The main affair takes place at a stadium in the capital of Ulaanbaatar. Parades of mounted cavalry dressed in traditional costumes open the 3-day event ceremonially, while thousands gather to watch. Tickets are sold out months in advance, so make sure to get yours at the earliest.<\/p>\n
Here’s what you can experience at this unique festival:<\/p>\n
Get a Grip on Your Wrestling Skills<\/h2>\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/two-mongolian-wrestlers.jpg\")
Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n
Bare-chested muscular men dressed in bright-colored trunks and long sleeve capes known as zodog<\/em>, intimidate their opponents by crouching and flapping their arms like eagles. In this traditional wrestling match, the only way to win is by getting the opponent\u2019s upper body to touch the ground multiple times within 30 minutes. The winner receives the title of bird, hawk, elephant, eagle, lion, or Titan, depending on how many rounds he takes to win.<\/p>\nRide Faster Than a 5th Grader<\/h2>\n![\"Mongolian](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mongolian-children-racing-their-horses-1.jpg\")
Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n
The horseback races take place at open-air venues in different aimags<\/em> (provinces) around the countryside. In Mongolia, only 5- to 12-year-old boys and girls racehorses for a 6- to 18-mile sprint. These kids start riding at just the age of 4 and race at very high speeds through dusty deserted trails, testing their skill and endurance.<\/p>\nHit the Mark at an Archery Contest<\/h2>\n![\"archers](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/archers-take-aim.jpg\")
Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n
Archery is one of Mongolia’s oldest sports and now allows women to compete as well, though with different rules. Bows are made of sinew, wood, horn, and bamboo and are strung with bull tendon. They deliver 20-40 arrows in every contest, as cheerleaders egg on the competitors with traditional folk songs.<\/p>\n
Drive Through One of the Most Deserted Places on Earth<\/h2>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/the-Gobi-desert.jpg\")
Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n
Driving through the bare Mongolian countryside is an adventure on its own. Without much cell reception, GPS signals, or street signs, you’ll often find yourself to be the only person on the road. Chances are you will see more camels and horses than people during long road trips, as Mongolia has about 3 million people and is twice the size of Texas.<\/p>\n
The landscapes change as you go from the Siberian Altai mountains in the west and the planet\u2019s oldest lakes in the northwest, to the vast expanse of the fossil-rich Gobi Desert in the south.\u00a0The Bayanzag<\/em> (Flaming Cliffs) area of the Gobi is home to some of the largest dinosaur fossils discovered in the world. Temperatures drop to \u221240\u00b0F in winter and rise to 122\u00b0F in the summer, making it hostile for human life.<\/p>\nSleep Like the Nomads<\/h2>\n
Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n
Bare-chested muscular men dressed in bright-colored trunks and long sleeve capes known as zodog<\/em>, intimidate their opponents by crouching and flapping their arms like eagles. In this traditional wrestling match, the only way to win is by getting the opponent\u2019s upper body to touch the ground multiple times within 30 minutes. The winner receives the title of bird, hawk, elephant, eagle, lion, or Titan, depending on how many rounds he takes to win.<\/p>\n Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n The horseback races take place at open-air venues in different aimags<\/em> (provinces) around the countryside. In Mongolia, only 5- to 12-year-old boys and girls racehorses for a 6- to 18-mile sprint. These kids start riding at just the age of 4 and race at very high speeds through dusty deserted trails, testing their skill and endurance.<\/p>\n Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n Archery is one of Mongolia’s oldest sports and now allows women to compete as well, though with different rules. Bows are made of sinew, wood, horn, and bamboo and are strung with bull tendon. They deliver 20-40 arrows in every contest, as cheerleaders egg on the competitors with traditional folk songs.<\/p>\n Image by Amanda-Villa Lobos<\/p><\/div>\n Driving through the bare Mongolian countryside is an adventure on its own. Without much cell reception, GPS signals, or street signs, you’ll often find yourself to be the only person on the road. Chances are you will see more camels and horses than people during long road trips, as Mongolia has about 3 million people and is twice the size of Texas.<\/p>\n The landscapes change as you go from the Siberian Altai mountains in the west and the planet\u2019s oldest lakes in the northwest, to the vast expanse of the fossil-rich Gobi Desert in the south.\u00a0The Bayanzag<\/em> (Flaming Cliffs) area of the Gobi is home to some of the largest dinosaur fossils discovered in the world. Temperatures drop to \u221240\u00b0F in winter and rise to 122\u00b0F in the summer, making it hostile for human life.<\/p>\nRide Faster Than a 5th Grader<\/h2>\n
Hit the Mark at an Archery Contest<\/h2>\n
Drive Through One of the Most Deserted Places on Earth<\/h2>\n
Sleep Like the Nomads<\/h2>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/a-traditonal-mongolian-yer.jpg\")
![\"traditional](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_650418814-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/shutterstock_133543547.jpg\")
<\/p>\n