Naadam festival, (11-13 July 2018), is the happiest time in Mongolia. (national holiday July 11-15)
It is also the peak of the tourist season.
In Mongolian Naadam is known as "eriin gurvan naadam" (эрийн гурван наадам),
meaning - the 3 games of men. The 3 games are horse racing, archery and Mongolian wrestling.
This year, a large number of wrestlers (1024 in all ) will compete.
Some call it the Nomadic Olympic Games.
These games have existed for centuries and incorporate warrior skills.
The festival is performed throughout the country.
The central ceremonies and competitions are held in Ulaanbaatar.
All national Naadam events will take place in the city (Ulan Bator), except for the horse racing,
which will take place in the Khui Doloon Khudag horse racing fields
located west of Ulaanbaatar on the main road leading to Lun see map
Tickets for tourists
Tickets for opening and closing ceremonies will become available only during July 6-8 2018.
For the opening ceremony on July 11th tickets for tourists will cost 25USD
Tour operators and hotels can purchase ahead of time for their customers.
Tickets for the stadium 11-12 July events cost 16,000MNT to 24,000MNT depending on location.
Tickets will be sold from July 6th, only 4 tickets per person will be sold.
Lines to the box office are long. Beware of pickpockets, stand in line with empty pockets.
Tickets can be purchased at the “Bukhiin Urguu” and “Soyoliin Tuv Urguu” ticket offices.
Cost of tickets (color coded) for the 11-12 July 2018 events at the stadium.
Free bus shuttle during Naadam competitons
Free bus rides to the stadium and to the horse race fields
will run during Naadam events from the following parking lots:
Misheel EXPO Мишээл EXPO
Dunjingarav Дүнжингарав
Train schedule July 10-14 2018
Schedule from the central UB train station
to the horse race: 7:20, 10:55, 14:04, 17:15
from the horse race fields
back to UB: 8:25, 12:10, 15:13, 19:00
Horse racing
Horse racing takes place at the horse racing fields - see Google map of racing location
The racing field is named "khui Doloon Khudag" (Mongolian: Хүй долоон худаг)
Racing during 10-11-12-13 July, each day from 07:00am to late afternoon.
Countryside Naadam
What to expect
Each aimag (province) will celebrate a 2 day local Naadam festival during July 2018.These local events are aimed for the local communities, and are free of charge.
Each aimag decides what dates. The dates are published during the first week of July.
Tourists are welcome to join, but there are limited facilities for tourists.
Almost no English is spoken, there are no road signs directing you to the exact location of the Naadam celebration fields, your driver will have to ask around.
The events take place in open fields within a short drive from the Aimag (province) capital city.
In contrast to the main spectacular and somewhat touristic events in Ulaanbaatar,
the countryside events give you a much closer point of view,
you get to mingle with the locals,
and experience an authentic and traditional way of celebrating Naadam.
Naadam showcases the 3 Sports of Mongolia - wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
After the opening ceremony on the first day,
you will enjoy 2 days of wrestling, multiple horse races, and an archery event.
The Naadam horse race is 10-30 km long with dozens of local contestants.
Local foods are sold or shared by locals.
You will notice people consume large amounts of airag (fermented mare’s milk),
huushur (fried bread stuffed with meat), and aaruul (dried milk curds),
these are as important to Naadam as watching the events.
The competitions take place about 2-4 km out of the aimag capital city.
Taxis (private vehicles) to the fields cost about 2,000-4,000 MNT. Walking and hitchhiking is an option.
Horse races in some cases are away from the main event fields, and might require another taxi ride.
Countryside Naadam 2018 for each province (aimag)
All events take place in the capital town of the province.
In Arkhangai there is a break out of foot and mouth disease in cattle.
This might limit moving horses around, and might change locations and dates of events.
These dates are updated from time to time, dates may change. Check with locals before going.
In Arkhangai there is a break out of foot and mouth disease in cattle.
This might limit moving horses around, and might change locations and dates of events.
These dates are updated from time to time, dates may change. Check with locals before going.
copy from the table below the Mongolian names of the Aimag (province) and capital city you are heading to.
