Walk through the remote and mysterious Erdene Zhu monastery with a Lama Buddhist monk; visit the dramatic Flaming Cliffs, a world-renowned paleontology site famous for its amount of dinosaur eggs and bones; and drop by the home of a welcoming camel-herding family for an afternoon you'll always remember. Embrace your inner nomad in this timeless place.
Itinerary
DAY 1 - ULAANBAATAR
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
DAY 2 - ULAANBAATAR
Watch the opening ceremonies of the famed Nadaam Festival which dates back to the time of Genghis Khan. Enjoy the colourful traditional costumes and observe some of the wrestling matches, horse races and archery contests. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore and take in the excitement of the festivities.
DAY 3 - ULAANBAATAR
Head out to see the finish line of the Mongol Derby horseraces, considered one of the most difficult and thrilling races in the world. Enjoy a free afternoon before attending the Festival Closing Ceremony in the evening.
DAY 4 - ULAANBAATAR
Enjoy a morning city tour including visits to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill. Later, take a tour of the Central Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs and learn about the dinosaurs of the Gobi desert from a docent.
DAY 5 - ULAANBAATAR/KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK
Travel to Khustai National Park – home of Mongolia's wild horses. Here, meet with park staff and learn about the wild horse reintroduction project. Keep an eye out for Takhi horses in their natural habitat.
DAY 6 - KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK/KHARKHORIN
Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Visit the Erdene Zhu Monastery, the nation's first centre of Lama Buddhism, and meet with a head monk for an in-depth lesson in Buddhism. Later, visit Karakorum Museum.
DAY 7 - KHARKHORIN/TSENKHER
Arrive at Tsenkher Hot Springs in the afternoon. Visit the springs for a relaxing soak in their healing powers.
DAY 8 - TSENKHER/ORKHON VALLEY
Drive to Orkhon and enjoy a hiking excursion to the Tuvkhun Monastery, established in the 1650s by Zanabazar, one of Mongolia’s most respected religious leaders. The monastery’s wooden buildings are integrated with a natural system of caves perched near a hilltop, from which you can take in beautiful views of the Orkhon Valley and surrounding pine forests.
DAY 9 - ORKHON VALLEY
Visit a local family's horse and yak breeding farm. Learn about their daily life and how they make cheese and butter. Sample some of their products, including yak cream and yogurt, and watch their famed horse riding and herding techniques. After, enjoy a hike to a waterfall before returning to the ger camp for a traditional Mongolian barbecue prepared over hot stones.
DAY 10 - ORKHON VALLEY/ONGIIN HIID
Drive into the Gobi, one of the world's great deserts which covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. Here we visit the ruins of the Hoshuu and Ongiin Khiid monasteries.
DAY 11 - ONGIIN HIID/BAYANZAG
Explore the Flaming Cliffs paleontology site, world-renowned for the vast amount of dinosaur bones and eggs found here.
DAY 12 - BAYANZAG/KHONGORYN ELS
Drive to Khongoryn Els and explore more of the Gobi desert. Hike through Mongolia's largest dunes, often called the "Singing Sands".
DAY 13 - KHONGORYN ELS
Enjoy a visit with a nomadic camel-herding family, gaining insight into their very different way of life. Try your hand at some of the daily farming chores and opt for a camel ride. Take part in an archery lesson and demonstration with the family.
DAY 14 - KHONGORYN ELS/YOLYN AM
Drive through the beautiful gorges of the imposing Altai Mountain Chain in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, passing through the green valleys of Yolyn Am and Dungeness Am. Stop to hike along the way and keep an eye out for wild Argali sheep, ibex, desert gazelles, and golden eagles. Later, pay a visit to the park museum where you can admire a collection of dinosaur bones.
DAY 15 - YOLYN AM/ULAANBAATAR
Catch a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. This evening enjoy a folklore show and farewell dinner.
DAY 16 - ULAANBAATAR
Depart at any time.
