Overview

Tsagaan Sar – Mongolia’s Lunar New Year Festival is the most famous celebration among nomadic Mongolians. The celebration happens for 3 main days, with feasting on the night of the new moon. Everyone dresses in their best clothes to visit family members, relatives, and friends. As with most New Year celebrations, Tsagaan Sar focuses on happiness and an optimistic future according to Mongolian tradition.

In this Lunar New Year experiencing trip, you will travel through Mongolia’s winter wonderland and dive deep into the world’s last surviving nomadic cultures with warm hospitality. 

This Tsagaan sar tour begins with nomadic culture acquaintaning activity by visiting must2see places in Ulaanbaatar city. Afterwards, we visit a host nomadic family in the Mongolian prairie. Our host nomadic family and their hospitality help our guests experience the unique customs and centuries-old nomadic traditions of the Mongols and their vibrant celebration – Lunar New Year.

After 2 days of Tsagaan Sar experience with our host family, travellers continue the nomadic journey through the winter wonderland by visiting Khutain Nuruu and Terelj national parks to see the world’s last wild horses and massive Chinggis Khaan statue.

Mongolia Lunar New Year 2022 Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 (Feb 27, 2025 ): Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar city, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a hotel in downtown. After you settled in, we will start a short city tour in winter Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, we will see a traditional art performance.

  • Travel time: From airport to Ulaanbaatar New International airport, 35 km on road.
  • Meal(s): Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: 4-star hotel near the city centre
Day 2 (Feb 28, 2025): Lunar New Year's Eve with a nomadic family

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive out of the city to visit a nomadic family where we spend the Lunar New Year. Once we arrive at the nomadic family’s home, your host family will welcome you with warm hospitality. In the evening, we begin lunar new year’s eve routines and customs with our host nomadic family.

   – Experience how Mongolian nomads prepare feast foods, special meals and drinks for the Lunar New Year’s celebration.

   – Help the nomadic family to take care of their livestock animals before they begin the feast.

   – Ride a horse for a short distance to bring drinking water from a frozen river with nomadic kids.

   – Visit the neighbour nomadic family by horse, according to the nomadic lunar new year’s eve custom.

   – Learning traditional games with a nomadic family.

  • Travel time: From Ulaanbaatar to the nomadic family, 140 km on dirt road. Approx 5-6 hours of driving but depends on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Mongolian traditional “ger” – a round-shaped felt dwelling with no separate rooms, no shower, no water from the wall, and no western toilet. We will spend the night in an extra ger of the nomadic family.
Day 3 (Mar 01, 2025): First day of the Lunar New Year: Shiniin Negen

Today we wake up early before dawn to join the host family for walking the first path of the new year before sunrise following a Mongolian custom relating to the individual’s birthday and year. Then we will do a lot of what Mongolians do on the first day of the New Year, following the Mongolian nomadic custom with the host family. Customs to do on the first day of the Lunar New Year:

   – Having a New Year’s breakfast with nomadic people.

   – Introduction to traditional greeting called “Zolgolt” & customs of Tsagaan Sar.

   – Traditional gift of Tsagaan Sar.

   – Ride a horse.

  – Free time (horse and camel riding available on request).

   – Learn Mongolia traditional dance “Zadgai tsagaan”, “Khumuun turlukhtun”

   – Enjoy the nomadic “Lunar New Year” tradition.

  • Travel time: Short drives only, near the nomadic family
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: same as the last night
Day 4 (Mar 02, 2025): Winter wildlife observation in Khustain Nuruu NP

After having breakfast at the camp, we will drive to Khustain Nuruu National park. The national park is famous for its unique inhabitants such as the world’s last species of truly wild horses named ‘Przewalski’s horse’, Asiatic red deer, roe deer, mountain sheep ‘Argali’, ibex, and lynx. Once we arrive in Khustain Nuruu National Park, we will watch a documentary movie about their story, and you will get a chance to see a rarely seen Takhi, the wild horses in nature. Overnight in a ger camp.

  • Travel time: From the nomadic family to Khustai National Park, on average 130 km on dirt road. Approx 4-5 hours of driving, but depends on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: In a ger camp near the entrance of the National Park.
Day 5 (Mar 03, 2025): Lunar New Year in Terelj National Park

Today we will have breakfast at the camp, then drive travel to Terelj National Park. After 2-3 hours of driving, we will reach Terelj National Park and visit a tourist resort. In the afternoon we will explore this alpine-like beautiful landscape, and if time permits, we will do a short dog-sledding on a frozen river between the forest. Overnight in a tourist resort.

  • Travel time: From Khustai National Park to Terelj National Park, on average 120 km on a paved road. Approx 4 hours of driving, but depends on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Sleep in a tourist resort in the park
Day 6 (Mar 04, 2025): Lunar New Year in Ulaanbaatar

Today we will have breakfast at the resort then drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Relaxing hours at the hotel. Also, you have time to visit the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops, and experience city nomads’ Lunar New Year by visiting Mongolian families in the afternoon. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant.

  • Travel time: From Terelj National Park to Ulaanbaatar city, on average 80 km on a paved road. Approx 2-3 hours of driving, but depends on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: 4-star hotel near the city centre
Day 7 (Mar 06, 2025): Departure

Today is the end of Mongolia’s Lunar New Year 2025 trip. Our team will transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight. Have a nice trip back home and thank you for choosing Way To Nomads Mongolia.

  • Travel time: From Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar New International airport, 35 km on road.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast

Group size: minimum of 2 & maximum of 6.

  • 2-3 Guests: $1840 US per person.
  • 4-5 Guests: $1480 US per person.
  • 6 Guests: $1390 US per person
  • Accommodation: 2 nights in a 4–star hotel, 2 nights in tourist resorts, 2 nights in a nomadic family’s ger.

  • Guiding and interpreting service

  • Meals per itinerary + drinking water

  • Camping equipment

  • Transportation: vehicle 4×4 or minivan

  • Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks

  • Museums and cultural performance

  • International airfare(s) to/from Ulaanbaatar
  • Personal equipment
  • Optional activity cost
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Travel insurance

Personal Information (Lead Traveller)

Tour Information

2-12 years old
Under 2 years old
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