THE SINGING SANDS | nomad-venture

Oasis within Gobi: The Singing Sands

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TOUR ITINERARY DETAILS:

Day 1: Arrival in UB

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: Fly to South Gobi - 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 gher tourist camp.

Day 3: 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. The dunes really do “sing” – the movement of trillions of tiny sand grains against one another under pressure of the wind results in sounds variously described as roaring, booming, barking and even squeaking.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 4: 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 gher tourist camp.

Day 5: 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.

Stay overnight in gher camp.

Day 6: Fly back to UB - Terelj

Upon your arrival in UB, our driver will take us to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park features spectacular huge granite blocks and cliffs as well as meadows rich with wild flowers. Terelj offers fascinating rock formations against a background of pine covered mountains and includes two famous formations named after the things they resemble: Turtle Rock and the Old Man Reading a Book. The average elevation is about 1600 m with peaks reaching 2900 meters above sea level. Typical round rock masses determine the look of the overwhelming nature. It's a wonderful hiking and horse riding area and if you'd like we can arrange horse for you after hiking.

Overnight, stay in tourist camp.

Day 7: Chingis Khan Statue - UB

The statue of Chinggis Khaan (Khaan/Khan means King) is located in “Tsonjin Boldog”, a historical place where Chinggis Khaan found his golden whip. The complex was created as a memorial to the Man of the Millennium, a great ruler and the King of All Mongolia between 1162 - 1227. Chinggis Khaan unified all of Mongol tribes and conquered the most of Central Asian countries, latter became the largest empire ever built in the world. The height of the statue is 40 meters and the entire edifice is covered in 250 tons of stainless steel. The haughty and yet honorable statue is surrounded by 36 columns representing 36 Mongolian previous Khaans. Also there are museums with genuine artefacts of Bronze age as well as !!!! An excellent panoramic view of the entire area beyond complex is available from statue's neck of the horse.

Back to UB, after lunch, you'll have all the free time to yourself for shopping or visit coffee shops etc. Then enjoy Traditional performance mainly folk dance, throat singing and contortion in State Ballet and Opera Theatre.

Finally, farewell dinner at Mongolian Barbeque!

Day 8 Departure.

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