The Camel Festival is an annual event held in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, dedicated to celebrating and preserving the Bactrian camel and the cultural heritage of camel herders. Initiated in 1997, the festival aims to protect and increase the two-humped Bactrian camel population, support nomadic herders, and promote winter tourism in the region.

Festival Highlights:

• Camel race: Herders showcase the speed and endurance of their camels in thrilling races across the desert landscape.
• Camel polo tournament: A unique sport where participants play polo while riding camels, demonstrating skills and teamwork.
• Camel pageant contest: Camels are adorned in traditional decorations, and judges assess them based on appearance and training.
• Camel parade: A grand procession featuring camels and their herders in traditional attire

In 2016, the festival set a Guinness World Record by assembling over 1100 camels, highlighting its significance in promoting and preserving camel culture. The festival typically takes place in early March near Dalanzadgad, the capital of Umnugobi (South Gobi) province.