Introduction

This trip offers you both adventures and cultural discovery of Mongolia. We will take you though Gobi desert, vast steppes of midland and mountainous area in the north culminating with visit to the “Blue Pearl” Huvsgul Lake. During the journey you will discover the most beautiful places and the most attractive historical sites of our country.

Tour starts with driving into the magnificent Gobi, where you will visit the most visiting spots such as Yol Am /Eagle Valley/, Khongoriin Els /Sand dunes/, Bayan zag /Flaming Cliffs/ and Ongiin Hiid. These sites are to give full understanding of the Gobi with its magnificent diversity and beauty.

The significant part of the road to the Lake Huvsgul runs though Khangai mountains with its stunning beauty, green valleys, crystal clear rivers and lakes, gorgeous hills covered with forests. Karakorum and Erdenezuu Monastery, Orhon River waterfall, Tsenher Hot Springs, Terkhiin White Lake, Chuluut River canyon would be main visiting points on our trip. At the Lake Khuvsgul we will spend an idyllic day by the lake, swimming, horse riding, hiking, or just gazing out over the vast expanse of water. Then we will take flight back to Ulaanbaatar from Muron. Tour accommodation is combination of overnights in ger camp and tent camps apart from 3 nights in hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Breakfast and dinner will be provided at overnight camps and lunch mostly will be taken en route. A good experienced cook will accompany you through out of your field journey. On the way we will have camel and horse riding tours as well as hiking ones. Also visits to local nomad households will be available. The journey will be on 4x4 auto allowing the traveller to experience brilliant diversity of Mongolia.

         Tour Program

Day 1 - Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Arrival and accommodation. City tour, including a visit to the Gandantegchilen Monastery with its 26m high gold-plated Buddha statue and other tourist’s attractions of the capital city. The monastery is the largest and the only survivor of outrageous years of revolutionary destruction.

Accommodation: hotel.

Day 2 - Middle Gobi

After breakfast in the hotel leave Ulaanbaatar to reach Middle Gobi. On the way to the Gobi visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu and the ruins of Sum Khukh Burd Temple.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 3 - South Gobi

Drive southwards to the South Gobi province through wide open Middle Gobi steppes and vast grassland gradually turning into Gobi scenery. Lunch en route. In the evening reach tourist camp near Dalanzadgad city, a capital of South Gobi province.

Accommodation: Ger camp.

Day 4 - National Park “Yoliin Am”

Take a flight to Dalanzadgad, the capital of South Gobi Province. On the arrival at the local airport you will meet the drivers who will take you to the National Park of Yoliin Am. Here you will have the opportunity for hiking in the Ice Valley of Gobi, the stunning landscape. Drive to Khongoriin els, the largest sand dunes of Mongolia.

Accommodation: Comfortable traditional ger dwellings at the Ger camp.

Day 5 - A day by the Singing Sand dunes

Morning explore the massive dunes on two humped camels back. The dune is called “singing dune” because of its strange sound that it makes because of wind. Reaching height of 800m and length 190 km.. Visit nomadic household, to experience nomadic way of life. Afternoon hiking tour to the highest dune’s point with fantastic view of Gobi landscape.

Accommodation: Ger camp

Day 6 - Flaming Cliffs

After having breakfast you will drive to Bayan zag. It is an area of red cliffs which were formed by the erosion of sand and rock over many thousands of years. Here you will explore the world famous Flaming Cliffs, the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery and the trail of palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews.

Accommodation: Ger camp.

Day 7 - Ongiin khiid

Drive to Ongiin Khiid, the unique 17th century sole monastery at the heart of the desert. Hike around and visit the monastery.

Accommodation: Ger camp.

Day 8 - Orkhon Waterfall

Morning drive to the Orhon river valley. Lunch en route in the area of beautiful network of small mountain rivers that offer excellent pastureland for the herds of horses and yaks. The next stop will be on the Orkhon river waterfall.. In the evening set up tent camp not far from the waterfall.

Day 9 - Horse riding tour

Morning hiking tour around the waterfall, along the gorges and up to the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon horse riding tour.

