Tour Scope: Eastern Mongolia Tour Route: UB- Black Heart Blue Lake-Bereeven Monastery-Binder county-Dadal county-Delgerkhaan county-UB
Highlights: Black Heart Blue Lake, Bereeven Monastery, Deluun boldog
Tour Season: 01 June- 15 September Tour Level: Moderate Total Driving km: 1,100 km (690 miles)
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
Day 2. Black Heart Blue Lake
Day 3. Bereeven Monastery
Day 4. Rashaan Rocks, Ancestor’s Wall and Binder-Ovoo
Day 5. Dadal (Deluun boldog)
Day 6. Delgerkhaan (Huduu Aral)
Day 7. Ulaanbaatar
Day 8. Departure
Accommodations: 2 nights in hotel and 5 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: Horse riding
Staffs: Visit Mongolia Team (Tour guide and driver)
DAY 1 ULAANBAATAR
Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khan International Airport in Mongolia, you will meet Visit Mongolia crew and transfer to the hotel, conveniently located in downtown Ulaanbaatar. After freshening up from your flight, we start our first day around Ulaanbaatar at Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. From here we will go to the National History Museum which tells the rich history of Mongolia. The heart of Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square, is just a short walk away. Here we will see the Parliament House, National Opera and City Hall. Afterwards, we will visit Zaisan Hill, which offers great views of the city. In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). Overnight in hotel. (L,D)
DAY 2 BLACK HEART BLUE LAKE (HUH NUUR)
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 250 km, 6-7 hours
After breakfast, we will drive east outside of the capital and reach Huh Nuur (“The Blue Lake”) located at the foothill of Har Zurh (“The Black Heart”) Mountain. At this place in 1189, a ceremony was held conferring the title of Genghis Khan to the young Temuujin thus becoming the King of the Mongols. Not far from the lake is a trace from the 15 meter wide ger that was Genghis’ dwelling. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 BEREEVEN MONASTERY
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 30 km, 1 hour
Today we will visit the ruins of the Baldan Bereeven monastery. It was considered to be the Mongolian version of the Tibetan Utai and Gumben monasteries. The monastery’s foundation stone was laid in 1784, but finished in 1813. This monastery used to be one of the bigger religious centers of Khalkh Mongol with about 800 monks. Baldan Bereeven monastery was later destroyed leaving foundational ruins. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 RASHAAN ROCKS AND ANCESTOR’S WALL
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 150 km, 3-4 hours
Today, we will drive to the Ancestor’s Wall visiting other sites along the way. First, we will explore the rock writings at Rashaan Hard Rock. There are numerous carvings and paintings depicting animals and humans as well as carvings of several hundred tribal seals and around 20 scripts in Orkhon-Enisey, Kidan, Arabian-Persian, Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese. Also, the Deer Monuments from the end of Bronze Age and beginning of Iron Age in the valley of Jargalant River will be explored. Later, we will arrive at the Ancestor’s Wall which was erected with large red granite rocks which half encircle a small rocky hill. The wall is approximately 3 feet wide, 8-10 feet high and 4.78 miles in length. It is thought to have been built in the 13th century and remains in remarkable condition to this day. Visit a nomad family to discover their way of life, their culture and traditions. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 5 BIRTHPLACE OF GENGHIS KHAN
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 120 km, 3-4 hours (OW)
In the early morning, we will drive to the Dadal village. We will visit several historical sites such as Deluun Boldog and Khajuu spring waters. Deluun boldog is a low hill where Temuujin was born. Nearby is a small flowing spring called Khajuu Bulag, the location of where Temuujin was bathed after birth. Drive back to the camp. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 6 HUDUU ARAL
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 220 km, 7-8 hours
Today we will drive to Kherlengiin Huduu Aral, Delgerkhaan soum. This location is mentioned in “The Secret History of the Mongolia” and is where the book was completed by an unknown Mongolian historian in 1240. We will explore the traces of the Great Aurag Palace, the first city of the Mongolian Empire. Natural spring waters also abound in this valley. Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 7 ULAANBAATAR
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 250 km, 3-4 hours
Drive to Ulaanbaatar. Visit the Bogd Khan Palace Museum. Shopping for souvenirs and cashmere is optional. Farewell dinner. Overnight in hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 DEPARTURE BACK MONGOLIA
Transfer to airport for return flight. (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.