Surprisingly, August in Mongolia has plenty of events, whether you are looking for a religious festival or want to explore some unique sides of nomadic –ethnic people; we have got the best August Events in Mongolia.
Here are some ideas for travel and inspirations to try something new through August in Mongolia.
Sunrise to Sunset Marathon
Date: August 3-9, 2019
Location: Toilogt camp, Khatgal village, Khovsgol province
One of World’s most beautiful 42 and 100 km Trials has been holding annually since 1999 on shore of beautiful Khovsgol Lake and its national park areas covered with untouched forests, mountains, Taigas and lowlands. The fascinating landscapes make Sunset to Sunrise marathon more stunning and worth visiting and participating. Camp Toilogt is an eco-tourism community set in a stunning spot on the shores of the lake which offers participants low-impact accommodation and the warmth of local hospitality, as well as simple hot showers and other basic conveniences. Camp Toilogt is also the site of the start and finish of MS2S. Prior to the race, participants have the opportunity to acclimatize to the altitude (1650 meters) and become acquainted with the course. For those interested, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and visiting local families (including Tsaatan reindeer herders) will also be possible.
Mongol Nomadic Naadam
Date: August 3, 14, 28
Location: Mongol nomadic camp (55km from Ulaanbaatar to the west)
This is a mini version of Mongolian famed Naadam festival organized by Mongol Nomadic camp. The festival begins with Mongolian long song and traditional horse head fiddle performance. There you can enjoy and experience legendary ‘Three Manly Games’ of Mongols including Wrestling, Horse riding, and Archery. You will have a golden chance to see and photograph these games, traditional concerts, and local participants as much as up close to you. You can take a short trip to explore this Nomadic Naadam and have an unforgettable memory of Mongols tradition within one day travel. If you would like to explore famous Mongolian Naadam festival in short time, this mini version of the festival can offer you great opportunities to track ancient nomadic life, its presence, long tradition and deep culture of Mongols.
Oirad Tumen- Western Mongolian Traditional Folk Art festival
Date: August 3-6, 2019
Location: Khirgene,Turgen soum, Uvs province
The festival has been taking place for more than ten years since 2006. In the festival, you will explore different ethnic Mongolian participants from Khalmik, Tuva, Goriny Altai of Russia, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Deed-High Mongol from China and from UB, Darkhan, Erdenet cities and neighboring provinces as Khovs and Bayan-Ulgii. The festival shows Oirad-Western Mongolian traditional art and cultural heritage such as throat singing, traditional dance, horse-headed fiddle, Tovshuur( guitar like two stringed instruments), cultural performances and contest as horse racing, wrestling, best traditional clothing, best couple horseman and nomadic talent contest. During the festival, you will experience the Western Mongolian Nomad culture, tradition, lifestyle and watching the process of how dairy products such as curds, cheese, and vodka are produced and visiting especially prepared Ger/ yurt/. The festival site is 100km from Ulaangom- central of Uvs province, 350km from Khovd and 220km from Olgii city.
3000 Long Song Singers’ Festival
Date– August 9-11, 2019
Location– Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, Dundgobi province
If you are planning to travel in Mongolia in August, this festival awaits your participation in beautiful and spectacular Ikh Gazriin Chuluu – mountain of granite rock in the Gobi with peak of 1706m high. 3000 famous and skillful long song singer across the country will intend to gather at open theatre of national long song of Mongolia and throw the biggest and historical event in n Mongolian legendary long song’s history of all time.
One Day of Nomadic Mongolia event
Date: August 5, 2019
Location: Khankhongor soum, Umnugobi province
The annual event of One Day of Nomadic Mongolia has been taking place since 2016 in Khankhongor soum, Umnugobi on every August 5. This event is so meaningful and interesting which offer more than 30 nomadic rituals connected with 5 domestic animals, nomadic life and daily shores, nomadic games and toys and traditional culture within only one day. You can explore unique rituals of 5 domestic animals individually such as milking mare and camel, lassoing horse and camel, catching horses with stick / Uurga/ and also different ages of horse racing. If curious about nomadic daily life, the event will let you explore up close and show what actually goes around and plus you can try it. There you can able to see 2 of Three Manly games, wrestling, and archery. Also, another unique part of the events is introducing Mongolian rituals for asking daughter-in-law before the wedding and the first time haircut of children. As a well-organized event, all the process of the event will be hourly scheduled so you can explore all of them one by one within a day. If you are in travel around in Gobi desert at the beginning of August, the event site is 25km from the province center and put it your bucket list.
Journey to Little 99 Warriors
Date: August 5-6 , 2019
Location: Tsaidam camp, Khashaat soum, Arkhangai province
If you traveling with your kids or interesting about how Mongolian nomadic kids grow up and their roles and abilities regardless of their young age, it is the best to stop over and participate in annual Journey of 99 little warriors while traveling around Khushuu Tsaidam-known as Orkhon Inscription written in Old Turkic alphabet in the early 8th century in Orkhon Valley. The journey is named after foal horses racing with 99 little warriors-kids. You can not only enjoy cultural activities of kids such as wrestling, archery, performance of children with traditional costumes, the national costume show, Giingoo-children song for horses but also explore adult wrestling and archery in there.
