Beauty of Mongolia Tour (11 days)

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, you'll be greeted at the airport and escorted to 4* hotel. 

Take a city tour to Gandan Monastery where you will see a huge gold plated Buddha, the symbol of Mongolian national pride and cultural revival. And there are other highlights - Sukhbaatar Square and National Museum of Mongolia where you will see artifacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to present time. 

Excursion to Zaisan Hill Memorial to get your bearings with a panoramic view of the whole city.

Overnight in the hotel.  (L+D)

Take a tour of the Chinggis Khaan Statue, the biggest equestrian statue in the world - 40 meters tall stainless steel statue symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace, on the bank of the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog.

Drive to Terelj national park to visit the Temple of Ariyapala and enjoy a stunning view. Explore the famous Turtle Rock and the extraordinary frock formations on horseback riding.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)

(Distance approx 100 km, 2-3 hours drive on dirt/paved road)

Drive to the west side of UB. Hustai national park is rich with wildlife and historical monuments. Ungut monuments - famous for its large number of man-like figures, sepultures and rectangular tombs which dates back to the 6-8 th century AD.

But the most important highlight of the day is Takhi, The Przewalski horses. Takhi is the only true wild horse that once nearly went extinct in the wild. If you have a chance, you can see other wildlife such as  wolves, marmots and deers. Enjoy short hiking over the mountains and photograph the charming landscape and wildlife.

Visit Hustai NP’s information center and souvenir shop.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D) 

(Distance approx 200 km, 3-4 hours drive on dirt/paved road)

After breakfast, drive to Tarna Mountain.

We will take you away from the tourist area to a real nomadic grassland. Visit a local horse breeder family and live like a Mongolian Nomad for a day! Get involved in their daily life, take a class on milking livestocks and play ankle bone games. In the evening, cook a traditional Mongolian barbecue under the instruction of the hostess.

This is a real experience and will be an unforgettable highlight of this tour.

Overnight in the nomadic family. (B+L+D) 

(Distance approx 250 km, 4-5 hours drive on dirt/paved road)

Continue driving to the west, to the Orkhon valley, a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Kharkhorin was the capital of the Great Mongolian Empire, dates back to the 13th century. Now, the ruin lies low confronting against time and hiding Chinggis khan’s secrets beneath its name – “black soil”. Visit Kharkhorin museum and see the artifacts collected from the ruins.

Next place Magnificent Erdene Zuu - the oldest monastery in Mongolia and the artwork of the Mongol architects –  is located near the ruins.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)   

(Distance approx 100 km, 2-3 hours drive on dirt/paved road)

Sharp turn to the south. Drive to Ongi Temple ruins which had about a thousand lamas before the communists' destruction in 1937. The temple was founded by a lama named Bari Yonzon and located on a small but panoramic cliff on a bank of Ongi river. On the way, experience how big and vast the Mongolian steppe is.

Secret of Ongi, a high end tourist camp will provide you perfect service before a long drive through Gobi.

Overnight in the tourist camp. (B+L+D)  

(Distance 220 km, 4-5 hours drive on dirt road)

Continue the tour deep into the Gobi. Drive to the Bayanzag, also known as the Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered in 1922 by Roy Chapman Andrews. In this huge paleontological site, you will have a chance to walk on the ground where the Dinosaurs once roamed 60 million years ago.

On this day, you will discover not only dinosaur’s but ancient human’s remains too. Khavtsgait petroglyphs and saxual forest are good additions to this trip.

Photo shooting of the flaming cliffs and watching a documentary about this wonderful place is suggested in the evening.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)   

(Distance approx 180 km, 3-4 hours drive on dirt road)

Drive to the “Khongoryn els” - the biggest sand dune in Mongolia, reaching a height of 200 meters in some areas.

Explore the dune area on the camelback. The two-humped Bactrian camels are very comfortable to ride as they walk slowly and gently. You will be well supported by their soft, fluffy humps when you ride them. Our camel guide will lead you safely through the sand dunes to explore the Uujim valley on the camelback.

Plus, you will have an opportunity to visit a camel herdsman family to experience their lifestyle, culture and traditions.

Similar to other deserts, the chance of rain/cloud is slim. So that there is a chance to gaze at the billions of stars in the evening. Discuss with your guide about timing when you climb over dunes.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)  

(Distance approx 160 km, 3-4 hours drive on dirt road)

Drive to Yolyn Am, or Lammergeier Valley, beautiful and high elevated gorges forming incredible canyons. Gorges are so high thus sunlight never reaches the floor and winter’s snow can be kept good even in summer time.

These areas are situated in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan /Three Beauties of the Gobi/ National park, the most easterly points of the Altai Mountains.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)

(Distance approx 200 km, 4-5 hours drive on dirt/paved road)

Today is your chance to do some shopping for souvenirs and cashmere in Ulaanbaatar. Later in the evening, you will attend a live Mongolian traditional music and dance performance. A perfect ending for a perfect journey.

Overnight in the hotel.  (B+L+D)

(Distance approx 60 km, about an hour drive on dirt/paved road)

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport. (B)

B - Breakfast                 L - Lunch                 D - Dinner