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Thousand Camel Festival winter camel trek

Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival

Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival is an extraordinary annual event that now takes place from February 1-3 each year. This vibrant celebration is Mongolia’s only festival dedicated entirely to the Bactrian camel, an iconic species vital to the lives of the nomadic herders of the Gobi Desert. Mark your calendars—it all currently happens in Dalanzadgad Soum, a district of Umnugobi Province, in the heart of the southern Gobi Desert.

Why the New Dates for Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival?

The festival dates were permanently changed in autumn 2023, moving from March 6-7 to February 1-3. The organisers of the event, the Amazing Gobi Tourism Association (Гайхамшигт говь аялал жуулчлалын холбоо), explained that the change was prompted by climate change and other key factors, ensuring the festival continues to thrive under shifting conditions.

A Mongolian camel herder in Bulgan - location of Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival

A Celebration of Culture and Community

You’ll often see the phrase “a celebration of culture and community” in descriptions of the Thousand Camel Festival—and for good reason. Since its inception in 1997, initiated by a local NGO and the Governor’s Office of Umnugobi Province, the festival has stood as a vibrant tribute to the Bactrian camel and its essential role in shaping Mongolia’s culture, economy, and heritage. Beyond its focus on camels, the festival serves as a vital gathering for nomadic herders, offering a rare opportunity to unite, celebrate, and foster a sense of community during the harsh, isolating winter months in the expansive beauty of the Gobi Desert.

What to Expect at Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival

Part of the Thousand Camel Festival held in Mongolia's southern Gobi in March is the best dressed couple and best looking camels competition.

The Thousand Camel Festival offers three incredible days of entertainment, blending tradition, community, and celebration.

The Thousand Camel Festival offers three days of events, with a variety of contests and cultural celebrations. Highlights include camel races, camel polo competitions, and the always intriguing camel beauty pageant—a spectacle made even more amusing by the mysterious, unexplained criteria for selecting the winner.

You’ll also experience the traditional ankle bone (knucklebone) shooting competition, an ancient Mongolian game that’s far more thrilling than its simple description suggests. Adding to the festive atmosphere, there’s often an evening concert featuring traditional music and dance.

Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival 2025

Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival 2025 programme 1

Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival 2025 programme 2

Mongolia's Thousand Camel Festival 2025 programme 3

This isn’t just a tourist attraction—it’s a festival for locals by locals, offering an authentic, joyous atmosphere. It often feels like a community fete, complete with the delightful unpredictability of local events. Forget your watch, embrace the spontaneity, and enjoy immersing yourself in the warmth and celebration of the Gobi’s nomadic culture.

Bactrian Camels In Mongolia

The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a remarkable animal, perfectly adapted to the extreme environment of the Gobi Desert. Bactrian camels are a cornerstone of life in this region and, in 2020, there were approximately 472,934 domestic Bactrian camels in Mongolia, out of a total livestock population of 67 million.

For centuries, Bactrian camels served as reliable pack animals, even traversing ancient trade routes like The Tea Road. Their remarkable adaptations include:

  • Tolerance for extreme climates: They thrive in high altitudes, freezing winters, and drought-prone environments.
  • Reflective pale coats: Their light-colored fur helps deflect the sun’s rays during scorching summer days.
  • Heat-regulating features: Thin stomach hair allows body heat to escape efficiently.
  • Defense against sand: Two pairs of extra-long eyelashes shield their eyes from sandstorms.
  • Specialized diet: Tough teeth enable them to eat even the thorniest desert plants.
  • Water conservation: They produce dry dung and concentrated urine to minimize water loss.

Mongolian herders also utilise camels for their milk, creating khoormog, a fermented camel’s milk similar to the mare’s milk drink, airag, enjoyed in other parts of the country.

Bactrian camel Mongolia

Mongolia is also home to the critically endangered wild camel (Camelus ferus). With fewer than 1,000 individuals left worldwide, they represent a rare and ancient species. Approximately 600 wild camels reside in the Gobi Desert of northwest China, while around 450 live in Mongolia’s Gobi.

The Wild Camel Protection Foundation (WCPF) is the only organisation globally dedicated to preserving this extraordinary creature and its untouched desert habitat, ensuring the survival of one of the world’s most unique and resilient animals.

Join Us for Mongolia’s Thousand Camel Festival

If this unique and fascinating festival speaks to you, join us at Eternal Landscapes for our annual Thousand Camel Festival small-group experience. Learn more about our Winter Tours in Mongolia, including our Thousand Camel Festival Tour.

This is your chance to immerse yourself in and support  the culture, landscapes, and traditions of the Gobi.

We look forward to welcoming you!

— Jess @ Eternal Landscapes

Jessica Brooks
Jessica Brooks
I'm Jess Brooks, the founder of Eternal Landscapes Mongolia and the voice behind EL's blog posts. For almost two decades, since 2006, I've been based in Mongolia, working closely with my beloved Mongolian team to advocate for a tourism approach that brings about positive change.. What sets our blog apart is our deep understanding of Mongolia—our home. Unlike content from influencers or creators, our posts prioritise authenticity and firsthand knowledge as guiding principles.