Day 1 Ulaanbaatar
Our representatives will meet you at Chinggis Khan International Airport to take you to your hotel in Ulaan Baatar, the capital city of Mongolia.
Day 2 Ulaanbaatar
Exploring the city, we’ll visit the Gandan Monastery, Mongolia’s most revered religious site. Inhabited by more than 100 Buddhist monks it contains beautiful chapels, courtyards and a giant 75-foot gold-gilded statue of Buddha. Enjoy a visit to the Natural History Museum showcasing the spectacular dinosaur fossils of the Gobi desert then on to the National Museum of Mongolian History.
Day 3 Ulaanbaatar – Gobi Desert – Ger Camp
Take a flight from the capital to the legendary Gobi Desert! Meet your local guide and driver and transfer by 4WD vehicle to the Yol Valley in Gurvansaikhan National Park, situated in the lap of the Altai Mountains. On the way to our lodge, we’ll stop by the local Natural History Museum for insight into the flora and fauna of the area.
Overnight in a Ger (yurt) Camp under the stars. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 Hongoryn Els (Gobi Desert)
Safari to Hongoryn Els (sand dunes) (Approx. 4 hours by 4WD) Following breakfast, we set out in our 4WD vehicle to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els, which run for 60 miles alongside the Gobi-Altai Mountain range. These “Singing Sands,” which stand upto 2,500 feet, are probably the Gobi’s most impressive sand dunes. Isolated from the rest of the country, the Singing Sands were the best kept secret for thousands of years here where the winds make the shifting sands “sing”. We will visit a camel breeding family nearby, go for a camel ride over the dunes and stop at Seruun Bulag; a restful green oasis near the Khongor River. Return to the camp for lunch and enjoy the peaceful silence of the Gobi. Overnight for some of the best stargazing anywhere. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 Bayanzag – Flaming Cliffs (Approx. 3 hour drive)
After morning activities and lunch at the camp we drive to Bayan Zag, popularly called the Flaming Cliffs for the glowing colors of orange and red rock. It was here in 1922 that Roy Chapman Andrews and his team from the American Museum of Natural History discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs.
Overnight in Ger Camp, Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 Ulaanbaatar – Hustai National Park
After arriving back in Ulaanbaator we explore Hustai National Park, the site of the unique re-introduction of the Przewalskii’s horse, or “takhi” in Mongolian. These horses became extinct in the wild in 1969 and since 1992 have been successfully re-introduced to Hustai from zoos around the world. The national park contains rolling steppe mountains with large forests of birch and aspen. There are also visible remains of Neolithic graves. Populations of red deer and wolf have increased over the last few years, as well as Mongolian gazelle.
Overnight in Ger Camp, Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7 Ulaanbaator – Karakorum
All-day sightseeing drive to Karakorum with late afternoon arrival. Picnic lunch. The ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire, Karakorum was located on the Orkhon River on the slopes of the Khangai Mountain. Founded by Chinggis Khan in 1220 it was the epicentre of trade along the Silk Road. The city’s inhabitants were mostly merchants and craftsmen from all over the world. When Khubilai Khan moved the capital to China establishing the Yuan Dynasty, the city lost its importance and in 1379 much of it was destroyed during an attack by the army of the Min Dynasty. Explore the World Heritage Site of the Erdene Zuu monastery built on the ruins of Karakorum in 1586. The first great Buddhist Monastery of Mongolia, it is surrounded by a wall featuring 108 stupas. The monastery was damaged by warfare in the 1680s and rebuilt in the 18th century. Overnight in Ger Camp, Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8 Karakorum – Ugii Lake-Elsensen Tasarkhai
On the morning drive to Ugii Lake, we’ll explore two monuments (Kul-Tegin and Bilge-Khan sites) of the Turkig people. After lunch we drive to Elsen Tasarkhai. We will visit nomadic families and learn about nomadic life. Here’s your chance to try traditional fermented mare’s milk!
Day 9 Elsensen Tasarkhai – Terelj National Park
Drive to Terelj one of the most popular destinations in the third biggest protected area in Mongolia, the Khan Khentii. The three major rivers systems of Mongolia have their sources here and over 50 mammal species and 253 species of bird make their home in the Khan Khentii Protected area. Situated 50 miles northeast of Ulaanbaatar, Terelj is famous for its unique granite rock formations and pristine alpine scenery. Excursion to Turtle Rock and visit local nomads. Horseback riding
Overnight in Ger Camp, Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10 Terelj National Park – Ulaanbaatar
The statue of of the great Mongolian Genghiz Khan was completed in 2008 on the banks of the Tuul River. We will climb to the top of the statue and enjoy the marvelous views of the surrounding steppes. Drive to Ulaanbaatar. Visit the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, the residence of Bodg Jabzan Damba Hutagt VIII -Mongolia’s last theocrat. Take a leisurely stroll through the town center. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with a local folk show.
Day 11 Ulaanbaatar
Departure
