Itinerary

Aug 31, Day 1: City tour and Genghis Khan Statue

Your guide and driver will meet you at your accommodation and launch the city sightseeing tour of Ulaanbaatar. First, you will visit Central Square, followed by the Gandantegchilen Monastery visit, the spiritual and cultural center and energy hub. A 26m gilded statue of a Buddha (in Megjid Janrasag sum) is another feature of interest. Next, see the panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar from the Zaisan Hill. After lunch, travel to the giant statue of Genghis Khan, built in a historic place. This 40 m tall statue is considered the tallest equestrian statue in the world. See Genghis Khan's birth land Khan Khentii Mountains, the large traditional shoe, and a whip.

Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Sept 1, Day 2: Tsagaan Suvarga colorful mud cliffs

Tsagaan Suvarga means "White Stupa.” It is one of the most famous highlights in the Gobi Deset. 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

Sept 2, Day 3: Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park and hiking in Eagle Valley

The Gobi Gurban Saikhan means "Three beautiful mountains in the Gobi Desert.” The Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain is a beautiful national park, rich in wildlife and scenic places. Among them, Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley is accessible by car. After our car parks at an allowed area, we will walk through the beautiful valley into the depths of the sheer rock canyon, which accepts no sunlight. Therefore, it has ice until the end of June. The hiking continues for 2.5 to 3 hours on the two ways. Bearded eagles, shy wild sheep, and ibexes are indigenous to the valley.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 3, Day 4: Khongor Sand Dunes, visit nomadic family, camel riding

Our journey will continue to Khongor, the tallest sand dunes. After reaching the dunes, you will hike along the green river shore, climb one of the dunes, visit a nomad family, and ride two-humped camels. If you can climb one of the tallest sand dunes, don't forget to spread the sand northwards against the wind to find out why 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

Sept 4, Day 5: Khavtsgait Rock Drawings and the Flaming Cliffs

First, we travel to the Khavtsgait Valley in the West Saikhan Mountain in the Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, to explore the Khavtsgait rock drawing, which dates back to the Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Seeing the rock drawing requires us to hike 1 km on a round-trip. Our adventure will continue to the Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur remains. The first dinosaur nest found in the Flaming Cliffs was significant for research because it showed that dinosaurs laid eggs. After relaxing at the gers, escaping the afternoon sun, we will explore the cliffs and enjoy the steppe and horizon meeting scenery.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 5, Day 6: Bayanzag Saxual tree grove and driving to Ongi Monastery on the open steppes

7 km north of the Flaming Cliffs, you will see the Gobi Desert tree grove covers a vast land. This endemic tree grows only in the Central Asian desert. Next, you drive through slate mountains, followed by 80 km of Ongi steppes heading to Ongi Monastery. Ongi Monastery was one of the seven biggest monasteries in Mongolia. There were two separate monasteries, consisting of more than 30 temples on the north and south shores of the Ongi River, surrounded by the Gobi Desert mountains; socialists destroyed the monastery in the 1930s. Now the ruins of the monasteries cover a large area. Visit a new active temple and a ger museum, explore the monastery ruins, and climb a nearby mountain to see the panoramic views of the surrounding areas.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 6, Day 7: Kharkhorin, Erdenezuu Monastery

Your today’s tour takes place in the transition zone from the Gobi desert to the mountain steppes. Kharkhorin, formerly known as Kharakhorum, was the capital of Genghis Khaan's Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the Mongolian capital moved 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 articles in the monastery museum, view its stunning architecture, and visit the Kharakhorum Museum display remnants of the ancient city.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 7, Day 8: Arkhangai province and explore the nomadic life and try authentic

YThis day begins with a driving and a short tour of Tsetserleg town of Arkhangai province, including its market. Continue the journey to meet a yak-herding nomadic family and relish 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 the Chuluut River canyon. You will arrive at Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 8, Day 9: Explore Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park and horse riding

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, explore the caves and ride horses.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 9, Day 10: Overnight near Shine Ider

First, you will drive along the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, a picturesque pastureland of animals and a summer site for the nomads. Overall, today will be a day of scenic driving before you reach a ger camp. Free afternoon for hiking, surrounding area exploration, or relaxation.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 10, Day 11: See deer stones and Khuvsgul Lake

