Thousand Camel Festival 12-day Small Group Winter Tour

At a Glance

Dates: January 30 – February 10 2026

Group Size: 2-6

Duration: 12 Days

Trip Style: Small group, immersive, winter, cultural

Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Kharkhorin & Orkhon River Valley, Khogno Khan & Elsen Tasarkhai Sand dunes, Gobi Desert including Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) Yolyn Am and Tsagaan Suvraga,

Price: Between US$ 3,375 pp – US$ 2,575 pp depending on final group size

Key Experiences

A full day travelling by camel through Khögno Khan’s winter landscapes
Time at the Thousand Camel Festival, experienced as a working community gathering
Walking and exploring the Gobi at Bayanzag, Gurvan Saikhan, and Tsagaan Suvraga
Staying with families in the Orkhon Valley and Erdenedalai, seeing winter routines firsthand
Quiet time in vast winter landscapes, beneath some of the clearest night skies on earth

Travelling With Our Team

Heartland To Gobi With the Thousand Camel Festival Details

Jan 30: Final Arrival Day "Intro To Ulaanbaatar'

Welcome to Mongolia. On arrival, enjoy a complimentary transfer from the airport to your chosen accommodation. Later, join us for a relaxed introduction to Ulaanbaatar through local eyes — including a local-style lunch, and a welcome drink.

Your own choice of accommodation | Complimentary airport transfer | Local lunch & welcome drink

Jan 31 & Feb 1: Kharkhorin & Orkhon River Valley

Spend time exploring the cultural and natural heritage of Kharkhorin and the surrounding Orkhon River Valley—a UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights include Erdene Zuu Monastery and the Kharkhorin Museum and your stay alongside the Tumee herding family - one of our long-term local community partnerships.

Simple guest ger alongside Tumee herding family | Outside squat toilet & warm showers at local town shower house | Jan 11: Approx 7-8 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 2 & 3: Khogno Khan Nature Reserve & Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes

Drive to and explore the striking contrasts of this sacred granite mountain, where open steppe meets golden sand dunes. Walk, relax, take a one-daycamel trek, and visit the beautifully situated Erdene Khambiin Khiid temple.

Simple guest ger at small family ger camp Outside squat toilet & no showers | Feb 2: Approx 2-3 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 4: Erdenedalai, Middle Gobi

Spend an evening in the Middle Gobi with the Nergui herding family, experiencing their way of life.

Simple guest ger alongside Nergui herding family | Outside squat toilet & warm showers at local town shower house | Approx 6-7 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 5: Bayanzag | Flaming Cliffs

Visit the red sandstone landscapes of Bayanzag, known worldwide as the Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered—one of the Gobi’s most iconic sights.

Simple guest ger at small family ger camp | Outside squat toilet & warm showers at local town shower house | Approx 5 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 6 & 7: Thousand Camel Festival

This annual gathering celebrates the Bactrian camel and its essential role in Gobi life, while also serving as a practical winter meeting point for herding communities. Taking place during what can be a quiet and isolating season, the festival is as much about connection as celebration. Alongside the festival, the journey continues into Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, including time in Yolyn Am, where winter brings a different scale and stillness to the landscape.

Twin-share en-suite room at local hotel | Feb 6 & Feb 7: : Approx 2 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 8: Tsagaan Suvraga rock formations

After visiting the Gobi Museum of Nature and History, road trip through the vast open steppe to the dramatic chalk formations of Tsagaan Suvarga—a natural wonder shaped by time and wind.

Simple guest ger at family ger camp | Outside squat toilet & no showers | Approx 4-5 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 9: Baga Gazriin Chuluu rock formations

Travel through the vast open steppe to the dramatic and sacred granite formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu.

Simple guest ger at family ger camp | Approx 6-7 hours driving time | B/L/D

Feb 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar

A full day's drive returns you to Mongolia’s capital, where your journey concludes with a transfer to your chosen accommodation. The EL team remains on hand to offer advice and assistance, and we include a complimentary departure transfer for your convenience.

Your own choice of accommodation | Approx 6-7 hours driving time | B/L

Day to suit you: Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue & Terelj National Park (Complimentary Day Trip)

Visit Mongolia’s iconic Chinggis Khan Statue Complex and explore the great views from Turtle Rock and the Araybal Meditation Temple.

Your own choice of accommodation | Approx 1.5-2 hours driving each way | Local lunch

Group Size & Pricing

Our journeys are designed for small groups of 2–6 travellers with trips guaranteed with two bookings.

