Trace the steps of Genghis Khan from the Gobi Desert to crystal-clear Lake Hovsgol. Experience nomadic life, explore 'The Flaming Cliffs', and hike into the Yol Valley.

Mongolia beckons, with a rare glimpse into an ancient culture and the last unspoiled wilderness in Asia. Discovering this land of nomadic horsemen and traditions dating to the time of Genghis Khan is as much an adventure back in time as an expedition of exploration. Relatively unchanged for centuries, Mongolia has one of the last remaining horse-based, nomadic cultures in the world. Thriving on the Mongolian steppes, more than half the population still lives in lavishly decorated tents called gers. Our Mongolia tour brings us from the dramatic Gobi Desert to mountain-ringed Lake Hovsgol, and we experience the tradition of warm hospitality offered to passing travelers. Long after you return home, you will recall the hearty welcomes, warm smiles, and generosity that are invariably offered by the people of Mongolia.

Days 1-2: Our Mongolia adventure begins when we meet in Ulaanbaatar. The Natural and National History Museums provide an excellent introduction to what we will see over the next two weeks.

Days 3-5: Fly north and then drive to Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia's largest lake, passing through Mongolian steppe and forested mountains. This crystal-clear alpine lake, known as Mongolia's “dark blue pearl,” remains untouched and is situated among the most pristine forests, mountains, and meadows in the world. Spend the next few days hiking into the breathtakingly scenic Khoridal Saridag Mountains, exploring the lakeshore and surrounding mountains and meadows, visiting local nomads' dwellings, sampling horseback riding, Mongolian-style, and learning how to set up a ger.

Days 6-9: We return to Ulaanbaatar for a night before flying to the Gobi Desert. For the next three days, travel the stunning landscape of the Gobi, home to the hemisphere's rarest and most elusive mammals, such as the snow leopard and Gobi bear. Hike through Yol Valley National Park, cradled in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, and known for its Argali mountain sheep and ibex. Visit the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els, which reach upwards of 2,500 feet. Explore, on foot or by camel, the “The Flaming Cliffs,” where in 1922, the first nest of dinosaur eggs were found.

Day 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar and visit the former home of the Mongolia's last theocrat, who was referred to as Mongolia's 8th Living Buddha. Toast our adventure in Mongolia at a celebratory farewell dinner.

Day 11: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.

Our Mongolia: Land of the Nomads tour is highlighted in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S new book 'A GUIDE TO 50 EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES FOR THE SEASONED TRAVELER'.

Three Camels Lodge, nights 8 & 9, featured in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE, TOP 50 ECOLODGES:

“To the uninitiated, the Gobi looks strikingly lifeless. But Three Camel, a solar-powered huddle of yurts with a stylish lodge, reveals a rich herdsmen’s culture and rare wildlife like ibex, argalis, and snow leopards. Hike in the Gobi-Altai foothills, chat with the nomads at the refurbished well, and listen to performances of Hoomi, haunting local song.”

All lighting at the lodge and guest rooms made of "gers," traditional nomadic dwellings, is powered by photovoltaic solar panels and wind energy. A part of all the fees paid by participants who stayed at the lodge is dedicated to funding and supporting improvements of a local public school's facilities and buildings, funding of nature conservation clubs for local children, supporting children's music program at the school, planting trees at the local public schools, and supporting local grassroots environmental organizations such as Goldman prize winner -Onggi River Movement. In addition, by hiring locals as staff, guide, and management and using only locally-owned suppliers, the lodge promotes and practices sustainable eco-tourism and supports, stimulates and contributes directly to the local economy.

Enjoy 2 nights at the award-winning Three Camel Lodge on this signature journey.

Most Convenient Airport:
Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan International Airport (airport code ULN)

Meeting Time and Place:
You will be met at Ulaanbaatar's airport by a Boundless Journeys representative upon the arrival of your international flight on the first day of the trip (Day 1). Please look for a sign with your name on it, or that of Boundless Journeys. Most flights from the U.S. arrive into Ulaanbaatar in the evening. You will be transferred to our first hotel where you will be met in the lobby by your Boundless Journeys guide(s) at 9:00 a.m. on the following morning (Day 2). Upon arrival in Mongolia, proceed through immigration en route to the baggage claim area. After collecting your luggage, pass through customs (keeping your customs form in a safe place, as you will need to surrender this form on departure from Mongolia). Your guide will be waiting for you just outside of the customs area to transfer you to your hotel (unless you have specified that you do not need transfers). At this time, your guide will need to collect your passport and airline tickets. Your guide will then register your passport with the local authorities and reconfirm your departure flight from Ulaanbaatar. Both your passport and airline tickets will be returned to you prior to departure.

Departure Time and Place:
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, upon the departure of your international flight on Day 11. If you are leaving on the last day of the tour your will be transferred to the airport to check-in two hours prior to your international flight.

