Still shrouded in mystery despite slowly opening up to the world, Mongolia is now a nation in rapid transition. A quick glance at the world map explains why this transformation is only unfolding now, over 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Landlocked in the heart of Central Asia, wedged between Russia and China, Mongolia is home to just three million people. Its vast landscapes stretching across grasslands, steppes, and desert plains, span an area roughly the size of Western Europe. Yet, the majority of the population continues to uphold their ancestral nomadic traditions.
Genghis Khan, Mongolia’s founding father, rose to power in 1206 by uniting the region’s warring nomadic tribes. What followed was the creation of the largest contiguous empire in history, surpassed only by the British Empire centuries later. In just 25 years, his horsemen conquered a landmass and population larger than what the Romans managed in several hundred years.
Today, over half of Mongolians still live in gers, the iconic round yurts that remain as mobile as their nomadic owners. Mongolia is a land of stark contrasts: modernity thrives in Ulaanbaatar, with its upscale restaurants and luxury stores, while the countryside remains deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions.
And for this Trekkup adventure, we’ve curated the absolute best of raw, real, and unforgettable Mongolia.
Let's go!
Day 1: July 08 // Arrival in Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan statue - Terelj
Meeting in Beijing PEK Airport at 08:00am for a flight at 10:00am. Arrival in Mongolia at 12:05am. Immigration clearance. Travel to Tsonjin Boldog for 70km about 1.5hr. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Chinggis Khaan statue complex. Move to Terelj national Park for 30km about 0.5hr. Short hike to the gorgeously serene Aryabal hilltop meditation temple in the Terelj. Stay overnight in Ger camp.
DAY 2: July 09 // Terelj - Mongol Nomadic Cultural Heritage Center - Nomadic Immersion
Today we rise early for breakfast and head out to a Mongol Nomadic Cultural Heritage Center for 130km via Ulaanbaatar. Immersing ourselves in the daily lives of these nomads we will witness the making of dairy products, transportation by ox cart and camel freight, the felt and tanning process of various skins, as well as cultural and musical folk performances – and that’s all after lunch. In the afternoon we saddle up for some horse riding before spending the night in a nomadic Ger camp.
Day 3: July 10 // Mongol Nomadic Cultural Heritage Center – Khustai – Ulaanbaatar
Today, we will travel to Khustai National Park for 50km. On the way visit Ungut, heritage site to explore ancient statues. The reserve is a home to the wild Mongolian horses, known as Takhi (Przewalski's Horse). Picnic lunch. Spot wild horses. Afternoon travel for 100km, 2.5hr to Ulaanbaatar. Visit Chinggis Khaan museum, where you can watch over 10000 artifacts related to Mongolian history. Walk through Sukhbaatar square. Stay overnight in hotel.
Day 4: July 11 // Naadam! Naadam!
Today is Mongolia’s National Day – celebrated throughout the country – and will begin with an opening ceremony kicked-off by an elaborate ribbon cutting by the President, followed by colorful music and dance folk shows, parachute stunts and more.
The real fun, however, starts with the first round of wrestling, where 512 wrestlers from all over Mongolia will compete in the first round! After that, we will turn our eyes to archery competitions, where contestants have only their keen eye, firm hand, and experience to rely on. Enjoy the archery and knuckle bone shooting competitions of Naadam festival. Stay overnight in hotel.
Day 5: July 12 // Khui Doloon Khudag (Horse racing)
In the morning, we will travel to Khui Doloon Khudag, the horse racing field. Horse races will be taking place throughout the three main Naadam days. Mongol horseracing is a significant part of
the country's cultural heritage, similar to the equestrian traditions that led the Mongol armies to distant lands during medieval times. There are seven categories of races based on the age of the horses. Riders aged 5-12 will compete in each age category, covering distances of 15 to 35km. Once the races finish, we will continue our National Day celebrations in a nomadic Mongolian camp as we visit a family. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Shopping. Farewell dinner. Stay overnight in hotel.
Day 6: July 13 // Departure
After breakfast, transfer to transfer to airport for departure at 11.50 back home.
Level of difficulty: Easy, available for everyone
Accommodation & meals: Hotels and Ger camps, double sharing. Local meals included.
Cost:
AED 6,030 excluding flights,
AED 8,530 including flights from Beijing,
AED 9,700 including flights from Dubai.
Cost valid until June 14th. Past this date we can not guarantee cost or availability.
Specifically excluded: visas, meals on transit (ie. Beijing), insurance.
Trip starts / ends in BEIJING PEK, June 08 at 08:00 am / June 13 at 14:00.
Visas:
China: third party visa or transit visa on arrival for eligible passports.
Mongolia: visa free or e-visa.
For passports non-eligible for visa on arrival, entry permit 150 USD + 90 USD payable on arrival.
Check our Trans-Mongolian trip in 2018 here.
See yah at Khan's **
Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050484823
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup
You may also like the following events from Trekkup Dubai:
- This Thursday, 26th June, 02:30 pm, Jungle, Rocks and Elephants | Bucket List of Sri Lanka in Dubai
- This Friday, 27th June, 12:00 pm, Grand Canyon & Mysterious Lakes | Weekend in Kazakhstan (AUH) in Abu Dhabi
- This Friday, 27th June, 09:00 pm, Yurts on the Rocks | Weekend in Kyrgyzstan in Dubai
Also check out other
Sports events in Dubai,
Festivals in Dubai,
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Dubai.
