Thousand Camel Festival Mongolia | Small Group Winter Tour

At a Glance

Dates: January 27 – February 4th 2027

Group Size: 2-6

Duration: 9 Days

Locations: Ulaanbaatar & Gobi Desert including Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) Yolyn Am, Khongoryn Els sand dunes and Tsagaan Suvraga (White Stupa)

Price: Between US$ 2,575 pp – US$ 2,095 pp depending on final group size

Key Experiences

Experience the Thousand Camel Festival that celebrates the bactrian camel
Enjoy quiet time in vast winter landscapes, beneath some of the clearest night skies on earth
Road-trip through the Gobi’s vast, changing landscapes
Travel slowly, letting the journey shape each day
Explore dunes, canyons, monasteries, petroglyphs, rock formations and open plains
Spend time with the Nergui herding family in the wide open desert steppe

Who This Tour Is For

This tour suits travellers interested in experiencing the Gobi as it is lived, including its small towns and rural communities. You must be comfortable with family-operated ger accommodation, basic facilities, and road journeys through winter landscapes. It is for people who are happy with flexibility, changing conditions, and a slower, more natural style of travel.

It is not the right fit if you only want to meet nomads, need luxury accommodation or Western-style facilities, prefer very short driving days, expect formal guiding throughout, or want a tightly controlled schedule.

‘My Mongolian experience far exceeded whatever I’d imagined previously… and I would love to return even in the winter ( I know it was challenging at times re weather but I revelled in it). I fell in love wth the camels and my homestay families and would love to have further experiences with them.'

EL guest Julie Faint, Thousand Camel Festival

Thousand Camel Festival Tour Details

Thousand Camel Festival Tour In Mongolia

The vast Gobi dominates southern Mongolia, but it is not one single desert. It is a broad and varied region made up of granite outcrops, open desert steppe, gravel plains, eroded cliffs, mountain gorges, sand dunes, saxaul forests, small provincial towns, and rural herding communities.

This small-group Thousand Camel Festival tour in Mongolia travels through the Middle and South Gobi during one of the country’s most distinctive winter events. Local camel herders gather for camel races, camel polo, competitions, music, food, and celebrations of the Bactrian camel, an animal closely connected to Gobi life, identity, and livelihood.

Beyond the festival, the route takes in some of the Gobi’s striking winter landscapes, including Yolyn Am gorge, the dunes of Khongoryn Els, the red cliffs and saxaul forests of Bayanzag, the Khavtsgait petroglyphs, and the sacred cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga.

But this is not simply a journey between famous Gobi landmarks. Travelling in a small group allows us to keep the experience more personal and flexible. Along the way, we spend time in small towns, meet local herding families, and experience the long roads, changing weather, and practical realities that shape life here. The journey ends with the Nergui family near Erdenedalai, bringing the focus back to the people whose everyday lives are closely connected to these landscapes.

This is an introduction to the everyday modern Gobi: the families who live here, the towns that connect the region, the camels that remain part of local culture and livelihood, and the realities of life in one of Mongolia’s most demanding environments.

For the full day-by-day flow, and the reason behind the route, please email us. We share the detailed itinerary by email so we can explain the pacing, driving days, accommodation, and options in context. We also keep a few moments back as a quiet surprise.

Jan 27: Final arrival day and time in Ulaanbaatar, gaining a sense of the capital beyond the main sights.

Jan 28: Travel south and find space among the granite rock formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu.

Jan 29: Explore the sacred cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga, also known as the White Stupa.

Jan 30: Experience the contrasts of small-town life in Dalanzadgad, the provincial capital of the South Gobi, as the Thousand Camel Festival celebrations begin.

Jan 31: A flexible day divided between the festival and Yolyn Am, also known as Eagle Gorge, looking for lammergeiers overhead and Mongolian pika among the rocks.

Feb 1: Climb the singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els and take in the views of the dunes from between the ears of a Bactrian camel.

Feb 2: Walk among the fossil landscapes of Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, and take in the wide Gobi views from the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs.

