Every July 11 to 13 the whole country celebrates Naadam. Wrestling, horse racing and archery, the three games, have carried on for centuries. It is the largest festival Mongolians hold.
This short four-day journey pairs the heat of the festival with the granite scenery of Terelj. Even on limited time, it lets Mongolia sink in.
Аяллын маршрутDay by day
Наадмын нээлт, Тэрэлж, эргэн хот.The opening ceremony, Terelj, and back to the city.
On the morning of July 11 the opening ceremony fills the central stadium: mounted riders, the nine white banners, dance and song in a spectacular procession. In the afternoon the wrestling begins.
ХотодIn the cityБуудалHotel
Бөхийн барилдаан, улсын наадамWrestlers at the national Naadam
An early start takes us out to the plain where the horse races run. Child jockeys ride for tens of kilometres across open ground. Afterwards we watch the archery and the ankle-bone shooting, the parts of Naadam closest to the people.
40 кмkmзамdrivingБуудалHotel
Сур харваа, улсын наадамArchery at the national Naadam
3-р өдөрDay 3
Горхи-Тэрэлж байгалийн цогцолборGorkhi-Terelj National Park
Leaving the city, two hours bring us to the granite scenery of Terelj. We clamber up Turtle Rock, climb to the Aryabal meditation temple, and ride among pines and streams. We sleep in a ger camp and cook over an open fire.
70 кмkmзамdrivingГэр баазGer camp
Мэлхий хад, Горхи-ТэрэлжTurtle Rock, Gorkhi-Terelj
4-р өдөрDay 4
Чингис хааны хөшөө ба хотThe Chinggis Khan statue and the city
Буцах замдаа дэлхийн хамгийн том морьт хөшөө болох 40 метр өндөр Чингис хааны хөшөөнд зогсоно. Морины дэлэн дээр гарч, тал нутгийг тольдоно. Орой хотод хүрч, аялал өндөрлөнө.
On the way back we stop at the 40-metre Chinggis Khan statue, the largest equestrian statue in the world. You can climb to the horse's mane and look out over the steppe. We reach the city by evening as the journey ends.