Western Mongolia Highlights Tour (13 days)
What to expect
Enjoy Picturesque Pristine Lakes
We’ll visit a variety of our country’s beautiful lakes and give many photo opportunities.
Visit a Nomad Family
Experience the nomadic life when you visit with one of the many nomadic families.
Experience Ancient Rock Paintings
We’ll visit Tsenkher cave where you will see paintings from thousands of years ago.
Explore Beautiful Ulaangom
Before you go home, you’ll explore the sites like the museum and marketplace in Ulaangom.
- Discover the biggest nomadic country in the world - rich diversity of nomadic culture in the regions
- Trek to Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains
- Meet Kazakh ethnic group and an opportunity to watch Eagle hunting
- To see rare and protected animals like snow leopard, ibex, etc
- Amazing nature and unique people of Western Mongolia
- Domestic flights included
- Std twin room at 4* hotel
- Shared accommodation at Ger camp
- 2 person per tent, camping equipment
- Private transfers
- English speaking guide
- All meals as listed
- All entrance fee
- Horse, camel ride, boat cruise
- Internal air tickets - free luggage allowance is 15 kg
- Mongolian barbecue
- Letter of Invitation
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Camera fee for museum & monastery
- Travel Insurance www.WorldNomads.com
- Single supplement
Overview
This trip covers the Western Part of Mongolia and is especially suitable for those want to face new challenges and different experiences! There are about 10 different ethnic nomadic groups live in the area including Kazakhs.
You will travel in the landscape of eternally snow-capped peaks of the Altai Mountain as much as rivers, streams, lakes and the forest zone of Khovd, Uvs, and Bayan-Olgii provinces. A wonderful tour which will fulfill all your hopes and desires.
The price per person will depend on the size of the group as shown below.
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I have travel a lot. This time with Discover Mongolia. Mongolia is beautiful. The country is breathtaking and the people are strong but also welcoming and friendly. I learned so much about these proud people.
Our guide, Togosoo , was there for us through and through. She gave us- caring and love no matter what we need to make this a successful vacation. She even created a birthday party when She found out traveler was turning 59. She also explained the belief and the culture of the people.
Our driver ,Nandia was fun and an awesome driver. We went horseback riding, camel riding, saw where the first dinosaur egg was found and saw a beautiful country- mountains lakes and the Gobi desert
After 12 days ..I can honestly state Togosoo and Nandia have become lifetime friends and we had a trip of a life time...THANKYOU
We had a great time in Mongolia and were treated like royals by the staff of "Discover Mongolia". From the very beginning of our booking, communication with everybody was swift and accurate.
We made a day tour in Ulaanbaatar and our guide was super outspoken and knew a lot of her country and its long long history. We then took on the next day a plane to Khovd (or Hovd) in Western Mongolia and had a fantastic stay in the very modern and new Steppe Hotel.
Near Khovd we visited the amazing Lake Har Us. The best part of our trip was the one night in an authentic Ger in the Bodonch canyon.
Believe it or not, but in the evening we even saw two Altai Ibex!!!!! On the next day, we were driven on a new and perfect road to the Bulgan /Takashiken border, where our tour ended with Discover Mongolia and we entered China.
This was a very special private tour, which was professionally organized and the guides and drivers were exceptional. We fully can recommend Discover Mongolia for a memorable vacation in Western Mongolia.
Especially our guide in Western Mongolia, Mr. Ebo contributed a lot to our unforgettable experience in this lovely country.
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 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)
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.
