Western Mongolia Highlights Tour (13 days)

After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you'll be greeted at the airport and escorted to 4* hotel. After lunch, take a city sightseeing tour including a visit to Gandan Monastery with its huge gold plated Buddha, a symbol of Mongolian national pride and cultural revival.

See the monks chanting, spin some prayer wheels and view the intricately embroidered thanks. Then visit the National Museum of Mongolian History, where you will see artifacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present.

Overnight in the hotel. (L+D)

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Khovd, the capital of Khovd province. Discover Mongolia team will be waiting for you. Drive to Khoid Tsenkher cave (Northern blue cave). The rock paintings of the cave dating back 20,000-15,000 years ago are rightfully considered as world class evidence of the Upper Paleolithic period.

Numerous symbols and animals painted with rosy and brown colors deep inside the cave depict a quietly standing stage, a buffalo with horns, oxen, ibexes, elephants, ostriches, and two-humped camels either separately or overlapping each other.

Overnight in a tent. (B+L+D)

Drive back to Khovd province via Khar Us Lake. There are we have a good opportunity to see varieties of birds and beaver.

You can rest, hearing the sound of various waterfowls gathered in the lake. Visit the local museum in Hovd town.

Overnight in the hotel. (B+L+D)

Drive to Bayan-Ulgii province via Lake Tolbo. Admire the attractive view of majestic mountains on the way. Break the trip near the sheer Tolbo Lake and free hiking there. Visit the Zahchin or Urianhai ethnic nomad family.

Overnight in a tourist camp in Ulgii town. (B+L+D)

Today we will have a full day drive to Altai Tavanbogd National Park (means The Holy Five) via Tsagaan Gol (White River) valley and through the Altai Mountains that are Mongolia's largest and highest mountain range more than 3000-4000 meters high.

One famous spot is "Shiveet Hairhan" Sacred Mountain, where we will see the largest rock painting site from the period of the Huns (approx 200 B.C.) 

(B+L+D)

Today we will ride a horse (11km - you can hike also) to Altai Tavanbogd referring to the peaks of Huiten - 4374m and the highest.

It is a stunning setting with the awe-inspiring massif of high snow-capped peaks. We will reach the 20km long Potanina glacier, which is an ice river that starts from Altai Tavan Bogd Snow Peaks. Back to base camp.

Overnight in a tent. (B+L+D)

Today's destination is Uureg Lake, We will spend rest of day leisure at the lake, walking, bird watching, and swimming.

Overnight in tourist camp from 15 km from the lake. (B+L+D)

Drive back to Ulgii. On the way visit Kazakh Nomadic family and feel their grade hospitalities. Meet Kazakh Eagle hunter and see his magnificent bird. See how Kazakh women are making felt and other handy crafts.

Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)

Drive to Sand dune "Buurug del" via Ulaangom capital town of Uvs province. On the way, we will see Uvs Lake, a gigantic inland sea in the middle of the desert.

Then drive to Buurug del sand dunes which are direct continues of the Gobi desert and the most northern edge of the desert zone in the world. The dunes and surrounding mountains are designated wilderness; this is a great place to enjoy unspoiled natural beauty in a variety of ways. Here you can climb up to the dunes.

Overnight in a tent. (B+L+D)

Today is a relaxing day. We will visit a local nomad family. There we have an opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions and ride 2 humped Bactrian camel.

Mongolia has more than twenty different ethnic groups that speak their own dialect. About ten kinds of ethnic groups live in the four western provinces. 

(B+L+D)

After breakfast drives back to Ulaangom for your departure flight to Ulaanbaatar. Take a small city tour including local museums and markets.

Overnight in a local hotel. (B+L+D)

After breakfast, you will have a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. You may choose an optional city tour where you will be taken to souvenir and cashmere shops before enjoying an evening concert of National Folklore.

Overnight at the hotel. (B+L+D)

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