Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival
Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival is a yearly event taking place in early February. It is Mongolia’s only festival dedicated to the Bactrian camel.
Table of Contents
The Thousand Camel Festival: Quick Facts
When: Late winter / early spring (usually February or March)
Where: South Gobi region, Mongolia (close to Dalanzadgad)
What it celebrates: The Bactrian camel and the herding culture of the Gobi Desert.
Key events: Camel races, polo, traditional games, music, and craft displays
Why it exists: To support camel herding livelihoods and keep winter traditions alive in the Gobi
The dates of the festival changed in autumn 2023. Since its initiation, the festival has been held on March 6th and 7th. This was changed in 2023 to February. The reasons given by the organisers, Гайхамшигт говь аялал жуулчлалын холбоо (Amazing Gobi Tourism Association), is due to climate change as well as other factors.
A Winter Festival in the Gobi Desert
Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival was first initiated in 1997 and is organised by a local NGO alongside the Governor’s Office of Ömnögovi Province. The festival was created to help protect the Bactrian camel and to highlight the essential role it continues to play in the lives of nomadic herders in the Gobi.
Held each winter, the festival celebrates life in one of Mongolia’s harshest environments and offers an important opportunity for herding families to come together at what can be a particularly isolating time of year. Mongolians love a celebration, and that spirit is immediately evident in the atmosphere. Over a few lively days, the festival brings colour, noise, laughter, and a strong sense of community to the open desert.
Festival Events and Atmosphere
The programme features a wide range of competitions and events, including camel races, camel polo, and even a camel beauty pageant—although the judging criteria are never clearly announced or explained, which only adds to the charm.
There is also a traditional ankle bone (knucklebone) shooting competition, far more exciting than this brief description suggests. As with many Mongolian festivals, evenings are marked by concerts featuring traditional music and dance.
While visitors do attend, the festival remains deeply rooted in local participation. The majority of spectators are Mongolian, and their enthusiasm is unmistakable. It often feels less like an event staged for outsiders and more like a celebration created by and for the local community.
How Long to Stay
We recommend staying for both days to fully experience the range of competitions. The final events on the second day are often the highlight, while the concert during the evening is not to be missed. Visitors are also welcome to take part in the opening parade.
Flexibility is key. Think of the festival as a community fete rather than a tightly scheduled event—there may be delays, unexpected announcements, and spontaneous side shows. Our best advice is to remove your watch and enjoy being part of the celebration as it unfolds.
Bactrian Camels of Mongolia
As of 2020, there were approximately 472,934 domestic Bactrian camels in Mongolia, within a total livestock population of around 67 million. The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is easily distinguished by its two humps, unlike the single-humped dromedary.
For centuries, Bactrian camels have served as vital pack animals in Mongolia, including along historic trade routes such as the Tea Road. Their ability to tolerate high altitude, extreme cold, and prolonged drought makes them uniquely suited to the Gobi environment. Their pale colouring helps reflect intense summer sun, while thinner stomach hair allows heat to escape. Two pairs of long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand, and their tough teeth enable them to chew thorny desert plants.
Camels are also remarkably efficient with water. Their dry dung and highly concentrated urine help conserve moisture in arid conditions. While airag—fermented mare’s milk—is Mongolia’s most famous drink, desert herders produce a similar fermented beverage from camel’s milk known as khoormog.
Wild Camels and Conservation
Mongolia is also home to wild camels (Camelus ferus), one of the world’s rarest large mammals. The global population is estimated at around 1,000 individuals, with roughly 600 in north-west China and around 450 in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
The Wild Camel Protection Foundation (WCPF) is the only organisation in the world dedicated specifically to protecting wild camels and their fragile desert habitat from extinction.
Visiting with Eternal Landscapes
Experiencing the festival is also a way to understand winter life in the Gobi—how herding families adapt, gather, and celebrate in a demanding season. Our winter journeys place the festival within this wider landscape, allowing time to experience the rhythm of daily life alongside moments of shared celebration
Experience Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival
Alternatively, explore our other winter experiences here. We look forward to welcoming you.
Jess @ Eternal Landscapes
