The Grand Mongolian Experience
Quick Reference Itinerary
Day 1Upon arrival in Mongolia's capital city, Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the Bayangol Hotel. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a leisurely program of sightseeing around the city and a visit to the Natural History Museum and view a variety of fossils from animals and dinosaurs living up to 70 million years ago. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodations at the Bayangol Hotel. Day 2Drive out of the capital to the west until we reach the place called Khogno Khan mountain. We will be driving past the landscape for which Mongolia is most famous - the endless green steppe, with grazing herds of sheep accompanied by lone horsemen, and white, nomadic gers dotted over the countryside. Camp in the mountain and hike to explore the ruins of the monastery in one of the slopes of Khogno Khan Mountain. Day 3This morning we will drive short way to reach the ancient capital city of Mongolia, Karakorum. Present day town of Karakorum - a typical Soviet style town, on the outskirts of which lies the ruins of the Erdenzuu Monastery. This Monastery was built in the 15th Century but was largely destroyed during the communist purges of the 1900s. Today it is used again as a centre for the Buddhist religion, which is experiencing a revival in Mongolia, and as a museum for visiting travellers. We will visit the Monastery and explore some remains of ancient capital afterwards will drive out of town and make our camp be edge of Orkhon river. Hiking in surrounding area. Day 4In the morning drive along the Orkhon river Valley onto the Waterfall. After lunch at the waterfall we continue driving a short way to our campsite at Khorgoi Hurem. We will make our tented camp in the forested foothills of the Khangai Mountains. In the afternoon we will visit local nomadic family to explore their lifestyle. The scenery is a landscape of pine, larch and birch trees with green hillsides and mountainous meadows.
Day 5-7These three days will be spent hiking through the mountains on a linear path. The vehicles will leave us to drive around the mountain and then meet us at the end of our hiking trip. We will have pack yaks as support to carry our equipment and food. Our linear hiking will be done in the area of Naiman Nuur, which translated means Eight Lakes. In this area there are several small lakes that are formed from extinct volcanos making depressions high up in Khangai Mountains at about 2500m above sea level. On the first day we will hike through the meadows ascending and descending the low hills. By lunchtime we reach the valley called White Stallion. There is a beautiful lake surrounded by forested hills in the valley. The lake is rich with bird life. There are nomadic herdsmen's families living around the lake in the summer. After lunch we hike into narrower mountainous valley ascending to Hoh Davaa Pass. Once on the pass there is a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside of snow covered peaks, forested hills and large volcanic boulders littered at the foothills. Continue hiking down to Huis Lake. Here we make an overnight tented camping. Enjoy the afternoon bird watching. On the second day we continue hiking through mountainous valley onto Shireet Lake. We will be hiking through forest and grassland with boulders. On the way we will hike by a few small lakes. Shireet Lake is a fresh water lake and is the biggest in the area. We will make our tented camp on the long stretching island of the lake. We can do fishing and swimming in the lake. The next day we will continue hiking all way to the other end of the lake area where we will meet our drivers and vehicles again. We will hike through two high passes over the mountain. While hiking high there is always a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding peaks. We will make our tented camp near by Uyanga village. Day 8Today we will head onto the Gobi and our destination is Ongiin Monastery. This is ruins of the Monastery on the banks of Ongi River. We will hike up south slope of the Rocky Mountain to visit Temple museum and stupas that haven't broken. Make our tented camp in the mountain. Day 9Today we will drive deep into the Gobi until we reach the Flaming Red cliffs at Bayanzag, the place where the American scholar Roy Chapman Andrews did a dinosaur expeditions in 1920s. The dinosaur skeletons found in Mongolia by his expeditions are now kept in the Natural History Museum of America. Make our camp by the red cliffs. 
Day 10Today we will drive onto the sand dunes at Hongoriin Els. The drive is through some incredible desert scenery with flat, stony plains; outcrops of vegetation; hills of interesting rock formations; and herds of wild antelope racing across the plains. We will reach the dunes in the afternoon and spend the evening in our tented camp. Day 11Spend the day exploring the sand dunes and beautiful setting at Hongoriin River, which runs on the northern side of the sand dunes. Those who want to ride two humped camels can ride here along the sand dunes. Day 12Today we continue driving through the National Park and make our way deep into the Gurvan Saikhan Mountain Range, which is part of the Altai Mountains, stretching from the northwest corner of Mongolia. We will reach the place known as Eagle Valley. This Valley is nestled deep within the hills and is a haven from the desert heat. Some areas of the valley are continually sheltered from the hot sun and house huge, blocks of ice that gradually melt away during the summer. On arrival we hike along the valley and overnight is at the tented camp. 
Day 13Drive to Dalanzadgad the centre of South Gobi province and take the flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival you will be met and transferred to Bayangol hotel. In the afternoon city tour including Fine art museum and National history museums. Both museums have impressive displays of Mongolian historical artefacts. Evening program is concert of Ensemble of National Song and Dance. Dinner at the local restaurant. Day 14This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure. |
Departure date: Available from 15 June to 1 SeptemberPrices per person: Tour prices include:
Tour prices do not include: Alcohol drinks, all items of personal nature, airport taxes and international transportation to and from Mongolia |
