Essential Mongolia Tour and Local Naadam Festival (12 days)
- More cultural and more historical
- Orkhon Valley - UNESCO World Heritage
- Explore nomadic lifestyle, culture, and tradition
- Available with Naadam festival - UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
- Visits to 3 Beautiful National Parks
- See Takhi, Asian wild horses
- Camel riding in semi-desert terrain
- I have discovered Mongolia! The brand t-shirt is yours!
- A chance to see how the real Mongolian authentic Barbecue is made the traditional way!
- Std twin room at 4* hotel
- Shared accommodation at Ger camp
- Private transfers
- English speaking guide
- All meals as listed
- All entrance fee
- Horse, camel ride, boat cruise
- Mongolian barbecue
- Letter of Invitation
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Camera fee for museum & monastery
- Travel Insurance www.WorldNomads.com
- Single supplement
Overview
This 10-day fully-escorted tour allows you to see Mongolia easily in comfort without compromising the quality, excitement, and beauty of this amazing country.
The tour opens to the homeland of great Chinggis Khaan and explores the history and landscape composing of mountains, forests, grassland, and rivers. You will be traveling to Orkhon valley, a UNESCO world heritage site and here you can visit the ruins of Mongolian ancient capital, the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and more.
Plus, you have an opportunity to enjoy a 2-day local Naadam festival and a variety of fun activities, including boating on the lake, hiking through the mountains, riding a horse on the steppes and camels in the sand dunes. We guarantee this tour will be one of the most unforgettable holidays.
The price per person will depend on the size of the group as shown below.
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Wonderful tour with a stunning opening ceremony of the Nadaam festival. Visually stunning country and the people were so friendly. Well organized tour and the Gobi desert was amazing. Staying in gers was just fantastic.
I visited Mongolia from 26 June 2018 to 09 July 2018 for 2 weeks.
The views of Mongolia were majestic and discover Mongolia staff were very professional and friendly.
Thanks to our guide Togosoo, drivers Ayush and Odonkhuu!
I'm not really good at writing...
So in a nutshell, The best trip ever in my life!
Itinerary
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 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)
After breakfast, we will drive to the northeast from Ulaanbaatar to reach Khan Hentii Mountain National park. On the way, visit Giant Chinggis Khaan statue. The statues in total are 40m high and see as far-sighted Chinggis Khaan holds a golden whip in his right hand. Enjoy attractive landscape composing of mountains, forests, grassland, and rivers. Enjoy small hiking and photographing the charming landscape.
Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)
After breakfast, tour to birthplace of Jamukha who was not only the best friend of Chinggis Khaan but also major clan leader. After lunch at tourist camp, drive to the ruins of Bereeven Monastery which was built in 17th century.
Overnight in the tourist camp. (B+L+D)
After breakfast, drive to Terelj National park. On the way, visit small Lake Khokh where Chinggis Khaan was entitled as the Khan of Mongols in 1189 and learn about this, one of the most significant moments in the history of Mongolia. Then you'll explore the extraordinary formation of rocks and stones; some of them look quite similar to turtles and horse riding.
Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)
Early morning drive to Hustai National Park and see the Takhi, the Asian wild horse. If you have a chance, see a wolf, argali sheep, and deer. Enjoy small hiking and photographing the charming landscape and wildlife.
Visit Takhi's small museum and overnight in the tourist camp. (B+L+D)
After breakfast, drive to Ugii Lake (altitude 1387 m; surface area-25 sq. km). When you visit the lake, you will have an opportunity to take a boat tour and do some birding.
Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)
After breakfast at the tourist camp, drive to Kharkhorin, the symbolic ruins of the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. On the way, you will see Khusuu Tsaidam, a Turkic inscribed monument of the Turkic State (6th - 8th Centuries A.D). Visit Erdene-Zuu, the oldest monastery, with 108 stupas, built in 1586. Then visit the Kharkhorin museum and see the Great Mongol state period, Stone Age, Bronze Age, Ancient state period halls.
Overnight in tourist camp by Orkhon River. (B+L+D)
Today is the inauguration ceremony of Naadam, opened by the governor of the town. There will be held wrestling, horse racing and archery tournaments. Naadam festival continues to tournaments of wrestling, horse racing, archery and other traditional games. A real chance for you to experience the tradition and culture of the people of this unique country. A chance to try the local foods and beverages.
Overnight in tourist camp. (B+L+D)
After breakfast, Naadam festival continues on the second day with tournaments of wrestling, horse racing, archery and other traditional games. Trip to Tuvkhun monastery and which is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Mongolia. It was built in 1654 by Bogd Gegeen Zanabazar. He created the Mongolian Soyombo script and produced great architecture of Buddhist temples and monasteries. The monastery is located on the top of a mountain. Temple will be quite interesting spot - by walking.
Overnight in tourist Ger camp. (B+L+D)
Early morning, drive to Elsen Tasarkhai unique area of forest and sand dunes. After lunch in the tourist camp, there is an opportunity for a camel ride trial through the sand dunes. We will visit a local nomad family where you have an opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions. Dinner is a real authentic Mongolian barbecue, prepared in the traditional style with hot stones.
Overnight in a tourist camp. (B+L+D)
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Visit Bogd Khan Palace, which is a series of beautiful traditional buildings, where the last religious King of Mongolia resided. 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)
End of tour. You will be transferred to the airport. (B)
Good to know
- The best time to make this trip
May to September is the best season, with the peak season in July for the Naadam Festival. July and August are also the wettest months of the year but be assured, our climate is such that you will still have many sunny days at this time. The best time to visit the Gobi is June or September.
- Accommodation:
We believe that comfortable, welcoming accommodation is vital to the enjoyment of your trip. You will be staying in a standard 3-4 star hotel in Ulaanbaatar and a tourist ger camp (traditional dwelling) with currency (220V), shower and other useful services (2 to 4 people per ger) in the countryside. All accommodation offered by Discover Mongolia is personally checked by our staff to ensure high standards.
- Meals:
In Ulaanbaatar, you will be dining at fine European and Asian cuisine restaurants. Mutton, beef, rice, and noodles form the basis of the Mongolian diet, so your meals will be based around this. However, the trail rations may include vegetables, eggs, peanut butter, cheese and sometimes yak! On some days there will be lunchboxes from tourist camps. It is good food and our experience has been that guests are happy with this arrangement. Please let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian. Alcohol is not provided on the trip but tourists are free to bring their own.
- Transport:
Discover Mongolia use the highest level, latest model, air-conditioned private vans or 4WD vehicles for the maximum comfort on your touring days. A day's drive in the countryside will be approx 200-250km.
- Personal things to bring with you:
Warm thin layers of clothing are the best such as bring a waterproof jacket, and a hat and headscarf to protect you from the sun and winds. Don't forget insect repellent, sun cream, lip-gloss, water purifying tablets and first aid kit (medicine for headache, cold, diarrhea, runny nose; bandages; any medicine prescribed for you ). All your camera equipment.
