Thousand Camel Festival 2025 in Mongolia

For the past 20 years, the Thousand Camel Festival has been organized by local camel-herding communities to protect the two-humped Bactrian camel and support the livelihoods of local nomads through tourism. This vibrant and unique event has become a magnet for both international and local travelers, as well as culture enthusiasts, earning its place as one of the world's most renowned winter festivals.

Festival Highlights

The Thousand Camel Festival begins with a colorful camel parade. Highlights of the festival include the "Camel Polo" competition, where teams of five camel-riding players compete using a ball with an 8-centimeter diameter and mallets measuring 130 to 140 centimeters. Camel races are another major attraction, featuring three categories based on age: a full-grown camel race, a three-year-old camel race, and a two-year-old camel race. The festival also offers traditional cultural performances and unique opportunities to experience the nomadic lifestyle of the Gobi Desert firsthand.

Dates

In past years, the festival was held at the beginning of March. However, due to the warming effects of climate change, the dates were moved up by one month. It is now regularly held each year from February 1 to 3.

Location

The festival takes place on the outskirts of Dalanzadgad, a small town in Mongolia's South Gobi (Umnugobi) Province. It is located approximately 422 miles (680 kilometers) from Ulaanbaatar, making it a relatively short journey by Mongolian standards.

Significance

The Thousand Camel Festival began in 1997 as a winter event designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage and daily life of Mongolia's camel-herding communities. In 2016, the festival gained international recognition when it set a Guinness World Record for the largest camel race, featuring 1,108 camels and jockeys completing a 15-kilometer course.

The festival was created to protect and promote the population of the two-humped Bactrian camel, a vital part of Mongolia's nomadic traditions. Thanks to these efforts, the population of Bactrian camels has grown significantly, rising from 192,000 to 460,000, while also increasing their economic value to local communities.