heymongolia
Holidays

Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year)

The Mongolian New Year, celebrated with family visits, mountains of buuz, a whole steamed sheep and new deels.

Tsagaan Sar, the 'White Moon', marks the start of the lunar year and is Mongolia's most important family holiday. On the eve, families clean the home and eat a big meal; on New Year's day they greet elders with a special greeting called zolgokh, exchange gifts and visit relatives for days afterwards.

Tables are piled with buuz (steamed dumplings), a whole steamed sheep's back, layered biscuits and dairy foods. Visitors staying with a family are often welcomed in.

Much of the country closes for several days, so plan city sightseeing around it.

  • When: Late January to February; the date follows the lunar calendar
  • Where: Across Mongolia
  • Region: Several regions

Tips

  • Shops, museums and offices close for about three days
  • If invited to a family, bring a small gift and accept what you're offered
  • Dress warmly: it's the coldest time of year

Tours for Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year)

  • Winter Camel Trek and Lunar New Year (11 days · Several regions · Stone Horse Mongolia · from $4,180)
    An 11-day February trip to the South Gobi with about four days of camel trekking and a Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) celebration with a herder family.
  • Tsagaan sar - Lunar New Year (3 days · Several regions · Mongolian Four Seasons Travel)
    A 3-day winter trip from Ulaanbaatar to celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the lunar new year, with a herding family, staying in their ger and visiting neighbours on horseback.
  • Tsagaan Sar Festival-Weiß Mond Festival (8 days · Several regions · Go2Mongolia (Chinguun Journey))
  • LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL (8 days · Several regions · Joinme Mongolia)
  • Lunar New Year / Tsagaan Sar (3 days · Several regions · Mongolian Vision Tours · from $195)
    A 3-day trip to celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year, with nomadic families near Khugnu Khaan, plus riding and a visit to Khustai National Park.
  • Lunar New Year (7 days · Several regions · Jagd and Tour (Inter Travel))
    A 7-day winter trip timed for Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year, with a family feast, nomad visits, Kharkhorin's Erdene Zuu Monastery and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.
  • Lunar New Year trip (5 days · Several regions · World Summit)
    A 5-day February trip around Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar), spending two days at the Mongolian Secret History Complex with herder families, games and dumpling making.
  • Tsagaan Sar - Lunar New Year (Several regions · Legendary Gobi Travel)

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