Description

Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, was founded in 1639 at some 400km from the current location. Since then it proved to be a real nomadic city and changed locations more than 10 times before settling to the current location in 1778. Situated at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, Ulaanbaatar’s the center of political, economic and cultural life of the country. The capital Ulaanbaatar has 1 200 000 people, 65 % of them being under 40 years old.

Upon Arrival by international flight/train, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
4* Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar.

Day 2 Ulaanbaatar city sightseeing & visit to the Giant Genghis monument. B, L
Meet with your tour guide and the rest of the group at 9am in the morning, and start the Ulaanbaatar city tour. Today, we will visit the principal sites of Ulaanbaatar including the Gandan monastery – a home to the 26m gilded statue of Megjid Janraisag, and the National Museum of Mongolia, and walk the Main Square.
After welcome lunch at an excellent Mongolian restaurant, we drive for 1hr to visit the Giant Genghis monument – an impressive 46m statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, indeed the largest equastrian statue on earth. Return to Ulaanbaatar in the evening at around 6.30pm.
Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

Day 3. Ulaanbaatar – Bulgan province via Erdenet town / Ger camp B L D
Meet in the hotel lobby by 8.00 am and we start our big Mongolia tour and head to the north to Bulgan province. En-route stop at Erdenet town for lunch and visit the local market to get some introduction to Mongolians’ way of life. Early in the evening we arrive at the tourist camp. Dinner and rest at Standard Ger camp

Day 4. Bulgan – Uran Togoo Mountain – Lake huvsgul / Ger camp B L D
Today we continue the drive toward the Lake Huvsgul through the Khangai region of Mongolia; here one will definitely admire the nature beauty and wilderness. Khangai region is beautiful mountainous area that is rich in wood, wildlife and waters. Picnic lunch on the way, we will visit a nomadic family to witness their true hospitality on the way.
The drive from Moren to Lake Huvsgul covers slightly more than 150 kilometers, passing across a landscape of green hills studded by rock outcroppings, river valleys with braided channels which crisscross the lush valley floors and skies filled with hunting birds-of-prey. The road can get bumpy as it passes the settlement of Khatgal and enters the forests surrounding the lake, before emerging on the banks of Lake Huvsgul itself with your ger camp close at hand. Remainder of the day at leisure on Lake Huvsgul.

Day 5 Leisure Day in Lake Huvsgul / Ger camp. B L D
Today is spent in leisurely activities and sightseeing on Lake Huvsgul and its surroundings – there are a number of ways to spend the day, including optional boat journeys, gentle walking, and a visit to the Tsaatan nomads – the ‘Reindeer People’.
Dinner and rest at the Ger camp.

Day 6 Lake Huvsgul – Jargalant Hot Springs / Ger camp B L D
After breakfast we start driving southwards toward Central Mongolia, passing Moren and continuing into the astounding Khangai Mountains. The mountains themselves vary in character, from stark outcroppings of dun-colored rock to steep green slopes that rise far over the river valleys and isolated ger encampments. Every new turn in the road reveals a vista of astounding beauty, as we make the 5-6hr passage to the Jargalant Hot Springs, crossing the Tsagaan Burgas Pass on the way. Spend the night at a Ger camp near the Jargalant Hot Springs.

Day 7 Jargalant to Khorgo-Terkh National Park / Ger camp. B L D
This morning we continue the drive southwards and reach the Khorgo-Terkh National Park – a beautiful national park with an extinct volcano and a freshwater lake within it. Arrive and check into Ger camp by the afternoon. Lunch. Then visit the Mt. Khorgo and enjoy some hiking. The remainder of the day is for your leisure at the Lake Terkh (optional fishing available).

Day 8 Lake Terkh – Tsenkher hot springs / Ger camp. B L D
Today we will drive to the Tsenkher hot springs with a stop at the lovely Tsetserleg Town with a visit to the Zay Bandida Monastery Museum. Arrive at the Hot Springs in the late afternoon and check into Ger camp. Free time for walking to the Hot Springs Source around the Ger camp. Afterwards, enjoy dinner followed by hot springs bathing under the starry skies.

