Tour Scope: Southern and Eastern Mongolia Tour Route: UB- South Gobi Province – Khentii Province-Tuv Province – UB
Highlights: Ulaanbaatar, Green Pond, South Gobi, Eagle Valley, Khongoyn Els Sand Dunes, Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs, Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, Umnudelger Village, Binder Village, Chingiss Town and Hustai National Park
Tour Season: Spring and Autumn Tour Level: Adventure Total Driving km: 1,300 km (800 miles)
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
Day 2. Flight to the Gobi /Yol valley
Day 3. Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
Day 4. Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
Day 5. Flight to UB and travel to Gun Galuut
Day 6. Gun Galuut Nature Reserve
Day 7. Umnudelger Village
Day 8. Binder Village
Day 9. Binder Village
Day 10. Ulaanbaatar
Day 11. Hustai National Park
Day 12. Hustai National Park
Day 13. Ulaanbaatar
Day 14. Departue
Accommodations: 3 nights in hotel in UB, 3 nights in local motels and 7 nights in ger camps 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)
PART ONE:POSSIBILITY OF BIRDS TO WATCH IN THE GOBI DESERT
Lammergeyer (known as Bearded Eagle), Steppe Eagle, Black Vulture or Cinereous Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Upland Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Demoiselle Crane, Pallas`s Sand Grouse, Little Owl, Eurasian Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Altai Snowcock, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Wall Creeper, Mongolian Finch, Snow Finch, Common Redstart, Brown Shrike, Black Redstart, Tits, Sandpipers, Mongolian Ground Jay, Oriental Plover, Brown Accentor, Common Rosefinch, Godlewski`s Bunting, Grey Necked Bunting and more.
DAY 1 ULAANBAATAR
Upon your arrival we will welcome you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival if time allows you can start birding nearby in UB Green Pond. Welcome dinner in Mongolian restaurant.
Overnight in hotel. (L, D)
DAY 2 LOCAL FLIGHT TO THE SOUTH GOBI
In the morning fly to Dalanzadgad, the center of South Gobi. Meet drivers at local airport and check springwood in town then drive to camp and check-in. In the afternoon, explore around the area.
Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 YOL VALLEY-KHONGORYN ELS SAND DUNES
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 250 km, 5-6 hours
Drive up to Yol Valley early in the morning where you will spend most of the time. This is a narrow small canyon that is rich with birds and wildlife such as Ibex. Mongolian Gazelle may be seen. Later, continue journey to Khongor Sand Dune and explore the area.
Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 KHONGORYN ELS SAND DUNES-BAYANZAG FLAMING CLIFFS
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 180 km, 4-5 hours
Early in the morning check the area once again then drive for a few hours to Bayanzag the Flaming Cliffs. Check-in, change and get a lunch at the camp. There`s a small water pond where you may surprisingly see a number of Gobi`s little birds. The Bayanzag is a neighboring area with Flaming Cliffs where the fossiled dinosaur’s egg was ever found by Andrews Roy Chapman and his expedition in early 1920`s. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
PART TWO:POSSIBILITY OF BIRDS TO WATCH IN GUN GALUUT
Golden Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Upland Buzzard, Rough Legged Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Sacker Falcon, Amur Falcon, Black Kite, Demoiselle Crane, White Napped Crane, Ruddy Shelduck, Hoopoe, Isabelline and Desert Wheatear, Mongolian Finch, Common Redstart, Brown shrike, Mongolian Lark and more.
DAY 5 ULAANBAATAR AND TRANSFER TO GUN GALUUT NATURE RESERVE
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 50 km +140km drive, 1.5h flight
Transfer to the airport and fly to Ulaanbaatar. Meet our driver at the airport and travel to the Gun Galuut. This is a Nature Reserve where the local community protects Argali (wild sheep) and home of migrated birds. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 6 GUN GALUUT NATURE RESERVE
Full day of exploration in twin lakes and watery marsh area, White-napped Crane is the key species.
Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 7 UMNUDELGER VILLAGE-EASTERN MONGOLIA
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 250 km, 4-5 hours
Half day drive to Umnudelger Village- on the way a number of migrated birds can be seen.
Overnight in a local hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 8-9 BINDER VILLAGE-EASTERN MONGOLIA
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 150 km, 3-4 hours
This is the farthest east destination of the journey. We do expect to see steppe birds and more. Also, this village is known as home of Chinggis Khaan, founder of Great Mongol Empire in the XIII Century. Overnight in a local hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 10 ULAANBAATAR
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 400 km, 7-8 hours
Full day of driving back to Ulaanbaatar. Take a time to refresh. Overnight in a hotel. (B, L, D)
PART THREE:POSSIBILITY OF BIRDS TO WATCH IN HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK
Golden Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Black Vulture or Cinereous Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Upland Buzzard, Rough Legged Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Sacker Falcon, Amur Falcon, Black Kite, Demoiselle Crane, Ruddy Shelduck, Hoopoe, Isabelline and Desert Wheatear, Mongolian Finch, Common Redstart, Brown Shrike, Mongolian Lark, Black Stork, Great Bustard and more.
DAY 11 HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 100 km, 1.5-2 hours
Hustai National Park is located 100km (63 miles) away from Ulaanbaatar to the west which takes only 2 hours. Hustai is an NGO that successfully re-introduced the Takhi or Przewalski horse to its ancestral homeland in 1992, with great support of a Dutch foundation. There are not only wild horses in this Park, but also a number of wildlife such as Red Deer, Mongolian Gazelle, Marmot, Corsac and Red Fox, Lynx and more. About 2 hours drive to northwest of Ulaanbaatar to Hustai National Park. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 12 HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK
Full day of exploration of the Park. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 13 ULAANBAATAR
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 100 km, 1.5-2 hours
Return to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. Guide will stand by for shopping.
In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). Overnight in a hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 14 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.