The Nomads Day Festival
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This wonderful festival takes place at ” Steppe Nomads” tourist camp in the land of the rarewildlife “Gun-Galuut” nature reserve in the Bayandelger sum of Tuv province.
- Travel destinations: Ulaanbaatar – Gun Galuut Nature Reserve – Terelj National Park – Ulaanbaatar
- Activities: Visit event and cultural sites, exploring varied natural landscape
- Duration: 4nights / 5days
- Covering distance: 460km
- Season: September
17 Sep Day 1
We will pick you up from your hotel and travel to Gun Galuut Nature reserve which will take 130kms to reach. We’re going to stay in the nature reserve area enjoying the “Nomads Day” festival total of two days. In this day you will enjoy & attend first part of this fantastic event that includes the programs with nomadic herders.
Opening ceremony of the festival: “The Nomads Day” – competition among the local nomads:
local nomadic groups will proudly demonstrate the major 10 customs of nomadic lifestyle to the visitors as a competition. Each group consists of 5 members: 2 men, 2 ladies and a child aged between 6-10. The tasks include loading a ger (yurt-nomadic felt dwelling) on yak cart, camel or other means of nomadic transport, assembling the Ger in the shortest time (Minimum 21 minutes), placing all furniture in the Gers and make traditional milk tea (minimum 3 minutes) and treat the visitors with it, guys will be grabbing lasso from the ground while galloping at full speed on a horseback, catching a wild horses and taming them, kids will be competing with their mental capacities playing nomadic games and many more. You will truly enjoy this spectacular competition.
“Metropolitan guys” competition between the tourists:
The visitors will compete in groups and do different nomadic customs like disassembling a ger in the shortest time, making a milk tea and many more. This competition leaves the tourists with a lifetime vivid memories providing them with the opportunity to experience nomadic way of life and Mongolian culture by doing nomads’ daily works.
“Melodies from the Steppes” folklore competition: Local Mongol nomads & their little children will be happy to present the wonders of Mongolian traditional folklore to the guests. They compete in groups and each group is given 15 minutes to perform according to the confirmed tasks. The concert includes: the inspiring throat singing, beautiful traditional dances, traditional Mongolian long and short songs, the incredible contortionism, beautiful Mongolian and world classic music performed by traditional Mongolian musical instruments like the Horse Head Fiddle, Harp, Flute and many more to enjoy. You will be staying overnight in ger camp located in the Nature reserve. LD
18 Sep Day 2 Second day festival
Start your day with hearty breakfast at the ger camp restaurant and attend the festival. Today’s program includes: “Smiles of Mongolia” Contest of beautiful rider couples: This contest allows you to see the beauty of the Mongol people, their extensive knowledge on their history, nomadic traditions and lifestyle, their marvelous traditional costume. Couples have to be between age of 18-32. Each couple has to do several tasks like the guys have count the “32 white bottles” without inhaling, ladies make small embroidery, both have to answer questions about Mongolian history, religion and the culture. Also each couple has to ride the same colors of horses. It’s customary in Mongolian traditions that the couples wear the same color outfit to show that they love each other. The most dazzling couple with a cool Mongolian dress will gain 1/3 points.
“Shuvuun Saaral”or a Mini Naadam Festival: The nomads will be happy to share their most regarded celebration “Naadam” with the guests. The visitors will witness the fantastic 3 games of the Mongols which is also called “Three Manly Games: Horse racing, Archery and Wrestling”. Admire their strength and skills. For horse racing 6 year old horses will compete and the racing distance is 20km. 16 wrestlers will battle for the dominance. 6 male and 4 female archers will compete individually and in groups. Men shoot from 75metres and ladies shoot from 65metres each using 40 arrows. ”Delicacies for Chinggis” gala dinner – bonfire party: Participants will enjoy the best of nomadic traditional cuisine enriched with some Western tastes. They have the opportunity to see the preparation of nomadic dishes while learning the Mongolian traditional celebrations and festivities. Various types of steppe beverages will make your evening more joyful! You will be staying overnight in ger camp located in the Nature reserve. BLD
19 Sep Day 3 Visit around the area
This day we will explore the area while trekking (or horseback riding) and look for Argali or a wild mountain sheep. There are about 100 Argali live in this beautiful area, the harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands all situated in one location. Visit a nomad family and taste traditional dairy products like aaruul or dried curds, Mongolian salty milk tea or suutei tsai, Mongolian biscuit or boortsog and so on. You can talk with nomad people and get more familiar with their nature loved unique lifestyle. You will be staying overnight in a ger camp. BLD
20 Sep Day 4 Travel to Chinggis Khan’s Statue complex & Travel to Terelj National Park
Today we will travel to Statue Complex of Chinggis Khaan-Millennium Man, who established the biggest land empire in the world. Visit the complex and enjoy the surrounding area and mountains from the top of the statue. Then we will continue travel to Terelj National park which will take 30kms to reach. We’ll be having a lunch in ger camp. After the lunch we will visit Ariyaval temple and the Turtle rock. You will be staying overnight in ger camp. BLD
21 Sep Day 5 Travel back to Ulaanbaatar & Farewell dinner
We will travel back to Ulaanbaatar for 70kms which we will transfer to your hotel. End of the service. B
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Included: All activities described in the itinerary, stay Ger camp (4 nights), English speaking guide service, mineral (bottled) water for 1.5L per person per day, Festival fee, sightseeing cost and entrance fee to Protected Area, all transfers by bus in the city and in the countryside. Meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner as mentioned per day itinerary.
Excluded: International transportation to and from Mongolia, hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, tips and gratuities, laundry and items of a personal nature.
Note:
• We are happy to arrange your hotel and transfers in Ulaanbaatar, private car transportation to our destinations at discounted rate.
• International and domestic flight and train tickets would be arranged due to the clients’ requests and wishes with our pleasures.
• City sightseeing tours are offered as optional.
• Private departures are available on request.