Classic Mongolia with Mini Naadam

Day 1

Upon 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 2

After 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. In the afternoon we will have time to visit a local herdsman's family to experience Mongolian hospitality and explore their nomadic lifestyle. Return to our camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3

This 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 Erdenzuu 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.

Day 4

This morning we will 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 the ger camp for dinner. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 5

This morning we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar, this will take about 7 hours and we will stop on the way at the Mongol Els sand dunes, which is a long strip of sand stretching all the way from the Gobi Desert into the central regions of Mongolia. Here we have a packed lunch. On arrival you will be taken to Bayangol Hotel. The evening program will be a Folklore show followed by a dinner at a hotel restaurant and overnight at Bayangol hotel.

Day 6

After breakfast we will be taken to the airport for the flight to Dalanzadgad, the center of South Gobi province. The flight takes one and half hour and your guide will accompany you for the flight. On arrival at the local airport our local driver will meet you and take to a ger camp for lunch. In the afternoon you will start your visits in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Today's destination is 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.
In the afternoon drive back to the ger camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 7

We will head off in the vehicles to the south-deep into Gobi and make our way to Khongoriin sand dunes, the largest in Mongolia, covering 965km².
Meals and overnight is at the ger camp. (180km)

Day 8

Rest day at the sand dunes. We will walk up to the sand hills, visit local family and ride two humped camels along the sand dunes that has length of 180km and 15-20m wide lies on the northern part of the mountains of Sevrei.
Meals and overnight is at the previous night ger camp.

Day 9

Today we will set again on our vehicles and drive to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain to its valley called Eagle Valley. This Valley is nestled deep within the hills and ia 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. There are wild mountain goats jumping on high cliff walls and big birds of prey circling high in the sky. You will do walking in the valley and have a packed lunch at the site. In the afternoon will drive back to the ger camp.

Day 10

After 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. Lunch at the local restaurant and after lunch will do city tour including National History museum and Fine Art museums. Both museum house impressive displays of Mongolian history and religious art. Dinner at the local restaurant.

Day 11

Today we will drive into the Baga Khentii Mountains. The Baga Khentii Mountains are within the bounds of the Gorkhi Terelj National Park. This park is a paradise for nature lovers with an abundance of wild flowers in the spring and summer months. The wildlife is varied and includes musk deer and moose, brown bear, roe and elk. The bird life includes spot whooper swans, spoonbills, great white egrets and numerous raptors. We will drive the short two-hour journey from Ulaanbaatar to the Terelj Valley in the National Park. Here we will have lunch at a local ger camp.
In the afternoon will be some easy hike in the hills to explore the interesting rock formations and wild flowers. Also will visit Meditation Center on the hill. This is a small Buddist temple building on the hill surrounded by high mountains and beauty of nature. Dinner overnight at the ger camp.

Day 12

In the morning we will drive to Nomadic family. Those who want to ride horses will have chance here. We will provide western saddles for riders. A local horseman will accompany you for riding. Those who don't want to ride can have a leisure time walking. After lunch at the ger camp we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar for dinner and overnight at Bayangol Hotel.

Day 13

Transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Departure date for 2006:

Prices per person:
Group 2-3 people USD 2415
Group 4-6 people USD 2160
Group 7-10 people USD 2050
Group 11-14 people USD 1990
Single supplement USD185 (it refers only to hotel in Ulaanbaatar)

Tour prices include:
-All transfers
-Twin share accommodation at Bayangol hotel while in the city
-Sightseeing with private bus and an English speaking guide including entrance fees
-3 meals a day
-Accommodation in the traditional Mongolian ger while in countryside
-Transportation in 4WD Russian jeeps in countryside
-Horse and horsemen hire as mentioned
-Camel and camelmen hire as mentioned
-National Park fees
-English speaking guide throughout the trip