Festivals

Mongolian festivals take place throughout the year and are mostly celebrations of Mongolian Culture. Here are some of our favorite Mongolian festivals and celebrations that we can weave into your next holiday to Mongolia.

If you are looking for things to do in Mongolia, then you have come to the right place. Prepare to enjoy celebrations of Mongolian nomadic culture. Mongolia is famous for it’s larger than life festivals, which are celebrations of the culture itself. These festivities feature the unique ancestry, customs, and norms that have been passed down from generations.

The best part about these local festivals is that they can be enjoyed at a grand scale or in intimate villages with a small number of people. Smaller events allow you to interact more with the locals and get a feel of the community. After all, nothing beats the thrilling experience of mingling with a local family and later supporting them as they enjoy participating in the festival as a wrestler or an eagle hunter.

Below are some must-see festivals that you do not want to miss out on. Incorporate them into your next holiday trip to Mongolia for an unforgettable experience of the local culture.

The Thousand Camel Festival

Attending this festival should be right at the top of your list of things to do on your tourist visa to Mongolia. This spectacular annual event involves people of Mongolia performing traditional Mongolian dances, playing authentic local music, and competing to win polo and camel racing competitions. This festival is held in Gobi Desert, as a celebration of the Bactrian camel which is at the risk of extinction. If that does not captivate you, the Gobi Desert will surely have you in awe with its breathtaking views of red sandstone cliffs, glacial canyons, and towering dunes. The Thousand Camel Festival is held in winters when the Bactrian camel is covered in a fluffy thick coat of, and the land is wrapped in a blanket of snow as far as the eyes can see.

Naadam Festival

This festival is celebrated across Mongolia. Though Ulaanbaatar has the largest crowd, you can also enjoy it with the local community at a much smaller scale. Spectators watch this sports festival as the competitors enjoy wrestling, horse racing, and archery. For an experience of a lifetime, try dressing in traditional Mongolian outfits.

Mongolian Lunar New Year

Tsagaan Sar also known as the Mongolian Lunar New Year, is the perfect festival for foodies! This festival is laden with all the best foods Mongolia has to offer. If you want to truly experience the richness of the local community and immerse yourself in the Mongolian culture, then this is the festival to attend.

Eagle Festivals

There are two Golden Eagle Festivals celebrated annually. One in September and the other is in October. This festival is inspired by the Kazakhs in the west who had expertise in the ancient art of falconry. This one-of-a-kind festivity truly inspires you to marvel at the strength and speed of the eagle and feel awestruck at the close-knit bond between the master and the eagle.