Itinerary

Aug 3, Day 1: Attend the Naadam Festival

Your guide and driver will meet you at your accommodation between 7:40 and 8:10 AM and start the trip to the Hui Doloon Khudag Naadam Festival field. You will spend the whole day seeing the Naadam events and sports, including the religious ceremonies, religious Tsam Dance, the Naadam Festival opening, horse racing, wrestling, horse archery, and knuckle bone shooting. Return to Ulaanbaatar in the evening and transfer to a hotel after dinner.

Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Aug 4, Day 2: Watch the archery competition and Tsagaan Suvarga colorful mud cliffs

In the morning, you will watch the archery competition for about an hour. The countryside adventure starts heading to Tsagaan Suvarga. It is one of the most famous highlights in the Gobi. Tsagaan Suvarga is a strange natural formation of colorful, massive mud cliffs that look like stupas, mound-like structures containing relics. Hiking through the cliffs offers the chance to take amazing photographs.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 5, Day 3: Drive to Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, visit Eagle Valley

The Gobi Gurban Saikhan means "Three beautiful mountains in the Gobi.” The Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain is a beautiful national park itself rich in wildlife and scenic places. Among them, Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley is the one accessible by car. After our vehicle brings us to a designated parking area, we will walk through the resplendent valley into the depths of a sheer rock canyon, which accepts no sunlight. Therefore, it has ice until the end of June. The hiking continues 2.5 to 3 hours for travel into the valley and back to the vehicle. Golden eagles, elusive wild sheep and ibexes are indigenous to the valley.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 6, Day 4: Khongor Sand Dunes, camel riding

Our journey will continue to Khongor, the largest sand dunes. After reaching the sand dunes, we’ll go hiking along the green river shore, climb sand dunes, visit a nomad family and have an hour of camel riding. If you can climb one of the tallest sand dunes, don't forget to spread the sand northwards against the wind to find the reason hy locals call the sand dunes "Singing Sand.” The views are fantastic from the top of the sand dunes.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 7, Day 5: Flaming Cliffs

Our adventure will continue to the Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found the remains of dinosaurs including the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered in the world. We will enjoy exploring the cliffs in search of dinosaur fossils we may find and visit the Gobi tree grove named “Bayanzag.” Which means “rich in saxaul trees.” This tree only grows in the Central Asian Gobi.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 8, Day 6: Drive to Ongi Monastery on the open steppes

Drive first through slate mountains and next on 80 km Ongi steppes leading to Ongi Monastery, one of the biggest seven monasteries in Mongolia. There were two separate monasteries consisting of more than 30 temples on the shores of the Ongi River surrounded by the Gobi mountains; however, the temples were destroyed during the socialist purge of the 1930s. Now the ruins of the monasteries cover a huge area. Visit a new active temple, a ger museum, explore the monastery ruins and climb a nearby mountain to have panoramic views of the surrounding areas.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 9, Day 7: Kharkhorin, ancient Monastery Erdenezuu

This day’s tour takes place in the transition zone from the Gobi desert to the mountain steppes. Kharkhorin, formerly known as Kharakhorum, was once a capital of Chinggis Khaan's Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the move of the Mongolian capital to Beijing, and the fall of the Empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then destroyed by Min soldiers in 1388. Today, in the vast valley of the Orkhon River, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with Kharkhorin town. See some valuable religious artifacts in the monastery museum, view its stunning architecture and the Kharakhorum Museum display remnants of the ancient city.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 10, Day 8: Arkhangai province, explore more about the nomadic life and have an authentic Mongolian barbecue

This day begins with a short tour of Tsetserleg town of Arkhangai province including its interesting local market. Continue the journey to meet a yak-herding nomadic family and relish in an authentic Mongolian barbecue for lunch. Discover more about the traditional nomadic life of northern Mongolian nomads. Next, drive through the picturesque landscapes of Arkhangai with a stop at Chuluut River canyon. Arrive at picturesque Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park late afternoon.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 11, Day 9: Explore Khorgo Terhiin Tsagaan National Park

The Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of its flora & fauna. There are several extinct volcanoes within the National Park area, but Khorgo is the most easily accessible volcano. Lava flow from the volcanoes blocked the north and south Terkh Rivers forming the fresh-water lake Terkhiin Tsagaan. Except for the lake and volcano, the national park is extremely beautiful, rich in flora, and is a famous pastureland area where many nomads reside with their animals, mainly yaks. Today, you will climb the volcano on stairs and trails. Upon reaching the top, you will walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas; a small village can be seen from the volcano, as well as a bird’s eye view of Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake. In the afternoon, travel to freshwater Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan and explore caves.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 12, Day 10: Overnight near Shine Ider

