Legendary horse races
Difficult to evoke Mongolia without having in mind the image of these riders launched at full speed in the steppes... The horse races still attract the crowds in the Mongolian steppe on the occasion of the national festival of Naadam
. Especially the races of horses from 2 to 6 years old. The horses are separated according to their age, and the distance to be covered is proportionally longer. Thus, the 5 years old run 30 km, the 4 years old 21 km, etc. The distances are very long, and the discipline is dangerous both for the riders (sometimes victims of impressive falls) and for the horses. It happens at least once per Naadam that a horse collapses before the finish line and never gets up again. However, the horses have undergone very rigorous training. A few weeks before the race, their food is reduced and they are trained over longer and longer distances, often in the sun, to melt their fat mass.Note that the riders are children, mainly boys, aged 8 to 15 years old and not more because they must be small. And most of them ride bareback, to lighten their mount as much as possible! They are dressed in colorful pants and blouse, and wear a kind of hat with a vertical visor on the front. The riders riding the same owner's horses are all dressed identically and have numbered bibs attached to their blouses.
Before the start, the riders go around the referees' stand three times, singing to encourage their horses. One of the referees then leads them to the starting point, and the race is run in a long straight line across the steppe. Only the performance of the horse counts, not the rider. Thus, a horse that has knocked its jockey off his feet, but still crosses the finish line, will be classified like the others.
The winner is the object of all the attention. He is given a blue scarf, and spectators crowd around him to catch a few drops of his sweat, which is supposed to bring happiness and luck throughout the year! In races reserved for 2 year old horses, the last horse to arrive is not abandoned to his sad fate either. A song is sung in honor of the one nicknamed "full stomach", and the defeat is attributed not to the horse but to its owner and rider..Traditional wrestling and sumo wrestling
The other very popular discipline of Mongolians is wrestling. However, these fights can be a bit confusing for foreigners who do not master the rules. Wrestlers usually compete over 9 rounds, but there are no weight categories. In fact, wrestlers are ranked at the beginning of the Naadam according to their previous performances, and those at the top of the table can choose their opponent. Thus, the first round usually turns into fights between big strong men and small frail ones, the second ones being generally turned over like pancakes in a few seconds only!
The course of the fights is very ritualized. Each wrestler is accompanied by his trainer, who ceremoniously holds his hat during the fight. The wrestlers are dressed in minimalist briefs, a camisole that is wide open on the chest, and are wearing colorful boots. Wrestling legend justifies the camisole as a measure to unmask women who would have had the idea to compete with their male counterparts (this apparently happened before when the wrestlers were dressed in closed blouses and the women would have won!) Almost any blow is allowed, and the objective is to force the opponent to put a knee or an elbow to the ground. After each fight, the winner goes in short strides towards the banners, around which he performs the eagle dance by imitating with his arms the flapping of the bird's wings. He then returns to the unfortunate wrestler, who passes under his arm as a sign of submission.
Winning a Naadam is a title of glory that reflects on the whole family. The wrestler who won 5 out of 9 rounds is called the Falcon, the one who won 7 rounds is called the Elephant. The winner of the Naadam is given the title of Lion, and the one who manages to keep his title for at least two years is recognized as Titan.
A predilection for sumo. Strong of this ancestral tradition of wrestling, Mongolians are logically very successful in another discipline: sumo. Among the most successful sumo wrestlers at the international level, there are two Mongolians: Asashoryn Akinori (fighting name of Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj) and Hakuho Sho (real name Munkhbat Davaajargal), although the latter, a true legend of the discipline and certainly the greatest in history, has chosen Japanese nationality in 2019. He has lived in the Japanese archipelago since he was 15 years old. Among professional sumo wrestlers, the largest foreign contingent is the Mongolian one. Although they are generally smaller and less corpulent than their Japanese counterparts, they often manage to win thanks to a more elaborate technique, inherited from the Mongolian wrestling tradition.
Archery, a traditional discipline
Archery is the third discipline of Naadam, and remains the least popular with the Mongolian public. The discipline has evolved since, traditionally, archers used to shoot while riding a galloping horse. They now stand still and aim at targets made of small sandbags piled on the ground. The discipline is open to women and children, who compete in separate categories. For children up to 16 years old, the target is placed at a distance proportional to their age (age x 4 for boys, age x 3 for girls). Men shoot at targets placed at 75 meters, while women shoot only at 60 meters. Probably the most attractive sight in archery competitions is the family and friends of the shooter. Placed on either side of the target, they perform dances and songs after each arrow, giving the archer feedback on the accuracy of his shot.
Popular modern sports
Combat sports. On the international sports scene, Mongolia is, as you may have understood, mostly known for combat sports. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, the vast majority of Mongolian athletes were competing in sports such as judo, wrestling, shooting or boxing. The Mongolian delegation won a silver medal (Saeid Mollaei) and two bronze (Urantsetseg Munkhbat, Tsend-Ochiryn Tsogtbaatar) in judo and a bronze (Bat-Ochiryn Bolortuyaa) in wrestling.
