10days/9nights
Tour grade: Easy
Style: Traveller
Travelling overland in safari style, you will visit the vast expanses of the Gobi Desert, via Ongi monastery ruins where a three day circuit explores the lofty sand dunes of Khongoriin Els, the glacial canyon of Yolyn Am, and the red cliffs of Bayanzag, where the world’s richest deposits of dinosaur fossils are found.
One of the highlight of this tour is attending the exciting “Great Naadam Festival of the Mongols” that the nomads have cherished for thousands of years. Naadam Festival originates from the era of the Hunnu state, the first nomadic state in Central Asia and the ancestors of the Mongols. The Festival is comprised with the world’s second old Olympic Games “Three Sports of Men” namely the Archery, Horse racing and Wrestling.
Amazing Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve - a home to endangered wildlife and many other sites on the way.
Landscape and cultural sightseeing blend easily in Mongolia - you will have the chance to visit families of nomads, remote Buddhist monasteries and traditional events, and to take part in horse-riding or guided walking if you wish - there are also endless opportunities for photography.
Ulaanbaatar, city sightseeing tour
Transfer to centrally located hotel. Visit the Gandan Monastery housing a 26 m gilded Buddha, and discover the treasures of the National museum of Mongolia. Centrally located excellent hotel 3* B+L+D
Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert. Bayanzag, Khongor sand dunes & Yoliin Am
Take a flight to the Gobi desert. A three day circuit will enable us explore the hidden treasures of the mysterious Gobi: Mongolia’s largest and most beautiful sand dunes at Khongor, the Flaming Red Cliffs at Bayanzag – where the first nest of dinosaur eggs were unearthed, and the glacial gorge of Yoyliin Am. Ger camp B+L+D
The Gobi to Ulaanbaatar, Gun – Galuut nature reserve
Take the flight back to Ulaanbaatar, and transfer to amazing Gun-Galuut nature reserve by the legendary Kherlen River with a stop at the impressive 46 m Giant Genghis Monument on the way. Spend the day visiting a nomadic family and experiencing their lifestyle and relaxing in the Great Mongolian steppes. Ger camp B+L+D
Gun-Galuut to Ulaanbaatar
Return to Ulaanbaatar for the big festival next two days and visit the Mongolian last king Bogd Khan’s Palace Museum and see a traditional folklore performance by magical Tumen Ekh ensemble. Ger camp B+L+D
July 11 – 12. Great Naadam festival days in capital Ulaanbaatar
Take part in one of the 10 biggest festivals of the world, so called the 2nd old Olympic games the “Great Naadam Festival” that features the Grand Opening ceremony, wrestling, archery and horse racing competitions as well as lots of music and dances. Centrally located excellent hotel 3* B+L+D
Departure from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
You are transferred to the airport/train station after breakfast. End of service. B
Single Supplement charge | US$440 |
Included Services
Not Included in the price
The Naadam festival is the biggest and most joyful celebration of the Mongols. It takes place on the 11-12th July annually.
Aug 10, 2012. Gobi & Karakorum Explorer tour Our recent "The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer" tour with you was excellent, everything exceeded our expectations! It was a super trip in our lives and we loved our Mongolia holiday so much. Our guide Joe was kind, well organised, accurate and informative, polite and caring and always provided us with timely information. And our driver Jack is super, very friendly, professional and always on time. We are wild travelers, having been to many places in the world - but Mongolia is still truly unspoiled and uncontaminated. Selena Travel's services were perfect right from the very first email. We would like to thank Selena Travel, our guide and our driver for having made this Mongolia experience a truly beautiful one with so many wonderful memories.
Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia
Sending you some of our nicer pictures. Some are chosen for their beautiful scenery while the rest are just us happily playing and goofing around. There are a couple of shots of us doing some Mongolian wrestling, as suggested by Oyuna since we missed out on the mini-Naadam festival. She said since we missed it, we might as well organise our own festival by playing some Mongolian games. Haha... We had so much fun playing those games!!! :)OK, I hope you like the pictures we send you. Best regards to everyone at Selena Travel and thank you once again for all your assistance.
Margaret Suganda
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