AVAILABILITY: May, Oct

ACCOMODATIONS: Ger Camp, Mongolian Traditional Home

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Baga Gazryn Chuluu, National Park Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, Yolyn Am, Khongor Sand Dunes, Bayanzag Dinosaur Site, Ongi Monastery Ruins, Ancient capital of Kharakhorum, Tsetserleg village, Tsagaan Mountain Pass, Taikhar Rock, Chuluut River Canyon, Khorgo-Terkh National Park, Mountain Pass Orookh, River Valley Toin, Lake Khuvsgul National Park, Chief Selenge River, Uran Extinct Volcano, Amarbayasgalant Monastery.

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For those who want an in-depth exploration, this tour takes a loop around southern, central and northern Mongolia, covering almost 40% of Mongolian attractions and landscapes, from steppes to the Gobi desert, to the forest zone, and to mountains.

 

• DAY 1. Rock Climbing in Middle Gobi (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): We’ll start our tour to the semi-arid steppe of Middle Gobi where you may encounter herbs, animals such as wild sheep, ibex, antelope, black tailed antelope, marmot, fox, lynx, wild cat and badger, and birds such as the eagle, kite, swan and sand grouse. After a few hours driving to the south of Ulaanbaatar, we’ll have lunch in a mountainside area called Zorgol Khairkhan. We’ll arrive in Baga Gazriin Chuluu and pass by the small Lake Hairhan. We’ll spend our first night staying with a nomadic family living in the steppe zone.

• DAY 2. (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today our destination is Bayanzag, also known as Flaming Cliffs, an important paleontological area where the first dinosaur egg fossils were discovered, as well as fossils of Velociraptors. We’ll ride the camel to discover the red cliff. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 3. Camel Trekking & Hiking Red Sand (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): After breakfast, we’ll take a 2-humped Bactrian camel ride for a few hours to discover a saxaul shrub forest. After the camel trekking, we’ll have lunch and hike around red sand. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 4. Hiking in Ice Valley (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today’s destination is Vulture Valley (Yoliin Am), a valley in the middle of the Gobi Desert, with several feet of ice for most of the year. We’ll hike in the valley following the stream, which leads to an ice-filled gorge. At the entrance we’ll visit the small museum and see a collection of dinosaur eggs and bones, stuffed birds and a snow leopard. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 5. Khongor Sand Dune (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): After breakfast we’ll head to the Khongor Sand Dune and have lunch on the way. We’ll have lunch on the way. The Khongor Sand Dunes are some of the largest and most spectacular in Mongolia, up to 1000 ft high, 7 miles wide and about 100 miles long. The Khongor Sand Dune is in Great Gobi National Park, also home to the last remaining wild Bactrian (two-humped) camels, wild ass, and a small population of Gobi Bears, the only desert-inhabiting bears. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 6. 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 7. Ruins of Kharakhorum and Erdenezuu Monastery (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today we’ll drive to Kharakhorum, the site of the 13^th-century Mongolian empire’s capital, founded by Chinggis Khan. However, Kharakhorum served as the capital for only 40 years before Kublai Khan moved. We’ll visit to the ruins and the Erdenezuu Monastery, the first and biggest Buddhist monastery from 16^th-century. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 8. 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 9. Horseback to 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.

• DAY 10. Nomadic Culture Immersion (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): In the morning, we’ll boil salty milk tea on the fire and have breakfast. Afterward, the women will milk the yak and process the diary products while the men will help to bring the yaks and cut wood. Altogether we’ll go to the river to fetch drinking water by yak-cart. For lunch, we’ll have Mongolian biscuits, called Boortsog. For dinner, we’ll have again help to prepare Khorkhog. If you’ve brought any prepared gifts, we’ll share them this evening. Overnight with nomadic family.

• DAY 11. Mountain Drive (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today, we’ll drive over high mountains passes through the Taiga zone. We’ll visit Zuun Nuur, a large lake which is located in a high mountain, and hike around it. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 12. Khovsgol Lake (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): By this evening we’ll arrive at Khovsgol Lake, which holds almost 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water and 0.4% of all the fresh water in the world. We may see yaks and horses grazing here as well. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 13. Reindeer People Tsaatan (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today, we’ll visit a reindeer herder family. These reindeer herders are called Tsaatan, and are part of the Tuvan ethnic group, which inhabit the Tuvan Republic of Russia. The Tsaatan live in ort (tepees) and traditional Tsaatan are strong practitioners of shamanism. After our visit, we’ll drive to the Hyasaa Pass cliff to see the entire Khovsgol Lake. We can also trek the cliff passes to reach the top. Overnight at Ger Camp.

• DAY 14. Lake Khovsgol – Voclano Uran (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Passing through Moron, we’ll explore the dormant volcano Uran. Overnight at Ger Camp. 

• DAY 15. Voclano Uran – Monastery Amarbayasgalant (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner): Today we’ll drive to Amarbayasgalant monastery. After lunch, we’ll tour the monastery and set up a base camp. Overnight at Camp.

• DAY 16. Monastery Amarbayasgalant – Ulaanbaatar (Includes Breakfast & Lunch): We’ll head back to Ulaanbaatar via Darkhan, the capital city of the Darkhan Uul province, and Mongolia's second largest city, with a population of 90,000 residents. The modern city of Darkhan, built in 1967, is one of Mongolia's largest industrial centers. Once back in Ulaanbaatar you’ll be transferred to your guest house.

 

Classic big loop tour with flight – 12 Days

If you don’t have much time, but want to see as much as you can, take the flight shortcut. Attractions between Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad and Khuvsgul to Ulaanbaatar will be cut.

 

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