TOUR ITINERARY DETAILS:

 

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar City

Our tour guide will pick you up from airport and take you to your hotel, then present you the detailed program of our entire trip. Upon your arrival we will visit Gandantegchinleng Monastery, the first temple was built in 1835 and was center of Buddhist learnings in Mongolia. Then climb up to Zaisan Memorial Hill beneath the Bogd Khan Mountain, where you can see entire panaromic view of Ulaanbaatar city. The Buddha park is just next to the Zaisan and you will see a huge statue of Buddha reaching 23 meters in height. Our next stop will be a Museum of Bogd Khan Palace which was the residence of the last emperor - blade of Mongolia. The museum contains a rich collection of the King & Queen’s unique items used in their daily life, a gifts received from foreign dignitaries and many more interesting exhibits.

In the evening, dinner at Mongolian Barbeque!

 

Day 2: UB - Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Our journey will start off by driving to Baga Gazriin Chuluu where unique granite complex of rock formations reside. You will discover a local temple ruin and climb up to the granite rock hills. Interesting fact is that structure of the rock is like a stepping stone, literally.

Stay overnight at gher camp.

 

Day 3: Baga Gazriin chuluu- Bayanzag

The “Bayanzag” is known as the Flaming Cliffs made of a blazing red sandstone and plunging canyons. This part of the desert of South Gobi looks like something from another world, especially scenery is striking at dawn and dusk. In 1922, American paleontologist and traveller Roy Chapmen Andrew discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs and bones that world had ever seen. The complete dinosaur skeleton displayed at the Natural History Museum. Bayanzag is considered a paleontologist’s paradise. Overnight stay in tents.

 

Day 4: Bayanzag – Khavtsagait- Khongor Els

Today we will explore premival carvings on the rock Khavtsgait, which are located on the slopes of a mountain range. Rock carvings illustrate development of culture of Mongolians during the year of 12000. The recent images show the transition to a horse-dependent nomadic life style during the early 1st millennium BC. After lunch, drive to the National Park Khongor Els, Mongolian largest sand dune reaching 300 meters high, 12 km wide and 100 km long. The beautuful Khongor River flows along the sand dunes and gives birth to oasis. The color of the sand dune changes its colors incredibly by each hour of the day, from yellow to beige during dawn, orange to pink at dusk. Also It's amazing that dunes make sound like a plane engine on a windy day, therefore locals call it a "Singing Dunes". If you climb up to ridge of the dune during sunset, you will see a breathtaking picturesque panorama view of the entire area. Overnight, stay at gher tourist camp.

 

Day 5: Camel Riding 

Today, our friendly camels will give you a ride to the highest point of sand dunes of Khongor Els. Relax and chill by the oasis. Experience riding one of the rarest Bactrian Camel in the world through the depth of famous Gobi desert.

Overnight, stay at ger tourist camp.

 

Day 6: Khongor Els - Yoliin Am

The National Park "Gobi Gurvan Saikhan" (Three Beauties of Gobi - literal translation), is an astounding place for discovering a wildlife and varying landscapes of Gobi desert. This place is a home to Bactrian camels, Argali mountain sheep, and asker falcons as well as rare species such as snow leopard and Gobi bears. Trek to Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley, a dramatic chasm that cuts a narrow path through the foothills of the arid Altai Mountains. Later on, we will visit local natural history information center about "Three Beauties of Gobi" national park.

Tips:When we set out to hike through the lush spots of the valley, keep your eye out for native vultures called Lammergeier, ibex, and gazelles.

Overnight, camping in tents.

 

Day 7: Yoliin Am- Ongi Monastery

Ongi Monastery was used to be a huge Buddhist Monastery with capacity of housing 10,000 monks. The Monastery was built on a steep rocky slope of a mountain with Nepalese architectural design and while expeditioning around you will see more interesting remnants and artefacts as you go. 

Overnight, stay at gher tourist camp.

 

Day 8: Ongi Monastery- Ulaan Tsutgalan

Waterfall of the Orkhon Valley is called “Ulaan Tsutgalan”, it was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. The height of the waterfall is over 20meters (65 feet) and it's river flows an incredible length of 1124 kilometers (709 miles). Orkhon river valley is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its historical value related to Great Mongolian Empire.

Overnight, stay in tent.

 

Day 9: Ulaan Tsutgalan - Tuvkhun - Karakorum

“Tuvkhun” monastery is located in a fascinating mountainous area of forest Steppe in Khangain Nuruu National Park. Take your small travel bag with you and we will start hiking to Shiveet Hill upslope, towards the top of the mountain for about an hour. There we will find recently restored Buddhist monastery of Tuvkhun surrounded by an beautiful nature. There are some intriguing small meditation caves such as mother's womb. Then, continue to drive to Karakorum city where we will visit ruin of ancient city and Erden Zuu monastery.