Overview:  Accommodations in Mongolia are very limited, and time outside of Ulaanbaatar will be spent in ger camps. We have chosen what we feel are the best camps in the areas we visit. Please see the “What to Expect” section on page 9 for more information on life in a ger camp. Ger camps have shared bath facilities. 

Nights 1 & 2:  Chinggis Khan Hotel
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Chinggis Khaan Hotel is conveniently located in the business and cultural center of Ulaanbaatar, and offers many amenities.

 
Nights 3, 4 & 5:  Ger Camp
Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia

While in the countryside, you will overnight in gers, the traditional felt tents of nomadic herders. Made of a latticed wood structure covered with layers of felt and canvas, each ger is heated by a wood stove and furnished with beautifully painted wood-framed beds. The camps in which we stay have been designed for tourists but provide an authentic and memorable taste of Mongolian culture and allow you to visit areas which otherwise lack traveler accommodations. Most visitors find their stays at ger camps to be among their most enjoyable experiences in Mongolia.

Night 6:  Chinggis Khan Hotel
(see nights 1 & 2)

Night 7:  Ger Camp
Gobi Desert, Mongolia

(see nights 2, 4, & 5)

Nights 8 & 9:  Three Camels Lodge
Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Featured in National Geographic Adventure as one of the 50 top eco-lodges in the world.

Night 10:  Chinggis Khan Hotel
(see nights 1 & 2)
 

Please note:
Flight schedules within Mongolia are subject to change, possibly affecting the order of events in the itinerary.

DAY 1 
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed by your guide and transferred to our comfortable, centrally located hotel within walking distance of various museums and shops.

The contrast between ancient traditions and the dawning of a 21st-century democracy is most visible in Ulaanbaatar where traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries coexist with modern high-rises. Mongolia’s capital is home to over a quarter of the country’s population, and the hub from which all Mongolian travel revolves.
Chinggis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

DAY 2 
Cultural Exploration of Ulaanbaatar

Today we enjoy a full day of the sights in Ulaanbaatar. We begin with a visit to the Gandan Monastery, one of the few that escaped the ravages of the Russian purges of the 1930’s. This is Mongolia’s most important religious structure, a focal point of a resurgence of Buddhism, and today the residence of over 100 monks. It is an impressive place with its temples, courtyards, and a 75-foot copper and gold statue covered in precious stones.
Next, we travel back in time with a visit to the dinosaur halls of the Natural History Museum, showcasing the spectacular fossils unearthed in the Gobi. On display is a unique collection which illustrates the richness and importance of the paleontological sites in the Gobi desert.

Following lunch we visit the National Museum of Mongolian History for an excellent overview of the history and culture of this region. The museum displays traditional implements of nomadic life including Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, historical costumes of Mongolia’s minority tribes, sacred religious relics, and agricultural, fishing and hunting equipment.

The rest of the afternoon is free to relax at our hotel, or stroll the streets of Ulaanbaatar. In the evening we meet for an orientation meeting, followed by a welcome dinner where we sample traditional Mongolian dishes at a local restaurant. 
Chinggis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

DAY 3 
Fly to Muron (1.5 hours); drive to Lake Hovsgol (approximately 4 hours driving)

Today we fly north to Muron, the capital of the Hovsgol Province, and continue overland to our remote ger camp on Lake Hovsgol. Our drive showcases the vast landscape as we pass through Mongolian steppe and into forested mountains. Mongolia’s largest lake by water volume, the vast and crystal clear Lake Hovsgol extends 85 miles in length, 8 miles in width, and is fed by over 90 streams and rivers. This crystal-clear alpine lake, known as Mongolia’s “dark blue pearl,” remains untouched by industry and is situated among the most beautiful forests, mountains and meadows in the world. Bird life and wildflowers abound, and you will have ample time to discover the lake’s secrets in the following days.

We stay in gers, the traditional, portable, round tents of the Mongolian nomad. Although specially adapted for visitors with modern comfort, the experience provides a glimpse into a way of life that has existed for thousands of years on the steppe.
Ger Camp, Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia

DAY  4 
Lake Hovsgol; Khoridal Saridag Mountains

Walking/Hiking – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours on dirt roads and trails.

We spend the next two days exploring the beautiful surroundings of the lake. Its waters teaming with fish, its shores covered in forest, home to moose, ibex, bear, reindeer, horses and yaks. There will be time for hiking and horseback riding in the nearby hills, kayaking on the lake, and perhaps visiting nomadic families. 

Today we may choose to trek along the shore of the lake and into the breathtakingly scenic Khoridal Saridag Mountains, bordering the western shore. From here we gain spectacular views of the lake and the dramatic mountains in the north bordering Russia. There is also the opportunity to visit a local family where we experience their genuine hospitality, and get an introduction to the nomadic way of life. We return to our ger camp for dinner and overnight.
Ger Camp, Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia

DAY 5 
Lake Hovsgol

Optional horseback riding, 4-6 hours.

