic families, uncover ancient sites from the time of Genghis Khan and spot wild horses at Khustai, soaking in the quiet wonder read more of one of the world's last great wildernesses.
Carefully crafted to combine ease with extraordinary experiences, you'll travel with an expert National Guide, sleep in premium gers and cross dramatic landscapes in comfortable 4WD vehicles.
Itinerary
Fly overnight to Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Start your explorations with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia. Here, observe the monk's morning chants and learn more about Mongolian Buddhism. Then head to the heart of the city to explore Sukhbaatar Square and view the fascinating exhibitions of the Chinggis Khaan Museum.
This evening, enjoy a lively folklore concert that features traditional songs, dances and music.
Leave the city and travel into the hinterland to discover the picturesque scenery of Terelj National Park. Start with a walk to the Temple of Meditation and around the iconic Turtle Rock working up an appetite for lunch at a ger camp. Pause at the impressive Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex before returning to Ulaanbaatar.
Transfer to the airport and fly to the Gobi Desert. Drive to the Yol Valley in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Take a scenic walk through Yoliin Am, a narrow gorge of ice formations and towering rocks. Overnight in a premium ger or hotel.
Drive through breathtaking desert landscapes, spotting camel herds and their herders as you go, to reach the spectacular Khongoryn Els, an area of towering sand dunes. Explore the dunes on foot, climbing to the top for panoramic views over the desert. Dine tonight under the vast and starry Gobi sky and relax in a premium ger camp for two nights.
Spend a full day exploring the beauty of Khongoryn Els, some of the world's most spectacular sand dunes. Take a short walk to admire the contrasts between the shifting sands and green oases and visit a nomadic camel herding family to learn about their way of life. Here, you can taste camel milk yogurt, a Gobi Desert delicacy. In the afternoon, discover the ‘singing' sand dunes.
Drive through magnificent landscapes to reach Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, to admire these red sandstone formations. Take a walk through the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery, keeping a look out for fossils, before a guided walk to discover more about the area's rich paleontological history. Overnight in a premium ger camp.
Set out across the stark scenery of the Gobi to Ongiin Khiid, a monastery sat on the banks of the Ongi River. Wander around the ruins of two historic monasteries which were once among the largest in Mongolia and take a walk around the site to learn more about the area's past. Spend the night by the river in a standard ger camp.
Drive across the steppe to Karakorum, a town on the Orkhon River. Explore the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the ruins of Genghis Khan's capital Karakorum and the fascinating Karakorum Museum. Spend two nights in a hotel.
This morning, visit Erdene Zuu in time to witness the monks doing their morning chants, a deeply resonant experience. Later, visit a nomadic family who will guide you through an airag (fermented mare's milk) tasting and show you how to prepare the traditional Mongolian barbeque dish, khorkhog.
Travel to Khustai National Park, home to Mongolia's famous takhi, or Przewalski's horse. Once extinct in the wild, this population of wild horses were reintroduced to their native habitat in the 1990s. Enjoy an early evening viewing of these majestic creatures before travelling on to your premium ger camp, set among the beauty of the rolling steppe.
This morning, enjoy a fun and fascinating show of nomadic culture at your ger camp, then drive back to Ulaanbaatar.
Travel to the Central Stadium where the highlight of your Mongolia adventure is about to begin! Mingle with locals and nomads as you watch the opening ceremony, with its procession of athletes, officials and monks before the games begin! Today, you can see archery, the first of the traditional three ‘manly sports', and ankle bone shooting competitions.
This morning, travel out to Khuin Doloon Khudag for the Naadam Festival horse racing – a thrilling set of long-distance endurance races across the open steppe. Return to the Central Stadium this afternoon for the Mongolian wrestling which, along with horse racing, makes up the three ‘manly sports' of the festival. Tonight, a farewell dinner offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on this once-in-a-lifetime experience with your fellow travellers.
Transfer to the airport. Fly to Australia, arriving home the following day.
Trip Inclusions
- Orkhon Valley: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Flaming Cliffs: Admire the striking red rocks of the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag
- Gobi Desert: Wander Mongolia's largest dunes at Khongoryn Els, stretching dramatically across the Gobi.
- Karakorum: Discover the former capital of the great Mongol Empire and Mongolia's oldest Buddhist monastery
- Wild Takhi of Khustai National Park: Venture into the sweeping plains of Khustai and watch as herds of rare Przewalski's horses, or takhi, roam the steppe. This remarkable conservation success offers a glimpse into Mongolia's untamed past.
- Sleep under the stars: Experience the nomadic lifestyle in comfort, sleeping in traditional ger camps with private en suite bathrooms, then unwind and recharge beneath the breathtaking, star-filled skies of the vast Mongolian steppes.
- Witness the Naadam Festival: Spend two days at the annual Naadam Festival, cheering on the participants alongside the crowds of locals, as they compete in the traditional 'Three Manly Skills' – wrestling, archery and horsemanship.
- Chinggis Khaan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (4 star): Located a 5-minute drive from the city centre, the 4-star Chinggis Khaan Hotel enjoys a quiet location in a primary residential area. All en-suite rooms are spacious and feature remote lighting controls, a minibar, cable TV, and a tea/coffee maker. The hotel also features an indoor swimming pool, massage and sauna services, karaoke rooms and a variety of superb dining options.
- Premium Ger Camps, Mongolia (3 star): We've included hand-picked camps with premium gers (locally referred to as "luxury") to ensure a more comfortable journey. Featuring private en-suite bathrooms and electric heating systems, our premium selections offer a higher level of comfort without losing their nomadic charm. Standard gers typically feature shared bathroom facilities and wood-burning heating. A standout example is Juulchin Terelj Resort, which offers a refined take on the classic Mongolian stay. Each ger is thoughtfully designed with private en-suite bathrooms, comfortable bedding, and tasteful furnishings that blend modern comfort with traditional style. Guests can also enjoy access to a sauna, spa, and star-gazing facilities, making it a peaceful and memorable retreat after a day of adventure.
- Standard Ger Camp, Ongii Hiid (2 star): Settle into your cosy standard ger, with access to clean and modern shared bathroom facilities, and enjoy the tranquility of life on the steppe.
- Ikh Khorum Hotel, Kharkhorin (4 star): Ikh Khorum is a comfortable 4-star base for exploring the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. Facilities include a restaurant serving Mongolian and international cuisine, a sauna, bar and lounge and free Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms are compact but well equipped, with en suite bathrooms and flat-screen TVs.
- Breakfasts: 14
- Lunches: 13
- Dinners: 14
- International flights and current taxes (unless a land only option is selected)
- Domestic transportation
- 4 star hotels plus premium gers & a standard ger
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
- Maximum group size of 18
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 May 2026. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount approximately US$110pp (2027), US$120pp (2028) is paid locally in Mongolia.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
Everything is taken care of including your flights, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees listed on your itinerary and all your meals. Read more
Wendy Wu include return international economy-class flights from Australia as part of their fully inclusive tours. Upgrades are available too! Read more
On all of our tours you will be escorted by a dedicated National Escort, tasked with the responsibility to keep you safe, happy, entertained and inspired. Read more
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Wendy Wu River Cruises & Tours (2026-27)
Dates & Pricing
Prices include air taxes and fuel surcharges, this amount is correct at time of brochure release and subject to change. Note air supplement may apply depending on airline availability and departure city. The majority of departures above will proceed or are guaranteed to depart (based on a minimum of 10 passengers). We will outline the status of your departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Wendy Wu. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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