Day 10 - Kharkhorin

Drive to Kharkhorin , the site of the 13th century Mongolian Empire’s capital, founded by Chinggis Khan.Visit to the ruins and Erdene Zuu Monastery, the biggest monastery of 16th century surrounded by 400mX400m walls build from the ruins of ancient capital city. Camping site will be set up upon beautiful mountain river near Kharkorin.

Day 11 - Tsenher hot springs

In the morning hit the road toward Tsenher hot springs. On the site hiking, horse riding and in the evening relaxation in a hot spa and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of these famous springs.

Accommodation: Ger camp.

Day 12 - Tsetserleg city& River Chuluut

Depart for Tsertserleg city, the capital city of Arkhangai province, a small town surrounded by stony hills. Visit the Buyandelgeruuleh Monastery and the museum. From the museum walk-up to enjoy a beautiful view of scenery. Drive to the Chuluut river canyon. Set up camp site for overnight.

Day 13 - Lake Terkhiin tsagaan

Canyon hiking tour in the morning. Drive to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. It is one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. The lake is surrounded by extinct and craterous volcanoes, and was formed by lava flows from a volcanic eruption many millennia ago. As a result of the volcano eruptions the landscape is covered with black volcanic rocks. You will stay in Ger camp.

Day 14 - Volcano crater and Lake

Walking tour to the Volcano crater’s top. In the afternoon relax around the lake, fishing, kayaking, horse riding etc.

Accommodation: Ger camp.

Day 15 - Hit the road

Drive to the north, into the direction of Lake Hovsgol, through high mountain passes, wide grasslands, and beautiful valleys crossing number of rivers, both small and large ones, all abundant of fish. Camping site will be set up upon beautiful mountain river on the road.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 16 - Ancient burial sites

Reach Muron, capital city of Hovsgol province. Visit local market. Commence driving to the Uushig valley, a historical site with ancient burial sites, deer stones, date back to 3000BC. Deer stones, which generaly feature deers in the middle, are thought to mark the graves of important people from the Bronze age and are related to shamanism. Camping near site.

Day 17 - Blue Pearl

After 4 hours of driving on a path climbing up to the north we will at last reach the Mongolian Blue Pearl, the Huvsgol Lake. It is a huge 2.760 square km alpine lake (130km in length and 30km in width), surrounded by mountain chains of more than 2000 meters high, thick pine forests and lush meadow with grazing yaks and horses. More than 10 small rivers and steams feed the lake with crystal clear water. Water exits the lake through only one river. The Egiin, whose waters eventually reach the Baikal Lake. The lake contains about 1,5 % of the world’s fresh water( excluding water contained in the icecaps). The lake and rivers are abundant of fish. Around a dozen species of fish inhabit the lake and rivers. The most well known are the sturgeon, grayling Lennok, salmon, taimon, etc.

Day 18 - Leisure day by the lake

We will spend a full day exploring the lakeshore and surrounding mountains. For those interested they will have the possibility to go horseback riding, visit Tsaatan family, people who live with reindeers, go hiking, go fishing, etc…

Day 19 - Fly back to Ulaanbaatar

Take flight back to Ulaanbaatar depending on the domestic flight. The evening program includes a Folk group performance followed by a dinner in one of the best restaurants of Ulaanbaatar.

Day 20 - National History Museum

Morning visit the National History Museum to see artefacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present, and displays of the development of Mongolian arts and culture. You will have a free afternoon to stroll around the city and do some shopping.

Day 21 - Departure

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for departure.

         Tour package info

The price includes the following:

• domestic flights
• transportation by 4x4
• all accommodations in Mongolia
• all excursions, entrance fees as described in the itinerary
• 3 meals a day, bottled water (2 L per person a day)
• Camel and horse riding fees as described in the itinerary
• Kitchen utilities

The price excludes:

• international transportation
• travel and medical insurance
• visa fee
• departure tax
• rent of fishing equipments, boat and kayak
• excess luggage charges
• all alcoholic beverages
• sleeping bags, inflatable mattress
• laundry
• telephone calls
• items of personal nature
• other items not specifically mentioned as included
• other activities not specified in the itinerary

Important note:

It is the responsibility of the client to have sufficient coverage of medical and travel insurance while travelling with us. We cannot take the responsibility of the any changes of domestic flights and other circumstances beyond our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions itinerary changes because of the weather etc…