Feb 3: Stay with the Nergui family in the wide-open desert-steppe horizons of Erdenedalai.

Feb 4: Enjoy a final road trip back to Ulaanbaatar.

For those with more time, this Thousand Camel Festival journey can be extended with a five-day Central Heartland extension. This adds homestays, the landscapes of Khogno Khan and the Orkhon River Valley, the cultural heritage of Kharkhorin, and a slower introduction to rural life beyond the Gobi. Please get in touch for details.

Final group size of 2-4 guests: US$ 3~~,975 pp~~ US$ 2,575pp

- Final group size of 5 guests: ~~US$ 2,690 pp~~ US$ 2,290 pp

- Final group size of 6 guests: ~~US$ 2,470 pp~~ US$ 2,095 pp

Map Of Route

During this journey, you’ll experience a variety of accommodation styles, each offering insight into daily life in Mongolia and shaped by the season and setting:

Winterised Mongolian Gers

Throughout the trip, you’ll stay in winterised gers at small family owned camps. These traditional felt dwellings have been insulated and prepared for winter, with heating provided by a central stove. Each ger accommodates 3–4 people, but you’ll always have your own bed and personal space.

A sleeping bag is required at the family accommodation: We provide a free rental service but our bags are not temperate rated.

Homestay at Khögnö Khan Nature Reserve Mongolia

Showers

Running water is rare in rural Mongolia, so showers are limited. On this itinerary we use town shower houses—simple cubicles with plenty of hot water, which many travellers describe as a highlight! You will need to bring a towel.

Toilets

Think: a loo with a view!

Mongolia has very few public toilets, so on drives it’s a case of finding a private spot in nature (your trip assistant will give what we call “the toilet talk”).

At host family homes, expect Asian-style squat or long-drop toilets.If squatting isn’t second nature, you may want to practice before travelling—several of our guests recommend it.

These toilets aren’t designed to shock you; they’re simply part of everyday rural life. We provide toilet paper (though not the aloe vera variety!).

Mongolian Style Hotel

You’ll also spend two nights in a simple Mongolian-standard hotel, typically in a warm, twin-share room. Rooms are en-suite, though please note that hot water cannot always be guaranteed.

Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar on January 27th and February 4h is not included although we provide recommendations and can help with booking.

Meals

Each EL team travels with a simple kitchen, and most meals are prepared by your trip assistant. We don’t ask rural families—with limited access to shops—to provide meals, especially given the number of travellers with dietary needs. However, during each trip you’ll also share some meals with host families, stop at guanz (roadside cafés), and eat in local restaurants.

Our trip assistants are not trained chefs, but they know how to keep you well-fed. Meals are based around local, seasonal produce with a focus on food miles. You won’t find elaborate international dishes, but you can rely on hearty, filling food that sustains you. If five portions of fruit a day are a must, you may find this challenging in remote Mongolia.

We can cater for vegetarians, some dietary restrictions, and food allergies—but only with advance notice. Please share your requirements when booking so we can advise what’s possible and set realistic expectations.

Drinks

We provide filtered drinking water, tea, and coffee throughout. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased en route. Choice is limited in the countryside, so if you enjoy a good bottle of wine or whisky, we recommend stocking up in Ulaanbaatar before departure.

Since rural areas lack running water and recycling is minimal, we avoid bottled water. Each team carries large containers and filters water from town stations. Please bring a reusable bottle (a filter bottle is even better). A detailed packing list is provided on booking.

Transport

Our driving team is made up of men we know personally and have worked with for years. Their English is limited, but their road skills are unmatched—whether navigating tough terrain or practicing mongolchlokh (improvising the Mongolian way) when a tyre bursts or a vehicle breaks down. And yes, breakdowns do happen—this is Mongolia, after all. By travelling with us, you’re supporting the long-term employment of experienced, traditional men who use their income to provide for extended families.

