Tour Season: 15 May- 15 September Tour Level: Adventure Total Driving km: 1,300 km (800 miles)
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
Day 2. Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dune
Day 3. Tuvkhun Monastery
Day 4. Naiman Nuur Lake (Eight Lakes)
Day 5-6. Naiman Nuur Lake (Eight Lakes)
Day 7. Orkhon Waterfall
Day 8. Tsenkher Hot Spa
Day 9. Karakorum
Day 10. Ulaanbaatar
Day 11. Departure
Accommodations: 2 nights in hotel, 4 nights in ger camps and 4 nights in tent Meals: Inclusive meals are indicated in itinerary (B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Transport: 4WD Japanese Minivan or 4WD Japanese Jeep Optional activities: Camel riding, Horse riding
Staffs: Visit Mongolia Team (Tour guide and driver)
DAY 1 ULAANBAATAR
A professional Visit Mongolia team will meet you at Chinggis Khan International Airport and transfer to the one of the best quality hotels. After relax, we start our first day exploring Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Sukhbaatar Square is at the heart of Ulaanbaatar and famous for its surroundings including Parliament House, National Opera Theatre, Cultural Palace and House of City Council. We will then visit Gandan Monastery to experience influence of Buddhism in Mongolia and see outstanding and impressive 24m golden plated statue of Megjid Janraiseg Buddha. From here we will head to the Zaisan Hill which offers great views of the Ulaanbaatar. Optional visit to Natural History Museum of Mongolia. In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). Overnight in hotel. (L, D)
DAY 2 ELSEN TASARKHAI SAND DUNE
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 280 km, 4-5 hours
Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dune, a unique area combining forest, Gobi sand dunes and rocky mountains. Excursion to Hugnu Khaan Mountain and sand dune on the steppe. Free time for hiking and walking nearby. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 TUVKHUN MONASTERY
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 150 km, 4-5 hours
We continue our journey to Tuvkhun Monastery, located at the peak of a remote, wooded mountain, built by Undur Gegeen Zanabazar in 1651 for his meditation. About 4 km hike up the mountain path leads to Tuvkhun Monastery. Here we enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the scenery and visit the caves located around the monastery. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 NAIMAN NUUR LAKE (EIGHT LAKES)
We will continue south from Tuvkhun Monastery in the direction of Naiman Nuur (Eight Lakes) through the high mountains of the Khangai Range. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 5-6 NAIMAN NUUR LAKE (EIGHT LAKES)
We have 2 full days trekking in the Naiman Nuur Lake area, a natural formation of eight lakes situated 2,200 meters above sea level and surrounded by magnificent high mountains covered by Larch forests. In some areas we will see extinct volcanic craters creating breathtaking and alien images of this natural oasis. Approximate trekking time is 6 hours. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 7 ORKHON WATERFALL
Today is the day to explore the picturesque Orkhon Waterfall which is situated on the Orkhon river, Mongolia’s longest river at 1,120 km. The local name of the waterfall is Ulaan Tsutgalan and the height is 24 m. The waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. The water level of the waterfall fluctuates with the rainfall. Approximate trekking time is 4 hours. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 TSENKHER HOT SPA
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 150 km, 4-5 hours
Travel to Tsenkher Hot Spa, sulphur springs that emerge from ground at a sizzling 89C (192.2F). Facilities of the camp include outdoor and indoor baths, and showers using sulphur spring water. Visit to a Yak breeder’s family and experience the traditional customs and lifestyle of local residents. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 9 RUINS OF 12TH CENTURY CAPITAL CITY KARAKORUM
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 150 km, 3-4 hours
Travel to Karakorum, the former capital city of world’s greatest land empire, established by Chinggis Khan. Here we will tour the oldest Buddhist monastery, Erdenezuu, a religious complex spanning over 400 sq. meters surrounded by 108 stupas. It was first built on the ruins of Karakorum in 1586 by Abtai Sain Khan. The site has some of the best works of religious art and architecture in Mongolia. Visit Karakorum museum. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 10 ULAANBAATAR
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 360 km, 5-6 hours
We drive to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit some interesting museums including the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan and the Temple Choijin Lama. The remainder of the day is free for shopping or independent touring. Overnight in hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 11 DEPARTURE
After our adventure together ends, you will transfer to the airport or train station for your departure. (B)
Visit Mongolia’s policy is to provide top quality service to our customers at reasonable prices. We will pleased to provide detailed price quotes for those interested in specific tours.
