Welcome to Mongolia! Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar (also known as ‘UB’) a travel-to-nature Asia guide/representative will be at the airport to greet and take us to our hotel. Please look out for your name-card once you exit out of arrival area.

We will base ourselves here for the first night. There are no activities planned for today. However, if we arrive into Ulaanbaatar early, we have time this afternoon to enjoy some introductory  city walking through Genghis Khaan Square, Sukhbaatar Square, the National Historical Museum.

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel
Meal: Dinner

Today, we drive towards Kharkhorin, making a detour to the Khustain Nuruu National Park, 2 hours west of Ulaan Baatar. Khustain Nuruu is famous for the re-introduction of Mongolia’s wild horse. The Mongolian Government declared Hustai National Park as a Specially Protected Area in 1993, one  year after the initiation of the reintroduction project of the Takhi (Przewalski’s horse) to the Hustain Nuruu. The Takhi Horse was once native to Mongolia and almost became extinct earlier in the 20th century. Through the efforts of several Mongolian and international organizations, these magnificent wild horses now roam in the steppes of the national park once again. We will visit the Project Information Centre and drive inside the park  to see the wild horses and more.

Khustai national park is home to 459 species of vascular plants, 85 species of lichens, 90 species of moss and 33 species of mushrooms. 44 species of mammals have been recorded, including red deer, Mongolian gazelle, roe deer, wild boar, wild sheep, ibex, Mongolian marmots, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, Pallas cat, red fox, corsac fox and Eurasian badger. The 217 species of birds include golden eagle, lammergeier, great bustard, whooper swan, black stork, Daurian partridge and little owl. There are 16 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, and 385 species of insects (including 21 species of ants, 55 species of butterflies, 10 species of bush crickets and 29 species of grasshoppers). A new species of soil insect has been found in the Hustai and given the scientific name of Epidamaeus khustaiensis.

In 2002, the Man and the Biosphere Reserves organization of UNESCO certified the HNP as a member of the world biosphere network of natural reserves. The HNPT was enrolled as a member of IUCN in 2007.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we leave early to reach the Karakorum to explore 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. We will make a brief stop to see the dunes of the Little Gobi along the way.

In the afternoon we visit the capital city of ancient Great Mongol Empire. The city was established in 1220 by Ogedei Khan and remained the Mongols power base until Khublai Khan established Beijing as the capital. Kharakhorumn was the capital of Mongolia for 140 years and the capital of the Mongol Empire for 32 years.

The Erdenezuu monastery and the ruins of Kharakhorum were registered by UNESCO as world heritage in 1996. Major tourist attractions include Erdenezuu monastery, newly built Kharakhorum museum, open museum and mosaic map of Chinggis Khaan. Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) monastery was the largest Monastery in Mongolia, built in 1586 under the direction of Abtai Khan on the ruins of the ancient capital. Much of the monastery was destroyed during Stalin’s purges of the 1930’s, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and a number of temples still remain.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After our leisurely breakfast we  continue our journey south-west to Orkhon valley, the heartland of ancient nomads. We will arrive for lunch at Talbiun Lodge  located at the scenic spot above on a steep cliff of Orkhon River  in Khaalgan Denj,  Uvurkhangai province. the heartland of ancient nomads. We will be based in a comfortable  Talbiun lodgefor couple of nights.

Afternoon we will explore the camp area around. We shouldn’t need to go far to find nesting some interesting birds, such as Rock Sparrow, Small Snowfinch and Upland Buzzard in the direct vicinity of our camp. We’ll then make our way around the southern edge of the cliff to look for the stone formation near the bank of the river, stopping to scan the river  itself.  Here we  also have our  chance to visit a Nomad family to observe the nomadic way of life, taste milk products, including airag (fermented mares milk)  and interact with the nomad family.

Accommodation: Talbiun Lodge/Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Eternal Elbow /Temeen Chuluu/ The Orkhon Waterfall /Tuvkhun Temple

Today we will drive through and try to visit one or more  of these fascinating Natural history sites in Orkhon Valley.

Uurtiin Tohoi – Mongolian for “Eternal Elbow”, this is a steep cliff bordering a right angled bend of Orkhon River. Located at 1630 meter above sea level and originally named Khuurtiin Tokhoi, the cliff offers a marvelous view over Orkhon Valley.

Then Grave stones Temeen Chuluu : Temeen Chuluu burial site is on the many burial sites around camp Talbiun. The surrounding area has many tombs and burial mounds belong to the Bronze Age.

The Orkhon Waterfall : Water flows for remarkable 1120 km to the North and lies in the historically significant Orkhon Valley, UNESCO World Heritage site. The waterfall formed by combination volcanic eruption and earthquakes some 20000 years ago cascades down from a height 27 meters. There are many rocks and boulders around the river as well as some waterfalls like a small waterfall with 4-5 m height and the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall is the biggest in Mongolia at a height of 27m.

Having spent a full day out in Orkhon Valley enjoying the nomadic culture and historical sites, we shall make our way back to our ger camp for overnight.

Accommodation: Talbiun Lodge/Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we drive along the paved road  Arvaikheer to  the capital of Ovorkhangai Aimag on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. On the way we will visit the Shankh (Tuvkhun) Monastery, once the home of the great Mongolian theologist Zanabazar.