Each driver owns their own vehicle, which may include Furgon 4×4 vans, Toyota Land Cruisers and Lexus models, Hyundai Starex, or Mitsubishi Delicas. Because they’re driver-owned, interiors and seating layouts vary, and each vehicle is fitted with either lap or seat belts.

We assist with maintenance fees, and all vehicles undergo:

- Annual assessments by the Mongolian Government for tourism standards

- Standard MOT checks

- Licensing for tourism use.

Learn more about our drivers and their tour vehicles here.

Travel Times

Road travel is a central part of journeying through Mongolia, one of the world’s largest countries. Daily travel times are provided as a guide rather than a promise, and we deliberately allow generous estimates to help set realistic expectations.

Average speeds typically range from 30–65 km/h, depending on road and weather conditions. Where routes include dirt roads, this can mean anything from smooth gravel to corrugated tracks, rocky sections, tree roots, or mud, varying with location and season.

Included in the price

All meals outside of the city of Ulaanbaatar unless otherwise stated: These are mainly prepared and cooked by your local team so they are fresh and it means we offer more flexibility for any dietary requirements. We also provide filtered drinking water (not bottled), tea, and instant coffee.

You’ll be supported by one of our experienced intergenerational teams - made up of a male Mongolian driver and one of our English-speaking female trip assistants—helping create an immersive and well-supported experience. Jess and Tuya are also available throughout your journey via WhatsApp.

Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience including a local lunch and welcome drink

Transportation to and from the airport or train station on arrival and departure days

Entrance fees to monasteries, temples, and museums are included when you are with the local team. Please note this excludes camera tickets.

Festival tickets are provided if listed in the itinerary.

Camel or horseback rides (please note, riding helmets are not provided)

Thoughtful Extras – We add a few gentle surprises—small touches that express our thanks for choosing to travel with us.

Not included in the price

International airfare to and from Mongolia

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar: Our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in UB though. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. I provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and I can also help with booking. There’s everything from a homestay through to Airbnb, US$10 guesthouses and the Shangri-La!

Domestic flight where/if applicable including any fees for excess luggage

Passport and visa fees: Let us know your nationality at the time of booking and we’ll confirm whether you need to apply for a Mongolian visa. It is a relatively easy process depending on your nationality and we can help with some of the formalities.

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Gratuities: Each member of the local team receives a responsible but fair salary and none have to rely on receiving gratuities to supplement their income. In addition, we make sure that everyone who works with us or helps us is fairly rewarded for their work and the service they provide. At the end of the tour, if you wish to make a gratuity to the local team then thank you – it is not compulsory but it is appreciated when given. We give detailed information on booking.

Personal Expenses: We provide detailed guidance on booking

Alcohol: Alcohol is available to buy in shops and supermarkets throughout your trip, and your team will make regular stops.

Travelling With Our Team

FAQs

We have a detailed FAQ page covering everything from packing lists to payments.Below are answers to the most common questions our guests tend to have at this stage, including a few specific to the Thousand Camel Festival itself.

The Thousand Camel Festival is held in Ömnögovi Province in southern Mongolia. Recent programmes have been based around Dalanzadgad and the South Gobi, although the festival is strongly associated with Bulgan soum and the wider camel-herding communities of the Gobi.

Booking Conditions & Payment

Deposit

Deposit of US$ 600 pp with flexible payment options for the remaining balance

Booking Conditions

Our booking terms and conditions cover payments, cancellations, and other key details. You can read them here.

