9 days
Key Information
Trip Length: 9 days/8 nights.
Tour Code: SMT-YAKF-9D
Meeting/Departure Points: Ulaanbaatar (ULB), Mongolia (excluding flights,train).
Small Groups: 3-19 travelers-guaranteed!.
Special Group Tour Dates 2025/2026: July 19-July 27 .
Total Distance: about +2300 kms/ +1430 miles.
Airfare, Train Included: No.
Tour Customizable: Yes.
Tour Highlights: This journey designed especially for small groups, families, and funny travel.
The Yak Festival (in the last week of July): The Yak Festival is held in the last week of July in Bat Ulzii village (sum) of Ovorkhangai province, which is considered as the motherland of yaks, with cooperation's of yak herders and yak down product producers. During the festival activities such as, yak parade, yak race, a fashion show and an exhibition of yak down products will be organized. Visit a Yak breeder's family and experience the traditional customs and lifestyle of local residents. Övörkhangai /Uvurkhangai (Mongolian: Өвөрхангай, Öwörhangai; "southern Khangai") is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the south of the country. Its capital is Arvaikheer. The Erdene Zuu monastery and Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire are located in this province.
The Yak Festival is one of the most important festivals in Mongolia. It's held each year on the 23rd of July in Orkhon Valley, in Bat Ulzii sum, province of Ovorkhangai.
In Mongolia, the yak has a great value for nomadic breeders. It has many uses and is necessary for the good development of a farm. The yak can carry equipment on its back or tract a cart. Its wood is used for doing clothes, and, as any animal, its meat and milk are eaten. The main purpose of the festival is to promote the yak herder nomads, improve and increase the benefits of the yak related products, introduce the yak culture to the public, and attract tourists.
The main events of the Yak Festival are:
1. The opening speech of a local governor followed by yak parade and performance.
2. Yak lassoing (the participants lasso a yak from an untrained herd of yaks).
3. Yak training (the participants ride and train the yaks they lasso).
4. Team competition of the yak herders (the competition type differs).
5. Polo sport while riding yaks (could be some of the most interesting and fun sport. Yak is a strong animal among the other animals of the nomads).
6. Yak racing (the Yak Festival tends to be a fun activity and could be some of the slowest races. Almost half of the yaks reach the finish line walking or barely trotting).
7. Best yak product competition (dairy products, yak hair/skin/horn products, and all new ideas or creativity).
8. A demonstration of yak wool rope making (the rope plays in an important role for the nomadic housing and animal tethering).
9. Demonstration of yak dairy product making (you will see how many different types of products the nomads produce).
10. The Yak Festival closes by the competition winner prizes.
About Mongol Yak: There are approximately 1,005,000 yaks in 13 provinces of Mongolia. Thus, Mongolia has the world's second-largest yak heads in the world. The world yak population is 14.2 million. The mountainous yak habitat areas of Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Khuvsgul, Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, and Khovd provinces are among the top tourist destinations in Mongolia. Not only the mountainous northern and western regions of Mongolia. The yaks are in mountainous areas of the Gobi Desert such as Bayankhongor, Zavkhan, and Gobi Altai provinces. The yaks were domesticated relatively late and their isolated mountainous pastureland influences the animal's strong characters.
Excursion to Bayangobi: desert sand dunes spread over 80kms in a beautiful valley. Opportunity for hiking, walking through the dunes, and photographing the landscapes. Excursion included to cross the dunes on the back of a Bactrian camel. Contact us / Book Now!: info@samarmagictours.com. We would be pleased to have you join us!.
