YAK FESTIVAL

5 DAYS TRIP

Mongolia Yak Festival Tour

  • Duration: 5 days tour
  • Availability: July 23 or June 8
  • Begin and end: Ulaanbaatar city
  • Tour type: Yak Festival Tour
  • Price: 517$ p/p

Our highlights

  • An interesting sport where participants ride yaks and play a variation of polo. 
  • Enjoy activities such as camel riding at Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes.
  • A competition showcasing the best dairy, hair, skin, horn and other products derived from yaks. New product ideas are also judged. 
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Overview Itinerary Price

Overview:

The Yak Festival is an annual event celebrated on July 23rd or Jun 8th in the Orkhon Valley, in Bat Ulzii sum (district), Ovorkhangai province of Mongolia.  It aims to promote yak herder nomads, increase the benefits of yak-related products, introduce yak culture to the public, and attract tourists. 

Main Events of the Yak Festival

  1. Opening speech by the local governor, followed by a yak parade and performance. 
  2. Yak lassoing (participants lasso untrained yaks from a herd). 
  3. Yak training (participants ride and train the yaks they lassoed). 
  4. Team competition among yak herders (competition type varies). 
  5. Yak polo (an interesting sport where participants ride yaks). 
  6. Yak racing (often slow-paced with yaks walking or trotting). 
  7. Best yak product competition (dairy, hair, skin, horn products, and new ideas). 
  8. Demonstration of yak wool rope making. 
  9. Demonstration of yak dairy product making. 
  10. Yak Festival closes with prizes for competition winners. 

Mongolia has the world’s second-largest yak population after China, with approximately 1,005,000 yaks in 13 provinces. 

Yaks play a crucial role in the nomadic lifestyle, providing meat, milk, transportation, and raw materials for clothing and other products. 

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival and Introduction to Mongolian Culture

Morning:

  • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar: Check into your hotel and rest after your journey.
  • Welcome Breakfast: Enjoy a traditional Mongolian breakfast at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

  • City Tour: Visit key sites in Ulaanbaatar such as Gandan Monastery, Sukhbaatar Square, and the National Museum of Mongolia to gain an understanding of Mongolian culture and history.

Evening:

  • Welcome Dinner: Participate in a welcome dinner featuring traditional Mongolian cuisine, including dishes like buuz (dumplings) and khuushuur (fried meat pies).
  • Cultural Performance: Attend a traditional Mongolian music and dance performance to get a taste of the local art and culture.

Day 2: Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

  • Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai, a unique area of sand dunes, mountains, and rivers.
  • Enjoy camel riding and explore the sand dunes.
  • Overnight in a ger camp near the dunes.

Day 3: Travel to Yak Festival Site and Festival Opening

  • Travel to Festival Location: Depart from Ulaanbaatar and travel to the festival site, typically in the mountainous regions where yaks are herded. This could be in areas like Arkhangai or Zavkhan provinces.
  • Festival Opening Ceremony: Attend the opening ceremony of the Yak Festival, featuring traditional music, dance, and a parade showcasing yaks adorned with colorful decorations.
  • Yak Herder Interaction: Meet local yak herders and learn about their way of life, including how they raise and care for their yaks.
  • Traditional Mongolian Feast: Enjoy a dinner prepared by local herders, featuring dishes made from yak meat and dairy products.
  • Campfire Stories: Gather around a campfire for stories and songs shared by local herders.

Day 4: Yak-Related Activities and Cultural Exploration

  • Yak Racing: Watch or participate in yak racing events, a highlight of the festival where herders showcase the speed and agility of their yaks.
  • Yak Polo Demonstration: Experience a demonstration of yak polo, a unique and thrilling sport played on yakback.
  • Traditional Crafts Workshop: Participate in workshops where you can learn traditional Mongolian crafts such as felt-making, embroidery, and yak hair weaving.
  • Yak Products Market: Explore a market where you can purchase products made from yak wool, meat, and dairy.
  • Gers Stay Experience: Stay overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt), experiencing the nomadic lifestyle firsthand.
  • Stargazing: Enjoy the clear, unpolluted skies of Mongolia for an unforgettable stargazing experience.

Day 5: Back to Ulaanbaatar

Tour Price Includes

  • Accommodation (hotels in Ulaanbaatar, ger camps in rural areas)
  • Meals (full board during the tour)
  • English speaking guide
  • Transportation (comfortable vehicle with driver)
  • Entrance fees to all attractions and parks.

Tour price excludes

  • Personal needs
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratitude
  • Optional activities

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