Itinerary name: GOBI + KHUVSGUL + TERELJ Area: Southern, Central and Northern Mongolia Potential dates: from June to September Duration: 17 days/16 night Daily mileage: 200 - 250 KM on flat to gently rolling terrain Total distance: KM Sights: National Park Gobi Gurvan Saikhan - Natural beauty Yolyn Am - Sand dunes Khongor - dinosaur site Bayanzag - Ongi monastery ruins - Karakorum ancient capital - Natural beauty Elsen Tasarkhai - Khustai National Park - Lake Khuvsgul - Gorkhi-Terelj National Park Activities: Camel riding, Gobi precious stones, climbing in dunes, hiking, off road, visit to nomadic families, horse riding etc. Price: from 1210 USD p.p
 The Gobi desert tours bring a country to life for many people who have enjoyed television programs, documentaries, films and books about Gobi desert. Gobi travel encompasses a number of travel styles, from escorted Gobi tours via jeep to a Gobi oasis or even a camel trekking in Inner Gobi. Vacations ALPHA TEAM tours – Mongolia offers all types of Gobi vacations. In fact, many of our escorted Gobi tours include a jeep tour on the ground of semi desert in addition to see famous dinosaur sites segment. Imagine yourself on one of our Gobi tours, standing in front of the Flaming Cliffs as it gazes across the Gobi desert. Once a huge inland sea, this area held some of the best fossil finds the world has known. Relaxed walking tour to the steep sided Eagle Valley Canyon and sees the Gobi Glacier. Drive to Khongor Els and walk on the towering sand dunes. Khuvsgul Lake - Most popular tourist site. About midway along border between Siberian Russia and Mongolia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110km long and almost 40km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth-Lake Khusgul. On the merits of magnitude alone the lake is renowned as one of the earth's one of the most impressive natural wonders. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park was created in 1993 and it offers great opportunities for hiking, horse-riding, rafting and rock climbing. Terelj is a spectacular valley with high rock formations, pine – covered mountains and grasslands carpeted with wildflowers and edelweiss. Horseback riding in Gorkhi-Terelj is a must do! Horseback riding trails near and through the Tuul River and Gorkhi river areas. No matter what your experience level, a horseback ride through the Tuul River will give you lasting memories. Choose from a variety of guided horseback riding tours from 4 hour, half-day and full-day horse rentals. Riding instruction is also available.
Day1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar city either by train or plane. We will pick you up and transfer to the hotel.
Ulaanbaatar city tour: Listen to expert narration from your friendly tour guide as you enjoy all the major city sights. Ride in a local vehicle as you listen to this tour extraordinaire provide smart, interesting & engaging commentary of best sights!
- Check out Sukhbaatar Square, Museum of National History, & more on our downtown Ulaanbaatar City Tour. - Listen to expert narration as your knowledgeable guide discusses interesting highlights of UB and more. - Enjoy a delicious nomads’ traditional lunch - Enjoy a guided, 1 hour tour of Gandantegchilen Main Monastery Complex with grand Megjidjanraisag Buddha statue & more. - Shopping! Do you love high fashion at bargain prices? You will have chance to buy famous Mongolian cashmere products with 3% discount. - Welcome to Folk Music concert, listen to Khuumii and see to shamanism ritual dance. - Take home a CD-ROM filled with many photos to show family & friends! - Pick up and return from midtown Ulaanbaatar hotels included.
Day2. Fly to Gobi desert (1.5 hours), Yolyn Am. (220 km)
Early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a 90 minute flight to the South Gobi . Our staff will pick you up at the local air strip and, after breakfast, you will be driven to the 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. You 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!
Day3. Drive to Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes. (200 km) Today we drive to Khongor sand dunes that extend along the northern side of Sevrei and Zoolun mountain ranges for 180 km, explore the area, climbing up the Singing Dunes. They extend for 185 kilometers and include dunes that can reach 20 meters in height. The sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar, and when it occurs, it is said that it can be mistaken for the sound of an aero plane. Hence their name is 'singing sands', or 'musical sands'. Near Hongor Gol (Hongor River) at the northern edge of the dunes, there is an oasis.
