18days/17nights
Tour grade: Easy
Style: Traveller
Join us on this epic Mongolia tour through this wonderful country of ancient history, unique Mongolian nomadic culture, and rare wildlife species, untouched beautiful landscape, Gobi Desert and hospitable Mongolian people whose lives are not changed in many ways since the days of mighty Genghis Khan and his empire. This fantastic Mongolia trip is specially designed to bring you all these unique features nowhere else to be experienced.
Our Mongolia travel starts from the 17th century magnificent Amarbayasgalant monastery, the outstanding Lake Huvsgul & the beautiful Horidol Saridag Mountains, Tsaatan people, picturesque Khorgo-Terkh National Park and ancient capital at Karakorum. The next half of the tour takes you to the Gobi Desert and its wonderful sites: Ongi monastery ruins, Bayanzag the Flaming Cliffs, the Khongor sand dunes and the glacial Yoliin Am. At the last leg of trip, we'll spend some leisure and fune time at 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.
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, dealing with jet lag
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, our guide and driver will meet us at the airport and aid with check-in at the central hotel. The remainder of the day is for you to get over jet lag and take a good rest before your wonderful journey across Mongolia. Hotel in Ulaanbaatar is not included in the package. You can check suggested hotels here.
Ulaanbaatar city sightseeing day
The city tour of Ulaanbaatar takes you through some of the principal sights of this unique city. You visit the Gandan Monastery, housing a 26 meter high gilded statue of the Buddha. Welcome lunch in a Mongolian restaurant. Your tour also takes you to the Genghis Khan monument on the Sukhbaatar square and the Museum of National History. Then we visit Bogd Khan's palace museum and Zaisan Memorial hill. Hotel in Ulaanbaatar is not included in the package. You can check suggested hotels here.
Ulaanbaatar – Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Meet in the hotel lobby and we start our big Mongolian tour this morning and head to the north to magnificent Amarbayasgalant monastery. Stop for lunch at Darkhan town, second largest city of the country. We arrive and transfer to tourist ger camp near the renowned monastery in the late afternoon. Ger camp L+D
Amarbayasgalant – Bulgan, Uran Togoo
After breakfast we visit beautiful Amarbayasgalant monastery to take part in the morning chants and meet the monks, then head to the north toward Lake Huvsgul, break our journey in picturesque Uran Togoo mountain in Bulgan province in the northern Mongolia. Ger camp B+L+D
Moren - Lake Huvsgul
3-4 hours of driving to the north to the Lake Huvsgul that is called “Mother Ocean” by the locals, enjoy hiking around the lake. We spend the night at friendly Toilogt ger camp by the lake. Ger camp B+L+D
Leisure Day at Lake Huvsgul
This day is spent leisurely, activities and sightseeing on Lake Huvsgul and its surroundings - admire the inspiring beauty of Lake Huvsgul on a panoramic drive to Mt.Khyasaa, visit the Tsaatans "Reindeer people" and enjoy a 2 hour kayaking. Optional horse riding, fishing etc Ger camp B+L+D
Lake Huvsgul - Moren – Jargalant
Today we drive a path southwards, passing Moren and continuing into the astounding Khangai Mountains. We make the five to six hour passage to the Jargalant Hot Springs, crossing the Tsagaan Burgas (White Bush) Pass on your way.We break our journey in Jargalant Hot Springs. Relax at hot springs spa. Ger camp B+L+D
Jargalant - Khorgo Terkh National Park
A short drive today brings you into the volcanic surrounds of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan - the 'Great White Lake'. We visit local nomadic family on our way to the lake. The lake lies calmly in the arms of tall hills, its water extremely clear and lined with long sand beaches. Ger camp B+L+D
Khorgo Terkh National Park – Tsenkher Hot Springs.
Breakfast and we drive to Tsenkher hot springs with a stop in lovely Tsetserleg town to visit the Zay Bandida monastery museum and have lunch. Then continue the drive for 1.5hrs, arrive at the Tsenkher hot springs in the evening. Have dinner and enjoy hot bath before going to bed. Ger camp B+L+D
Tsenkher Hot Springs - Ancient Capital Karakorum
Today, we head toward to Karakorum - the ancient capital of Mongolia. Arrive in Karakorum and we visit legendary monastery Erdene Zuu, the biggest Buddhist monastery in Central Mongolia founded in 1586. Visit Karakorum museum. Optional visit to town bazaar and then Khaadiin Khoshoo on the hill to have a great view of Orkhon river valley. Ger camp B+L+D
Karakorum – Ongi Monastery
Today we drive to the Great Gobi desert with the break visiting the Ongi monastery, which is related to 18th century. Visit nomadic family ger in the morning. Have picnic lunch on the way in a scenic spot. Visit to Ongi monastery ruins, optional walk. Transfer to tourist ger camp, full board and overnight at the ger camp. Ger camp B+L+D
Ongi - Bayanzag "Flaming Cliffs" – Dinosaur native land
Today we visit the Bayanzag- the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolian fashion - on the back of a camel or alternatively by foot or car. You can even find real dinosaur bones and eggs yourself! An optional short camel ride around the red cliffs. Ger camp B+L+D
Bayanzag – stunning Khongor sand dunes – renown as singing dunes
The drive to the dunes at Khongoriin takes between 3 and 4 hours. Visit the beautiful sand dunes and the Khongor river streaming through the sands, camel riding along the Khongor sand dunes etc. Ger camp B+L+D
Khongor - Yoliin Am Gorge
Today we drive through the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Park stopping for photography and possibly lunch along the way. Transfer to ger camp, dinner and overnight. Ger camp B+L+D
The Gobi Desert - Ulaanbaatar - Gun-Galuut nature reserve via Giant Genghis Monument
Today, we say goodbye to the drivers and catch flight to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive and drive directly to Gun-Galuut nature reserve in the valley of the Kherlen River across the green steppes via Giant Genghis monument. Arrive and check at eco friendly Steppe Nomads ger camp (Certificate of Excellence 2013 by Tripadvisor.com) Ger camp B+L+D
Leisure Days at Gun Galuut Nature Reserve
Gun-Galuut is a home to many endangered species including the Argali wild mountain sheep and many more. We hike or enjoy some optional horse ride to Mt. Baits to view the gorgeous Argali mountain sheep and the White Napped Crane, Whooper Swan and other birds. Visit a nomadic family and learn their ways to tend their livestock. Moreover, we will enjoy a presentation about Mongolian Ger dwelling with a Ger construction show on one of the days. Optional fishing or kayaking on the river Kherlen. Ger camp B+L+D
Gun Galuut - Terelj National park
After breakfast we drive to Terelj National park. Visit Aryapala temple, a temple of meditation and Turtle rock. Optional hiking, horse riding or archery at the park. Ger camp B+L+D
Terelj National park- Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we drive back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. Optional souvenir and cashmere shopping if you wish. Enjoy traditional folklore concert by the magical Tumen Ekh ensemble. Farewell dinner. Hotel in Ulaanbaatar is not included in the package. You can check suggested hotels here. B+L+D
Departure from Mongolia.
Transfer to the airport after breakfast. Say goodbye to Mongolia
Single supplement charge | US$480 |
Naadam add - on | US$350 per person |
Included Services
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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