4 days
Key Information
Trip Length: 4 days/3 nights.
Tour Code: SMT-YAKF-4D
Meeting/Departure Points: Pick up at hotel, hostel, hostal or guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar (UB), Mongolia (excluding flights, train, hotel, guesthouse, transfers in Ulaaanbaatar city-on early request!).
Small Groups: 2-32 travelers-guaranteed!.
Special Group Tour Dates-2024: July 21-July 24 .
Total Distance: about +1000 kms/ +622 miles.
Airfare, Train Included: No.
Tour Customizable: Yes.
Tour Highlights: Pick up at hotel, hostel, hostal or guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar (UB), Mongolia. Meet Samar Magic Tours team. This journey designed especially for small groups, families, and funny travel.
The Yak Festival (in the last week of July): The Yak Festival is held in the last week of July in Bat Ulzii village (sum) of Ovorkhangai province, which is considered as the motherland of yaks, with cooperation's of yak herders and yak down product producers. During the festival activities such as, yak parade, yak race, a fashion show and an exhibition of yak down products will be organized. Visit a Yak breeder's family and experience the traditional customs and lifestyle of local residents. Övörkhangai /Uvurkhangai (Mongolian: Өвөрхангай, Öwörhangai; "southern Khangai") is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the south of the country. Its capital is Arvaikheer. The Erdene Zuu monastery and Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire are located in this province.
The Yak Festival is one of the most important festivals in Mongolia. It's held each year on the 23rd of July in Orkhon Valley, in Bat Ulzii sum, province of Ovorkhangai.
In Mongolia, the yak has a great value for nomadic breeders. It has many uses and is necessary for the good development of a farm. The yak can carry equipment on its back or tract a cart. Its wood is used for doing clothes, and, as any animal, its meat and milk are eaten. The main purpose of the festival is to promote the yak herder nomads, improve and increase the benefits of the yak related products, introduce the yak culture to the public, and attract tourists.
The main events of the Yak Festival are:
1. The opening speech of a local governor followed by yak parade and performance.
2. Yak lassoing (the participants lasso a yak from an untrained herd of yaks).
3. Yak training (the participants ride and train the yaks they lasso).
4. Team competition of the yak herders (the competition type differs).
5. Polo sport while riding yaks (could be some of the most interesting and fun sport. Yak is a strong animal among the other animals of the nomads).
6. Yak racing (the Yak Festival tends to be a fun activity and could be some of the slowest races. Almost half of the yaks reach the finish line walking or barely trotting).
7. Best yak product competition (dairy products, yak hair/skin/horn products, and all new ideas or creativity).
8. A demonstration of yak wool rope making (the rope plays in an important role for the nomadic housing and animal tethering).
9. Demonstration of yak dairy product making (you will see how many different types of products the nomads produce).
10. The Yak Festival closes by the competition winner prizes.
About Mongol Yak: There are approximately 1,005,000 yaks in 13 provinces of Mongolia. Thus, Mongolia has the world's second-largest yak heads in the world. The world yak population is 14.2 million. The mountainous yak habitat areas of Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Khuvsgul, Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, and Khovd provinces are among the top tourist destinations in Mongolia. Not only the mountainous northern and western regions of Mongolia. The yaks are in mountainous areas of the Gobi Desert such as Bayankhongor, Zavkhan, and Gobi Altai provinces. The yaks were domesticated relatively late and their isolated mountainous pastureland influences the animal's strong characters.
Excursion to Elsen Tasarkhai Dunes (known as the Bayangobi Desert): desert sand dunes spread over 80kms in a beautiful valley. Opportunity for hiking, walking through the dunes, and photographing the landscapes. We will visit an authentic nomadic family with Bactrian camel farms. One hour of excursion included to cross the dunes on the back of a Bactrian camel. Contact us / Book Now!: info@samarmagictours.com. We would be pleased to have you join us!.
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Day 1, July 21th
06:30AM-Pick up at your hotel or hostel or guesthouse, meet Samar Magic Tours team-Karakorum (the old capital of Mongolian Empire of Genghis Khan) of Ovorkhangai province (about 430km/268 miles, 6-7 driving hours). (L)(D)
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Day 2, July 22th
Visits Erdene zuu monastery-Karakorum museum-Monuments-Orkhon Valley of Ovorkhangai province. (B)(L)(D)
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Day 3, July 23rd
Yak Mongol Festival in Bat Ulzii village (sum) of Ovorkhangai province. (B)(L)(D)
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Day 4, July 24th
Karakorum-Bayangobi Desert-Ulaanbaatar (about 430km/268 miles, 6-7 driving hours). To be transferred. Tour ends or Post tour. (B)(L)
| July 21-July 24, 2024 | 12 persons or more | 8-11 persons | 3-7 persons | 2 person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-day of Yak Mongol Festival Tour | $ US 1,299 or 1,295 € | $ US 1,399 or 1,395 € | $ US 1,499 or 1,495 € | CONSULT! |
2024 Land tour costs per person in $ US or in Euros (€), based on double room from (4 days, excluding flights or trains)
Free: If you have a group of 16 persons (15 paying persons + 1 free, based on double room: 8).)
What's Included?
3 nights of accommodation at the tourist gers camp, based on standard ger for 2 people or more (according to the request!).
Full Board as specified (3B-breakfast, 4L-lunch, 3D-dinner), included 1 litr of mineral water a day, per person.
All transportation on comfortable 4WD vehicle in private, including the all petrol.
Services of English or Spanish speaking local guide (according to the request!).
All entrance fees to Yak Festival, Erdene zuu monastery, karakorum museum, and the monuments.
1 hour of excursion included to cross the dunes on the back of a Bactrian camel.
Meeting True Nomadic people.
Gentle hiking through wonderful landscapes.
Taxes and services.
What's Not Included?
Flights, and train tickets.
Occasional flight delays or cancellation.
Visa.
Hotel accomodation, Food, Transport, Guide, Entrance fees in Ulaanbaatar city (on ealy request!).
Early Check-in! at hotels.
Late Check-out! at hotels.
Excess baggage.
Any rescue costs or costs of early departure.
Changing of date of departure from Ulaanbaatar.
The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa, the necessary passport pictures, and the International airfares.
Travel insurance.
Items of personal nature such as gratuities to porters at hotels, telephone / telex / fax charges, laundry, beverages, meals, optional activities, and services not specified in the itinerary.
Any circumstances beyond of our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, weather conditions, etc.
