Escape to the Heartland of Mongolia
7 days
Overview
A week-long escape to the heartland of Mongolia! Drive through lush grasslands dotted with traditional round, white felt dwellings of Mongolian pastoral nomads who herd their large flocks of grazing livestock and stay overnight with a local family near a stretch of sand dunes nicknamed “the Little Gobi”. The highlight of this trip might be the UNESCO inscribed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, encompassing an area on both banks of the Orkhon River. It was once the cradle of successive nomadic empires. Within this vast valley are a number of archeological remains including: Turkic memorial sites of the 6th-7th centuries, Uighur capital ruins of the 8th-9th centuries, and the site of the ancient Mongol capital, Kharakhorum, of the 13th-14th centuries. On this trip – visit Mongolia’s earliest surviving Buddhist monastery center, see Mongolia’s largest waterfall, relax in a hot spring pool surrounded by scenic wooded hills, and stay overnight at a lake that is a stopover for migrating birds.
Date & Price:
Departing: 15-05-2024
Finishing: 01-10-2024
Status: Open
Price Per Person:
Includes:
- 2 overnights at 4* hotel in UB (twin)
- 3 overnights at the Ger camp (twin/triple)
- 1 overnight at the local family guest ger (twin/triple)
- All indicated meals ( B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner )
- Drinking water
- All visits, NP fee and sightseeing fees
- Comfortable 4x4 van including gasoline with experienced driver
- English speaking guide
- All airport transfers
Exludes:
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities
- Meals not indicated
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- Visa to Mongolia
- International flights &Travels
- Hotel early check-in and late check-out
- Other services not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel information:
- Visit UNESCO inscribed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
- Visit Elsen Tasarkhai, also known as Little Gobi which is an area with patches of sand dunes in the middle of the grasslands
- Visit Mongolian ancient capital city Karakorum
- Visit Mongolian biggest waterfall
- Relax at Tsenkher hot springs
- Visit Ugii lake which is freshwater lake among the mountain steppes and grassy lands of central Mongolia.
Day 1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the bustling capital of Mongolia. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. After settling into your room, meet your guide in the lobby for a walking city tour to the main square and nearby museums. Then attend an evening show of traditional performances followed by a welcome dinner.
- D
- Hotel
Day 2 Stay with local family at Little Gobi
Drive about 300 km west from the city to Elsen Tasarkhai, which is an area with a stretch of sand dunes located in the middle of the grasslands. Here you will stay overnight with a local herder family and learn about the Mongolian traditional culture and nomadic lifestyle. If you want, two-humped camel or horse riding can be arranged. This evening, spend time with the family learning about their daily chores such as animal milking, livestock tending, and cooking traditional food. This evening you will stay in a ger, which is the round-shaped Mongolian traditional felt dwelling.
- B.L.D
- Local family
- 300 km
Day 3 Drive to Orkhon waterfall via Kharkhorin town
After breakfast, drive towards Orkhon waterfall, the largest waterfall in Mongolia. On the way, stopover at Kharkhorin, which is a recent town named after the capital of the Mongol Empire that once was situated adjacent here during the 13th century. The main attraction here is the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery center named Erdene Zuu which was constructed in 1585 from the ruins of the ancient Mongol capital. There is also a historical museum worth a visit, displaying artifacts and a miniature model of how the old Mongol capital once looked during its peak. This region is part of the UNESCO inscribed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site. Stay overnight at a tourist ger camp.
- B.L.D
- Ger camp
- 230 km
Day 4 Drive to hot spring
Drive towards Mongolia’s most popular hot spring via Tuwkhun monastery, one of Mongolia’s oldest and most important monasteries. It was first established in 1648 by the 14-year-old Zanabazar, the first Jebtsundamba, who was the head of Mongolia’s Tibetan Buddhism. Zanabazar was a very influential religious figure who was a gifted artist and teacher. He used the monastery, secluded in a forest, as his personal retreat over the course of 30 years. It was here, where he created many of his most famous works including the development of the Soyombo script. Stay overnight at a tourist ger camp located near the hot spring. The camp has a small pool where you can relax in the natural hot spring water.
- B.L.D
- Ger camp
- 130 km
Day 5 Drive to Ugii Lake
The Ugii Lake is a freshwater lake designated as a Ramsar site, known for its fish and birdlife. It is a stopover spot for migrating waterbirds of the Anatidae family.
- B.L.D
- Ger camp
- 125 km
Day 6 Return to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, start the 320 km drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to the hotel upon arriving and meet-up for farewell dinner.
- B.L.D
- Hotel
- 320 km
Day 7 Departure
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
- B
Gallery
