MONGOLIA YAK FESTIVAL & ORKHON VALLEY ADVENTURE 2027

Upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our team and transferred to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar. After check-in, take some time to rest and recover from your international journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a relaxed introduction to Mongolia’s capital or simply have the remainder of the day at leisure. In the evening, meet your guide for a short tour briefing and an introduction to the adventure ahead through Central Mongolia and the legendary Orkhon Valley.

After breakfast, leave Ulaanbaatar and begin your journey west across Mongolia’s vast open steppe toward Kharkhorin, the site of ancient Karakorum, once the capital of the Mongol Empire. The drive offers your first real taste of rural Mongolia, with rolling grasslands, grazing livestock and small settlements scattered across the immense landscape. Upon arrival in Kharkhorin, visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, founded in 1586 and considered the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Explore its historic temples and impressive walls built with stones from the ruins of ancient Karakorum. We will also learn about the history of the Mongol Empire and the important role this region once played in connecting East and West along the Silk Road. Driving: Approx. 360 km / 5–6 hours

Today we travel deeper into the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, one of Mongolia’s most historically and culturally significant regions. Surrounded by green valleys, volcanic landscapes and vast summer pastures, the Orkhon Valley has supported nomadic communities for centuries. We continue toward the Bat-Ulzii area and spend time close to a local nomadic herding family. This is an opportunity to experience everyday life beyond the usual tourist route. Depending on the family's daily activities, you may see livestock herding, traditional dairy preparation and other aspects of Mongolian pastoral life. Rather than a staged demonstration, the experience provides an authentic glimpse into how families continue to live with their animals and the surrounding landscape.

After breakfast, explore one of Central Mongolia’s most beautiful natural attractions, Orkhon Waterfall, locally known as Ulaan Tsutgalan. The waterfall was formed by ancient volcanic activity and the movement of the Orkhon River through layers of basalt. During the summer months, the surrounding valley becomes especially beautiful, covered in rich green pasture and dotted with horses, yaks, sheep and traditional white gers. Spend time walking around the waterfall and exploring the surrounding landscape. We will also have opportunities to meet local herders and learn more about life in this remote part of Mongolia. The remainder of the day is deliberately relaxed, allowing us to enjoy the Orkhon Valley rather than simply driving through it. Tomorrow is the highlight of our journey — the annual Mongolia Yak Festival.

Today is the highlight of the journey: the colorful Mongolia Yak Festival, held annually in the Bat-Ulzii region of the Orkhon Valley. Local herding families travel from surrounding valleys with their finest yaks to celebrate an animal that has played an essential role in life in Mongolia's mountainous regions for generations. Throughout the festival, experience a lively atmosphere filled with traditionally dressed herders, decorated yaks, local music and cultural performances. Festival activities may include yak racing, yak polo, yak catching and training competitions, as well as demonstrations and displays of traditional products made from yak milk and wool. Unlike Mongolia's larger national festivals, the Yak Festival remains a distinctly local celebration, offering travelers an unusual opportunity to interact with rural communities and experience living nomadic traditions. There will be plenty of time for photography, watching the competitions and enjoying the festival atmosphere.

After breakfast, say goodbye to the Orkhon Valley and travel north toward Tsenkher Hot Springs, passing through beautiful Central Mongolian countryside. Tsenkher is famous for its naturally heated mineral water, which rises from deep underground at very high temperatures before being cooled and directed into outdoor pools. After several days of travelling through the steppe, this is the perfect place to slow down and relax. Check into our ger camp and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of forested hills and open valleys. In the afternoon and evening, enjoy a soak in the outdoor hot spring pools beneath the Mongolian sky.

Enjoy breakfast before continuing east through the landscapes of Central Mongolia toward Khustai National Park. Khustai is internationally known for the successful reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse, known in Mongolia as the takhi. Once extinct in the wild, these remarkable horses now roam freely again across the park's grasslands and hills. After arriving, explore the national park with our guide. During the late afternoon or early evening, when wildlife becomes more active, we will search for herds of wild takhi in their natural habitat. The park is also home to marmots, red deer, birds of prey and numerous other species.

After breakfast, enjoy the final landscapes of the Mongolian countryside before driving back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy some free time in the city. Depending on your interests, you may explore central Ulaanbaatar, shop for Mongolian cashmere and souvenirs, or simply relax after the journey. In the evening, we can gather for a farewell dinner and reflect on nine days of Mongolian history, nomadic culture, wildlife and the unforgettable Yak Festival. Driving: Approx. 100 km / 2–3 hours

After breakfast, enjoy your final morning in Ulaanbaatar according to your international flight schedule. Our team will transfer you to Chinggis Khaan International Airport in good time for your departure flight. Your Mongolia Yak Festival & Orkhon Valley Adventure comes to an end, taking with you memories of ancient Mongol history, the green landscapes of Central Mongolia, encounters with nomadic families, wild takhi horses and one of Mongolia’s most distinctive local summer festivals.