Mongolia: Naadam Festival (Self-Launched)
4 days · Mongolia
G Adventures charges £1,080
No-markup version: ~£185 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 4-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Naadam Festival trip, based in Ulaanbaatar. Book Naadam stadium tickets yourself, wander the festival grounds for wrestling, archery and horse racing, meet local youth at Cafe No Limits, then day-trip to the giant Chinggis Khan statue and Gorkhi Terelj National Park by shared taxi or local bus. Stay in Ulaanbaatar guesthouses/hostels and eat at local canteens. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Arrive at any time into Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Take the official airport shuttle or a metered taxi into the city centre (~5,000-30,000 MNT / £1.50-9 depending on mode). Check into a downtown guesthouse or hostel near Sukhbaatar Square. In the evening, walk the square and pick up Naadam Festival program schedules from the tourist information office. Stock up on cash (MNT) — many small vendors are cash-only. Optional cheap dinner of buuz (steamed dumplings) or khuushuur (fried meat pastries) at a local canteen (~£3-5).
🚌Airport shuttle or metered taxi to city centre
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in central Ulaanbaatar (dorm ~£8-14, private double ~£25-35)
- →Sukhbaatar Square orientation walk
- →Collect Naadam Festival programme and confirm ticket pickup
- →Local dumpling dinner
Naadam opening ceremony + three manly sports + Cafe No Limits
Ulaanbaatar
Attend the Naadam opening ceremony at the National Sports Stadium — buy your own stadium ticket in advance (roughly 15,000-50,000 MNT / £4-14 per session) or via a local operator. Watch wrestling, archery and the colourful opening parade. Afterwards visit Cafe No Limits for coffee, tea and snacks served by young people with Down Syndrome and their mothers (a small purchase supports the project). Afternoon is free to roam the festival grounds; in the evening optionally catch a folk music/dance performance or fireworks around Central Square.
🚌Walking and short local bus/metro-free city; taxis for stadium hops (~£1-2)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in central Ulaanbaatar
- →Naadam opening ceremony (self-booked stadium ticket)
- →Wrestling, archery and horse race events
- →Cafe No Limits visit
- →Optional evening cultural performance/fireworks
Horse race finish line + wrestling finals + closing ceremony
Ulaanbaatar (Khui Doloon Khudag steppe)
Head out early to the horse race finish line on the steppe at Khui Doloon Khudag — arrange a shared taxi/private driver for the day (~£15-25 split between 2-4 people) as public transport is limited during Naadam. Watch the young jockeys finish the 15-30 km race. Return to the city for the wrestling finals, then attend the Naadam closing ceremony at the National Sports Stadium. Buy a separate stadium session ticket for the closing ceremony (~£4-14).
🚌Shared taxi / hired car to race finish line and back; walking + taxi in the city
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in central Ulaanbaatar
- →Naadam horse race finish line on the steppe
- →Mongolian wrestling finals
- →Naadam closing ceremony
Chinggis Khan statue + Gorkhi Terelj National Park + ger camp lunch
Terelj National Park / Ulaanbaatar
Hire a shared car/driver for a full-day loop to the giant Chinggis Khan Statue complex (~£12 entry) and on to Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Visit Turtle Rock and the Aryapala Meditation Temple to learn about Mongolian Buddhism (small park/entry fees). Have a traditional Mongolian lunch at a ger camp (~£8-12). Return to Ulaanbaatar in the early evening — trip ends on arrival back at your hotel.
🚌Shared hired car/driver for the day (day hire ~£50-80 split between passengers)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in central Ulaanbaatar (or depart same day)
- →Chinggis Khan Statue complex + visitors centre
- →Gorkhi Terelj National Park (Turtle Rock, Meditation Temple)
- →Traditional lunch at a ger camp
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£185 | £1,080 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £895 per person (83%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£185
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mongolia: Naadam Festival (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £185 per person for 4 days in Mongolia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,080 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £185 — a saving of roughly £895 (83%) per person.
How long is the Mongolia trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Mongolia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, festivals, budget trip through Mongolia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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