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Mongolia Tour Itinerary
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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.
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
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 History Museum for an excellent overview of Mongolia’s history and culture. 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
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 pristine 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
DAY 4
Lake Hovsgol; Khoridal Saridag Mountains
Walk/Hike – easy to moderate, 2-4 hours on dirt roads and trails.
We will 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 visiting local 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
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
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
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
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 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
DAY 9
Yol Valley and Gurvansaikhan National Park
Hike – 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
DAY 10
Ongyn Hiid Monastery
After breakfast, we drive north through the vast steppe of southern Mongolia to the Ongyn Hiid Monastery (approximately 4-5 hours). Built in the 17th-century, Ongyn Hiid was once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, housing over 2,000 monks, and is still known as the “Pearl of the Great Desert.” Destroyed during the Communist Purges in 1939, the ruins of this monastery are situated in a beautiful mountainous region.
After Mongolia was democratized in 1990, a few monks returned and have started to rebuild parts of the Ongyn Hiid ruins. One temple has been restored, and there are now monks living and studying at the monastery.
Ger Camp, Middle Gobi
DAY 11
Drive to Kharakhorum (approximately 6-7 hours)
This morning we depart from our camp and drive to the city of Karakhorum. It is impossible to mention Mongolia without conjuring up images of the great warrior, Ghengis Khan. The empire created by Ghengis Khan and his descendants was the largest contiguous land empire in recorded history, and its scope has never been matched. The great Khan and his son created the beautiful and legendary Kharakhorum to serve as the heart of this monolithic empire. There are only a few traces left of this once great city, but Mongolia’s largest monastery, neighboring Erdene Zuu, was reputedly constructed from the ruins of Kharakhorum in the 16th-century.
Ger Camp, Kharakhorum
DAY 12
Exploration of Kharakhorum and Erdene Zuu
This morning we explore the ruins of Kharakhorum, and the Erdene Zuu monastery. Surrounded by 108 stupas, Erdene Zuu has been a place of Buddhist activity for more than 1,000 years. We explore the monastery grounds and observe the monks as they perform their prayers and rituals.
Ger Camp, Kharakhorum
DAY 13
Hustain Nuruu National Reserve
After breakfast, we drive to Hustain Nuruu National Reserve (3-4 hours), home to the last remaining species of wild horse, the Takhi – commonly known as Przewalski’s Horse. In 1994, twenty-five years after they became extinct in the wild, the Takhi was reintroduced into the wild from zoo populations by the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski’s Horse, a Dutch organization which flew 16 horses from the Netherlands to Mongolia. Since then, many healthy foals have been born in Mongolia. Learn about current conservation efforts and the status of the herds found within the reserve at the visitor’s center before trying to spot these beautiful horses in their natural habitat.
Ger Camp, Hustain Nuruu
DAY 14
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
DAY 15
Departure from Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.