TRIP SUMMARY
If you are looking for exploring the extensive Mongolian plains and learn about nomadic culture in depth, this quest might be suitable for you. For centuries, explorers arranged quests to discover its wildlife and sought to traverse across its vast land on horse or camel. Our expedition begins in the northern Lake Hovsgol region, where Mongolia’s crystal clear Lake Hovsgol awaits you. Our journey then continues onto Zavkhan province, which is one of Mongolia’s few remaining unexplored corners. We will then traverse across the northern Gobi plains to the towering sand dunes. Our quest concludes with a dinosaur fossil prospecting journey and a nomadic encounter with horse breeding family. This expedition will take us through best known lakes and river systems of central and northern Mongolia and concludes in the Gobi Desert.
Brief Daily Itinerary
Day 1. Aug 1. Arrival
Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. After resting in your hotel room, enjoy a brief city tour including a visit to Zaisan Hill where you can get a magnificent bird’s eye view of the city. This old Soviet period relic is a popular place for locals to hang out and offers great panoramic views of the entire city. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the city’s fine local restaurants. Overnight at hotel. (Hotel Bayangol or similar; D)
Day 2. Aug 2. Ulaanbaatar
We will spend this day exploring sights and sounds of Mongolia’s capital. We will begin this morning with a private blessing with a Buddhist monk at Gandan, the country’s largest monastery. An imposing 90-foot-tall statue of Megjid Janraisag (Avalokites-vara in Sanskrit) stands in the largest temple in the monastery. This statue is considered as the religious symbol of Mongolia’s independence and democracy after the country’s democratic transition of 1990. When a Mongolian student in the mid-1990s discovered
fragments of the original statue (which was destroyed by Soviet authorities in the 1930s) in St. Petersburg, a nationwide campaign began to collect money for rebuilding the Buddha. After years of hard work, this magnificent Buddha was resurrected and is now standing proudly, as a symbol of Mongolian Buddhist heritage.
Next, we will visit the National History Museum located in downtown Ulaanbaatar. This museum offers an excellent introduction to Mongolia’s history from pre-historic times through the 13th century Mongolian Empire, and on to the democratic movement of the early 1990s, which overthrew the Communist regime. After lunch, we will visit the Zanabazar’s Fine Arts Museum with its excellent collection of Mongolia’s arts, including golden Buddha statues of 17th century and some of the best preserved tankas in the world.
In the evening, enjoy a wonderful performance of traditional Mongolian music and dance, featuring Khoomii or “throat” singing, followed by dinner at a fine local restaurant. (Hotel Bayangol or similar; B, L, D)
Day 3. Aug 3. Ulaanbaatar / Lake Hovsgol
After breakfast, fly north to the Lake Hovsgol, known also as the “dark blue pearl” of Mongolia. The magnificent Lake Hovsgol, one of the most scenic regions in the country, is located at the foothills of the breathtaking Horidal Saridag Mountains to the west and a Siberian larch forest to the east. After our arrival in Murun (1.5 hour flight), the capital of Hovsgol province, we drive north to our ger camp located on the shore of the lake.
(About 3 hours driving; Cer Camp; B, L, D)
Day 4. Aug 4. Lake Hovsgol
After breakfast, enjoy a full day of horseback riding along the lakeshore. We will start riding south and return to the camp from its northern direction by making a large loop. There will be plenty of opportunities to stop and explore the local flora and fauna along the route. Overnight in gers.(Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 5. Aug 5. Lake Hovsgol / Telmen Lake
Today, we will drive to the Khar Nuur Lake of Zavkhan province which is situated in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by sand dunes and towering mountains in the near distance. Overnight in tents. (Approx.200km; Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 6. Aug 6. Telmen / Khar Nuur Lake
Today, we will drive to the Khar Nuur Lake of Zavkhan province which is situated in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by sand dunes and towering mountains in the near distance. Overnight in tents. (Approx.200km; Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 7. Aug 7. Khar Nuur
We will spend one full day exploring the sights and sounds of the surrounding area. Enjoy walking along the lake shore and exploring the local flora and fauna. Overnight in tents. (Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 8. Aug 8. Khar Nuur / Uliastai / Otgontenger
After breakfast, we will drive to the towering Otgontenger mountain base, the highest peak in Central Mongolia. The locals revere it as a holy mountain. Overnight in tents. Nomads for generations, have camped and lived around this mountain, which offers rich pasture land and abundant food supply.
(Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 9, aug 9: Otgontenger / Otgon Sum / Buu Tsagaan Soum
From the base of majestic Otgontenger Mountain, we will drive through tall mountain passes and horse pasture lands to the Bayanhongor province. We will camp near Boon Tsagaan Nuur Lake. Overnight in tents. (Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 10. Aug 10. Buun Tsagaan Nuur Lake / Bichigtyn Khad petroglyphs
Our journey today will bring us to the northern borders of Gobi Desert. Here, we will visit what is considered as one of the richest and most magnificent petroglyphs of Mongolia. Overnight in tents. (Tent Camp; B, L, D)
Day 11, aug 11: Bichigtyn Khad / Khongoryn Els
From Bichigtyn Khad, we will drive to the western part of the Gobi where the towering Hongoryn Els sand dunes exist. Enjoy climbing to the tallest of the dunes.Overnight in gers. (Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 12. Aug 12. Yol Valley /Flaming Cliffs
In the morning, drive to the Yol Valley located in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, named after the raptor bird the bearded vulture or lammergeier. Yol Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the park and strolling through the gorge could allow rare spotting of mountain wild sheep and an elusive bird species such as Wallcreeper- Tichodroma muraria. Also we will visit the local Natural History Museum located on the entrance.
In the late afternoon, we will drive to the legendary Flaming Cliffs, red sandstone bluffs stretching about 3 km in width, where hundreds of dinosaur fossils have been found. Paleontological expeditions from many countries, including from U.S, Poland, Japan and Russia have worked here in the last 80 years. Each year rain and wind reveal yet more fossils and every summer new discoveries are made. Return to the ger camp in the evening.
Overnight in gers. (Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 13. Aug 13. Delgerkhangai Soum
This morning, we will drive northeast to the Delgerkhangai soum and camp next to our host herder family. We will observe how their train their race horses and taste traditional Mongolian drink, the airag.
Overnight in tents. (Tent camp; B, L, D)
Day 14. Aug 14. Ulaanbaatar
In the morning, we will transfer to the airport to fly back to Ulaanbaatar for our last day of explorations. Spend the remainder of the day for last-minute shopping and sightseeing. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful performance of traditional Mongolian music and dance, featuring Khoomii, or “throat-singing,” followed by farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.
(Hotel Bayangol or similar; B, L, D)
Day 15. Aug 15. Departure
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
Trip Highlights:
- Explore Lake Hovsgol, the mid-western Mongolia and Gobi desert;
- Visit ethnic Mongolians along the way;
- Explore the national parks of Mongolia;
- Enjoy hiking in the mountains and the desert, in search of cultural heritage and wildlife;
- Explore the country from north to south, exploring one ecosystem transitioning to another;
- Be one of the first to explore Mongolia’s most remote regions beyond the mountains and the deserts;
DATES & PRICING
Trip Date:
August 1 – 15 , 2024
Prices:
2 travelers:
$3,870 per person, standard twin occupancy
3-5 travelers:
$3,650 per person, standard twin occupancy
6-9 travelers:
$3,450 per person, standard twin occupancy
10 and more travelers:
$3,300 per person, standard twin occupancy
Optional single supplement:
$650 per person
Post-Trip Altai Mountains Extension
Why not extend your journey and visit Altai Tavan Bogd National Park? On this western Mongolian journey, we will visit Mongolia’s highest peaks and trek amidst stunningly beautiful peaks. We will visit local Kazakh hunters’ camps to learn how golden eagles are trained and meet talented Kazakh women who are renowned for their skill of making colorful embroideries.
GALLERY
ACCOMMODATIONS & TRANSPORTATION
Hotel Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar
Hotel Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar is conveniently located in downtown Ulaanbaatar and is a 5 start hotel with a friendly staff. All major atractions of UB are located with a walking distance of the hotel.
Field camps
In some areas, we will be staying expedition style tents. It is one of the best camping grounds in the entire country and be sure to watch for the northern stars and the entire Milkyway spanning over us!
Ger camps
Throughout the program, we will be staying at ger camps, rustic, eco lodges. Ger camps offer authentic Mongolian experience.
Land Transportation:
Land transportation is provided by Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps seating 3 passangers per vehicle. Some roads can be bumby and hard but our drivers are some of the most experienced and reliable in the country.