Tour Scope: Southern Mongolia Tour Route: Sainshand-White Stupa- Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs -Khongor-Yol Valley-Earth Stone-UB
Highlights: Khamriin Khiid monastery, Tsagaan Suvarga, Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), Khongor Sand Dunes, Yol Valley, Earth Stone
Tour Season: 01 June- 15 September Tour Level: Moderate
Day 1. Beijing-Ulaanbaatar train Day 2. Sainshand/ Khamriin Khiid Monastery
Day 3. Mandakh soum
Day 4. White Stupa Day 5. Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) Day 6. Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes Day 7. Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley) Day 8. Baga Gazriin Chuluu (Earth Stone)
Day 9. Ulaanbaatar Day 10. Departure
Accommodations: 1 night in hotel in Ulaanbaatar and 7 nights in ger or tent in the countryside 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 (DAY ON YOUR OWN)
Board the train bound to Sainshand from Beijing, meals aboard (not included)
DAY 2 SAINSHAND/ KHAMRIIN KHIID MONASTERY
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 40 km, 1-2 hours.
Arrival in Sainshand, province center of Dornogobi, by train from Beijing. Visit Mongolia team will meet you at the Sainshand railway station and transfer to the tourist camp. After relaxing at the camp we will travel to Khamriin Khiid Monastery which was established in the 1820s by the famous Mongolian educator and literary figure, Danzanravjaa, in the 19th century. The monastery was an important center of the Buddhist Red Sect and seat of the Terrible Noble Saint of the Gobi. Overnight in a ger camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 3 MANDAKH SOUM
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 220 km, 5-6 hours.
Travel to Mandakh soum (a local administration unit) in Dornogobi province. Overnight in tent. (B,L,D)
DAY 4 WHITE STUPA
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 190 km, 5-6 hours.
Travel to Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa). The “White Stupa”of Tsagaan Suvarga is located in Ulziit soum. It is interesting to see the sheer slope, facing east, which from a distance seems to be the ruins of the ancient city. The cliff is 30 meters high and 100 meters wide. Over thousands of years the wind has created this amazing structure. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 5 BAYANZAG (FLAMING CLIFFS)
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 200 km, 5-6 hours.
Today we will explore the place called Bayanzag, commonly known as the legendary “Flaming Cliffs”. In the afternoon, we arrive at the ancient red rock creation, Bayanzag, formed 60-70 million years ago. The famous “Flaming Cliffs” were named by Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer who visited Mongolia in 1920s. The striking red Bayanzag cliffs have dinosaur fossils, eggs and bones all over the. We will trek around the surrounding areas. Overnight in nomadic family ger. (B, L, D)
DAY 6 KHONGORYN ELS SAND DUNES
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 180 km, 4-5 hours.
Drive to Khongor Sand Dunes. In the afternoon we will walk through the golden sand dunes. Known as “Singing Dunes”, the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes are up to 300 m high, 15 km wide, and 180 km long. The view is incredible from top of the dunes. Visit a nomad family where you will have a chance to see daily work of Gobi people, particularly camel milking. You will taste Khoormog, fermented camel’s milk. Enjoy half day camel riding trip through Golden dunes and steppe. Overnight in nomadic family ger. (B, L, D)
DAY 7 YOLYN AM (EAGLE VALLEY)/GOBI GURVAN SAIKHAN NATIONAL PARK
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 200 km, 5-6 hours.
Travel to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan (Three Beauties of the Gobi) National Park where we will enjoy remarkable Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley), an exotic setting of green meadows and dense glaciers situated deep within the arid Gobi. The valley’s remnant streams create ice formations which you may find in the mouth of the valley as late as July. The mountains surrounding the valley also provide habitat for Argali wild sheep (one of the last wild great-horned sheep) and ibex, which may be spotted in the early morning as they walk along the mountain ridges. Visit Gobi museum and trek through the valley. Overnight in ger camp. (B, L, D)
DAY 8 EARTH STONE
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 400 km, 6-7 hours.
Travel to Middle Gobi. Drive through the open lands to Baga Gazriin Chuluu (Earth Stone) little mountain of Middle Gobi. Excursion to Earth Stone, a sacred rocky mountain, 1,760 m above sea level, famous for its unique rock formation and beautiful natural environment. Overnight in nomadic family ger. (B, L, D)
DAY 9 ULAANBAATAR
Approximate distance covered and estimated travel time: 250 km, 5-6 hours.
Travel to Ulaanbaatar. Visit National Museum of Mongolia and Zaisan Memorial Hill where you can get panoramic view of all Ulaanbaatar City from the top. Shopping for souvenirs and cashmere is optional. “Farewell” dinner. Overnight in the hotel. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 DEPARTURE
Our adventure together ends with your transfer back to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport 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.