In Ulaanbaatar:
Hotels are available in different ranges of quality and service. The package cost includes all services except accommodations in Ulaanbaatar (UB). We do give “choices” for our clients to pick their appropriate accommodations in Ulaanbaatar. However we encourage group travelers to pick the same property. We will provide hotel rates for Visit Mongolia customers for your selection. Please select hotel and room type and let us know.
In the Countryside:
– Ger Camps
While touring in the countryside, the most common accommodations outside cities on our tours are called ger camps. A ger is the traditional felt tent of nomadic herders. Accommodation in the ger camps is based on two people sharing one ger. Each ger is heated by a wood stove and has two wood-framed beds.
The camp restaurant and western-style toilet/shower facilities are located in the middle of the camp or close by. All camps supply towels. The ger camps provide all bedding and clients will not be expected to bring their own sleeping bags if they stay overnight in the ger camps. Staying in a ger is a memorable experience of Mongolian culture.
– Tented camping
We use tented camps on our adventure journeys to more remote areas. The tents are either 2 or 3 person tents. A sleeping mat will be provided to each person staying in a tent but clients are asked to bring their own sleeping bags. Our expedition staff sets up camps and prepares meals and takes care of all your needs. Tented camps allow you to interact more with the nature and visit the remotest areas of the country.
We use different types of vehicles depending on the nature of tours, destination and final number of travellers.
– For jeep overland adventure tours we use Japanese 4WD vans and SUV’s (Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan), which is the best available for its type
– A bus or mini-bus serves group tourists within Ulaanbaatar
– In some remote areas where we have to fly, we arrange local vehicles most of which are Russian 4WD jeeps or minivans. Daily driving distance will be appr. 200-250km.
– For sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar we use deluxe coaches, vans and sedans.
All Visit Mongolia drivers have many years of experience. They know their way around the Mongolian countryside including many places where they are no marked roads. They are all skilled mechanics which is crucial in remote places. Technical inspections on the vehicles are made regularly.
An English speaking Mongolian guide will accompany the entire time of your trip. The most of our guides have a wonderful and outstanding reputation among our clients. They have an in depth knowledge of Mongolian history, nomadic civilization, customs, traditions, and nature memories. After every tour we get feedbacks and emails about our guides.
Meals are included in the cost. Visit Mongolia provides the selection of the best available local restaurants on cities and popular destinations.
When you are in Ulaanbaatar, you can eat out in number of restaurants as serving Indian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, English, French, German, Russian, Latin American and of course Mongolian cuisines. FYI, basic foodstuffs for Mongolians are beef, mutton and noodles.
When you stay in tourist Ger camps, the most camps provide meals as western cuisine. During excursions to remote areas we provide services of professional chefs who normally accompany the group. Arrangements can be made for vegetarians and those with special dietary needs with advance notice.
Mongolia’s climate is continental and extreme. With more than two hundred days of full sun per year it has been given the nickname of ‘the’ Country of Blue Skies’.
The tourist season in Mongolia is between the months of May and September. The weather during this time varies considerably from region to region. The highest rainfall period is in July and August, however, there are still days of glorious sunshine during this time. The Gobi usually has the hottest temperatures. Summer evenings in the Gobi can be cool because of Mongolia’s high altitude. The best time to visit the Gobi is June and September. The spring is a time of strong winds, especially difficult in the sandy areas of the Gobi.
Most travelers come to Mongolia in mid-July for the annual National Naadam Festival.