Mongolian cultural tour - travel to the ancient capital of Mongolian Empire

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Karakorum city, Mongol Empires

Ancient Capital of Mongol empire tour

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Ancient Capital of Mongol empire tour

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Karakorum city, Mongol Empires

  • Ancient capital at Karakorum, legendary Erdene Zuu monastery and Karakorum Museum, Elsen Tasarkhai small sand dunes optional camel riding
  • Tsenkher Hot springs & Lake Ogii
  • Hustai National park – wild Przewalski horse Takhi

  • Cultural & Festival tours
  • Style: Traveller
  • Tour grade: Easy
  • Duration: 8 days/7 nights
  • From: US$ 1350
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You'll visit historic sites from 13th century and the UNESCO world heritage Orkhon River Valley to introduce Mongolia from historical and cultural perspective! Mongolia is famous for being the homeland of Genghis Khan, his mighty Mongol Empire and a nomadic people whose lives are not changed in many ways from the days of the Mongolian Empire. And this fantastic Mongolia tour will take you on the paths of Great Mongol Empire to the historic sites from 13th century and the UNESCO world heritage Orkhon River Valley to introduce Mongolia from historical and cultural perspective: you will visit the first Buddhist monastery Erdene Zuu and the ruins of the capital city from the renowned empire and will also travel several sites from Mongol-Turkic states.

Moreover, you will also meet and interact with real nomads everywhere you go. Enjoy hot bath time in Tsenkher hot springs and visit to Lake Ogii. The tour will end at beautiful Hustai National Park home to the world’s only wild horse Takhi aka Przewalski horse, and you will enjoy a perfect relaxing day in wilderness before last your day in Ulaanbaatar. 

Brief Itinerarygo to detail

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Tour of the City
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Elsen Tasarkhai
Day 3: Elsen Tasarkhai – Karakorum
Day 4: Karakorum – Tsenkher hot springs
Day 5: Tsenkher hot springs - Lake Ogii
Day 6: Lake Ogii - Hustai national park
Day 7: Hustai national park – Ulaanbaatar
Day 8: Departure from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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Daily Itinerary

 
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Tour of the City
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, meet at the airport after custom formalities and transfer to the hotel. The city tour of Ulaanbaatar takes you through some of the principal sights of this unique city. You visit the Gandan Monastery, Genghis Khan Monument on the Sukhbaatar square and the Museum of National History. Centrally located excellent hotel 3* L

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Elsen Tasarkhai
After breakfast at the hotel, we pack the vehicles and depart to the west toward Karakorum, the ancient capital city of Mongolia. We break our journey at the spectacular combination of sand dunes, rocky Mountains, and green meadows in Elsen Tasarkhai and take a short camel ride. Ger camp B+L+D

Day 3: Elsen Tasarkhai – Karakorum 
We visit legendary monastery Erdene Zuu, the first Buddhist monastery in Central Mongolia founded in 1586, Museum of Karakorum and its surroundings the Turtle Rock and the phallic stone etc. enjoy dinner and rest at the ger camp. Ger camp B+L+D

Day 4: Karakorum  - Tsenkher hot springs 
Breakfast and we drive to Tsenkher hot springs. On the way, we’ll visit to nomadic families who are residing along Tamir river, experience their way of nomadic lifestyle and try dairy products. Arrive in hot springs, here you spend a night away from your road, in lodgings near the healing hot springs. Relax and reinvigorate. And enjoy hot bath in the evening. Ger camp B+L+D

Day 5: Tsenkher hot springs - Lake Ogii 
We’ll head to the north for Lake Ogii via Khoshoo Tsaidam monument which is archeological findings of ancient Turkic empire in VI – VIII century. Arrive in Lake Ogii, check into ger camp, enjoy 2 hr of horse riding along the lake shore. Ger camp B+L+D

Day 6: Lake Ogii - Hustai national park 
After breakfast we drive to Hustai National Park, one of the most popular national parks of Mongolia through the rolling steppes.  Arrive in Hustai view the wonderful Takhi wild horses and other wildlife. Optional hiking around the hill. Ger camp B+L+D

Day 7: Hustai national park  – Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we drive back to Ulaanbaatar for 2 hours. Then we visit the Bogd Khaan’s Palace Museum – the residence of the last king of Mongolia and the Buddha Park. Enjoy traditional folklore concert by the magical Tumen Ekh ensemble. Farewell dinner.  Centrally located excellent Hotel 3* B+L+D

Day 8: Departure from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
You are transferred to the airport/train station after breakfast. End of service. B 

Single supplement charge  US$250     

Included services

  • Full-time services of your English speaking local guide throughout the tour
  • Sightseeing and entrance fees according to the itinerary
  • Ticket to the Giant Genghis Monument Complex
  • Private transfers and transports (Saloon car/4WD minivan + Experienced driver)
  • Twin/double share in hotel***, twin/triple share at good tourist camps
  • Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
  • 0.5 day Horse riding fees in Ogii Lake
  • 0.5 day Camel riding fees in Elsen Tasarkhai
  • 1 hr hot bath fee at Tsenkher hot springs
  • 0.5 l x 3 bottled water per day
  • Visa support invitation letter where applicable
  • Exclusive Ancient Capital of Mongolian Empire tour souvenir!

