| Day 1 |
Today you will arrive in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. On arrival you will be transferred to the Hotel to check-in and freshen up. In the afternoon we will have a leisurely program of sightseeing including the National History Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. Both museums house impressive displays of Mongolian National and Religious history. In the evening you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. |
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| Day 2 |
| After an early breakfast in the hotel dining room you will be taken to the airport for our flight to Ulaangom, the capital of Uvs Aimag, one of Mongolia's most westerly provinces. The flight departs at 07:40 and stops at Moron on the way. The total duration of the flight is just over 3 hours. Ulaangom is a typical Soviet style town with tree-lined streets and a central square onto which the local Parliament buildings face. The largest salt-water lake in Mongolia, Uvs Nuur, is within about 50 km from the town. On arrival our local drivers and vehicles will meet us. We will then head out of the town into the mountains. Turgen Mountain, at an altitude of 3965 m. lies to the southwest of Ulaangom. Turgen Mountain is part of the Altai Mountain Range. It is one of the highest peaks in Mongolia, second only to Kharkhiraa Mountain in Uvs Aimag, which is at an altitude of 4037 meters. The drive into the mountains will be a couple of hours and we will make camp overnight in a mountainous valley near the Turgen River. |
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| Day 3 |
| Today is an opportunity for us to find out mountain legs. We will take a short day hike in the mountain and return to our base camp for overnight. We will take a slow hike up the mountain towards the large glacier that is at the foot of the peak of Turgen Mountain. The terrain is quite rocky, with large boulders scattered over the green grass. The air is crisp and the mountain scenery spectacular. Return to base camp for overnight. |
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| Day 4-6 |
Today we will start our linear hike. Everyday we will be hiking for about 20kms. Since the mountainous terrain doesn't allow the vehicles to follow us for the first 3 days of hiking, we will have the support of pack camels for transporting our food and equipment. Local nomads will help us with camels. We will be hiking through the mountains, ascending and descending the hills through a terrain with rocky paths, green grass, fast flowing rivers and grazing flocks. Each day the staff will go ahead with the camels and their loads and make camp ready for our arrival. A local trek leader and an English-speaking guide will accompany you for the hike. In the evening of the sixth day our kitchen truck will meet us at the campsite. |
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| Day 7 |
| Today is a well-deserved rest day after several days of hiking in the mountains. There is an option of riding camels today in the area of the mountains near the campsite. Today we will also visit a Dorvod family and learn of their unique culture and way of life. The Dorvod people are a minority group of Mongolia and speak a slightly different dialect to their eastern neighbours. Tonight we will make a special dinner for the farewell with our camel men. |
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| Day 8-9 |
Today we will continue our hiking trail through the mountains without the aid of our camel men. The terrain starts to get easier as we descend the mountain and we are able to cover more distance. Our kitchen truck will drive ahead with the food and equipment and make camp on our arrival each night. We will start to meet more nomadic herdsmen in the mountains, with their grazing flocks. Their gers are spread throughout the hills and we will be able to join them for a cup of tea. On the afternoon of day 9 we will reach Uureg Lake. This lake is in a beautiful setting surrounded by small hills. It is a salt-water lake with crystal blue water, perfect for bird and nature lovers. We will make camp by the edge of the lake for the evening.
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| Day 10 |
| Today we will rejoin our jeep drivers and drive into Bayanolgii Aimag. Over 90% of the population of this Aimag are the Kazakh people. On our drive today we will pass the shores of Achit Lake and continue to the summer camp of some nomadic Kazakh people. Here we will make camp for the evening. |
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| Day 11 |
Today we will spend a full day with the Kazakh families. The Kazakh peoples live a similar herding lifestyle to the Mongols. However, the Kazakh people are Moslems and speak the Kazakh language. They came to Mongolia during the 18th century on invitation by the Mongolia Government and were given land in the west where they could live and tend their herds. The Kazakh people are famous for their intricate handicrafts and amazing needlework. Their yurts, which are larger than the Mongolians, are elaborately decorated with brightly coloured wall hangings and floor rugs. We will visit some families and share their hospitality. The Kazakh men spend a great deal of time hunting with eagles in the winter months. These great birds are caught at a young age and trained to catch small prey. We will have a chance to see these magnificent birds. |
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| Day 12 |
| Drive to Olgii town and take the flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight. |
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| Day 13 |
| Today will be a full day of sightseeing in the city. We will start at the Buddhist Monastery, the largest in Mongolia, Gandan Hiid. We will also visit the Natural History Museum and the ancient Palace of the last Bogd Khan. After lunch there will be time for some shopping and purchasing of souvenirs. The evening program will be of a local concert featuring Mongolia music and dancing followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. |
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| Day 14 |
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure. |
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