Area: Southern and Central Mongolia

Travel through most attractive tourist destinations in south & central Mongolia. These destinations and attractions include Gobi Desert, the 4th largest biosphere reserve in the world, with its natural ecology and geographically unique landscape as well as its endemic & rare species of plants and animals. You will enjoy most beautiful valley (Yoliin Am) in the South Gobi, and will hike over the largest sand dunes (Khongoriin Els) in this northernmost part of the hemisphere, and spend some time with nomads who have lived in this territory for many thousands of years and have bred their livestock, especially camels, in the same nomadic way for all that time. Also, you will witness the paleontology sights (Bayanzag) where many ancient dinosaur fossils have been found in an area which, 130-200 million years ago was at the bottom of a sea.

Afterwards, you will vsiit Karakorum, a historical city which was the main administrative and merchant location of the historical Mongolian states, the historical valley of the River Orkhon. There, you will see & enjoy a nature beauty of this area, will visit an anicient famous monastery and get introduced into a specific lifestyle of real nomads. It is followed by drive to region of Volcano Khorgo and Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (White Lake). These places are very beautiful and famous with their various nature scences & landscapes. These 3 will be the main destinations of your tour.
Other important destinations, attractions & events related to your tour include visit ancient monasteries Ongi, Erdenezuu, have a relax day at hot spring of Tsenkher, and see rock Taikhar, boating & fishing (optional) on the Lake Ugii, a journey in Piece of Sand & historical mount Khognokhaan, and interaction with the nomads & horseriding, and sightseeing tour in Ulaanbaatar (UB) the capital city of Mongolia.

On arrival, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to a 3 star hotel. After lunch, we will have a sightseeing tour which includes winter palace & musuem of last king of Mongolia, monastery Gandan and temple of Megjid Janraiseg. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be held on honor of your visit at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning, you will be transferred to airport for a 90 minute flight to the South Gobi. We offer you packed foods for your breakfast. After arrival, drive to valley of Yolyn Am. The valley begins from Zuun Saikhan Mountain, a branch of the Gurvan Saikhan mountain system, and stretches over 10 km. It is completely shaded from the sun in some parts by high cliff walls. We will walk through the valley which is famous for the fact that there is ice present there even during the hot summer months. The beauty of the valley, combined with the sound of vultures (Yol means vulture, in Mongolian) creates an atmosphere of awe and wonder – this is an experience not to be missed! Drive to a tourist camp ‘Juulchin Gobi’ for lunch. After lunch, continue the drive to Sand Dunes of ‘Khongoriin Els’. The sand dunes, which stand 800 meters above sea level, continue for over 100 km, and are about 20 km wide, making them the largest distribution of sand dunes in Mongolia. Stay at tourist camp ‘Juulchin Gobi-2’. After dinner, there will be a sightseeing. Overnight at the same tourist camp.

After breakfast, we will hike a short distance over the sand dunes and you will be taken in the beauty of the surroundings. It takes about 2.5hrs. After lunch, we will drive to Bayanzag, a saxual forest and area of red cliffs “Bayanzag” which have been formed from the erosion of the sand and rock over many thousands of years. A lot of dinosaurs’ findings such as skeleton & dinosaur’ eggs have been found there. Lunch is followed by visit a camel breeders’ family and you will be their guests. You will get introduced into their daily living process and be served a traditional soup which made with jerked meat & processed-flour. You can ride on camel back, if you want. Overnight at tourist camp Bayanzag.

Enjoy the nomads’ daily morning activities. You can help them for some chores, if you want. After that, will continue the tour to Saikhan Ovoo, a small village in the middle of the Gobi. There you will enjoy the peace and beauty of the Delger Khangai Mountains. We will explore the ruins of of Monastery Ongi. Rest of the day is for relax. We will set up a base camp. Overnight at the camp.

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. Overnight at tourist camp Khaan Taij.

After breakfast, continue driving to hot spring of Tsenkher. Have a relaxed day taking a bath in the hot spring water. Stay over night in a Ger camp Tsenkheriin Jiguur.

Passing through provincial center Tsetserleg, we reach Rock Taikhar. This legendary rock is very famous in Mongolia and Mongolian people worship this rock when they pass nearby it. After lunch in this wilderness area, continue the drive to White Lake. It is the top attraction for your tour! En route, we see & enjoy Gorge of River Chuluut and a hundred branch tree. Overnight at tourist camp Tsagaan Nuur, on bank of the lake.

This lake is really brialliant. The landscape here is equally fascinating with extinct volcano craters producing various rock formations and huge gorges with fast flowing rivers and cascades. Terkhiin White Lake, where once-active 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. Overnight at the same tourist camp.

This lake is the top attraction for your tour and today you will spend full day on shore of the lake while having a break from the drive. In the afternoon, you will visit a nomads’s family in this northern Mongolia and you will be further integrated into the family’s lifestyle and will observe the milking of the cows and the making of the dairy products. We will ride horse a short distance. This beauful lake & its brilliant nature scenes will make you have a prefect satisfaction from the tour! Overnight at the same tourist camp.

Drive to provincial center Tsetserleg. On reaching the town we will visit the aimag museum, Zaya's monastery, and the local market. In downtown, we will see a statue of historical famous wrestler and you can take photo of this beautiful city. Lunch in a local restaurant is followed by drive to valley of Tsagaan Sum. Overnight at tourist camp of Tsagaan Sum.

Drive to lake Ugii. The scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. Lunch will be at local restaurant. It is followed by a boating on the lake. Overnight at tourist camp Ugii Dalai.

Today we will drive until we reach a place called ‘Piece of Sand’. This stretch of sand is a long strip that originates in the Gobi and stretches all the way into the central aimags of Mongolia. This mountain is perfect for some afternoon hiking and there are some remains of an ancient monastery that should be explored. Overnight at tourist camp Khognokhaan.

Drive to UB. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and afternoon is free to you. You may need to pack your luggage for your tomorrow’s return. Overnight at the same hotel.

One way domestic flight, transportation within Mongolia /Land Cruiser-3 people max/, twin accommodation in a 3 star hotel. Single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost. Tented accommodation in the field & tourist camps where specified, three meals a day, English-speaking guide, all sightseeing costs, riding hires where specified, boating cost, support staff including drivers, camp assistants, camping equipment related costs where specified, mineral water per day, and government taxes.