Basketball. This sport, which is not part of the traditional sports, is quite popular among young people. There are basketball courts everywhere, even deep in the steppe and where you would not expect it. Everyone plays, everywhere and all the time. Foreigners are always welcome and are quickly invited to join a team. The women's national 3x3 team participated in the Tokyo Olympics.
Discovering a mythical nature
Obviously, Mongolia is the image of an almost virgin nature, from the vast steppes of Eastern Mongolia to the infinite flatness of the Gobi desert, through the snowy peaks of the Altai or the depression of lakes in the north of the country. Real paradise for the observers of fauna and flora, there are different ways to discover it
Hiking and trekking. The national parks of the country offer many opportunities for trekking and the western aimags will be the favorite terrain of lovers of high mountains and snowy peaks. The activity must nevertheless be practiced with the greatest caution, and with a solid local supervision. The areas that offer the most beautiful trekking (Altai Nature Reserve, Gurvan Saykhan National Park, Khaan Khentiy Protected Area, Khangai Nuruu National Park) are wild and sparsely populated, which requires efficient logistics in terms of water and food. The constraints of altitude are felt throughout the country and not only in the Altai: sudden changes in temperature, rain and storms. It is therefore necessary to be well equipped and surrounded by experienced local guides. Mountaineering and trekking are also relatively new activities in Mongolia, the providers of this kind of service are in full development
Horseback riding. With more than two million horses on its territory, it is quite logical to discover Mongolia on horseback. Discovering the country on horseback is the ideal way to live at the local rhythm, to get acquainted with the nomadic way of life and to penetrate remote areas where even Jeeps have no access. The only region not recommended for horseback riders is the Gobi desert, where horses give way to camels. Everywhere else, horses are king. The Arkhangai, Khövsgöl and Khentiy aimags are particularly recommended for horsemen: dotted with numerous lakes and rivers, alternating steppes and mountainous areas, they allow to take the best advantage of the possibilities offered by horseback riding trips.
Mongolian horses are nervous (because they are half wild), but they are small, which allows even beginners to quickly learn the joys of riding without the risk of painful falls. Nothing is easier than organizing horseback riding in Mongolia. Most tour operators offer this option, either for long periods or for one or two days during a stay. And most of the ger camps organize horseback rides of varying lengths around their base. There are also agencies specialized in horseback riding (or more generally in sports tourism).
Camel rides. With the development of tourism, some camel populations have been voluntarily moved to the north to satisfy the desires of visitors who wish to ride between their humps without having to go down to the south of the country. But nothing beats three days or more of riding atop this ruminant mammal so emblematic of the Gobi Desert. The most daring will indulge in a few accelerations. But above all, camels allow access to areas that horses could not reach. A real change of scenery.
Yak rides. Long-haired ruminant originating from Tibet, the yak is an unusual beast of burden and one of the characteristic animals of Mongolia (especially for its milk) found in mountainous areas. Yak riding is more of an entertainment than a real option to travel long distances. Even less for several days in a row.
Dog sledding and snowshoeing. This is a great way to discover Mongolia in winter mode! Whether near Ulaanbaatar, in the Gorkhi Terelj National Park, or on the icy waters of the Khovsgol Lake National Park, you can drive your own dog team. A real adventure, as the routes can vary according to the whims of the snow and ice. An authentic and exotic experience guaranteed! It is also possible to wear snowshoes to discover the parks.
A fishing paradise
With nearly 400 rivers and many high altitude lakes in which nearly a hundred species of fish are found, Mongolia is the ideal country for hookahs. The most used fishing techniques are fly fishing, casting or spooning.
The most popular activity among foreign fishermen is fishing for taimen, a huge fish of the freshwater salmon family, which can reach 1.3 meters long and weigh more than 50 kg! Lover of graylings and small mammals, the taimen is fished with a fly and with the biceps (you have to be able to reel it in!). But be careful : this fish is protected, so you will have to release it in the water if you manage to catch it. Lenock trout, grayling (Arctic or Altai) and sturgeon are the most frequent catches in Mongolia. As the fish are rarely disturbed by Mongolians, who prefer to hunt, they sometimes grow to impressive sizes. Even the Lenock can reach 6 kg! Almost all lakes and rivers in the country offer fish in abundance. Many tourists with a limited budget or looking for a very natural vacation therefore choose to fish for food during part of their stay. For the more professional fishermen, Lake Khovsgol is a great reservoir of fish, as well as the rivers Shishkhed (which flows into Lake Tsagaan Nuur), Orkhon and Chuluut. Several agencies organize thematic fishing trips. The fishing season is from mid-July to mid-September.Get out the paddles!
The lovers of kayak or canoe will find something to enjoy in Mongolia. Between the calm waters of large lakes in the north (lakes Khovsgol, Therkhiin Tsagaan Nuur ...) or the faster currents of rivers in central or western Mongolia, there is something for everyone and all levels. These small boats can sometimes reach areas with unique ecosystems.