Deposit: US$ 600 pp . Flexible payment instalments are available for the remaining balance.

Sliding Price Scale

The more people who travel together, the lower the cost per person — so everyone benefits:

- Final group size of 2 guests: US$ 3~~,975 pp~~ US$ 3,375 pp

- Final group size of 3-5 guests: ~~US$ 3,315 pp~~ US$ 2,815 pp

- Final group size of 6 guests: ~~US$ 3,025 pp~~ US$ 2,575 pp

We know your holiday funds are precious. This sliding scale keeps our trips personal and immersive, while making them more affordable when shared — so if you know someone who might like to join, invite them along and take advantage of our friends & family discounts.

Why Travel with Us?

We know budget is personal, and every traveller has different priorities. Our prices may be higher than those of larger or budget-focused operators, but here’s what your payment supports:

Small-scale, ethical tourism – we welcome just 100–150 travellers a year, keeping experiences personal and meaningful.
Fair group sizes – groups of 2–6, giving you the flexibility of a private trip with the social feel of a small group.
Thoughtfully designed itineraries – crafted by our founder, Jess, with an emphasis on flow, balance, and season rather than profit.

Long-term partnerships – we invest in our local team and host families, rather than hiring freelancers seasonally or arriving unannounced.

Positive impact – your payment supports local employment, community initiatives, and responsible travel practices.
Not luxury, but genuine – we prioritise authenticity, fairness, and connection over fancy extras.

Curious where your money goes? See the breakdown on our Positive Impact tab.

Heartland to Gobi With the Thousand Camel Festival

This small group cultural journey moves from the heartland into the Gobi, offering Mongolia as it is lived — daily lives, winter realities, and wide spaces. Throughout the journey, we stay in homes and with people whose lives are shaped by the places we visit. These aren’t performances or staged encounters. They are ordinary days as lived by ordinary people.

This journey is designed for travellers visiting Mongolia for the first time, or for those returning who want to see familiar landscapes stripped back by winter and to understand how winter reorganises routines. Expect an understanding of Mongolia: cultural and historical, practical and contemporary, expansive and quiet, rural and urban.

You return not with a list completed, but with a sense of how places connect, how people live within them, and how winter reduces landscapes to shape, wind, and space.

Map Of Route

During this journey, you’ll experience a variety of accommodation styles, each offering insight into daily life in Mongolia and shaped by the season and setting:

Winterised Mongolian Gers

Throughout the trip, you’ll stay in winterised gers hosted by local families. These traditional felt dwellings have been insulated and prepared for winter, with heating provided by a central stove. Each ger accommodates 3–4 people, but you’ll always have your own bed and personal space.

A sleeping bag is required at the family accommodation: We provide a free rental service but our bags are not temperate rated.

Homestay at Khögnö Khan Nature Reserve Mongolia

Showers

Running water is rare in rural Mongolia, so showers are limited. On this itinerary we use town shower houses—simple cubicles with plenty of hot water, which many travellers describe as a highlight! You will need to bring a towel.

We also provide bowls and soap powder for hand-washing clothes if needed. Just to be clear: there are no washing machines.

Toilets

Think: a loo with a view!

Mongolia has very few public toilets, so on drives it’s a case of finding a private spot in nature (your trip assistant will give what we call “the toilet talk”).

At host family homes, expect Asian-style squat or long-drop toilets.If squatting isn’t second nature, you may want to practice before travelling—several of our guests recommend it.

These toilets aren’t designed to shock you; they’re simply part of everyday rural life. We provide toilet paper (though not the aloe vera variety!).

Mongolian Style Hotel

You’ll also spend one night in a simple Mongolian-style hotel, typically in a warm, twin-share room. Rooms are en-suite, though please note that hot water cannot always be guaranteed.

Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar on January 30th and February 10th is not included although we provide recommendations and can help with booking.

Meals

Each EL team travels with a simple kitchen, and most meals are prepared by your trip assistant. We don’t ask rural families—with limited access to shops—to provide meals, especially given the number of travellers with dietary needs. However, during each trip you’ll also share some meals with host families, stop at guanz (roadside cafés), and eat in local restaurants.

Our trip assistants are not trained chefs, but they know how to keep you well-fed. Meals are based around local, seasonal produce with a focus on food miles. You won’t find elaborate international dishes, but you can rely on hearty, filling food that sustains you. If five portions of fruit a day are a must, you may find this challenging in remote Mongolia.

We can cater for vegetarians, some dietary restrictions, and food allergies—but only with advance notice. Please share your requirements when booking so we can advise what’s possible and set realistic expectations.

