NAADAM FESTIVAL IN MONGOLIA
A cultural tour of Mongolia

Unforgettable experiences of the landscapes and cultures of Mongolia. Experience Mongolia’s century old Naadam Festival-wrestling, archery and horse racing. Journey to visit the ruins of Karakorum, Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's 13th century capital and heart of the mighty Mongolian Empire and Okhon river Valley, cradle of Mongolian civilization. Explore the legendary “Flaming Cliffs” in Gobi desert, where in 1922 explorer Roy Chapman Andrews made his spectacular finds of dinosaur fossils.

Day 1 Arrive Ulaanbaatar. June 29, 2010
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Khan Palace Hotel (2 nights)

Day 2 Terelj NP. June 30, 2010
After breakfast drive to Terelj national park, 80km northeast of city. Spend the day touring the area and enjoying the magnificent alpine scenery. There are great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing and horse riding. You can visit to nomad family and explore the unique lifestyle and horse riding. Return back to the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Ulaanbaatar/Middle Gobi. July 01, 2010
After an early breakfast leave UB. On the way to the Gobi visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu Lake and the ruins of Sum Khukh Burd Temple. Overnight in traditional Mongolian gers at our Middle Gobi camp. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Tsagaan suvarga. July 02, 2010
After breakfast we head to Tsagaan suvarga about 30 m tall, strangely shaped, white limestone rock formation. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in the ger camp. (B, L, D)

Day 5 South Gobi/Eagle Valley. July 03, 2010
Breakfast at the camp. Full day excursion to Yol Valley (Eagle Valley) National Park for hiking and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape. Picnic lunch in the Yoliin Am National Park. Spend the afternoon hiking or relaxing. Return to the camp and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 6 South Gobi/Bayanzag. July 04, 2010
Early breakfast at the camp. Start the drive towards Karakorum. On the way explore the world famous Flaming Cliffs (Bayan Zag), the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetary and the trail of paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Visit local camel breeding family and short camel riding. Dinner and overnight in the ger camp near Flaming cliffs. (B, L, D)

Day 7 South Gobi/Ongyn Khiid. July 05, 2010
After breakfast drive to north. Stop for the night in a ger camp near Ongyn Khiid. Visit local small temple museum. Dinner and overnight in the ger camp. (B, L, D)

Day 8. Karakorum. Breakfast at our ger camp. July 06, 2010
Continue driving to Karakorum. Arrive at Karakorum in the afternoon. Archery competition.
Overnight at our ger camp. (B, L, D)

Day 9. Erdene-Zuu. July 07, 2010
Early breakfast at the camp. Visit Erdene-Zuu, it was one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia and almost destroyed in the 1930s. Tour of the monastery grounds and several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. Drive to Tsenkher hot springs. Enjoy natural hot bath and foot massage at the ger camp. (B, L, D)

Day 10. Ogy nuur lake. July 08, 2010
Drive to Lake Ugiy in Arkhangai province. Bird watching by the lake shores and night rest at the ger camp located on the shore of the Ogy lake. (B, L, D)

Day 11. Hustain Nuruu Natural Reserve. July 09, 2010
After breakfast drive to Hustain Nuruu Natural Reserve 60 km. Drive deep into Ntural reserve to search for wild horse TAKI. Back to Hustai Nuruu camp, dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 12. Hustai Nuruu Natural reseve/Ulaanbaatar. July 10, 2010
Breakfast at the camp. Drive to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Khan Palace Hotel (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 13. Mongol Naadam. July 11, 2010
Attend opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival plus a Naadam Gala Dinner and Folk Concert in the evening. The highlight of the Mongolian festival calendar, the Naadam Festival dates back several centuries and takes place each year July 11-13. Originally a test of a nomad’s aptitude, it requires strength, stamina, accurate marksmanship and skillful horsemanship. Given the equine nature of nomadic life, much importance is placed on the horse races. Drawing herdsman from hundreds of miles around, races are staged on the vast steppes covering distances of up to 20 miles. We highly recommend booking early for our Naadam Festival departure. Festive gala diner.
Overnight at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Depart Ulaanbaatar July 12, 2010
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for departure. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures June 29
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar with hotel taxes Any airfares & Departure taxes Meal Plan as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Insurance / Visa Fees All ground transfers & sightseeing mentioned with local English speaking guide Beverages / Tips Entrance Fees to Museums and Sites
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 2860 US $ 480 * Please note that ger styled tourist camps are based on 4 persons sharing.
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1800 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 2000
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 04 and a maximum of 20 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.