Classic Gobi with Mini Naadam
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 2This morning we will drive out of the city short way of 40 km to witness mini Festival. Highlights of the festival are horse riding, wrestling and archery, that named "Three manly games". Spend the day at the Festival and drive back to hotel in the evening for dinner. Overnight at the Bayangol hotel Day 3After breakfast this morning we will drive to the west of Ulaanbaatar and across 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. Our destination is about 6 hours to the west to a place known as Khogno Khan Mountain. Here we will stay overnight in a ger camp. The mountain is a rocky peak in the vast plains, with the ruins of an ancient monastery on its slopes. We will walk to the ruins of monastery in the afternoon. (Optional driving is possible.) Return to our ger camp for dinner and overnight. (280km by paved road) 
Day 4This morning we will drive to the ancient capital of Mongolia, Karakorum. Very little remains of the place from where Genghis Khan launched his mighty cavalry. What does stand resplendent near the town is the massive walls of the Erdenezuu Monastery. This monastery had to face the onslaught of Soviet desecration during the 19th century but is now being slowly and lovingly restored. We will visit the monastery and head onto the ger camp at the riverbank of Orkhon. Today you can do some art and antique shopping in Karakorum. Meals and overnight at the ger camp. (100km by paved road) Day 5Today we will drive to Orkhon Waterfall, about 130km from Karakorum. Formed by volcanic eruptions about 20,000 years ago, the waterfall cascades from a height of 20 m. On arrival you will be head to the ger camp nearby for lunch and after lunch you will explore the surrounding area, visit local nomad family to explore their life style. Meals and overnight at the ger camp. Day 6Today we will drive to Tovkhon Monastery that stands on the armchair-shaped peak of Shireet Ulaan Mountain at a height of 2.312meters. The monastery was built by initiative of Zanabazar and is the place where many of his most famous artworks were created. To the right of the temples a path leads upward to the summit of the peak. One branch of the path leads to the so-called Mother's Womb, a narrow passageway which pilgrims crawl through to be symbolically reborn, cleansed of their sins. In the afternoon we will drive back to Karakorum, to our ger camp. Meals and overnight at the ger camp. 
Day 7Today we will head to the Gobi and in the afternoon we will reach the place Ongiin hiid. On the way we will stop to visit Shank Monastery. We will visit the monastery then continue our driving until we reach the Ongiin hiid. In the Ongi we will visit the ruins of Ongi Monastery. This monastery was erected about 250 years ago and at that time had almost 1,000 monks worshipping at this place daily. Now, you can locate just a few stupas and one temple that have not been destroyed. Dinner and overnight is at the ger camp. (300km) Day 8We will head off in the vehicles to the south-deep into Gobi and make our way to Khongoriin sand dunes, the largest in Mongolia. 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. Meals and overnight is at the ger camp. (350km) Day 9This will be a day of leisure activities at Khongoriin sand dunes. We will hike along the sand hills, visit a local family, and ride two-humped Bactrian camels along the dunes, that has length of 180km and 15-20m wide lies on the northern part of the mountains of Sevrei. Overnight accommodations will be at ger camp. Day 10We will again set out in vehicle and drive to Bayanzag, the red sandstone cliffs and canyons rich in Saxaul. Bayanzag is well known as the location of where the American palaeontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews did dinosaur expeditions in the 1920s. The dinosaur remains located in Mongolia through his expeditions are now kept in the Natural history museum in the United States. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at a ger camp. (180km) Day 11This morning we will drive short way to Gobi 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. This is the area perfect for hiking and if you are lucky enough you might spot ibex and wild sheep grazing high on the rocky walls of the mountains. In the late afternoon we will drive to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight.. (100km) Day 12After breakfast in the ger camp you will be taken to the local airport for the flight back to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival in Ulaanbaatar our driver will meet you and tranfer to Bayangol hotel. Afternoon is in leisure and dinner at the hotel restaurant. Day 13Today we will have full day of sightseeing. We will start from the Gandan Monastery, biggest Buddist Monastery in the function. Then we will visit National history museum and Fine art museum. Both museums house impressive displays of Mongolian National and Religious history. Evening program will be the performance of Ensemble of National Song and Dance at Drama theatre. Dinner is at the local restaurant and after dinner you will be transferred to your hotel for overnight. Day 14You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. |
Departure date for 2005: 20 July - 2 AugustPrices 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 |