Drinks

We provide filtered drinking water, tea, and coffee throughout. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased en route. Choice is limited in the countryside, so if you enjoy a good bottle of wine or whisky, we recommend stocking up in Ulaanbaatar before departure.

Since rural areas lack running water and recycling is minimal, we avoid bottled water. Each team carries large containers and filters water from town stations. Please bring a reusable bottle (a filter bottle is even better). A detailed packing list is provided on booking.

Transport

Our driving team is made up of men we know personally and have worked with for years. Their English is limited, but their road skills are unmatched—whether navigating tough terrain or practicing mongolchlokh (improvising the Mongolian way) when a tyre bursts or a vehicle breaks down. And yes, breakdowns do happen—this is Mongolia, after all. By travelling with us, you’re supporting the long-term employment of experienced, traditional men who use their income to provide for extended families.

Each driver owns their own vehicle, which may include Furgon 4×4 vans, Toyota Land Cruisers and Lexus models, Hyundai Starex, or Mitsubishi Delicas. Because they’re driver-owned, interiors and seating layouts vary, and each vehicle is fitted with either lap or seat belts.

We assist with maintenance fees, and all vehicles undergo:

- Annual assessments by the Mongolian Government for tourism standards

- Standard MOT checks

- Licensing for tourism use.

Learn more about our drivers and their tour vehicles here.

Travel Times

Road travel is a central part of journeying through Mongolia, one of the world’s largest countries. Daily travel times are provided as a guide rather than a promise, and we deliberately allow generous estimates to help set realistic expectations.

Average speeds typically range from 30–65 km/h, depending on road and weather conditions. Where routes include dirt roads, this can mean anything from smooth gravel to corrugated tracks, rocky sections, tree roots, or mud, varying with location and season.

Included in the price

All meals outside of the city of Ulaanbaatar unless otherwise stated: These are mainly prepared and cooked by your local team so they are fresh and it means we offer more flexibility for any dietary requirements. We also provide filtered drinking water (not bottled), tea, and instant coffee.

You’ll be supported by one of our experienced intergenerational teams - made up of a male Mongolian driver and one of our English-speaking female trip assistants—helping create an immersive and well-supported experience. Jess and Tuya are also available throughout your journey via WhatsApp.

Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience including a local lunch and welcome drink

Transportation to and from the airport or train station on arrival and departure days

Entrance fees to monasteries, temples, and museums are included when you are with the local team. Please note this excludes camera tickets.

Festival tickets are provided if listed in the itinerary.

Camel or horseback rides (please note, riding helmets are not provided)

Thoughtful Extras – We add a few gentle surprises—small touches that express our thanks for choosing to travel with us.

Not included in the price

International airfare to and from Mongolia

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar: Our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in UB though. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. I provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and I can also help with booking. There’s everything from a homestay through to Airbnb, US$10 guesthouses and the Shangri-La!

Domestic flight where/if applicable including any fees for excess luggage

Passport and visa fees: Let us know your nationality at the time of booking and we’ll confirm whether you need to apply for a Mongolian visa. It is a relatively easy process depending on your nationality and we can help with some of the formalities.

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Gratuities: Each member of the local team receives a responsible but fair salary and none have to rely on receiving gratuities to supplement their income. In addition, we make sure that everyone who works with us or helps us is fairly rewarded for their work and the service they provide. At the end of the tour, if you wish to make a gratuity to the local team then thank you – it is not compulsory but it is appreciated when given. We give detailed information on booking.

Personal Expenses: We provide detailed guidance on booking

Alcohol: Alcohol is available to buy in shops and supermarkets throughout your trip, and your team will make regular stops.

Our winter trips all have a 15% discount as a way of encouraging travellers to travel outside of the main travel season – helping to make tourism less concentrated around peak season in Mongolia (summer) and to help the income of the people we work with be more evenly distributed.

No domestic flights. Emissions per km for domestic flights are high because a large proportion of the flight is spent taking off and landing. As we are serious about tackling the carbon footprint of the trips we offer, we try that a majority of our experiences don’t include domestic flights.

The maximum group size is six which is refreshingly small for the travel industry and allows us to manage our impact.

We are in the process of measuring the carbon footprint of each experience we offer and balancing the footprint through the Mongolian Nomad Carbon Project. We wanted a high-standard project local to Mongolia where the local community had a positive say in the scheme and its impact. It’s the first project of its kind in Mongolia – restoring traditional nomadic practices to enable ecosystem recovery and carbon uptake.