The journey continues to the beautiful and the world's freshest water Lake Khuvsgul. This 136 km long, 38 km wide lake lies 1600 m above sea level in the middle of the 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 to the lake, you will explore ancient deer stones. Deer stones spread widely throughout Central Asia and are the first monuments of humans; the earliest of them belong to the 13th to the 9th century BC, while they mostly date back to The Bronze Age. On restored, standing stones, pictures including the sun, the moon, belts, knives, and jumping deer carved fantastically. Settle in at a ger camp conveniently located on the western shore of the lake.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 11, Day 12: Reindeer Family Visit and leisure afternoon at the beautiful lake

The Reindeer Tsaatan people live in the depths of the taiga forest. A few reindeer are the primary resource of their livelihood. In the 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 tribe representation and take pictures with the reindeer. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and trekking up the nearby mountain to see the beautiful lake in birds’ eyes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 12, Day 13: Uran Togoo extinct volcano

Continue the tour to Urantogoo volcano, which became extinct 800,000 years ago. The volcano's inner and outer northern slope is covered with trees and has a small lake. The volcano top is accessible after some challenging hike up, and the vista is awe-inspiring once you are on the top.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 13, Day 14: Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Along the way to Amarbayasgalant monastery, we will drive via Erdenet copper mine city and a central town of Bulgan province. Amarbaysgalant is the second largest and most stunning architectural monastery in Mongolia. It was built in Chinese and Mongolian styles between 1727 and 1736. In the afternoon, visit the monastery and see tall Buddha statues on the hilltop.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 14, Day 15: Return to Ulaanbaatar

Today is the last day you spend in the beautiful countryside of Mongolia. You arrive in Ulaanbaatar late afternoon and check in at a centrally located hotel. Free afternoon for shopping and optional activities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 15, Day 16: Fly to Ulgii town

Meet at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the Ulgii flight. Land in Ulgii and check in at a ger camp. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ulgii Museum and market. Dinner in a Kazakh restaurant. Return to the ger camp after dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 16, Day 17: Visit Eagle Hunter Kazakhs and Ulgii town tour

Today, you visit an eagle-hunting Kazakh family to observe the life of the eagle hunters and communicate with both the eagles and hunters in person. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ulgii Museum and market.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Sept 17 to 18, Day 18 to 19: Golden Eagle Festival

The impressive Golden Eagle Festival starts with a parade of eagle hunters dressed in traditional hunting clothes, riding horses, and holding their eagles in their right arms. Up to 60 eagle hunters are participating in the festival. Those will be 2 full days to see the eagle hunting festival, competitions, hunting techniques, the Eagles’ agility, and ability, besides some nomadic customs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sept 20, Day 20: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar

Have relaxing morning. Climb Zaisan Hill to see the panoramic view of the town, visit handcraft shop and fly back to Ulaanbaatar after lunch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Sept 21, Day 20: Departure

The driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Price

Background

On this Mongolia odyssey, you will 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 final part of the trip highlights the spectacular September Eagle Festival in Western Mongolia, taking return domestic flights. The tour does not include overly demanding physical activities. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes, offering scenic views on vast open 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. During the Eagle Festival, you will spend 6 to 7 hours, respectively on 2 days.

Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve both European meals 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 3 nights and twin gers of ger camps for 17 nights. 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. German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese-speaking guides are available upon request. All of our guides are friendly and helpful. The majority of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia. During horse and camel riding, local equestrians will support you.

For group tours, Toyota Hiace or Grand Starex vans are used during the Gobi Desert, Central, and Northern Mongolia trips. The vehicles will be Russian vans in western Mongolia. Private tour vehicles depend on the group size and the client's preference. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation

Absolutely, yes. September is the end of the tourist season, but it is still the best time to travel to Mongolia. The weather will be pleasant when traveling to the Gobi Desert, with slightly chilly mornings and evenings. Though it will be less crowded in the Gobi Desert, it gets even less crowded when you travel to central and northern Mongolia. September's daytime temperatures in the Gobi Desert fluctuate around +20°C, with the highest reaching +26°C. Please expect temperatures between +8 and +20°C when traveling to central and northern Mongolia. The night temperature drops by 5 by 10°C. September receives relatively low precipitation. If it rains, the temperature could drop to near 0 degrees Celsius in the mountainous areas. For your pre-departure preparation, please check the discovery tour packing list.

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