ICE & CAMEL FESTIVAL

Mongolia's two-humped Bactrian camel is nicknamed by local people "Living Dinosaur". It inhabits the Gobi desert in the southern part of Mongolia. Because the camel is an indispensable part of life for nomadic herdsmen, a local association of camel herders organizes this gathering of camels and their breeders each year to promote continued breeding of the Bactrian camel and to educate both Mongolians and foreigners on the importance of the camel in the Mongolian way of life. The Thousand Camel Festival is a celebration of the Bacterian two-humped Camel and the important role they play in the survival of the nomadic people of the Gobi.

Day1. Ulaanbaatar. FEB28

Day 2. Murun-Khuvsgul lake. MAR01.

Day 3. Ice Festival day. MAR02

Day 4. Ice Festival day. MAR03

Day 5. Ulaanbaatar. MAR04.

Day 6. South Gobi. MAR05.

Day 7. Bulgan soum MAR06.

Day 8. Bulgan soum MAR07

Day 9. Ulaanbaatar MAR08.

Day 10. Departures MAR09.

Day1. Ulaanbaatar. FEB28 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to hotel and start city tour in Ulaanbaatar, the nation’s capital, visit Chinggis square, Zaisan Hill; Museum of National History, famous for its exhibition for Stone and Bronze Age, Turkic and Mongol Empire, rise of Buddhism and communist regime, Gandan Monastery a centre of Mongolian Buddhism. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. Murun-Khuvsgul lake. MAR01. Early morning, we will transfer to the airport and take a flight to Murun a provincial capital of Khuvsgul. The flight takes one and a half hours and lunch at Murun, we will drive to Huvsgul lake. Overnight in ger camp.

Day 3. Ice Festival day. MAR02. After breakfast, we will attend Ice festival which on the Khuvsgul lake including opening ceremony, international open air ice skating, traditional performance of local singers and dancers. We can experience competition of horses’ sleighs for 12kms driven by local nomads and traditional game “Ice- Shagai”, competition of skilled drivers on the ice and contest for traditional costume among participants. In the evening, we will see shamanistic practice and bonfire. Overnight in ger camp.

Day 4. Ice Festival day. MAR03. Today is a second day for Ice Festival. We will see competition of skaters for short distances and sumo wrestling on the ice and rope pulling competition. We will enjoy horse sleigh or dog sled, horse riding and visiting nomadic family in the area. Late afternoon, the winners are announced and awarded. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 5. Ulaanbaatar. MAR04. After breakfast, we will drive back to Murun and take return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Free afternoon for rest and relax. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. South Gobi. MAR05. After breakfast you will be transfered to the airport for the morning flight to Dalanzadgad, capital of the Southern Gobi province (1.5 hours). Upon arrival, drive to tourist camp. In the afternoon, we will drive to the world famous Flaming Cliffs Bayan Zag. We will explore the trails of American paleontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews who discovered dinosaur fossils including a nest of fossilized dinosaur’s eggs in 1920. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 7. Bulgan soum MAR06. The Camel festival begins in Bulgan soum with a parade of camel riders. Competitions of the day include “best looking couple on camelback”, most adorable male and female camels and camel polo which take a place in the central square. There is an exhibition of paintings by local children who participate in the drawing contest called “Camel is My Friend”. Overnight in tourist camp.

Day 8. Bulgan soum MAR07. Today is a race day for camels. The competition begins with a race of mature camels followed by the racing of the two-year-old camels. The first three camels in each group are awarded the gold, silver and bronze medals. In the afternoon, we will see the camel relay a competition consisting of catching, taming, training and loading a camel with an actual ger. There are several groups with five members, each of which have different roles in the contest. The closing ceremony takes place late in the afternoon when the winners will be presented with their trophies. Overnight in the tourist camp.

Day 9. Ulaanbaatar MAR08. After breakfast, we will drive back to Dalanzadgad and take return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Free afternoon for rest and relax. Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10. Ulaanbaatar MAR09. Breakfast at the hotel. Our winter estival experience in Mongolia ends here by transferring to the airport.