AVAILABILITY: June - Sept

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel, Camping

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Kharakhorum, Khorgo Terkh National Park, Telmen Lake, Otgontenger Mountain, Boon Tsagaan Lake, Ikh Bogd Mountain, White Cave, Ongi Monastery, Baga Gazryn Chuluu, Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain​

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• DAY 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll pick you up from the airport or train station and you will be transferred to your hotel. After breakfast or lunch (depending on your arrival time) we’ll start our city tour. The city tour includes Sukhbaatar Square, the Chinggis Khan statue, National History Museum and the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar. We’ll have traditional Mongolian food for dinner. Overnight at hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

• DAY 2. Ruin of ancient capital Kharakhorum and Erdenezuu monastery (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll head to Karakorum, the site of the 13^th-century Mongolian empire’s capital, founded by Chinggis Khan. We’ll visit the ruins and Erdenezuu Monastery, the biggest monastery of the 16th century, surrounded by 1300-ft walls. Overnight in tourist camp.

• DAY 3. Legends of Khorgo-Terkh National Park (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): In the morning we’ll pass by the small town of Tsetserleg, and visit Chuluut River which flows to a gorge formed by the lava of a nearby extinct volcano. Next we’ll visit Khorgo-Terkh National Park. Walk up to the crater of Extinct Khorgo volcano, and hike around White Lake, created as a result of a Khorgo eruption. Overnight at ger camp.

• DAY 4. Visit nomadic family (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): After breakfast, we’ll drive to explore caves before visiting a nomadic family. For dinner, you’ll have an opportunity to learn to make a special meal called Khorkhog. You’ll be able to help by collecting stones, peeling potatoes, etc. If you’ve brought any prepared gifts, we’ll share them this evening. Overnight at tourist camp.

• DAY 5. Zavkhan province, Lake Telmen (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today, we’ll head to Zavkhan province, which occupies a transitional zone between the Khangai mountain range of central Mongolia and the harsh Great Lakes Depression of western Mongolia. In between the two regions, Zavkhan has its own micro-climates and varied terrain that ranges from snowy peaks to steppes to lakes surrounded by sand dunes. The scenery is some of the most dramatic and varied in the country. We’ll camp around Telmen Lake, a large salt lake home to migrating waterfowl. Camping Overnight.

• DAY 6. Otgontenger sacred mountain (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): The highlight of the Zavkhan province is snow-capped Otgontenger Mountain at the western edge of the Khangai Mountain range. The mountain is one of Mongolia’s most sacred mountains, and an important place of pilgrimage for many Mongolians. Climbing is prohibited by government law. So instead we’ll hike to the Dayan Mountain, which is the best place to view the mountain. Camping Overnight.

• DAY 7. Bayankhongor Province (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today, we’ll drive to Bayankhongor province, one of the most diverse provinces in the Gobi with mountains in the north, deserts in the south, a handful of lakes and rivers, hot springs and an oasis in the far south. Camping Overnight.

• DAY 8. Boon Tsagaan Lake (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll drive to Boon Tsagaan Lake and walk around there. This large saltwater lake is filled with birdlife, especially relic gulls, whooper swans and geese. Camping Overnight.

• DAY 9. Sacred Mountain Ikh Bogd (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): There are three high mountain ranges in Mongolia: Altayn range, Hangayn range and Khenteyn range. Today we’ll visit highest mountain in the Altayn range, Ikh Bogd. The government and locals worshipped the mountain, building a stone hill at the peak. After an earthquake in 1957, this sacred mountain partially collapsed and broke into the gorge. You’ll also see a Salty Lake called Orog in mountainside. Overnight at tourist camp.

• DAY 10. Ancient rock engravings (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today, we’ll Bichigtyn Am, home to the greatest complex of rock drawings in Asia. Here you can find approximately 1,000 petroglyphs, drawn by members of the Hunnu people and other tribes of Nomadic empires on hundreds of exposed rocks dating from the 3000 BCE to the 8th century. The drawings have cosmological, figurative, and cartographic motifs, and depict hunting and ritual scenes, navigation, war and the supernatural. Overnight at tourist camp.

• DAY 11. Ancient people home (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll hike to the ancient people’s home at White Cave, which once housed Stone Age people 700,000 – 800,000 years ago and features a crystal-lined inner chamber. After visiting the crystal cave we’ll drive to Uvurkhangai province to camp there. Camping Overnight.

• DAY 12. Secret of Ongi Monastery (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today we’ll drive to 17-century Ongi Monastery, the only monastery in the heart of the desert. Unfortunately, the monastery was ruined during political repression of 1937-1939. The vast majority of the more than 700 monasteries in Mongolia were also destroyed and around 25,000 lamas were killed during the political repression in Mongolia. We’ll hike to explore the ruin of the monastery which is located in east Shore of Ongi River. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 13. Rock climbing (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): This morning we’ll drive to Baga Gazriin Chuluu, one of the granite rock formations. Here the large granite pinnacles and winding canyons allow us a few hours of hiking and rock climbing. Overnight at tourist camp.

• DAY 14. Back to Ulaanbaatar (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll have lunch in mountainside called Zorgol Khairkhan which is granite rock formation, 1600m high above sea level and one of the beautiful mountains in the Gobi. Afterward, we’ll drive back to Ulaanbaatar city after the long adventure and classic trip. Tonight we’ll have Mongolia traditional concert and farewell dinner. Hope you enjoyed all about Mongolia, its people, nature and activities you made. We believe you share about this beautiful hidden gem country, Mongolia to everyone whom you meet and review your unforgettable memory with us. Overnight in hotel.

  

Transportation

Four-wheel drive vehicles are used for the entire tour along off-roads. Tracks are only asphalt near the capital.

   

Accommodation

Mongolian traditional homes are called Ger, which are tents. Gers are equipped with beds. And showers with hot water are sometimes available here.

 

Food

We serve Mongolian traditional food, but can offer European food and vegetarian options at your request. A traditional dish is called Khorkhog-Mongolian and is meat and vegetables cooked on hot stones.

 

Contribution to the last nomads

In return of the nomads’ hospitality and accepting us as members of their family it is customary for guests to bring prepared presents. If you want to bring own gratitude for nomads please check our suggested gift list.

 

PROGRAM INCLUDES: Meals as per itinerary, Bactrian (including tents, sleeping bags, mattresses), Camping Gear, Guide/Driver/Cook, Fuel, Entrance Fees & Museum Tickets per itinerary, Camel ride, Gratitude to the locals

 

PROGRAM EXCLUDES: Your own gifts to the locals, International flight tickets and airport tax, Visas, Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses