people sitting on grass field during daytime

TEN THOUSAND CAMEL FESTIVAL - 2026

DURATION: 3N 4D

DISTANCE: 1,130 KILOMETERS

Discover the magic of the Ten Thousand Camel Festival – Mongolia’s most spectacular celebration, not to be missed!

Winter in Mongolia isn’t just about snow, cold weather, and the holiday season—it also brings exciting festivals! One of the highlights is the famous Ten Thousand Camel Festival, held each year in the heart of the Gobi Desert.

First organized in 1997 by locals in Umnugovi (South Gobi) Province, the festival was created to celebrate Mongolia’s camels, protect the rare two-humped Bactrian camel, share traditional camel-herding culture with future generations, and promote the sustainable development of winter tourism. Moreover, Ten Thousand Camel Festival is to enhance the economic and cultural value of camels, while integrating camel wool, milk, and dairy products into market circulation, thereby ensuring a stable source of income for herders. Today, it has become one of the world’s most renowned winter festivals.

It’s entertaining two-day festival showcases a variety of contests celebrating Mongolia’s unique camel culture, along with plenty of traditional music and dance performances. Nomadic herders from near and far arrive dressed in their finest deels and riding their best camels, making the festival not only a cultural event but also a source of pride and joy for the local people.

In 2016, it made history by setting a new Guinness World Record, with 1,108 camels participating in a race. The organizers – the ‘Amazing Gobi’ local tourism association together with the Governor’s Office of Umnugovi Province – promise to make the festival bigger and better each year, with new and exciting events and competitions for everyone to enjoy!

The festival will take place in Dalanzadgad, the center of Umnugovi Province, located 553 km south of Ulaanbaatar. The town is easily accessible by a 7–8 hour drive on a fully paved road, and daily bus services also operate from Ulaanbaatar.

DATE: 01-04 FEB

TOUR ITINERARY

Pick up from hotel
Drive to Umnugovi province, Dalanzadgad city /553 km/
Lunch in Mandalgovi city /260 km/
Arrive in Dalanzadgad city
Stay at the hotel
Dinner
Enjoy the public dancing

Meal: --/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 1 UB CITY – UMNUGOVI, DALANZADGAD/01 Feb/ - 553 km

09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Visiting Art Exhibitions
Camel Polo tournament
Ice Ankle -Bone shooting
Racing of Torom /2 years old camel /and Racing of Tailag /3 years old camels/
13:00 Lunch break
14:00 Opening ceremony of Ten Thousand Camel Festival-2026
Camel parade
15:00-16:00 “Best looking couple on camelback” – Participants present themselves in traditional Mongolian clothing alongside their ornamented camels.
16:00-17:00 Competition for selecting the best Buur /uncastrated adult male camel/ and Inge /Adult female camel/
18:00 Dinner
19:00-21:00 Traditional folklore concert by the local musicians
Stay at the hotel
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 2 FESTIVAL DAY - 1 /02 Feb/ - 10 km

09:00 Breakfast
“Camel Caravan” Visual art Exhibition
Racing of Atan camel /Castrated male camel and used for riding, racing, and carrying loads/
Short-distance race of camels
13:00-14:00 Camel Relay Race /4x500 meters with baton passing/
Lunch break
14:00-16:00 “Camel Relay Race” – A traditional highlight of Mongolian camel culture, testing the skills, agility and teamwork of camel herders.
- Training of untamed camels
- Traditional loading of camel caravan baggage
- Demonstration of walking Camel caravan

16:00 Awarding and Closing ceremony
Dinner
Stay at the hotel

ADDITIONAL:

“Camel Airag Festival – Produced in Umnugovi”: Exhibition of camel milk products, traditional dairy delicacies, camel wool crafts and unique souvenirs
“Florentine School” Art Exhibition

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 3 FESTIVAL DAY - 2 /03 Feb/ - 10 km

DAY 4 DALANZADGAD, UMNUGOVI - UB CITY /04 Feb/ - 553 km

Breakfast
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar city
Lunch in the Mandalgovi, Dundgovi province
Continue driving to UB
Drop-Off at the hotel

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/--

TOUR DETAILS

Certified

GUIDE & DRIVER

DISTANCE

TRANSPORTATION

1,130 km

3Night 4Day

DURATION

TOURIST CAMP

HOTEL

0 Night

3 Nights

Group size

3-4

5-6

7-8

Price

650 USD

550 USD

450 USD

LAND PRICE

Alphard MPV

HIACE

Transportation

Alphard MPV/HIACE

Transportation
Experienced tour driver
Professional English/Chinese-speaking tour guide
Festival entrance ticket
Camel riding
Accommodation
- Hotel in Dalanzadgad city/3 nights/
Meals
- Breakfast /3 times/
- Lunch /4 times/
- Dinner /3 times/
Pick-Up and Drop-Off services
Bottled water
Travel Insurance

INCLUSIVE

EXCLUSIVE

Accommodation in UB city
Other meals that not mentioned in the program
Other services that not mentioned in the program
Personal belongings

TRAVEL'S CHECKLIST AND REMINDERS

Passport
Backpack (Comfortable & lightweight)
Power bank (If needed)
Comfortable clothes (Depending travel season)
Vacuum flask for hot drinks (If needed)
Personal & Emergency contact details
Extra cash for other services & emergencies
Respect nature & local communities
Luggage advice: Avoid bringing oversized suitcases
Medication Reminder: If you have regular medications or suffer from high blood pressure, ensure you have them with you at all times.
Dietary Requirements: Please inform us in advance if you are a vegetarian.
Kindly let us know in advance if you have any food allergies.