Show ticket · about 90 minutes
Entry to a performance of throat singing, instrumental music, dance, contortion and acrobatics, with a live orchestra. Start times are on the booking calendar.
Check open dates and the fare ↗What is on stage
A show made from living Mongolian arts
- 1
Sung from the throat
Khöömei begins in the Altai mountains of western Mongolia. One singer produces a steady drone and, above it, a melody of harmonics, so a single voice sounds like two. UNESCO lists it as living heritage.
- 2
A fiddle with a horse head
The morin khuur has two horsehair strings and a scroll carved as a horse head. It is considered a symbol of the nation, and many Mongolians keep one at home.
- 3
Dance that began in the ger
Biyelgee, the forebear of Mongolian national dances, was made for the small space inside a felt tent, so the shoulders, hands and arms do the talking.
- 4
Songs for turning points
The long song marks weddings, a new home and the birth of a child, and it stretches a few words across minutes. Programmes of Mongolian music can make room for it.
Art by art
The show, art by art
Six strands of Mongolian performance, which the show draws on. Each is an art with its own tradition and its own guide on this site.
- 1
Throat singing
One singer sounds a steady drone and a melody of harmonics above it, two notes from one throat. The word khöömei means pharynx.
- 2
The horsehead fiddle
The morin khuur has two strings of horsehair and a scroll carved as a horse head. It plays alone, with songs and with dances.
- 3
Other instruments and the orchestra
Musicians on Mongolian instruments play beside a live orchestra. Mongolian ensembles use lutes, zithers, flutes and pipes as well as the fiddle.
- 4
Dance in costume
Professional dancers in colourful traditional dress take the stage. Many Mongolian dances grow out of biyelgee, a dance made inside the ger.
- 5
Contortion and acrobatics
Contortionists and acrobats add the athletic side of the programme. Guests mention the contortion.
- 6
The long song
If a long song is on the programme, listen for the held notes: a few words, stretched across minutes, with ornament and falsetto.
Each date can bring a different programme. Read the six strands as the art forms behind the hour, not as its running order.
Music, dance and the city
Fiddles, dancers, a stadium and two city landmarks
These photographs show Mongolian music and dance on stages and in the field, plus landmarks in Ulaanbaatar. None of them shows the hall or the cast of the show on this page.
Six things to settle early
Before you set off
Six practical points that save an awkward arrival.
Confirm the hall
The booking page for your chosen date names the venue and its address. Follow that one, and show it to your driver.
Fewer winter dates
In the cold months the show is staged on fewer days of the week. Open the calendar to see which weekdays have seats, and fix the date before anything else.
About 90 minutes
The performance lasts about an hour and a half. Start times are listed per date, and the one you choose comes back to you in your confirmation.
Filming costs extra
Taking photos or filming the performance carries an extra charge, paid at the venue. Decide before you go in.
Hotel transfer
A transfer from your hotel is an option you choose when you pick the date. Read its terms on the booking page.
Stairs and access
The show carries a wheelchair-accessible tag. Some guests mention stairs to the hall, so confirm the route for your date if it matters.
Ticket options
Ways to book the show
| Option | What it covers | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Show ticket · about 90 minutes | Entry to a performance of throat singing, instrumental music, dance, contortion and acrobatics, with a live orchestra. Start times are on the booking calendar. | Anyone who wants the full programme and will make their own way to the hall. |
| Show ticket with hotel transfer | The same performance, plus a transfer from your hotel, chosen as an option when you pick the date. The booking page gives the transfer terms. | Visitors who would rather not plan the route themselves. |
| Photos and filming | Photographing or filming the performance carries an extra charge, paid at the venue. | Guests who want a record of the show and will pay for it. |
| Booking terms | No charge to cancel until 24 hours before the start, or hold a seat now and pay nearer the time. | Travellers whose dates may still move. |
Reserve a seat
The Ulaanbaatar folk show
This page is about one performance of Mongolian music and dance in Ulaanbaatar. The calendar below shows its days and start times, and the rail beneath lists other bookings in the city.
More things to do in Ulaanbaatar
Making the evening work
Plan the visit
Choose the date first
Winter has fewer show days, so begin with the calendar. Each open day carries its start time, and the confirmation you receive repeats the time you chose.
Getting there
Pick the hotel-transfer option if you would rather have a ride arranged. Otherwise take the venue address from the booking page for your date to your driver.
What to wear
Wear comfortable clothes. In the cold months, dress for the walk between the car and the door.
Phones and cameras
Filming or photographing the performance costs extra at the venue. If you would rather save it, keep the phone away and listen.
Eat around it
The ticket is for the performance, so plan dinner before or after.
Cancelling
Cancel free until 24 hours before, on the GetYourGuide site. Reserve now and pay later keeps a date open without a charge today.
Guides to the art
Mongolian music, explained
Choosing and booking Mongolian folk show in Ulaanbaatar What a Mongolian folk show in Ulaanbaatar covers, how the plain ticket and the hotel-transfer option differ, and what to check before you settle on a date. Go to the full guide → The art form Mongolian throat singing: khöömei What khöömei is, how one singer makes two sounds at once, where the art comes from and how to listen for it in a Mongolian folk programme. Go to the full guide →
The instrument Morin khuur: the horsehead fiddle Go to the full guide → The long song Urtiin duu: the Mongolian long song Go to the full guide → Dance and costume Mongolian dance: biyelgee and the deel Go to the full guide → Season and city Planning Ulaanbaatar around the show Go to the full guide →
FAQ
What visitors ask about the show
What is on stage?
Throat singers, musicians on Mongolian instruments, dancers in traditional costume, contortionists and acrobats, with a live orchestra playing. Programmes change from date to date.
Is the whole show throat singing?
No. Throat singing is one of several arts. The programme also has instruments, dance, contortion and acrobatics, so the singing is a strand of the hour and not all of it.
Where is the hall?
The booking page for your chosen date names the venue and its address. Check it there before you arrange transport.
Does the show run every day?
In winter it runs on fewer days of the week, so the calendar shows gaps. Open the booking calendar first and pick a date that is available.
Can I film or take photos?
Only by paying the extra charge at the venue. Photographing or filming the performance carries a fee that is settled there.
Can I add a hotel transfer?
Yes, as an option you choose when you pick the date. The booking page gives its terms, including what the ride covers.
How do I cancel?
Do it on the GetYourGuide booking page, at no charge, any time up to 24 hours before the start. The venue does not handle cancellations for bookings made there.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The show carries a wheelchair-accessible tag when you book. Some guests mention stairs to the hall, so if step-free access matters, confirm the route for your date before you pay.
Throat singing, the horsehead fiddle and costumed dance, live in Ulaanbaatar.
Book the Ulaanbaatar show ↗The fare is per person and shifts with the date and with the transfer option. The booking page adds up the amount for your whole party, in your own currency, ahead of payment.