Orkhon Valley Horse Festival
Date: August 7, 2019
Location: Tsaidam bag, Khashaat soum, Arkhangai province
There are many horses related festival throughout Mongolia, but this festival is so unique because of the location Orkhon Valley-listed in historical sites of UNESCO. You can experience many cultural rituals and contests all related with horse and horsemen activities including lassoing horse, grabbing a lasso pole from land while riding a horse, horse bucking, a race of foal horses, Do you know Dembee? Airag drinking game, traditional ankle bone horse racing game and more. This festival will be a good choice for those who want to experience the land of the horse, riding and challenging competitions among men and capability and beauty of Mongolian horses.
The ceremony of Gongor Bumba
Date: August 16-18, 2019
Location: Amarbaysgalant monastery, Selenge province
This is 2nd time ceremony of Gongor Bumba in this year which is organized to make offerings to Gongor (White Buddha), a protective deity who abolishes difficulties and makes people abundant in property and food. This religious celebration in Amarbaysgalant monastery is considered as one of the biggest and important holidays for Mongolian Buddhists.
Mongolian religious worshippers, followers, and lamas believe that Gongor ingot ceremony brings plenty of wealth, so they gather at Amarbayasgalant monastery. You will find this unique religious ceremony only in Mongolia. Even though you’re not a true religious follower, you will be captivated through their rituals and occasions.
Khuraldai Naadam falconry festival
Date: August 17, 2019
Location: Chinggis Khaanii Khuree complex, Ulaanbaatar city
Falconry was practiced Mongolia at a very remote period and was already in high favour some 1000 years BC, that’s 3000 years ago. In 2009, Mongolia had initiated the work to make Falcon the National Bird and out of 44 species, ten species of falcon reside in Mongolia and thus the Saker Falcon became the National Bird of our country.
Morever, Falconry is considered a Living Human Heritage and Inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Mongolia is the of those eighteen countries.The Khuraldai Naadam-Falconry festival aims to arise public awareness of falconry culture, its protection and inherit to young generation. According to the festival organizers, wonderful events of falconry , horseback archery, fashion show and cultural performances will be hold during the festival.
2000 Reindeer Festival
Date: August 16-17, 2019
Location: Tsagaannuur soum, Khovsgol province
In the very north of Mongolia, there will be ”2000 Reindeer Festival” held on August 16-17th this summer. To discover a wonderland of Mongolian Tsaatan tribe by going on a trip to this part of the world – You will definitely make good memories of this unique festival which will be held just one time.
Yak Festival
Date: August 17-18, 2019
Location: Taikhar steppe, IkhTamir soum, Arkhangai province
There are several provinces as Uvurkhangai, Bayankhongor and Arkhangai celebrated the Yak Festival every year or once in two years in Mongolia. This domesticated wild animal has celebrated on Mongol yak festival at the beautiful Taikhar Steppe in Erdenetolgoi bag of Ikhtamir soum in Arkhangai aimag on 17-18 August 2019.Yak -Bos grunniens, long-haired and short legged ox-like , in Mongolia lives predominantly in high mountainous areas of Mongolia: in the high Altai Mountain range, the Khangai Mountain range and the Kharkhiraa and Khuvsgul mountains. During the festival, yak-related activities include yak parade, the best decorated yak, the best bull, yak milking contest, as well as the main and last event, a yak race across the Taikhar Steppe.
Mongolian Gobi Naadam-Khongor Khurd
Date: August 15, 2019
Location: Khongor sand dune, Sevrei soum, Umnugobi province
Gobi desert is the dream destination of travelers who come to Mongolia and also Naadam festival is the highlight event of nomadic Mongolia. Great combination –Mongolian Gobi Naadam festival is must-see event especially those who plan to travel in Mongolia in mid of August. So luckily, you will kill two birds with one stone. The festival will take place in famous Khongor Sand dune-biggest sand dune of the desert. You can enjoy Mongolian traditional-Three Manly Games especially in Gobi region and opportunities to deeply explore their culture and nomadic life through this local naadam.
The Victory of Khalkh Gol Battle
Date: August 27-28, 2019
Location: Khalkh gol soum, Choibalsan city, Dornod province
The Battle of Khalkh Gol took place from May 11 to September 16, 1939, at the Khalkh River in Mongolia. The battle was one of the most decisive battles in the region during World War II and it resulted in the defeat of the Japanese Sixth Army by Soviet and Mongolian soldiers. This year is the 80th anniversary of the battle and importantly, historical and memorical year to remember and give glory to those heroic soldiers who gave lives to the country and stop the war.
August in Mongolia has brought many new things with it and so dream about August and make it the best.
