Naadam Festival Private Viewing PackageWrestling, Archery, Horse Racing

Naadam is Mongolia's largest festival, held every year around 11 to 13 July, to mark the anniversary of the 1921 revolution, and it is an ancient tradition of three sports, often called the manly games: wrestling, archery and horse racing. In 2010, UNESCO inscribed Mongolian traditional festivals, including Naadam, on its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The national celebration takes place in Ulaanbaatar, with smaller local versions held across the country throughout the summer.

The day begins with a pickup from your hotel in Ulaanbaatar at 8:00 AM. The festival opens at the national stadium with a ceremony of parades, music, horsemen in medieval armour, dancers and speeches, a spectacle that recalls the empire of Genghis Khan. Reserved seats are arranged for you, which matters because the stadium is packed. Your guide explains the symbols, costumes and traditions.

Wrestling follows in the stadium. Mongolian wrestling has no weight classes or time limits: a wrestler loses when any part of his body other than his feet and hands touches the ground. The wrestlers wear a short jacket, zodog, and briefs, shodog, and a traditional hat. The number of wrestlers is a power of two, usually 512 or 1,024, and the winners advance through rounds over two days. The victor of the national tournament is called Avarga, or Titan. After each victory, the wrestler performs an eagle dance, flapping his arms.

Archery takes place at a separate range, with both men and women shooting traditional bows at targets around seventy-five metres for men and sixty for women. Points are scored by a team of judges who sing out results with a ritual chant.

Horse racing is the most distinctive of the three sports. The races are held on the steppe outside the city, over distances of fifteen to thirty kilometres, depending on the age of the horses, and the jockeys are children, usually between five and thirteen years old. The children ride bareback, and the crowd sings songs of praise as the horses approach the finish line. Riders wear helmets and safety measures have been introduced, though the races carry risks. Your private transport takes you to the finish area, subject to access on the day.

The festival is very crowded, and accommodation and transport in Ulaanbaatar must be booked well in advance. Bring sun protection, a hat, layers for changeable weather and cash. Try the traditional festival foods, such as buuz dumplings and khuushuur, meat pastries.

The day lasts around nine hours. Reserved stadium seating for the opening ceremony and wrestling, private transport, an expert guide and interpreter, access to the archery range and a transfer to the horse-racing steppe are included. Accommodation and meals are not.