Not Included in the Price

  • International Airfare/train ticket
  • Travel insurance.
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc.
  • Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
  • Optional activities such as camel riding, archery, fishing etc

DISCOUNT CONDITIONS:  
  • For children of a family (0 – 3 years old) is 100% free of charge
  • For children of a family (4 – 12 years old) is 40% free of charge
  • Courier bringing min 3 pax
  • More attractive prices for groups of 12 and more people!
  • 1 free space for every 16 PAX
Accommodation on Selena Travel tours 
Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia has many hotels ranging from basic 1* to high-end 5*. Some international hotel chains have opened such as Kempinski, Ramada, and Best Western to name a few. Some of Selena Travel Mongolia tours do not include hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, where clients are advised to take care of their own accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Please refer to your tour program (Included services and Exclusions section) for more details. 
Your Selena Travel advisor is happy to assist you with hotel booking on your request. Below you will find some suggested hotels in Ulaanbaatar:  
  • Best Western Gobi Kelso ***
  • Springs hotel ***
  • Ramada hotel ****
  • Kempinski Khan Palace ****
  • Best Western Premier *****

Outside Ulaanbaatar: Please take in mind that traveling in the countryside of Mongolia is often tough, a trip is conducted in remote areas where there’s no hotel and paved roads exist.

Outside of Ulaanbaatar, tourist Ger camps are the best accommodation for travelers. A Ger is Mongolian traditional dwelling made of felt layers and wooden construction, and the Mongols have lived in Gers since the time immemorial. Tourist Ger camps offer comfortable Gers with 1-4 beds with good bedding, and also have western style showers and WCs (mostly shared). A few Ger camps offer en-suite Gers at additional charge (please ask your Selena Travel advisor for this). Due to remoteness some tourist Ger camps may not excel in service, so travelers may not always expect high pressure showers, bubble baths or gourmet food etc. 
 
Food on Selena Travel tours 
During your tour in Mongolia you will be eating in good restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, we have a great variety in restaurants in the capital city. Once you are outside the capital, Ger restaurants in Ger camps and local cafes in the small towns and villages will be the places where you will be eating. Ger restaurants often have set menu, but their food is usually very good (Ger camps provide mostly continental breakfast, lunches consist of salad, soup, main course and dessert, whilst, dinners are usually salad, main course and dessert).
During your longer driving days you will take packed lunch from Ger camps (often vegetable salad, main course such as fried chicken/noodles/dumplings and a chocolate bar etc). Vegetarians are well taken care of both in Ulaanbaatar restaurants and tourist Ger camps.
 
Luggage allowance on Selena Travel tours 
When you travelling overland in a vehicle (minivan & jeep), it would be suitable if you have 20kg luggage per person (max). However, please kindly note that domestic flight luggage allowance per person is 15 kg (10 kg for the check in luggage and 5 for the carry on luggage). For 1kg extra luggage you pay US$2 - 5. 
 


DESTINATION & ATTRACTIONS BRIEF INFO

The Karakorum was flourished in the IV-IX century by the Kirgis tribe and in 1220 the great Emperor Chinghis Khaan declared it as the capital city of his vast Empire. Many other Mongolian Khaans used Karakorum as the capital of Great Mongolian Empire, however, the Chinese Ming soldiers burnt the city several times in 15-17th century. Today there are many interesting sites left to visit; the legendary turtle rock sculptures, Buddhist stupas and the ruins of this once great city to name a few. This is one of the best place for Mongolian cultural tours. 

 
Erdenezuu ("One Hundred Treasures") was the first Buddhist monastery in the Mongolian Empire. It was established in 1586 on the orders of Abtai Sain Khaan, a direct descendent from Genghis Khaan. The monastery has a massive square wall, 420 meters in length each side, a total of 108 Stupas and 17 temples. Today Erdenezuu monastery still shows its glory with collections of many priceless religious objects and incredibly beautiful Mongolian arts.

"Elsen tasarhai" is a part of the Great Mongolian Sand dunes and extends about 80 km. The scenery is a perfect combination of desert, picturesque mountains, river and green grassland and makes you feel like you are in heaven.

Hustai National park is the place where the wild Takhi- Przewalski horses have lived peacefully since 1993 when they were reintroduced to their native land Mongolia. Here we are able to see and photograph these beautiful wild horses at pasture and Red Deer, Wolf, Asian Marmot, various species of waterfawls and prey birds etc., as well. 

Images of the Tour

Tour map

Reviews

We haven't reveived any feedback or review with this tour yet. If you've been travelling with Selena Travel on this tour, you are open to give us your feedback, simply reach with us here. Thank you so much for your interest ot share experience in Mongolia.
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