Thousand Camel Festival

Temeenii Bayar

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Cultural & TraditionalBulgan/Umnugovi
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe Thousand Camel Festival began in 1997 as
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: MNT
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Thousand Camel Festival in Bulgan/Umnugovi

The Thousand Camel Festival takes place each winter (around February 1-3) in Bulgan town, Umnugovi (South Gobi) Province, organized since 1997 by local herding communities to protect and celebrate the declining Bactrian camel population. The festival opens with a camel parade, followed by races, camel polo and beauty contests.

In the early 1990s, herding communities in Mongolia's South Gobi Province watched the number of Bactrian camels around them shrink year after year.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The Thousand Camel Festival began in 1997 as a conservation-driven initiative by local Gobi herding communities, aiming to protect the Bactrian camel at a time when the species' numbers were in serious decline

02

The mystery stays covered

What started as a local effort has grown into a significant winter gathering in Bulgan town, opening each year with a camel parade before moving into races, camel polo matches and camel beauty contests

03

The city starts moving

The festival's most striking evidence of success came in a 2016 edition that drew a record 1,100-plus camels, and the broader conservation push connected to festivals like this one has coincided with Mongolia's Bactrian camel population growing from roughly 192,000 to about 460,000 today

04

The water draws everyone in

The festival is as much a working celebration of Gobi herding life as it is a spectator event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Thousand Camel Festival grew out of a 1997 conservation effort by local herding communities in Umnugovi Province to protect the Bactrian camel

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a two-humped species central to Gobi nomadic life for transport

The sacred route

Living ritual

milk and meat

The local code

Living ritual

The festival's camel parade

Tradition 5

Living ritual

polo and beauty contests both celebrate herders' relationships with their animals and support the broader push that has helped Mongolia's Bactrian camel population grow substantially over the past three decades

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Early February in the Gobi Desert brings extreme cold, often well below freezing, with sharp winds across open desert terrain. Heavy insulated outerwear, thermal base layers, a warm hat...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

MNT

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map47.91 N, 106.88 EOpen in Google Maps

Bulgan/Umnugovi, East Asia, Mongolia

Nearest airportUGA — Bulgan
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Bulgan/Umnugovi via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Bulgan/Umnugovi, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearEarly February in the Gobi Desert brings extreme cold, often well below freezing, with sharp winds across open desert terrain. Heavy insulated outerwear, thermal base layers, a warm hat, insulated gloves and sturdy insulated boots are essential; dust and sand can also blow across the open ground, so a scarf or buff for the face is useful.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Mongolia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Thousand Camel Festival?

Thousand Camel Festival is listed for Past edition: 6–8 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Thousand Camel Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Bulgan/Umnugovi, Mongolia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Bulgan/Umnugovi, East Asia, Mongolia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLtoursmongolia.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusOfficial source linked
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