Day4. Camel riding and Bayanzag. (140 KM)Today we will enjoy some travel activities of Gobi desert. The two-humped camels are very comfortable to ride, as they walk slowly and gently and we will be well supported by the humps, sitting comfortably between them. Our camel man will take us to the sand-dunes. Visit to Nomads Family. Interaction with local nomads. According to Mongolian tradition, the women do the milking of the goats, cows and horses whilst the men hunt for marmot Get involved as you chose! After lunch, continue the drive towards 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. American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews named this place as “End of the World”. As scientists defined it was an inland sea bottom some 200 million years ago. There, we will visit local dinosaur ger museum. The Flaming Cliffs themselves are very imposing from a distance, and are particularly fiery in the light of the setting sun, and it is an interesting place to wander about to get a closer look at one of the world’s most famous paleontological sites. Day5. Ongi Monastery ruins. (140 KM)After breakfast, we will head to Saikhan Ovoo, a small village in the Middle Gobi province. During the way visit the mountainside remains of the Ongiin Monastery, which now has a small number of novices after years of turmoil. There we will enjoy the peace and beauty of the Delger Khangai Mountains. We will explore the ruins of of Ongi Monastery. Day6. Karakorum. (240 KM)Drive to historical city Kharakhorum, was the main administration capital city of Great 13th century Mongolian Empire and named ‘Silk Road’ by westerns, bridged Asia and European countries, like Greece & Rome once were the biggest cities in the World. Also, you will see & explore there a monastery named ‘Erdene Zuu’, which built as the first Mongolian Buddhist monastery by Abtai Sain Khaan (a Mongolian King) in 1587. Also, you will see phallic rock near from Karakorum. Karakorum - The state of Mongols in the 13th century was among the most powerful of all in the world. Center of the empire was Karakorum city until Khuvilai Khaan decided to move his capital to Dadu or Beijing. After collapsing of Yuan dynasty Min state’s invaders sacked the city and massacred its inhabitants in 1388 and ruined it. There we will see Great Impreial Maps and phallica rock and Erdene Zuu monastery complex etc historical sightseeing. Day7. National Park Mountain Khugnu Khaan, natural beauty Elsen Tasarkhai (90km)After breakfast we will drive to natural beauty of central Mongolia, Elsen Tasarkhai and Khungu Khaan historical mountains. After arrive there you will have free time and hiking around the small and picturesque sand dunes. Our lunch will be in pic nic and after noon we will be reached in the city. Transfer to your accommodation. Free time for making shopping and others. Our today s destination is Piece of the sand, in the territory of the central part Mongolia, a 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. Surroundings nature scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. We will stop for lunch along the way. Day8. National Park Khustai Nuruu and wild horses. (250 km)After breakfast, we will head out west. The drive takes about 3 hours until we reach Khustai National Park where re-introduction of the wild Przewalski horses has taken place since 1992. After we would have camped, we have lunch. The afternoon will be spent at leisure hiking in the surrounding mountains with an evening visit to the wild horses while they come to drink in the evening. In the evening, we will visit to local real nomadic family and will have nice experience with them! As well, you will enjoy Mongolian silent country and nomads' daily life. Day9. Back to Ulaanbaatar – Shopping (optional). (90 km)
