Travel through most attractive tourist destinations in central & northern Mongolia. These destinations and attractions include a historical town Karakorum which was main administrative and merchant location of the historical Mongolian empires, Region of volcano Khorgo and Lake Terkhiin tsagaan (White Lake), and Lake Khuvsgul and its beautiful surrounding nature scenes. The far north of Mongolia is an area renowned for its high mountains covered in thick taiga forest, crystal clear lakes, rivers teaming with taimen and lennock and lush green open valleys. Right at the tip of northern Mongolia is Lake Khuvsgul which lies within the bounds of National Park Khuvsgul. This lake is sacred to all Mongolians and is known as the 'mother' or the 'sea'. To the north-west of the lake live the Khuvsgul-Tuvan minority group, more commonly known as the Tsaatan people or Reindeer people. These people use reindeer for transporting supplies, riding and milking and have done so for centuries.

Other important destinations, attractions & events related to your tour include Piece of sand & historical mount Khognokhaan, ancient monasteries Erdenezuu & Amarbayasgalant, legendary rock Taikhar, volcanoes Uran & Togoo and sightseeing tour in Ulaanbaatar (UB) the capital city of Mongolia.

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar city either by train or plane. We will pick you up and transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast, we will head out to the west out of UB. En route, will pass rolling hills and vast plains in central Mongolia. On arrival, stay at tourist camp ‘Khognokhaan’. After lunch, we will travel to historical mountain Khognokhaan where an Oirat‘s western Mongolian senseless military ruler gelded some lamas (Buddhist monks) during Mongolian tribes’ internal war in the 17th century. This rocky mountain is home to hundreds of birds, deer, and gazelle. You will be free to do whatever you wish in the afternoon, but you could go hiking in the mountains or ride to the "Piece of Sand" sand-dunes on the nearby steppe. There are also two ruined monasteries around the mountain to discover. Surroundings’ nature scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. 

Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia where today there is a small local township. On arrival you will notice the first and most obvious landmark which is the massive wall of monastery Erdenezuu. The monastery was built in 1586 by a well-known Mongolian king called Abtai Sain Khaan, and is surrounded by a vast 400m wall. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the ornate temples, only a few of which remain standing after the communist purges. In previous times the grounds held over 60 temples with 10,000 monks using them for their daily worship. After lunch, continue the drive to valley of Tsagaan Sum.

Passing through the provincial centre Tsetserleg, you will get legendary rock Taikhar which stands not far from the Tsetserleg. The rock is a steep-sided, 25 meters high pinnacle of granite which rises abruptly from the flat grassland in the basin of River Tamir. Continue the drive to White Lake. It is the top attraction for your tour! En route, we enjoy gorge of River Chuluut and a hundred branch tree.

Volcano Khorgo erupted in the Quaternary Period and Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan was penetrated by lava that came into it from the eruption. Result of this meeting has created a truly incredible landscape which is matched by the fascinating extinct volcano craters which have produced a number of rock formations and huge gorges with fast flowing rivers and cascades. The Lake Terkhiin White, where once-active the volcanoes have formed some beautiful terrain suitable for hiking. Today we will be hiking to volcano Khorgo and climbing up to top of the volcano.

Continue the drive north towards Lake Khuvsgul. This is a long driving day through mountain range Khangai. You will come to a mountainous valley with forest and a River. We offer you a packed lunch. On the way you will have an opportunity to visit nomadic families of this remote area. We will set up a base camp. 

Today we will continue driving to Lake Khuvsgul. En route, we visit a local family, grasping a glimpse of the daily nomadic life style. Will arrive in Moron the center of the province in the late afternoon. Over night at a Ger camp Moron.

Arrive at Lake Khuvsgul which is the deepest fresh water lake in Central Asia. It has the same morphological & ecological origin as Lake Baikal in Russia and constitutes over 1% of the world’s total surface water. Tourists call it the ‘Switzerland of Mongolia’. Rest of the day, you will go on a sightseeing.

Early morning, we will boat to an island in middle of the lake with joined other passengers and back to the tourist camp in the afternoon. Rest of the day is for your relax.

Early morning, will drive toward the north for reindeer. On reaching in a foothill of pass Janhai, we visit a reindeer herders’ family. Then, you will be introduced into specific lifestyle of this nation’s minority and especially you will see & enjoy performance of their religion ‘Shaman’. Back to Khangarid for night.

You will hike over a beautiful forested mount next to the Lake Khuvsgul. It takes 3 hours. This mount is a branch of Khoridol Saridag Mountains Range, one of the highest mountains (approximately 3351 meter above sea level). Your tour-support vehicle will be accompanying you and packed lunch will be available. While traveling in a green meadow, you can pick some natural wild fruits such as wild strawberry, currant, gooseberry, red bilberry, bog bilberry and etc. Probably, you will see many kinds of wild rare & rarely animals also, such grazing deer, ibex, gazelle or any kinds of birds. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a traditional Mongolian meal ‘Khorhog’ which is made from large chunks of meat and vegetables, ‘pressure cooked’ using hot rocks. You don’t have to eat the rocks but you might be interested to see what is done with them after the meal is cooked! Also, you can spend rest of the day in ownself, by swimming or walking a short distance.

Passing through Moron, we will continue the tour to volcano Uran. It is a dormant volcano and its surrounding is very beautiful. We will set up a base camp.

Drive to a famous monastery Amarbayasgalant. After having a packed lunch, we walk around the monastery which is the second most important monastery in Mongolia after Erdene Zuu, and was built by Zanabazar in the 18th century. It was badly damaged during the religious purges of the 1930s but restoration work has brought the monastery back to something like its former glory. The area around the monastery is justly famous for its beautiful wild flowers and is a lovely place to spend some time relaxing, hiking and camping. We will set up a base camp.

We head back to Ulaanbaatar via Darkhan city which is the capital city of Darkhan Uul province, and is Mongolia's second largest city, with a population of 90000 residents. The modern city of Darkhan, with foundations which were laid in 1967, is one of the Mongolia's largest industrial centres and has many functioning steel processing factories. Once back in UB you will be transferred to your hotel. Shopping optional.

 

 

 

May and Chun at Elsen Tasarkhai

 Wall of Erdene Zuu Monastery Complex

Erdene Zuu monastery wall

 

Phallic rock at Karakorum

 

 

 

Extinct Volcano Khorgo


Oxes in Khorgo-Terkh


Terkhiin Tsagaan nuur


River Canyon Chuluutyn Khavtsal

 

 Buying something from locals at Tsetserleg town