Overnight, stay at gher tourist resort.

 

Day 10: Karakorum - Tsenkher Hot Spring

Today, we will explore Karakorum city ruin, it was the ancient capital of Great Mongolian Empire built during Ugudei Khan's rein in 1220s. In the center of town youwill find Erdene Zuu monastery. The four stone turtles that originally marked the boundaries of ancient Karakorum still exist nowadays. After lunch off to “Tsenkher”, a natural hot spring flows out year-round from ground at 85 Celsius degree and it has a high mineral content which composed of calcium, sodium and sulphuric etc. Hot spring shower and hot spring bath will be waiting for you to relax and chill. 

Overnight, stay at ger tourist camp.

 

Day 11: Tsenkher Hot Spring - Terkh white lake

In the morning we will drive to the Tsetserleg town, capital of Arkhangai province and visit Zay Gegeen Temple- Museum dated back to 1750s. Then continue our journey to Taikhar rock inscription where you find many kinds of scripts dated III-XVIII centuries such as Turkic, old Mongolian, Chinese character, Tibetan and modern Mongolian cyrillics. After lunch continue to drive to Chuluut river, flows through a sheer basalt canyons which is formed by a lava craters.

Overnight, stay in tents.

 

Day 12: Terkh White Lake

In Terkh national park, we will hike up to "Khorgo" extinct volcano, surrounded by crates and trees. There is a small pond in center of the volcano, when hiking into the mountains you will see ground cave with year-round ice, the stone shelters formed by explosions of lava. After lunch, walk by the beach of the lake and wander around the area while horseback riding. 

Overnight, stay in tents.

 

Day 13: Terkh white lake - Murun 

After breakfast, we will take a bit of a long drive to Murun, capital of Khuvsgul province.

Overnight, stay in hotel.

 

Day 14: Murun - Khuvsgul Lake

Today we will head to Khuvsgul lake known as “The Blue Pearl” of Mongolia and locals call it a sea. It's the largest and deepest fresh water lake in Mongolia. Khuvsgul basin is a very fragile ecosystem with crystal clean water. You wil be able to see atleast 3 to 4 meters down to bottom of the lake clearly. Moreover, we will meet the Tsaatan people of Khuvsgul who are the herders of local Reindeer. Also some Tsaatan's practice Shamanism, so you may have the chance to see a ritual dancing of Shaman during your visit. Both horse riding and trekking into these wild adventerous land are part of your trip. Tips: try touching the horn of the Reindeer : )  

Overnight, stay in tourist gher camp.

 

Day 15: Khovsgol lake - Uran Togoo

The area of “Uran Togoo” is unexpectedly beautiful and has a lush green landscape and its one of the protected national parks of Mongolia. After breakfast, we will drive to Urantogoo the extinct volcano which is about 600 meters in diameter and 500 meters in depth and has a sparkling small lake at the bottom. We'll climb up to the extinct volcano and explore surrounding areas. 

Overnight, stay in tourist gher camp.  

 

Day 16: Uran Togoo - Amarbayasgalant Monastery

After breakfast, we will head to the Amarbayasgalant monastery. This monastry was originally built between 1727 and 1737 by the Manchu emperor Yongzheng dedicated to the great Mongolian Buddhist and sculptor Zanabazar, whose mummified body was moved here in 1779. Overall architectural design of this magnificent monastry illustrates eastern Buddhist temple style, down to the inscriptions, symmetrical layout and imperial color scheme.

Overnight, stay in tourist gher camp.

 

Day 17: Back to UB

Today, we will drive back to UB and enjoy traditional performance mainly folk dance, throat singing and contortion in State Ballet and Opera Theatre. Dinner at Korean restaurant. 

Overnight, stay at hotel. 

 

Day 18: Ulaanbaatar City Tour  

In our city tour, we will visit Museum of Choijin Lama Monastery, one of the few remaining intact monasteries in UB which preserves the elaborately decorated interiors, rich collection of Mongolian Buddhist sculpture and painting. It has several gilded bronze sculptures of Zanabazar and a striking array of Papier - Mache masks that are used for Tsam Dance ceremonies. After lunch, you'll have all the free time to yourself for shopping or visit coffee shops etc. Those who interested, can go to the open market of Naran Tuul.

In the evening, farewell dinner at Mongolian Barbeque will complete our long journey!

Overnight, stay at hotel.

 

Day 19: Departure

 

 

 

GROUP SIZE:  2 - 16 pax