Th ismonastery was built in 1654 by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and one of the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. The creation work temple dedicated to religious study and art works became the foundation of today’s Tuvkhun Monastery. It is located on a rocky mountain hill surrounded by forests elevated in 2300 meters above sea level. In 1651, the first religious statesman Zanabazar built a small stony building. In 1648, about the time he had found what now Shankh monastery on the Shariin gol, Zanabazar noticed an unusual armchair-shaped peak among the ridges west of the Orkhon River. He soon concluded that the mountain, known as Shireet Ulaan Uul, was an auspicious spot. Upon his return in 1651 from his first trip to Tibet he had a small walled stone meditation hut built here. 1653, he visited Erdenezuu, founded by his great grandfather, and appeared before a convocation of kalkh nobility. While there he prevailed upon his followers to build temple and retreat at Shireet Ulaan Uul in his own personal use. Later it became worship where many of his famous artworks were created; including five transcendent Buddha’s now located in the Zanabazar Fine Art Museum and Choijim Lama Musuem. Zanabazar also reportedly designed his Soyombo Alphabet while his residing here. During Zanabazar’s lifetime retreat was called Bayasgalant Aglag Oron (Happy Secluded Place.)

We should arrive at Arvaikheer during the middle of the afternoon and check in to our hotel. In the afternoon there will be time to visit the local museum, which contains nature collections, stone figures and Turkic scripts and possibly go to a local market.

Accommodation: Arvaikheer Palace Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long day as we head off the tourist route into some of the wilder parts of the Gobi Desert. After an early breakfast we start our adventurous journey and rapidly leave the tarmac behind. The landscape changes as we head deeper into the Gobi and the majestic Ikh Bogd Mountain should be visible in the distance, the highest mountain in the Gobi Altai Mountain Range. Eventually, after about 8-9 hours travelling (with stops) we will arrive at our Ger Camp in the wilderness. This is the longest day’s driving in this trip but is also a definite highlight of the trip as we pass through some of Mongolia’s most spectacular landscape.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we crossover a desert pass and visiting the quartz rich ‘White Cave’ and  continue through classic Gobi desert scenery of flat stony plains mixed with small rocky outcrops and patches of sand across the Khatan Suudal Steppe. We stop for a picnic lunch on the way, with views of Arts Bogd mountain to the north. We head off to the Kongoriin Els sand dunes and arrive there in the late afternoon. Rest of the free for rest and enjoy the magic of the Gobi desert.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have a full day to explore the sand dunes and surrounding area.

The Khongoriin Els stretch for 200km and are as high as 300m in places. They are known as the ‘Singing Dunes’ because of the beautiful sound that resonates through the dunes on a windy day. The spectacular dunes are bordered by lush green vegetation supported by a small river Khongor, which is fed by underground sources from surrounding mountains.  The South Gobi has 100,000 camels, typically used by herders for transportation of their gers. We will have the opportunity today to visit a camel breeding family and get a glimpse of the way of life of the nomadic herders of these parts.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will drive through the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Gobi Gurvansaikhan means ‘Three Beauties of the Gobi’ and this range marks the eastern end of the Gobi Altai mountain range. The park’s landscape is extremely varied, with rocky and sandy desert plains, precipitous cliffs and ravines, salt pans and oases.

It’s one of the natural secret of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and beautiful deep canyon with many rocky cliffs, has been created by many years of water erosion. We visit a spectacular natural sight of this region – Yolyn Ama a protected site established in 1965, is 62 km north west of Dalanzadgad.  Yolyn Am means Vulture’s Mouth and is a canyon so deep and narrow that even in the height of summer winter ice can remain on the valley floor.  This region is also renowned for the diversity of its wildlife and many endangered species can be found here, including Khulan, Ibex, Argali, elusive Snow leopards and many birds of prey, as well as numerous small rodents particular to the Gobi.  The walk along canyon must be done on foot.

After exploring  the canyon we will visit a small museum marks the entrance to the protected zone and provides information on the petrified trees, fauna and flora of the Gobi drive  to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we have time to relax in our  ger camp. Either in the morning or afternoon we take a short drive to Bayanzag (70 km). Known as the Flaming cliffs, the red/ochre colour can be striking and we have the opportunity for a short hike amongst colourful sands of red, yellow and orange. Bayanzag is a world-renowned dinosaur fossil exploration site, discovered in the 1920s by Mongolian and American palaeontologists. We are free to explore the region and may even be lucky enough to spot dinosaur fossils. We later return to our ger camp.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We leave the Gobi Desert behind and fly back to Ulaan Baatar. Depending on what time our flight is will determine what time we get back to Ulaan Baatar. After refreshing from the trip we will have a city tour with travel-to-nature Asia partners, visit Gobi Cashmere and souvenir showroom, the largest in Mongolia. In the evening our partner will  host a dinner by A Star Mongolia LLC.

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Naadam Festival celebrates the ‘three games of men’ (or Erin Gurvan Naadam) which are wrestling, horse racing and archery. More recently a fourth game, knuckle-bone flicking was added to the competitions. The festival is celebrated throughout the country but the biggest festival is in Ulaan Baatar.

Over the next two days, we attend the grand opening ceremony before we watch Mongolians compete in all four sports. We also get to mingle with hordes of Mongolian spectators as the grounds around the stadium (where wrestling, archery and bone-flicking take place) and the horse races are filled with stands selling food, games, flags and various other things.

The atmosphere is a big part of the experience and many Mongolians dress in their best traditional clothes for the occasion.

In 2010 the festival was entered into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and is a great celebration of the Central Asian nation’s culture.

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your trip ends here today. Sadly we will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.

Meals included: Breakfast