MONGOLIA

Thousand Camel Festival

TOUR DATES : FEBRUARY 2 – 9, 2026

Ride into Legend: Winter’s Call to the Thousand Camel Festival

Venture into Mongolia’s winter Gobi for exclusive access to the Thousand Camel Festival. A rare chance to witness camel races, traditional performances, and the living culture of Gobi herders amid iconic landscapes like the Moltsog dunes and Flaming Cliffs.

Your journey begins in Ulaanbaatar with visits to Gandan Monastery and the Chinggis Khan Museum, offering a strong foundation in Mongolia’s history and spirituality. From here, fly south to the Gobi and settle into the award-winning Three Camel Lodge, your base for desert exploration in comfort.

Meet camel-herding families, ride Bactrian camels across the Moltsog sand dunes, and explore the Flaming Cliffs at sunset before immersing yourself in the Thousand Camel Festival. Enjoy two days of camel races, camel polo, ice archery, parades, and artisan culture. Enhanced by a private heated ger for warmth and exclusive access throughout the celebration.
DATES:
February 2-9, 2026
4-8 TRAVELERS
$7,800
9-14 TRAVELERS
$6,745
DOMESTIC AIRFARE
From $285 Per Person
(Dalanzadgad – Gobi)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
$1,725 per person
INQUIRE

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

Land Price Includes:

  • Ground transportation in Mongolia as described in the itinerary;
  • Transfers upon arrival and departure;
  • All accommodations based on double or twin occupancy (hotel rooms and gers);
  • Cessna Airfare (One-way from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad);
  • Meals as noted in itinerary;
  • Bottled/filtered water throughout the trip and soft drinks at meals;
  • All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary;
  • Extensive pre-departure Travel Guide, reading list, important information about your trip;
  • Bilingual Nomadic Expeditions guide throughout your stay.

Land Price Does Not Include:

  • International airfare; internal airfare is quoted separately and subject to change by airlines;
  • Tips to guides/drivers;
  • Passport and visa fees;
  • Comprehensive medical and trip insurance;
  • Airport taxes;
  • Excess baggage charges;
  • Photography and video fees;
  • Food and beverages not included in the group meals;
  • Items of a personal nature, including alcoholic beverages, laundry and telephone calls;
  • Other items not specifically mentioned as included.
Thousand Camel Festival

Itinerary

DOWNLOAD FULL ITINERARY
EXPLORE ULAANBAATAR
Days 1

Arrival and Exploration in Ulaanbaatar

Arrive in Mongolia’s capital, greeted by your private guide and driver. Explore the city’s blend of Buddhist traditions and modern life before settling in at the Shangri-La Hotel.

Day 2

Ulaanbaatar Cultural Immersion

Visit Gandan Monastery and the Chinggis Khan Museum for a deep dive into Mongolia’s spiritual and historical heritage. Afternoon at leisure with optional shopping or spa, followed by a welcome dinner.

MONGOLIA EXPLORATION With Michael Klecheski Former U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
DAYS 3

Flight to Three Camel Lodge, Gobi

Board a private Cessna to the Gobi Desert and check in at the award-winning lodge. Afternoon at leisure to explore lodge activities, from horseback riding to cultural lectures.

Days 4

Nomad Family & Desert Exploration

Visit a camel-herding family and learn traditional lifestyles. Ride across the Moltsog sand dunes, then explore the Flaming Cliffs, famous for dinosaur fossil discoveries, before returning to the lodge.

Days 5

Camel Festival Day One

Immerse in the opening day of the Thousand Camel Festival with camel polo, races, ice archery, and artisan fairs. Enjoy exclusive access to a private heated ger for breaks and meals.

Days 6

Camel Festival Day Two

Experience traditional Mongolian music, dance, and parades. Participate in camelback processions, watch races, and explore local crafts, camel dairy products, and cultural exhibitions.

Days 7

Festival Finale & Return to Ulaanbaatar

Witness final camel races and rodeo events. Interact with herders and competitors before flying back to Ulaanbaatar for a farewell dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Days 8

Departure

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight, concluding an immersive Gobi and cultural adventure.

MONGOLIA EXPLORATION With Michael Klecheski Former U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
Days 6

Camel Festival Day Two

Experience traditional Mongolian music, dance, and parades. Participate in camelback processions, watch races, and explore local crafts, camel dairy products, and cultural exhibitions.

Download Full Itinerary

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Country of Residence:
How did you hear about us?*
Subscribe to our Newsletter
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

The Gobi Desert stretches across half a million square miles of Mongolia and northern China, ranking as the world’s sixth largest desert. Its significance lies not only in scale but in what it preserves: Cretaceous fossil beds, hardy ecosystems, and a cultural crossroads where nomadic traditions endure.

Read More

There are few greater luxuries in life than spending time with family, and nothing brings the family together quite like exploring a new destination together. Travel provides so many opportunities for meaningful interactions and memory-making experiences. Whether you’re seeing the world through the unfiltered lens of a young child’s eyes or gra

Read More

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Country of Residence:
How did you hear about us?*
Subscribe to our Newsletter
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form