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DAY 1, 19 July
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Meet Samar Magic Tours. (L)
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DIA 2,20 July
Chinggis Khaan Statue – Gorkhi/Terelj N.P.– Ullaanbaatar. (B)(L)
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DAY 3, 21 July
Authentic Mongol Nomad Show-Bayangobi-Camels-Karakorum. (B)(L)(D)
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DAY 4, 22 July
Karakorum-Orkhon Valley. (B)(L)(D)
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DAY 5, 23 July
Yak Mongolia Festival-Orkhon Waterfall. (B)(L)(D)
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DAY 6, 24 July
Orkhon Valley-Turkish Memorials-Ugii Lake-Karakorum. (B)(L)(D)
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DIA 7,25 July
Hustain Nuruu N.P.-Ulaanbaatar. (B)(L)
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DAY 8, 26 July
Ulaanbaatar Tour. Last Shopping!. (B)(L)
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DIA 9,27 July
Departure Mongolia. (B)
| Special Group Departure: 19 July-27 July 2025 |
Blue Sky & Tower Hotel 5* |
Holiday Inn Hotel 5* |
Millenium Plaza Hotel 4*, |
| 16 persons or more | $ US 2,846 / 2,599 € | $ US 2,791 / 2,549 € | $ US 2,738 / 2,499 € |
| 12-15 persons | $ US 2,899 / 2,649 € | $ US 2,846 / 2,599 € | $ US 2,791 / 2,549 € |
| 7-11 adults | $ US 2,956 / 2,699 € | $ US 2,899 / 2,649 € | $ US 2,846 / 2,599 € |
| 2-6 adults | Consultar | Consultar | Consultar |
| Individual Supplement (4 nights in Ulaanbaatar) | $ US 572 / 519 € | $ US 508 / 460 € | $ US 377 / 340 € |
2025 Land tour costs per person in $ US or in Euros (€), based on double room from (9 days, excluding flights or trains)
What's Included?
4 nights of accommodation at selected and confirmed hotel, based on double indicated room with breakfast.
4 nights of accommodation at the tourist gers camp, based on standard ger for 2 people or more (according to the request!).
Meals as specified (8B,8L,4D), included 1 litr of mineral water a day, per person.
All transportation on comfortable 4WD vehicle in private, including the all petrol.
Services of English or Spanish speaking local guide (according to the request!).
All transfers in private, traveling in a tourist bus or micro-bus (*depending on the group) in Ulaanbaatar, and the 40meter /~133,3 feet Genghis Khan Statue with all fuel included.
All private transfers in 2 options: traveling in a comfortable Japanese Land Cruiser Toyota 4x4 vehicle or similar (occupancy: 4 tourists + 1 Mongolian-speaking driver in 1 vehicle, Limit: 15 kg per person) or in a Russian Van UAZ 4x4 or similar (occupancy: 6 tourists + 1 Mongolian-speaking driver in 1 vehicle, Limit: 15 kg per person) on the rest of the tour, with all fuel included.
Services of English or Spanish speaking local guide (according to the request!).
All entrance fees to Yak Festival, the 40meter /~133,3 feet Genghis Khan Statue on horseback, National Parks, karakorum, museums, monasteries, and the monuments.
Entrance fee to the Authentic Mongol Nomadic Show.
Attend a folk show with the fascinating sounds of khoomi throat singing and Mongolian dance.
Excursion included to cross the dunes on the back of a Bactrian camel.
Meeting True Nomadic people.
Gentle hiking through wonderful landscapes.
Discovering Yak Nomadic Herders.
Enjoy ornithological observation in Ugii lake.
Enjoy the Wild Horses observation in Hustain Nuruu National Park.
Service fees include 10% VAT, 2% Ulaanbaatar city tax and 5% service charge for Ulaanbaatar city hotels.
What's Not Included?
Flights, and train tickets.
Occasional flight delays or cancellation.
Visa.
Hotel accomodation, Food, Transport, Guide, Entrance fees in Ulaanbaatar city (on ealy request!).
Early Check-in! at hotels.
Late Check-out! at hotels.
Excess baggage.
Any rescue costs or costs of early departure.
Changing of date of departure from Ulaanbaatar.
The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa, the necessary passport pictures, and the International airfares.
Travel insurance.
Items of personal nature such as gratuities to porters at hotels, telephone / telex / fax charges, laundry, beverages, meals, optional activities, and services not specified in the itinerary.
Binocular, photographic camara, and drone.
Any circumstances beyond of our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, weather conditions, etc.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN MONGOLIA:
Ulaanbaatar: Holiday Inn Hotel 5*, Blue Sky & Tower Hotel 5*, Millenium Plaza Hotel 4*, Premium Hotel 4* (4 nights).
Karakorum & Orkhon Waterfall: Tourists Gers Camps (4 nights).
EXCLUDED SERVICES:
Flights and occasional flight delays or cancellation.
Visa.
Early check-in!.
Late Check-out!.
Excess baggage.
The binoculars, telescopes and tripod (if necessary).
Any rescue costs or costs of early departure.
Changing of date of departure from Ulaanbaatar.
The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa, the necessary passport pictures, and the International airfares.
Travel insurance.
Items of personal nature such as gratuities to porters at hotels, telephone / telex / fax charges, laundry, beverages, meals, optional activities (such as fishing, boating, horseback riding, sauna, etc.) and services not specified in the itinerary.
Any circumstances beyond of our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, weather conditions, etc.