Provinces | Naadam Dates | Population* | Capital | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkhangai (Архангай) | July 21-22 |
Large
location to be announced | Tsetserleg (Цэцэрлэг) | |||
Bayan-Ölgii (Баян-Өлгий) | July 12-13 |
Large
| Ölgii (Өлгий) | |||
Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор) | |||
Bulgan (Булган) | July 27-29 |
with others
| Bulgan (Булган) | |||
Darkhan-Uul (Дархан-Уул) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Darkhan (Дархан) | |||
Dornod (Дорнод) | July 9-10 |
Large
| Choibalsan (Чойбалсан) | |||
Dornogovi (Дорноговь) | July 28-29 |
Large
with others | Sainshand (Сайншанд) | |||
Dundgovi (Дундговь) | July 9-10 |
Medium
| Mandalgovi (Мандалговь) | |||
Govi-Altai (Говь-Алтай) | July 10-11 |
Medium
| Altai (Алтай) | |||
Govisümber (Говьсүмбэр) | July 7-8 |
Small
| Choir (Чойр) | |||
Khentii (Хэнтий) | July 13-14 |
Large
| Öndörkhaan (Өндөрхаан) | |||
Khovd (Ховд) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Khovd (Ховд) | |||
Khövsgöl (Хөвсгөл) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Mörön (Мөрөн) | |||
Ömnögovi (Өмнөговь) | July 5-6 |
Large
| Dalanzadgad (Даланзадгад) | |||
Orkhon (Орхон) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Erdenet (Эрдэнэт) | |||
Övörkhangai (Өвөрхангай) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Arvaikheer (Арвайхээр) | |||
Selenge (Сэлэнгэ) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) | |||
Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) | July 10-11 |
Large
with others | Baruun-Urt (Баруун-Урт) | |||
Töv (Төв) | July 9-10 |
Large
| Zuunmod (Зуунмод) | |||
Uvs (Увс) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Ulaangom (Улаангом) | |||
Zavkhan (Завхан) | July 10-11 |
Large
| Uliastai (Улиастай) | |||
Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар) | July 11-13 | 1,400,000 | National Capital |
Small: up to 10,000 inhabitants
Medium: 10,000 - 50,000 inhabitants
Large: 50,000 - 100,000 inhabitants
Same list sorted by date
All events take place in the capital town of the province
Date Province / Capital of province
July 05-06 Ömnögovi (Өмнөговь) / Dalanzadgad (Даланзадгад)
July 07-08 Govisümber (Говьсүмбэр) / Choir (Чойр)
July 09-10 Dornod (Дорнод) / Choibalsan (Чойбалсан)
July 09-10 Dundgovi (Дундговь) / Mandalgovi (Мандалговь)
July 09-10 Töv (Төв) / Zuunmod (Зуунмод)
July 10-11 Zavkhan (Завхан) / Uliastai (Улиастай)
July 10-11 Orkhon (Орхон) / Erdenet (Эрдэнэт)
July 10-11 Govi-Altai (Говь-Алтай) / Altai (Алтай)
July 10-11 Khövsgöl (Хөвсгөл) / Mörön (Мөрөн)
July 10-11 Uvs (Увс) / Ulaangom (Улаангом)
July 10-11 Khovd (Ховд) / Khovd (Ховд)
July 10-11 Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) / Baruun-Urt (Баруун-Урт)
July 10-11 Selenge (Сэлэнгэ) / Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар)
July 10-11 Övörkhangai (Өвөрхангай) / Arvaikheer (Арвайхээр)
July 10-11 Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор) / Bayankhongor (Баянхонгор)
July 10-11 Darkhan-Uul (Дархан-Уул) / Darkhan (Дархан)
July 10-11 Sükhbaatar (Сүхбаатар) / Baruun-Urt (Баруун-Урт)
July 12-13 Bayan-Ölgii (Баян-Өлгий) / Ölgii (Өлгий)
July 13-14 Khentii (Хэнтий) / Öndörkhaan (Өндөрхаан)
July 21-22 Arkhangai (Архангай) / Tsetserleg (Цэцэрлэг) location to be announced
July 27-29 Bulgan (Булган) / Bulgan (Булган) in Dornogovi.
July 28-29 Dornogovi (Дорноговь) / Sainshand (Сайншанд)
NATIONAL ANNIVERSARIES
The Naadam celebrations in the year of 2018 commemorate the various anniversaries of the Mongolian state through history.
Celebrating the 2227th anniversary of the Hun Empire
The establishment of the Hun state (Xiongnu, Хүн улс) by Toumen in the 3rd century BCE
marks the beginning of statehood on the territory of Mongolia.
His son Modu Shanyu conquered and unified various tribes.
At the peak of its power, the Hun confederacy stretched from Lake Baikal in the north (Russia today)
to the Great Wall of China in the south.
Genghis Khan |
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. At the peak of its power, the Mongol empire stretched all the way to Europe.
Celebrating the 105th anniversary of National Freedom
During the collapse of the Qing (Chinese) Dynasty in 1911, Mongolia declared independence. Bogd Gegeen was enthroned as Bogd Khaan (Great Khan, or Emperor) of Mongolia on 29 December 1911.
Celebrating the 97th anniversary of the People's Revolution
Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan, revolution leaders. |
Celebrating 28th year of democracy
After the breakdown of Soviet communist regimes in late 1989, Mongolia began its own democratic revolution in early 1990, which led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992 and a transition to a market economy.
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