Mongolia Travel: Location, Location, Mancation?
4/16/2008 at 2:00 PM
Tags: Mancations, Festivals, Culture (all tags)
April's half over and if you don't start planning this summer's mancation, you know none of your friends will. We suggest you join the thousands of spectators who flock to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding Gobi Desert each July for the country's annual "Three Manly Games."
OK, so officially it's the Naadam Festival, but our name for it is pretty accurate. Whatever you call it, this mid-summer Mongolian manfest is not your average guys getaway.
The Naadam Festival is a celebration of Mongolia's independence in 1921, and festivities are centered around spirited competitions in the three national "manly skills": cross-country horse racing, archery and Mongolian wrestling. You may also get to see the women test their manly wits with a horse and arrow, but wrestling is still strictly reserved for men. (Sigh.)
So how does one begin planning a trip to Outer Mongolia? The easiest way is to jump on a tour: Nomadic Expeditions has a "Classic Mongolian Odessy" that'll get you to the games. After you immerse yourself in the spirit and culture of the Naadam Festival, you'll spend the rest of your 12-day mancation exploring Mongolia's expansive landscape, including the legendary Flaming Cliffs and the Hustain Nuruu National Reserve, home to the world's last remaining species of wild horses.
The mantastic voyage begins July 3 and costs a reasonable $3,280 per person without airfare. You get a nice little 10% discount if you book before May 15, 2008.
Related Sites:
· Nomadic Expeditions [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]
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