If you decide to cancel your trip, by choice or necessity, up to 10 weeks before departure, we will fully refund your deposit (and balance if paid). Refunds will be made in GBP or US$ excluding fees we incurred to receive your payment and any cancellation fees we incur for domestic flights or accommodation booked at your request. The actual amount you receive may be lower or higher depending on the exchange rate used by your bank.
If you decide to cancel between 10 and 31 days before departure, we will fully refund your balance (if paid), and your deposit will be held as credit to be used on a different trip instead (with no cut off date. This can be transferred to a friend or family member). Refunds will be made in GBP or US$ excluding fees we incurred to receive your payment and any cancellation fees we incur for domestic flights or accommodation booked at your request. The actual amount you receive may be lower or higher depending on the exchange rate used by your bank.
If you cancel within 30 days of departure, we will retain the following percentage of your deposit and balance.
30 days before departure – 50% of holiday cost
29 – 15 days before departure – 90% of holiday cost
Less than 15 days before departure – 100% of holiday cost

Notes

There is no time limit on when you may use your deposit credit, but it is non-refundable if you decide to cancel in future.
Failure to join the tour will also mean you forfeit the tour cost. We will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

Who This Experience Is For

This Is Right For You If…

You’re curious, adaptable, and interested in Mongolia as it is — including the occasional bumps along the way
You’re comfortable travelling with real people and adapting to change, understanding that plans may shift (with thoughtful alternatives in place)
You enjoy unstructured time — space to read, wander, or share a mug of tea, letting the day unfold naturally
You value travel that supports more equitable tourism, using travel as a force for positive social impact

This May Not Be Right For You If…

You prefer luxury accommodation or frequent hot showers
You’re uncomfortable with basic rural facilities, including occasional shared accommodation
You expect fixed schedules and tightly planned days
You’re looking for staged cultural performances or highly curated moments for social media
You approach travel with a checklist mindset rather than an interest in everyday life

Accessibility Considerations

Our small-group journeys are shaped around traditional celebrations, rural environments, and specific travel routes. As a result, experiences may or may not be suitable depending on individual accessibility needs. We encourage travellers to review our Accessibility Information page for further detail and to get in touch with us directly with any questions — we’re always happy to talk through what’s possible and help you decide whether a particular trip is the right fit.

Experiencing Mongolia In Winter

Winter is a defining season in Mongolia. Yes, it’s cold — sometimes very cold — but it’s also what gives the landscape its clarity, stillness, and scale. Temperatures can sound daunting on paper, yet Mongolia’s cold is dry and often feels less severe than expected. With the right preparation and good thermal layers, –25°C here can feel comparable to –5°C in damper parts of Europe.

Winter travel doesn’t require specialist expedition gear, but it does ask for thoughtful preparation. A simple layering system — base layers, insulation, and a windproof outer shell — goes a long way. Warm, practical essentials such as sturdy boots, thick socks, gloves, and good head and neck protection are key.

Travel also moves differently in winter. Distances take time, weather can change quickly, and daylight hours are shorter. This slower rhythm is part of the season and part of the experience.

We provide all guests with a detailed packing list on booking to help you arrive properly prepared without overpacking. Winter travel also calls for something less tangible: a willingness to adapt, to slow down, and to move in step with the season — embracing a quieter, more deliberate way of travelling.

Can this journey be adapted as a tailor-made trip?

If our travel philosophy resonates with you but you’d prefer a private trip or some flexibility around the itinerary, we can tailor elements of this trip to suit your needs. This might include upgrading some accommodation, adjusting travel dates, or extending or shortening the journey. Get in touch to talk through the options and see what’s possible.

In addition, for those with more time, this Thousand Camel Festival journey can be extended with a five-day Central Heartland extension. This adds homestays, the landscapes of Khogno Khan and the Orkhon River Valley, the cultural heritage of Kharkhorin, and a slower introduction to rural life beyond the Gobi. Please get in touch for details.

What is the Thousand Camel Festival in Mongolia?

The Thousand Camel Festival – also known as the Ten Thousand Camel Festival – is a winter gathering in Mongolia’s Gobi region that celebrates the Bactrian camel and the camel-herding culture of southern Mongolia. Festival events usually include camel races, camel polo, camel parades, local competitions, traditional clothing, music, food, camel dairy products, and displays connected to camel wool and herding life.

When is the Thousand Camel Festival?”

The Thousand Camel Festival usually takes place in late winter, with dates confirmed each year by the organisers. It was traditionally held in March, but recent dates have shifted into February and late January.

Where is the festival held?