Today, we watch birds while driving and walking along the shore of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The driving will be scenic through a flower-carpeted mountain valley, and feature some ancient historical remnants as well as a drive through a high mountain pass.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 13, Day 11: See deer stones and Khuvsgul Lake

The journey continues to the world's freshest pure-water lake, Lake Khuvsgul. This 136km-long, 38km-wide lake lies 1600m above sea level in the middle of a Siberian taiga forest and among majestic sheer rock mountains. The lake and its surrounding area are pristine and have much to offer its guests. Along the way, we explore ancient deer stones spread widely throughout Central Asia. Some 600 deer stones have been found in Central Asia, 500 of them found in the territory of Mongolia. Deer stones are the first monuments of humans; the earliest of them belong to the 13th to the 9th century BC, while most of them date to The Bronze Age. On restored, standing stones, pictures including the sun, the moon, belts, knives, and jumping deer were carved fantastically. After settling in at a ger camp conveniently located on the western shore of the lake, you will enjoy free time.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 14, Day 12: Reindeer Family Visit and Horse Riding Tour at Khuvsgul Lake

The Reindeer Tsaatan people live in the depths of the taiga forest. A few reindeer are the primary resource of their livelihood. In summer months, some reindeer families move down from the Taiga mountains close to the lake to supplement their income. After breakfast, we will visit the reindeer people and take pictures with reindeer. Then, we will drive back to the ger camp to have lunch and spend rest of the day riding horses along the lake’s shore and climb a nearby mountain to see the lake from up.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 15, Day 13: Uran Togoo extinct volcano

Urantogoo volcano became extinct 800,000 years ago. The northern slope of the mountain and inside of the crater are covered with trees and it features a small lake. The summit of the mountain is accessible after a challenging hike up, but the amazing vista is well worth it once you are on the top.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 16, Day 14: Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Along the way to Amarbayasgalant monastery, we will drive via Erdenet, a copper mine city and a central town of Bulgan province. Amarbaysgalant is the second largest and the most stunning monastery in terms of architecture. It was built in Chinese and Mongolian style between 1727 and 1736. The afternoon visit to the monastery features huge statues of Buddha built on the mountains.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aug 17, Day 15: Return to Ulaanbaatar

Today is the last day to be in the unique and unforgettable countryside of Mongolia. Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, guests check into a hotel and enjoy a restful, free afternoon.

Accommodation: 3* Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Aug 18, Day 16: Transfer to the airport/railway station.

We will transfer you to the airport/railway station.

Meals: Breakfast

Price & Date

Background

On offer is a tour to explore the most exciting attractions and scenic areas of the beautiful and unique Gobi Desert, central Mongolian hilly steppes, mountainous and forested northern Mongolia along with its famous attraction, Khuvsgul Lake. The tour does not include overly demanding physical activities. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes, offering scenic views on endless steppes. This tour has limited the driving time to as little as possible, with approximate driving times between 4.5 to 6 hours daily. The longest driving day is on day 2, approximately 7-8 hours, including a lunch stop. The itinerary includes some light activities such as 1-3 hours of mild hiking, an hour of camel riding, and 1-2 hours of horse riding with the support of your guide and local guides. The most challenging experience of the tour could be climbing high sand dunes in the Gobi Desert, which is not mandatory, and visitors may opt to climb one of the lower sand hills. Climbing Khorgo volcano on Day 9 could be a bit strenuous for some people as the area’s elevation is 2000 m above sea level; however, the climbing is short and gradual.

Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve both European and Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. We will supply two 0.5L bottles of water a day. Supplying one larger bottle (1.5 liters) of water instead of 2 small bottles of water is available upon request. More informarion on Mongolia meals

During the trip, you will stay in the twin rooms in a centrally located 3* hotel for 2 nights and twin gers of ger camps for 13 nights unless you request single supplements. The gers camps consist of several traditional dwelling gers, restaurants that serve with daily set menus, and shower and WC for sharing with other travelers. More information on Ger camp ger camps

The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. We also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. During the camel riding, a local guide will support you.

Toyota Hiace and Grand Starex vans serve the group tours. Private tour vehicles depend on the client's preference. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation.

Absolutely, yes. August is the best time to travel to Mongolia. Early August could be a bit hot in the Gobi Desert. The weather will be pleasant for the rest of the days. In early August, the Gobi Desert daylight temperature fluctuates around +28°C and the hottest reaches +35°C. Please expect +17 to +32°C when you travel to central and northern Mongolia. The night temperature drops by 5 to 10°C. August receives relatively higher precipitation. If it rains, the temperature could drop to +10°C in the mountainous areas. The rain is usually shower or drizzling rain. For your pre-departure preparation, please check the packing list of the discovery tours.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, what to do and see in Mongolia page may help you.

As well as, please check attractions in the Mongolian Gobi, Central Mongolia, and Northern Mongolia.

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