Mongolian Gobi Desert Camel Festival Tour

The Gobi is the coldest desert in the world, and each year from 31 January to 3 February it hosts one of Mongolia's largest traditional festivals: the Gobi Camel Festival, held in Umnugobi province. Beyond the buying and selling of livestock, the festival has grown into a major tourist draw built around competitions such as camel polo, a "beautiful couple" costume contest, and camel racing — plus a group competition testing herders' skill at catching, taming, and loading a camel with an actual ger. It's a rare chance to witness the color and spectacle of one of the last great traditional gatherings, drawing livestock, farmers, traders, and villagers from across the Gobi. The 4-day program also visits Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs where American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews first discovered dinosaur fossils including Protoceratops eggs, and Yol Gorge in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, where a narrow, cliff-shaded valley stays out of direct sunlight year-round. Travelers also get a camel ride across the winter Gobi landscape. Nights are split between a local ger guesthouse in Bulgan village and one night in a local hotel in Dalanzadgad town. Easier–moderate difficulty; no experience necessary, and suitable for most ages and abilities. Runs as a join tour — the price depends on the number of travelers, so this trip cannot be booked by a single traveler.