Our team of female Mongolian trip assistants is breaking down barriers in tourism and leading the way for other Mongolian women from a diverse range of backgrounds to work in and be supported by tourism. Mongolia’s growing economy has not directly translated into better employment opportunities for women and by choosing to travel with us you’re helping us to create long-term development and employment opportunities for our brilliant trip assistants.

High unemployment rates and toxic masculinity are two very real issues faced by older more traditional men in Mongolia. By choosing to travel with us you’re helping us to provide long-term employment for our team of older, more traditional male drivers who have experience and accumulated knowledge but who would otherwise struggle to find employment and provide for their extended families.

The experience has been built with a focus on Mongolian culture and on creating local benefits for local people & communities including families we work in long-term local community partnership with – helping to supplement their income to help prevent urban migration, face the challenges of climate change and allowing them to maintain their fragile herding lifestyle. More about who we work with here.

A donation is made to the Mongolian projects that we provide long-term support to (and that you will visit) such as the Uuliin Nuur Community Project in Ulaanbaatar.

We are members of Tourism Declares A Climate Emergency and a signatory of The Glasgow Declaration which requires us to publish an annual Climate Action Plan. It also means we have essentially signed up to work towards halving our emissions by 2030. We must report publicly on an annual basis on progress against our interim and long-term targets, as well as on actions being taken. We do this in our Climate Action Plan linked above.

One of the five pathways defined in the Glasgow Declaration is ‘measure’ and we have started the process of measuring the carbon footprint of our tours.

We wanted an accurate footprint analysis whilst also keeping the process manageable, achievable, and affordable. Of the limited carbon calculators available to small tourism companies with a restricted budget we have signed up with the carbon calculator tool Carmacal – specifically designed for tour operators and the 2017 winner of the UNWTO Award for Innovation in Research and Technology.
However, there are limitations with this online tool in the fact that – like most online carbon calculators – you can only measure transport and accommodation and a few very specific activities. But, the main contributors to carbon footprints are food, consumption, transportation, and energy, and all are heavily utilised during a tourism experience.
As a result, founder Jess has worked with two postgraduate students from the Responsible Tourism Management Postgraduate Course of Leeds Beckett University in the UK – the only responsible tourism management MSc certified by the UNWTO – looking at how we can measure the carbon emissions of meals on tour as well as the carbon footprint of our office as well as certain tour activities.

Balancing Our Carbon Footprint

We are in the process of measuring the carbon footprint of each of our tours. Once this is complete, we will balance those emissions by purchasing Plan Vivo–certified carbon certificates (environmental service certificates that each represent the reduction or avoidance of one metric tonne of CO₂) through C-Level and the Mongolian Nomad Project, delivered in partnership with the Mongolian Society of Range Management. The Plan Vivo Standard is built on ethical principles that deliver long-term climate, livelihood, and biodiversity benefits.

In the meantime, we have partnered with C-Level to fund a secure carbon calculator (linked below) for our guests. Through this, you can:

Balance the footprint of your flights
Offset a chosen amount of CO₂ (including your annual footprint)
Or make a direct donation to support the project’s work

Each contribution is invested in Plan Vivo Certificates that support the Mongolian Nomad Project

We know this isn’t perfect, but it is a start. As the saying goes: “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” For us — a small business with limited resources — this approach is both realistic and achievable.

‘My Mongolian experience far exceeded whatever I’d imagined previously… and I would love to return even in the winter ( I know it was challenging at times re weather but I revelled in it). I fell in love wth the camels and my homestay families and would love to have further experiences with them.'

EL guest Julie Faint, Thousand Camel Festival

FAQs

We have a detailed FAQ page covering everything from packing lists to payments. Below are answers to the most common questions our guests tend to have at this stage.

Booking Conditions & Payment

Deposit

Deposit of US$ 600 pp with flexible payment options for the remaining balance

Booking Conditions

Our booking terms and conditions cover payments, cancellations, and other key details. You can read them here.

