Camels & Monasteries
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 2We will enjoy a full day of guided sightseeing within the city of Ulaanbaatar. In the morning, we will visit Gandan Monastery which is the largest in the country. Additionally, it was the only monastery functioning during Socialist times and is now the religious center of the country. Afterwards, we will visit the National History Museum and Fine Arts Museum. Both museums house impressive displays of Mongolian National and Religious history. After lunch we will go to Dashchoilon Monastery to witness Religious Dance of Tsam. The Tsam will be performed by monks who wore elaborate costumes and brightly painted papier mache masks acted the roles of various Buddhist gods. Time will be provided in the afternoon to shop for Mongolian cashmere products and souvenirs. Our evening program will be a local concert featuring national music and dancing followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodations will be at the Bayangol Hotel. Day 3This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for our drive west out 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 the "Piece of Sand." Here, we will stay overnight at Bayangobi ger camp. This ger camp is located on the northern edge of Mongol Els. In the evening, we will get acquainted with our camels that we will ride next 3 days. 
Day 4Today we will begin our camel trek to Khodoo Lake. It is a small lake in the middle of sand dunes located 5-6kms from our starting point. We will have lunch by the edge of the lake and then return for dinner and overnight accommodations at Bayangobi ger camp. Day 5Today we will camel trek about 15 kms through sand dunes towards Khogno Khaan Mountain. After lunch along the way, we will reach Mongol Altai ger camp located amongst the sand dunes for overnight accommodations. Day 6Today we will continue our camel trek around Khogno Khaan Mountain and visit the ruins of an ancient monastery located on its slopes. In the afternoon, we will visit a local herdsman's family to experience Mongolian hospitality and explore their nomadic lifestyle. Dinner and overnight accommodations at Khogno Khaan ger camp. Day 7We will drive into the ancient capital of Mongolia, Karakorum. Today, very little remains of the place from where Genghis Khan launched his mighty cavalry. However, what does stand resplendent near the town is the massive walls of the Erdene Zuu 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. Time will be provided in Karakorum to do some art and antique shopping. Meals and overnight accommodations at ger camp. Day 8Today we will drive to Tovkhon Monastery rested on the armchair-shaped peak of Shireet Ulaan Mountain at a height of 2,312 meters. The monastery was built by the 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 return to Karakorum. Meals and overnight accommodations at ger camp. Day 9Today we will complete a 7 hour drive returning to Ulaanbaatar stopping for a packed lunch along the way. On arrival, you will be taken to the Bayangol Hotel. We will enjoy a "Farewell Dinner" at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodations at the Bayangol Hotel. Day 10Transfer to the airport for departure international flight. |
Departure date for 2006: 1 August - 10 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 |