Camel festival
(March 03-07th, 2009)
Location: Southgobi province, Southern Mongolia
Duration: 4 days
Day 1. Camel festival 03 March
Travel to the Gobi Desert to attend the "Thousand Camel Festival,” organized by a local non-governmental organization working to protect and preserve the Bactrian camel population, which has been steadily declining over the past twelve years. This magnificent festival allows travelers a rare opportunity to interact with and learn first-hand about these amazing animals and the camel herders’ nomadic lifestyle.
Highlights of the festival include camel races, performances by traditional Mongolian musicians and dancers, and visits to significant paleontological and cultural sites in the Gobi.
Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Dalanzadgad (1.5 hours), capital of Omnogobi, Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Upon arrival, drive to the Three Camel Lodge ger camp (2 hours). Check in to your gers and enjoy lunch at the lodge.
The festival begins at around 2:00pm in Bulgan soum (40 minutes driving) with a “parade” of camel riders. The parade is open for visitors to participate and if you wish, you will have an opportunity to join them on a camelback.(to participate in the camel parade, reservation should be made about seven working days in advance) Competitions of the day include “best looking couple on camelback”, most adorable male and female camels as well as a camel polo which takes place in the central square.
There’s also an exhibition of paintings by local children who participate in the drawing contest called “Camel– My Friend”. In the late afternoon, enjoy a performance by “Altai Snowcock”, a local youth organization for preservation and conservation of the surrounding area.
The entrance fees proceed to the funding of the club’s activities.
Enjoy in the evening a hearty dinner at the Three Camel Lodge. (Three Camel Lodge; L, D)
Day 2 Camel Racing / Competition 04 March
The competition begins with the race of mature camels followed by the two-year-old camel race. For your own enjoyment, you may make a bid for the camel you like.
The camels will be judged on their speed during the 15K and 12K races. The first three camels in the each group are awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals.
Enjoy lunch in the town of Bulgan. In the afternoon, sone of the most awaited competitions begins. This is called “Camel Relay”, a competition consisted of catching, taming, training and finally loading a camel with an actual ger.
There are several groups with 5 members, each of whom execute different roles. The closing ceremony takes place late in the afternoon when the winners will be presented with their trophies. Return to the Three Camel Lodge for dinner and overnight.
(Three Camel Lodge; B, L, D)
Day 3 Flaming Cliffs/Petroglyph 05 March
After breakfast, drive to a nearby mountain to visit an ancient petroglyph. Or after lunch you may to travel to the legendary “Flaming Cliffs” (1 hour), named for its glowing orange rock. It was here, in 1922, that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. To the trained eye, the red sandstone cliffs of the Flaming Cliffs are rich with dinosaur fossils and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site.
During the remainder of the day, you may watch any of the documentary films the lodge has including an award winning documentary “The Story of the Weeping Camel”. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Ulaanbaatar 06 March
After early breakfast, drive to Dalanzadgad for your return flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and after lunch we will visit Bogd khan winter Palace and Natural history Museum.
Farewell diner followed by folklore show. Overnight at hotel.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 Departure 07 March
Our team will pick you up from hotel and transfer to airport and international departure.
