The Ancient Cultures of Western Mongolia
Quick Reference Itinerary
Day 1Today you will arrive in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. On arrival you will be transferred to the Bayan Gol 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. Day 2Morning at leisure. At about 10:30 you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Khovd. This small township is the capital of the Aimag of the same name. The flight departs at 12:20 and takes over three hours and you will have one stop on the way for re-fuelling. On arrival we will be met by our local drivers and vehicles and taken out of the town towards Khar Us Lake. We will stop on a small hill with a glorious view of the lake and in the far distance, Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain. Here we have a rest and a lunch. In the afternoon we will drive along the edge of Khar Us Nuur until we reach the small township of Chandman Soum. The drive will also take us along the foothills of Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain. This area is known throughout Mongolia to be the cradle of the ancient tradition of throat singing. The main cultural group inhabiting the area are the Khalh majority of Mongolia. We will make camp for the evening near the township. Day 3 Day 4Today we will head back to Khovd. The road will take us besides the shore of Khar Us Lake, which is rich with bird life. There are about 260 different species of birds inhabiting on the lake during the summer and lay their eggs. We will make several stops to enjoy the bird watching. It is advisable to bring your binoculars on this trip not only for birds but also to follow the horse racing while it is in the distance. On arrival in Khovd, we will visit a local museum, which displays the history and ethnography of the area. Today we camp outside of the town by the riverside of Buyant with the glorious view of the snow capped mountains over the hills. In the evening we will go to a concert of Mongolia folk music and dance specially performed for the National Holiday. Day 5A day of the National Naadam Festivals. The Festival consists of the three manly sports of horse racing, wrestling and archery. The competition is particularly fierce in the western provinces, as many of the best riders cannot make the long journey to the capital where the country’s best compete. It is an exciting time with horses racing long distances, by jockeys as young as 10 years old, racing across the dusty countryside, bareback. The wrestling takes place in the main stadium with, amongst the tall grass and relaxed atmosphere. We will see all three competitions then in the late afternoon we leave the excited town and head to the peaceful wilderness. We will drive up into the mountains, about 40 km, to our picturesque campsite with an amazing vista of the surrounding steppe and the snow-capped peak of Tsambargarav Mountain. Have dinner and rest. The surrounding hills are quite striking for hiking enthusiasts Overnight will be in tented camp. Day 6Today we will drive into the further most western province of Mongolia, Bayan Olgii. The largest minority group of Mongolia, the Kazakh people, populates this area. The Kazakh people came to Mongolia at the end of the 17th century, fleeing from tribal warfare in western China. The Mongolian Government granted them land and freedom in Bayan Olgii, where they continue to live and carry out their traditional culture until the present day. We will drive until we reach the fresh water lake, Tolbo Nuur. This lake is formed by the deep depression of the high mountains surrounding the area, which form part of the Altai Range, towering at a height of 2080 m. in some areas. There are many different species of birds inhabiting on the lake and two main species of fish - Osman and Grayling. We will camp by the edge of the lake for overnight. Day 7Today we will spend the day with a Kazakh family. Although their nomadic lifestyle is very similar to that of the Mongols there are some key difference. Firstly, the Kazakh people are Muslim and follow the religious traditions and customs of Islam. They are Kazakh-speaking and their gers, or yurts, are sightly larger and much more ornately decorated than their Mongolian brothers and sisters. The Kazakh women produce some astonishingly beautiful appliqué, stitching and rug making out of crude cloth and felt. The floors and walls of their gers are strewn with these beautiful handicrafts. Many of the Kazakh men pride themselves with their great skill in hunting with Eagles. These massive eagles are often caught at a very young age and trained to hunt small prey in the winter months. The men carry the large birds on their arms as they ride on horseback, out for the hunt. In the summer months the family keeps the birds close to home and they are fattened for the winter’s work. We will spend the day with a Kazakh family, experiencing their unique culture and seeing their eagles. There will also be a half day horse riding in the area and return to our camp by Lake Tolbo for overnight camp. Day 8Today we will drive through the Aimag capital of Bayan Olgii, Olgii. This town is thriving with activity and is the central location for the Kazakh people, who make up 90% of this province of Mongolia. After spending a short time in the town we will continue on, driving past the shores of Achit Lake, until we reach Uureg Lake, which is situated in the Uvs Province. This relatively small lake is surrounded by low-lying hills and on the far northern edge lies Russia. We will make camp overnight by the edge of the lake. Day 9We will spend a day leisurely by the edge of the lake. This area is ideal for bird lovers. Overnight is in tented camp by edge of the lake. Day 10After a light lunch we will head for the hills again and drive towards Turgen Mountain. On the way, we will come across some ancient burial sites and stone monuments, which we will explore. These sites date back thousands of years to the time of the Turkish people. Turgen Mountain is one of the highest peaks of Altai Mountain Range and is elevated to 4000m. We will make camp in the mountainous valleys near the foot of the mountain. Day 11As huge boulders litter the road to the very foot of the Mountain, making it virtually impassable by vehicle, we will take a day hike to the glacier. There would also be opportunities for travelling by horse for those who would like to ride. The green meadows and valleys nestled between the mountainsides, that lead the path towards the glacier are carpeted with wild flowers, making brilliant contrasts with the snow and rock. The valley comes alive in the summer months when nomadic peoples move their herds into the area to fatten their animals for the long winter months. There are many small crystal clear streams that originate from the glacier and flow down through the mountainous gorges and valleys making a sharp, echoing sound in the still mountain air. Here, we can see birds that inhabit the high mountains such as Eagle, Lammergeyer (or Bearded Vulture), Vulture, Falcon, Goshawk and many more. We will camp in the mountains for overnight. Day 12This morning we will visit one of the nomadic families living the area. These people are from the Dorvod minority group. Their way of life is very similar to the Mongolian nomadic peoples. They speak a slightly different dialect than the nomadic peoples of the east. A visit from afar is a rare treat for them and they welcome guests warmly. In the afternoon we will do more horse riding or hiking in the mountains. Overnight at the previous camp. Day 13This morning we will descend from the mountains in our vehicles and drive into the town for our internal flight from Ulaangom to Ulaanbaatar. The flight departs at 16:55 and takes again, over three hours, and we will arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 20:30. On arrival you will be transferred to the Bayan Gol Hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 14Today 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. Day 15This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure. |
Departure date for 2006: 7 July -21 JulyPrices 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 |
Today we will spend the day with a nomadic family of the Khalh ethnic group. We will learn about their traditional nomadic way of life and hear some of their hauntingly beautiful throat singing. The art of throat singing is very difficult to master as it involves a technique of circular breathing with the stomach producing a deep guttural and nasal sound. The local people will perform a variety of different styles of throat singing for us in the outdoors. The sounds are said to be enhanced when floated on the breeze.
There will be an optional horse back riding in the afternoon. In the evening we will return to our camp of the previous evening.