On arrival in UB, you will be transferred to your hostel. Today is for your rest. You need to take pause from long drive. In next days, you will be in a long drive. Day10. Fly to Murun (1.5 hrs) – Drive to Lake Khuvsgul. (120 km)After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport for a flight to Murun, provincial center of Khuvsgul. After lunch at local restaurant, you will drive to Lake Khuvsgul which is the deepest fresh water lake in Central Asia . It has the same geomorphologic & 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’. For rest of the day, you will be sightseeing & walking around the lake. Day11. Horse riding a short distance in a beautiful green meadow.Breakfast. Today you will be riding in a mountain, right side of the lake. Surrounding nature is very cool! You will see this beautiful nature spirit and visit nomads’ family and interact with those nomads. Day12. Visiting reindeer herders’ family – Riding on reindeer back.Today, you will visit a reindeer herders’ family. You will see & enjoy specific lifestyle of those ‘society isolated’ people. You will see & explore Shaman related items. Then, you can try riding on reindeer back if you want. Day13. Hiking in a coniferous forested mountain (about 10 km round).Breakfast. Today you will hike in most beautiful forested mountain, which is next to the Lake Khuvsgul . This is a branch of Khoridol Saridag Mountains Range , one of the highest mountains (approximately 3351 meter above sea level). 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. Day14. Boating on the lake Khuvsgul - Drive back to Murun (120 km).Breakfast. You will spend this noon by boating on this beautiful lake. After lunch, you will be driven to Murun for a flight to UB. Day15. Chinggis Khaan's Grand Statue and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. (160 km) After breakfast, we will visit in in Mongolian free market which is allow us to buy various traditional (not for souvenir) products made by Mongolian people. Then we will be drive to Tsonjin Boldog National Resorts which is attracted by Chinggis Khaan’s Grand statue. We will be on the back of horse of the statue by evelbator and see picturesque open valley with River Tuul. Then we will drive to Gorkhi-Terelj National park and there we will have special respectful feast dinner “Khorkhog”. It is mutton and large chunks of vegetable cooked in a metal pot with hot stones from a flaming fire. You will be intrigued to see what is done to the rocks after the meal is served! Day16. Mongolia horseback riding /B,L,D/ After breakfast, you will help head the migration and will ride in the mountains and valleys on horseback for 10-15 km. You will be impressed at the strength of these small but sturdy Mongolian horses. (You will be accompanied by local horsemen, your guide.) In the night you can see sharp stars in clear sky of Mongolia. As well, you will enjoy Mongolian silent country and nomads' daily life. Day17. International departure. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station or international airport for your international departure. Price range: Luxurious Arrangement
2260 USD p.p (based on 2pax) 1990 USD p.p (based on 3pax) 1850 USD p.p (based on 4pax) 1770 USD p.p (based on 5pax) 1720 USD p.p (based on 6pax)
Up from 6pax please see our group service | Price included: # Ulaanbaatar city tour
# accommodation in Ulaanbaatar city (twin share room of three star hotel) # accommodations in countryside (tourist camp) # land transportation within country (Japanese or Russian minivan) and fuel cost # food service (three meals in a day) # guide service (English Speaking) # all costs of sightseeing in countryside # entrance tickets for National Pars and Government charges # horse or camel hire where specified # support staff including horse/camel men and camp assistants # pick up and drop off services # mineral water
Price not included: # international transportation #travel insurance, visas, departure tax # alcoholic drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature # tips for staffs | Budget Arrangement
1650 USD p.p (based on 2pax) 1430 USD p.p (based on 3pax) 1320 USD p.p (based on 4pax) 1250 USD p.p (based on 5pax) 1210 USD p.p (based on 6pax)
Up from 6pax please see our group service | Price included:
# accommodation in Ulaanbaatar city (Separate room) # accommodation in countryside (ger of local guesthouse) # land transportation within country (Japanese or Russian minivan) and fuel cost # guide service (English speaking) # all costs of sightseeing in countryside # entrance tickets for National Pars and Government charges # horse or camel hire where specified # support staff including horse/camel men and camp assistants # pick up and drop off services # mineral water # domestic flight if have
Price not included: # international transportation # city tour of Ulaanbaatar # food service # travel insurance, visas, departure tax # alcoholic drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature # tips for staffs |
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