Nomadic Culture and Naadam

The soul of Mongolia lies not in its cities but on its vast, open steppe, where a large part of the population still lives the ancient nomadic herding life, moving with their animals and dwelling in the ger, the round felt tent that is the enduring symbol of the country. To stay with a nomadic family, sharing their legendary hospitality, riding the small hardy horses and learning their way of life, is the essential Mongolian experience, celebrated each July in Naadam, the great national festival of the three manly sports: wrestling, horse racing and archery.

What you actually see

• The nomadic ger life - the felt-tent homes and herding way of life.
• Naadam - the great festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing.
• Horse riding - the small hardy horses central to the culture.
• The hospitality - the legendary welcome of the nomadic families.

When to go

June to September, the short summer, is the time to experience the nomadic countryside, when the steppe is green and the weather bearable; the great Naadam festival is held in July, most famously in Ulaanbaatar but also in towns across the country, and the smaller local Naadams are more intimate.

Honest expectations

A ger stay is a genuine cultural experience but a rustic one, with simple facilities, basic food heavy on meat and dairy, and shared living, so it suits open-minded travellers seeking authenticity over comfort. The big Ulaanbaatar Naadam is spectacular but crowded and ticketed; smaller countryside Naadams feel more genuine. The nomadic hospitality, the horses and the vast steppe, though, offer one of the world's last great traditional ways of life.

Nearby

The steppe, the Gobi and the central valleys all offer nomadic experiences.