Spend today further exploring the lakeshore and surrounding mountains and meadows. For those interested, we have the opportunity to sample horseback riding, Mongolian style. Accompanied by a local guide, our ride will take us into the surrounding mountains for spectacular views. Our picnic lunch may be accompanied by special wild delicacies such as fresh blueberries and wild onions picked from the hillsides.

For those who do not wish go horseback riding, there are many options for today close to our lakeside camp. You may choose to explore on foot, learn how to set up a ger, visit local nomads’ dwellings, or kayak on the lake.
Ger Camp, Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia

DAY 6
Return to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we return to Muron for our afternoon flight to Ulaanbaatar. On the way, we stop for a picnic lunch at Lake Irkh, a small but pristine lake in the midst of the steppe that is popular with a variety of birds. Upon our late afternoon arrival in Ulaanbaatar we transfer to our hotel, before enjoying dinner this evening at one of the many excellent restaurants in the city.
Chinggis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

DAY  7 
Fly to the Gobi Desert (1.5 hours); drive to Hongoryn Els (approximately 5 hours driving)
 
This morning we fly over vast steppe to the Gobi, Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Of all the world’s arid lands, the Gobi (which means simply “desert”) has about it the greatest air of mystery. Perhaps it’s because it lies at the heart of Asia’s remotest hinterland, between the Siberian wilderness to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. Contrary to the sterile sameness that the word “desert” suggests, the Gobi holds many fascinations including sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of this century. For the next three days, we explore the stunning landscape of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, golden eagles, saker falcons, jerboas - similar to kangaroo rats - and many endemic reptiles. The Gobi is also home to some of the Northern Hemisphere’s rarest and most elusive mammals such as the snow leopard and Gobi bear.

Upon arrival in the Gobi we drive overland to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els, which run for 60 miles alongside the Gobi-Altai Mountain range. These “Singing Sands,” reaching upwards of 2,500 feet, are the Gobi’s most magnificent sand dunes and due to its isolation, the secret of this area’s beauty has been kept safe for thousands of years. This classic desert feature embodies, for many, the quintessential Mongolian landscape.
Ger Camp, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

DAY 8
Explore Hongoryn Els; Drive to the Three Camels Lodge, visiting the Flaming Cliffs along the way (approximately 3-4 hours driving)

Optional dune climbing and camel riding.

For those who wish, there is time this morning for further exploration of the “Singing Sands,” or perhaps a climb to the top. There is also the opportunity to ride camels and visit one of the local camel breeder families.

Next we drive to Bayan Zag, commonly known as “The Flaming Cliffs” for its glowing orange rock. It was here, in 1922, that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs. To the trained eye, the red sandstone cliffs are rich with dinosaur fossils, and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site.

Our home for the next two nights, the Three Camels Lodge, is featured in National Geographic Adventure, November 2008, as one of the top ecolodges in the world.  This solar-powered lodge is a pleasant retreat that is set in stunning landscape within view of the breathtaking Gobi-Altai Mountain Range. Local artisans and workers crafted the roofs of the buildings in accordance with the canons of Mongolian Buddhist architecture, without using a single nail. Simple, natural materials keep the sense of nature flowing throughout the lodge to create a truly enchanting environment that is the perfect place from which to enjoy the serenity of the Mongolian outback.
Three Camels Lodge, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

DAY 9
Yol Valley and Gurvansaikhan National Park

Hiking – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours on dirt roads and trails.

This morning we drive into the Yol Valley  in Gurvansaikhan National Park, cradled in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. An ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley, and now its remnant streams create ice formations at the base of the valley that sometimes last as late as July. A scenic hike through the valley allows us to discover habitat for indigenous vulture-like lammergeiers, Altai snowcocks, ibex, yaks and Argali mountain sheep. Before returning to our lodge this afternoon we visit the local natural history museum for an overview of the flora and fauna of the area.
Three Camels Lodge, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

DAY 10
Revisiting Ulaanbaatar’s culture

After breakfast we return to Ulaanbaatar and visit to Bogd Khan Winter Palace museum, home of Mongolia’s last theocrat, Bogd Jabzan Damba Hutagt VIII (who was referred to as Mongolia’s 8th Living Buddha). The museum displays elaborate ceremonial robes and other personal effects of the leader. In the evening, we enjoy a traditional performance of Mongolian song and dance, and a farewell dinner at a favorite Ulaanbaatar restaurant.
Chinggis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

DAY 11   
Departure from Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.

Mongolia is a wonderfully diverse country and you may wish to consider lengthening your Boundless Journeys trip with an easy-to-plan extension: WESTERN MONGOLIA:

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.

• Expert leadership
• All accommodations
• All meals
• All transportation during the tour
• All activities as noted in the itinerary