If you decide to cancel your trip, by choice or necessity, up to 10 weeks before departure, we will fully refund your deposit (and balance if paid). Refunds will be made in GBP or US$ excluding fees we incurred to receive your payment and any cancellation fees we incur for domestic flights or accommodation booked at your request. The actual amount you receive may be lower or higher depending on the exchange rate used by your bank.
If you decide to cancel between 10 and 31 days before departure, we will fully refund your balance (if paid), and your deposit will be held as credit to be used on a different trip instead (with no cut off date. This can be transferred to a friend or family member). Refunds will be made in GBP or US$ excluding fees we incurred to receive your payment and any cancellation fees we incur for domestic flights or accommodation booked at your request. The actual amount you receive may be lower or higher depending on the exchange rate used by your bank.
If you cancel within 30 days of departure, we will retain the following percentage of your deposit and balance.
30 days before departure – 50% of holiday cost
29 – 15 days before departure – 90% of holiday cost
Less than 15 days before departure – 100% of holiday cost

Notes

There is no time limit on when you may use your deposit credit, but it is non-refundable if you decide to cancel in future.
Failure to join the tour will also mean you forfeit the tour cost. We will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

Who This Experience Is For

This Is Right For You If…

You’re curious, adaptable, and interested in Mongolia as it is — including the occasional bumps along the way
You’re comfortable travelling with real people and adapting to change, understanding that plans may shift (with thoughtful alternatives in place)
You enjoy unstructured time — space to read, wander, or share a mug of tea, letting the day unfold naturally
You value travel that supports more equitable tourism, using travel as a force for positive social impact

This May Not Be Right For You If…

You prefer luxury accommodation or frequent hot showers
You’re uncomfortable with basic rural facilities, including occasional shared accommodation
You expect fixed schedules and tightly planned days
You’re looking for staged cultural performances or highly curated moments for social media
You approach travel with a checklist mindset rather than an interest in everyday life

Accessibility Considerations

Our small-group journeys are shaped around traditional celebrations, rural environments, and specific travel routes. As a result, experiences may or may not be suitable depending on individual accessibility needs. We encourage travellers to review our Accessibility Information page for further detail and to get in touch with us directly with any questions — we’re always happy to talk through what’s possible and help you decide whether a particular trip is the right fit.

Experiencing Mongolia In Winter

Winter is a defining season in Mongolia. Yes, it’s cold — sometimes very cold — but it’s also what gives the landscape its clarity, stillness, and scale. Temperatures can sound daunting on paper, yet Mongolia’s cold is dry and often feels less severe than expected. With the right preparation and good thermal layers, –25°C here can feel comparable to –5°C in damper parts of Europe.

Winter travel doesn’t require specialist expedition gear, but it does ask for thoughtful preparation. A simple layering system — base layers, insulation, and a windproof outer shell — goes a long way. Warm, practical essentials such as sturdy boots, thick socks, gloves, and good head and neck protection are key.

Travel also moves differently in winter. Distances take time, weather can change quickly, and daylight hours are shorter. This slower rhythm is part of the season and part of the experience.

We provide all guests with a detailed packing list on booking to help you arrive properly prepared without overpacking. Winter travel also calls for something less tangible: a willingness to adapt, to slow down, and to move in step with the season — embracing a quieter, more deliberate way of travelling.

Turn It Into A Tailor Made Experience

Turn This Into a Tailor-Made Journey

If our travel philosophy resonates with you but you’d prefer a private trip or some flexibility around the itinerary, we can tailor elements of Tsagaan Sar Insight to suit your needs. This might include upgrading some accommodation, adjusting travel dates, or extending or shortening the journey. Get in touch to talk through the options and see what’s possible.

Other Logistics

Visas

Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. For the most up-to-date information, we recommend checking evisa.mn. If you need guidance, we’re happy to help once your booking is confirmed.

International Flights

All international flights arrive at Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN). We don’t book international flights, but we can advise on routes and airlines. Most travellers connect via Korea, Turkey, China, or Japan.

Airport transfers are typically included unless your journey begins in Ölgii, Mörön, or the Gobi but do check with Jess.

Domestic Flights

Some experiences include domestic flights within Mongolia, typically operated by MIAT or Hunnu Air. These are small aircraft, and schedules are subject to weather and operational changes, so flexibility is essential.

Domestic flights are excluded unless stated otherwise, as fares fluctuate. Keeping flights separate helps keep overall trip costs lower for you, but we handle all domestic flight bookings on your behalf.

Baggage allowance on domestic flights:

15kg checked luggage
5kg hand luggage

Excess baggage on domestic flights:

Usually USD $1–3 per kilo paid at check-in (not always applied)

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is essential for all travellers. While emergencies are rare, your insurance needs to work if something does go wrong. Arranging appropriate coverage is your responsibility.

What this means in practice

If you travel without insurance, you will be personally responsible for any costs arising while you’re away — including medical treatment, evacuation, delays, or other unexpected issues. You may also lose money if you need to cancel your trip and are unable to recover costs.

We provide guidance and links to suitable insurance options once you book.