Grand Mongolian Expedition 8 Days
Tour overview:
Explore Mongolia, the land of Genghis Khan on this 8-day adventure. Start in Ulaanbaatar with its contrasting buzzing urban life and quiet monastery courtyards. Learn about Mongolia’s history with a visit to the National Museum. Travel to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of the Great Mongolian Empire. Gaze in wonder at the magnificent scenery as you travel in the Gobi Desert. Enjoy Mongolian hospitality with overnights in traditional Ger camps and enjoy a traditional Mongolian BBQ lunch with a nomadic family.
Day 1 - Arrival Ulaanbaatar
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to Hotel Bayangol****, check-in, Ulaanbaatar is a large city of pulsating commerce, noisytraffic and buzzing urban life and in between islands ofserenity – quiet monastery courtyards and public squares withcalming fountains. During the afternoon sightseeing tour wesee Genghis Khan Square at the heart of the city and thesurrounding buildings: Parliament House, State Opera &BalletTheatre, Cultural Palace and the House of City Council.Moreover, we visit the National Museum of Mongolian History,which features Mongolian history from pre-historic time topresent days and the Gandan Monastery, the largest functioning Buddhist monastery in Mongolia.
Day 2 - Ulaanbaatar - Kharkhorin
Through beautiful landscapes of steppe, river valleys and rolling hills we drive westwards to Kharkhorin (375 km),the ancient capital of the Great Mongolian Empire. The city founded in the valley of the Orkhon River in 1220 wasthe capital of the Great Mongolian Empire until Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, moved the capital toBeijing during the Yuan Dynasty. Nearby Erdenezuu Monastery is the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery inMongolia and was founded on the ruins of ancient Kharkhorin in 1586. We visit the monastery’s magnificentexhibits, which include an extraordinary collection of Buddhist paintings, special costumes for religious dances andsuperb Buddhist iconography in true Mongolian and Tibetan style. Check-in at atKharkhoriinAnar Ger Camp(standard). Lunch and dinner at the Ger Camp
Day 3 - Kharkhorin-Middle Gobi(Ongi Monastery)
We leave Kharkhorin and continue south to the Ongi Monastery (250 km), located in Saihan-Ovoo in the MiddleGobi land. En route, we enjoy a traditional Mongolian BBQ lunch with a nomadic family. We visit the ruins of theOngi Monastery, which was founded in 1660 and consisted of two temple complexes on the North and South of theRiverOngi. At its heyday, Ongi Monastery housed around 30 temples, four large Buddhist universities and over1000 monks at a time. Check-in at the OngiinNuuts Ger Camp (standard). Dinner at the Ger Camp
Day 4 - Gobi Desert (Bayanzag)
Today we continue into the Gobi Desert to explore the Bayanzag Cliffs (250 km). In the early afternoon we arriveatthe ancient red rock creation, Bayanzag, formed 60-70 million years ago. The striking red Bayanzag Cliffs containsvast amounts of dinosaur fossils, eggs and bones and are neighboured by Saxaul tree forests. We will trek aroundthe surrounding areas. Check-in at the GoviinNaran Ger Camp (superior) Lunch and dinner at the Ger Camp,
Day 5 - Gobi Desert (Yol Valley)
Today we explore the majestic Gobi GurvanSaikhan National Park (100 km), the largest national park in Mongoliastretching 380 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. We visit the incredible Yol Valley, anunusualnarrow canyon of a river flowing through the ZuunSaikhan Mountains to admire the scenery of a frozen river in themiddle of the hot Gobi desert. We visit the local Fauna and Flora Museum and enjoy a picnic lunch. Return to theGoviinNaran Ger Camp. Dinner at the Ger Camp
Day 6 - Middle Gobi (Baga Gazariin Chullu)
We drive north to Middle Gobi province (400 km). Driving through the endless green grassland, we enjoy thestunning natural scenery. En route, we meet the nomads on the steppe with their hordes of sheep, cattle or horsesand we enjoy a picnic lunch. In the late afternoon, we reach our Ger Camp at BagaGazriinChuluu. Check-in at theErdeneUkhaa Ger Camp (standard). Dinner at the Ger Camp
Day 7 - Middle Gobi Ulaanbaatar
We continue our scenic drive to the north through the BagaGarziinChuluu Basalt and Granite Mountains (200km). We reach Ulaanbaatar at noon and check-in at Hotel Bayangol****. The afternoon offers an optional guidedshopping tour to cashmere and antique shops and to the Central Department Store. In the evening, we enjoy afarewell dinner at Restaurant “Modern Nomads’ with traditional Mongolian cuisine.
Day 8 - Ulaanbaatar Departure
Breakfast. Transfer to airport