Day 9 A leisure day at Tsenkher Hot Spring / Ger camp. B L D
Enjoy a full day of leisure in the ardent Khangai Mountains with 2hrs of horse riding, mineral springs bathing and sun bathing. Moreover, you may wish to hike a bit to the nearby nomadic families to have some chat over salty milk tea or plain yogurt, which the nomads will happily share with visitors.

Day 10 Tsenkher to Karakorum: Erdene Zuu monastery & Karakorum museum / Ger camp. B L D
Have breakfast at 7.30am, and we drive to Karakorum for about 2-3hrs, arrive and visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia founded in 1586, and take part in the morning chants. Then visit the newly opened Open Air Museum of Karakorum, which displays some interesting findings from Karakorum ruins by the Mongolian-German join expedition. Check into Ger camp, have lunch. Then visit the Karakorum Museum and get some knowledge about the UNESCO world heritage Orkhon River Valley and the ancient capital Karakorum.

Day 11. Karakorum – Ongi monastery drive / Ger camp. B L D
Today we head southwards towards the Gobi Desert. The drive today is scenic as usual however, the terrain will gradually change into semi-desert zone. We reach the Ongi Monastery Ruins by the late afternoon (picnic lunch on the way) and check into Ger camp. Rest a bit. Then take some walking to the monastery ruins. Dinner and overnight at the Ger camp.

Day 12. Ongi monastery to Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs / Deluxe en-suite Ger camp. B L D 
After breakfast we continue the drive to the Gobi and reach Bayanzag – one of the most known dinosaur remains site in the world. Indeed, it’s where Roy Chapman Andrews made his discovery of dinosaur eggs in the early 1920s during his expedition to Asia. Andrews is believed to be the inspiration of the si-fi character expolrer Indiana Jones. Arrive in Bayanzag and transfer to Ger camp and have lunch. Visit the Red Cliffs (Flaming Cliffs) and explore for dinosaur remains, it does take some walking in the badlands and many people find the real thing! Then in the early evening transfer to the Ger camp, check into your En-suite Gers. Rest. Watch the Gobi sunset as you enjoy your special dinner.

Day 13. A day excursion to the Khongor Sand Dunes / Deluxe en-suite Ger camp. B L D 
Today, we will take a day excursion to Khongor sand dunes – Mongolia’s largest and most beautiful sand dunes that stretch over 180km in the arid Gobi Desert. The drive to the dunes at Khongoriin takes about 3 hours one way, passing through vast desert badlands that span out into the furthest distances, where remote mountains line the horizon. Arrive at the Ger camp by the sand dunes and have lunch.
Afterwards, visit the Khongor sand dunes and take a short camel ride along the Khongor springs in the little oasis. You also may want to climb the beautiful sand dunes, some are as high as 300m. Lone Gers and nomads on camelback hang suspended in the mirages, whilst the desert floor is strewn with a range of colorful rocks and unusual minerals. This is the Gobi at its stark best – there are many opportunities to take photographs of the landscapes and people. In the evening drive back to the camp.

Day 14. Excursion to Yoliin Am Gorge in Gurvan Saikhan Mountains / Deluxe en-suite Ger camp. B L D 
Enjoy watching the Gobi sun rise and after having breakfast at the Ger camp, we drive to the glacial Yoliin Am Gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, the eastern end of the majectis Altai Mountains.
The beautiful narrow gorge is named for the Lammergeyer vultures – huge soaring birds in the mountains. This deep, shaded canyon offers visitors a glimpse of the Gobi’s many wild flowers, raptors, Ibex, and even a glacier – like ice field in the canyon bottom. Take some hiking in the gorge. Then return to the Ger camp, dinner and rest.

Day 15. The Gobi Desert – Ulaanbaatar, traditional folklore concert. B L D
Have early breakfast and then drive to the small Gobi Desert airport (~60min drive) and take the flight to Ulaanbaatar. Then upon arrival enjoy a half day city sightseeing including the fabled Bogd Khaan’s Palace Museum and an optional shopping for cashmere/souvenir. Then see a folklore concert by the magnificent Tumen Ekh ensemble featuring Khoomei – Mongolian throat singing and contortion performance followed by farewell dinner.
Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar

Day 16. Departure/extension.  B
Extend your tour with another tour or transfer to the airport for your flight home.