mongolia tour
DESCRIPTION
From the central steppe to the Gobi Desert and to the lake district on the Siberian border. 14 days/13 nightsTRANSCRIPT
NORTH & SOUTH MONGOLIA TOUR 14 days / 13 nights
Lakes, volcanoes, desert and monasteries
DAY 1ULAAN BAATAR - KHARKHORINArrival at Ulaan Baatar Airport. Meet the local guide and drivers. Transfer to the centre of the Capital. Change money. Departure to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Chinghis Khaan. You leave the chaotic town and you plunge into the wild of the steppe. The buildings vanish and, on the horizon, white gers, the Mongolian traditional felt tents begin to appear. Lunch at local restaurant on the road. In the afternoon arrival at the ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB)
DAY 2KHARKHORIN - ONGII KHIIDBreakfast. The morning is dedicated to Kharkhorin. The ancient capital, known in the past as Kharakhorum, was entirely destroyed by the Chinese in the 14th century, but upon its ashes, in 1586, was built one of the most important monastery of the country: Erdene Zuu with its white walls, its 108 stupas, its temples. After then departure toward the middle Gobi. Lunch picnic in the steppe. In the late afternoon arrival in Ongii Khiid ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB)
DAY 3ONGII KHIID- BAYANZAGBreakfast. Drive to the Gobi desert, the great and wide desert where in summertime temperature can go above 45°C. Arrive at the ger camp near Bayanzag. Lunch in the camp restaurant and time for relax. In the late afternoon trek on the “Flaming Cliffs” where the American naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews found, in 1922, the first dinosaur fossils of Mongolia and the first dinosaur egg nest in the world. We will walk along and through the hills, searching for dinosaur bones. We’ll stay here until sunset to admire the rocks that go redder and redder, as if they were on fire. Return to the camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB)
DAY 4BAYANZAG - YOLIN AM - KHONGORIN SAND DUNESBreakfast. Drive to Yolin Am. Situated in the Gurvainsaikan National Park, we’ll walk along this narrow valley, watching ibex (wild goats), vultures, eagles, marmots, wild flowers similar to edelweiss. At the end of the valley, in summertime too, lie ice and snow accumulations. Lunch picnic.In the afternoon, through narrow canyons that cut the Gurvainsaikan mountain range, we will arrive at Khongorin Sand Dunes, a wild landscape where the wind accumulated the sand on the slopes of a black mountain chain. Lodging in the ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB
DAY 5KHONGORIN - ONGII KHIIDBreakfast. Morning trek or camel ride on the sand dunes. Then, drive back to Ongii Khiid, Lunch picnic in Bulgan. In the afternoon arrival at the ger camp settled on the Ongii river in an extraordinary spot. Visit of the ruins of this big monastic complex that hosted more than 2.000 monks and that was destroyed by the Soviets in 1939. Dinner and overnight stay in ger camp. (FB)
DAY 6ONGII KHIID - KHUJIIRT - TSETSERLEGBreakfast. Today the trip shall lead us towards north-west and the dry and dusty landscape turns again into a green scenery. On the way we will stop in Khujirt, a small village where we can buy water and other supplies and where you will have your picnic lunch. In the afternoon drive to Tsetserleg, the “Garden City”.Dinner at restaurant. Overnight stay at the best local hotel.- 2**- (FB)
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DAY 7TSERTSERLEG - KHORGO UUL/TERKHIN TSAGAAN LAKEBreakfast. In the morning visit the Buyandelgeruulekch Monastery and the local market in Tsetserleg. Lunch at local restaurant. Then drive to the Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, a volcanic area with gorgeous landscapes, lakes and ancient flows of lava eroded by winds and rivers. Arrival to the ger camp close to Khorgoo Volcano. Dinner and overnight stay at ger camp (Full Board)
DAY 8KHORGO UUL - MORONBreakfast. The morning will be dedicated to explore this interesting area, hiking Khorgoo volcano summit (30 minutes) from where you can grasp all the surrounding panorama. Here the ancient caldera hosts a small rain lake and on the slopes wild and colourful flowers grow. Then departure to north direction, driving though wood and hills on unbusy tracks. Lunch picnic. In the late afternoon arrival in Moron. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in the best local hotel (Full Board)
DAY 9MORON - KHATGAL - KHOVSGOL LAKEBreakfast. On the road that leads to Khovsgol lake stop to visit Uushigiin Uver an area where stand ancient sacrificial altars and “deer stones”. Passing Khatgal, arrival on the lake shores. Lodge at the ger camp and lunch at restaurant. Free time for relax, walking, horse riding, canoeing , etc.... Dinner and overnight stay. (Full Board)
DAY 10KHOVSGOL LAKE - MORONBreakfast. All the day dedicated to explore this pristine region by walking or riding horses and, if you are lucky, possible meeting with Tsaatan people, a minority who lives in this area and who breeds reindeers. Lunch picnic or at the ger restaurant.In the late afternoon return back to Moron. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in the best local hotel (FB).
DAY 11MORON - BULGAN - ERDENETBreakfast. All day drive across the steppe in eastern direction. Lunch picnic. In the afternoon arrival in Erdenet, a small town where stands one of the biggest copper mine of Asia. Lodge at the best local hotel (2**). Dinner at restaurant. Overnight stay. (FB
DAY 12ERDENET - AMARBAYASGALANT - ULAANBAATARBreakfast.Departure to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of the most important of the country with Erdene Zuu and Gandan. Visit of the complex where, from 2001, monks play important religious ceremonies with Tsam Mask and where, in June, pilgrims arrive from all Mongolia to celebrate Maitreya Festival. Departure to the Capital driving on a black road that runs along the trans-Siberian railway. Lunch at a local restaurant on the road. In the late afternoon arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Lodge at a central hotel. Dinner free. Overnight stay. (Half Board
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DAY 13ULAAN BAATARBreakfast. All day dedicated to the Capital. In the morning visit Gandan Monastery, the most important Buddhist core for the Mongolian people. Here, before the Soviet purges, there were more than 10.000 monks. You’ll visit the Buddhist schools, the Tibetan-style temple which contains a 26 mt. high Avalokitesvara’s golden statue, the Buddhist temples where it is possible to attend lamas’ prayers. After the Natural History Museum that hosts a unique collection of Dinosaur fossils such as Tarbosaurus (a relative of the T-Rex), Protoceratops, eggs,..... Lunch free. Afternoon free for shopping, for individual visit or watching a folk songs & dances show. Dinner free. Overnight stay in hotel. (B&B
DAY 14ULAAN BAATAR - FLIGHT BACKBreakfast and transfer to the airport.
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