Yak festival in Mongolia | Events Mongolia

Yak (Bos grunniens), long-haired and short legged ox-like mammal, in Mongolia lives predominantly in high mountainous areas of Mongolia: in the high Altai Mountain range, the Khangai Mountain range and the Kharkhiraa and Khuvsgul mountains. There are 14.2 million yaks in the world and Mongolia has the second highest yak population in the world after China.

This domesticated wild animal has celebrated on Mongol yak festival at the beautiful Taikhar Steppe in Erdenetolgoi bag of Ikhtamir soum in Arkhangai province on 17-18 August 2019. We are very happy to invite you explore one of the interesting nomadic events in Mongolia- Yak Festival  through  breathtaking and on location photographs by Mongolian leading travel photographer Batzaya Choijiljav during our tours in Central Mongolia. 

Dust swirling, horns swinging.... 

Some interesting archeological findings have proved that Mongolians have been breeding yaks since 2500 years ago.

Mongol Yak Festival 

During the festival, yak-related activities include yak parade, the best decorated yak, the best yak bull, yak milking contest, yak wool clothing fashion show and local cultural performances as well as the main and last event, a yak race across the Taikhar Steppe.

This is the third time Mongol Yak festival organized in Arkhangai province since 2015.

Mongolian Yak down is similar in softness to cashmere and considered 10-15% warmer than sheep wool.

Mongolian Yak Lassoing Competition 

During the competition -yak lassoing, some men on horses are scaring the yaks into running, while other two men on the ground are lassoing the yaks.

Once the contestant lassoes a yak, he has to ride on and train the yak. It is the most interesting and thrilling part seeing both actions that brave Mongolian men trying to balance on and how wild and angry yaks tempting. 

Some men are simply dragged through the ground and it adds joy to the audience. 

Mongolian Yak Milking Competition 

The Yak make an important contribution to the supply of milk and milk products in nomadic herder’s life. Yak milk has a higher nutrient density and butterfat than domestic cow milk. The main milk production period is from June to October and their highest daily milk yield in July because of the good grazing available then.

Yak milking competition is great chance to see and know how Mongol woman milk the yak in their daily life. Traditionally, Mongolians make butter and cream, cheese and yoghurt of yak milk. In addition, in Khangai regions, you can taste distilled yak milk’s vodka called as Nermel.

The Best decorated Yak 

Khangai Yaks in Arkhangai , Uvurkhangai, Bayankhongor and Khuvsgul are suitable for transport, meat and milk. One of the eye-catching contests was the best decorated yak, especially made for only festival. 

Mongolian yak colors are predominantly black or black and white. The majority has long, well-developed horns. The body is long and covered with thick hair.

Yak Race in Mongolia

The last yak-centered event of the festival is the yak race. It's great fun to watch yaks arriving at the finish line and they were very speedy than you are imagining.

Herder from Erdenetolgoi bag, Ikh Tamir soum, Arkhangai province, Bat-ochirs's 6 years old yak has won the race and the winner yak also had experience of 3rd place in 2017 Yak festival race. 

Yak riding in Mongolia 

Mongolia has around 640 thousand yaks in 132 soums of 13 provinces throughout the country. it is possible to have yak riding tours while your travel in Mongolia, especially in top travel destinations as Arkhangai, Khovsgol,Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan and Bayankhongor provinces.

The paleontological findings related to yak origin, found until now, are 30-40 thousand years ahead , according to Mongolian historian G.Sukhbaatar –he has noted that Khunnu state had 6 types of livestock one of which was a yak.

Mongol nomads have gained a long time and unique tradition of herding yaks while Yak arrives in USA via Canada in the early 1900's. Same as ancient time, Yak in Mongolia are still used for packing, riding, milk, meat, clothing, tools, and accessories. These animals serve a very specific purpose in regions of Mongolian vast grasslands. Yak festivals in Mongolia is great opportunity to celebrate unique heritages of yak herding culture and tradition to both local people and foreign tourists.