DINOSAURS OF MONGOLIA WITH DR. PHILIP CURRIE

Upon arrival at the airport, meet your guide and transfer to a centrally located hotel located near downtown Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant. Ulaanbaatar offers a contrast between ancient traditions and the dawning of a 21st century democracy, which can be seen in the traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries coexisting with modern high-rises.

(Overnight at Hotel Shangri La or similar; D)

After breakfast, fly over a vast steppe to the Gobi Desert, comprised of mountains, sand dunes and fossil beds. Upon arrival, we will meet our drivers and begin driving to the base camp at Nemegt formation. A rather long day, but you will enjoy the Gobi’s rich scenery along the way. Overnight at tent camp.

(Approx. 8 hours driving; Overnight at expedition style Tent Camp; B, L, D)

For the next six days, we will prospect the Gobi’s vast and rich fossil beds where some of the best discoveries of large carnivorous dinosaurs have been made recently. Overnight in expedition style tents. (B, L, D)

In the last leg of our journey, we will move to more remote area of the Gobi, where we will prospect for more fossils and discoveries. Discovered by a Russian expedition in the 1940s, this site have been worked more recently by many international expeditions. We will work in this remote part of the Gobi for more fossil discoveries and possible excavation works.

Overnight in expeditiona style tents. (B,L,D)

This morning, drive back towards the central part of the Gobi Desert, reaching your ger camp located in the foothills of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan mountains.

Overnight in ger camps. Approx. 8 hours driving; B, L, D

In the morning, we will begin driving to the Tugrigiin Shiree, which was discovered by Mongolian scientists and co-explored by Polish expeditions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tugrigiin Shiree is perhaps most known for its famous “Fighting Dinosaurs” (a fossil of a Protoceratops and a Velociraptor locked in combat), which were discovered in the 1970s. We will explore this white sandstone escarpment for dinosaur fossils. In the late afternoon, will drive to the legendary Flaming Cliffs, red sandstone formations that stretching over 3 kilometers in width, where hundreds of dinosaur fossils have been discovered over the course of the last century. Paleontological expeditions from many countries, including from the U.S, Poland, Japan and Russia have worked here during last 90 years. Each year, rain and wind reveal yet more fossils and every summer, exceptional new discoveries are made. We will explore the cliffs in the footsteps of legendary American explorer Roy Chapmen Andrews who discovered the first dinosaur eggs here, that had ever been recognized. Enjoy a sunset view at this majestic place before returning back to our ger camp.

Overnight in Ger Camp; B, L, D.

After breakfast, we will drive to Dalanzadagad for our return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel. Following lunch, we will drive to the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum, named in honour of the renowned 17th century artist and politician, who was also the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia. The museum contains one of the best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts in the world, including many of Zanabazar’s original works. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at Hotel Shangri La or similar; B, L, D

We will spend this day for visiting the Institute of Paleontology and Geology and getting an opportunity to provide a report on our field works. The remainder of the day is available for last minute sightseeing. In the evening, we will attend a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and Khoomey (throat) singers.

Overnight at Hotel Bayangol or similar; B, L, D

After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for departure. (B)