Itinerary name: START FROM ALTANBULAG END IN ULAANBAATAR
Area: Central Mongolia and Gobi desert
Potential dates: from Apr. to Sept.
Duration: 8 days
Difficulty: Easy - moderate (No experience necessary. The trip suitable for most ages and abilities)
Total distance: driving: 1460 km, flight 1.3 hours
Sights: Amarbayasgalant monastery, Extinct Volcano Uran, Lake Ugii, Kultegen and Bilge Khaan's Legendary Monuments, Karakorum, Ongi monastery ruins, Bayanzag, Khongoriin Els, Yolyn Am and more...
Activities: horseback riding, hiking, camel riding, visit to nomadic families etc.
Price: from 412 USD p.p 
 

Day1. Arrive in Altanbulag, Amarbayasgalant monastery
pick you up at Altanbulag - breakfast time - drive to Amarbayasgalant monastery /105 km/ - lunch time - visit to Amarbayasgalant monastery - dinner - free time - overnight around Amarbayasgalant monastery

Amarbayasgalant monastery. 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.

Day2. Extinct Volcano Uran
breakfast time - drive to Extinct Volcano Uran /265 km/ - lunch time - climb up to and hike around Uran - dinner time - horseback riding /2 hours/ - visit to nomadic family - overnight around Uran

Extinct Volcano Uran. It is a dormant volcano and its surrounding is very beautiful.

Mongols are historically a nomadic people, and thus many of their cultural symbols reflect nomadic life. The horse is probably the most central part of Mongolian culture. Mongols love horses, riding them for transportation in the villages, using them for farming, racing them for fun, and eating them for celebrations. Many Mongols own horses and keep pictures of them in their houses or offices. Our excellent horseback-riding program is tailored to your experience level from the beginner to the intermediate and advanced.

En route, we will visit to nomadic family have lunch at the nomads’ ger. Enjoy the joyful atmosphere and learn the clever nomads' way of life by taking every chance of taking part in the nomadic life activities like a nomad. Experience the milking cows, goats and sheep. Watch how they produce tasty and nutritious dairy products.

Day3. Lake Ugii & Karakorum
breakfast time - drive to Lake Ugii /120 km/ - lunch time - drive to Kultegen and Bilge Khaan's Legendary Monuments /40 km/ - visit to the site - drive to Karakorum /68 km/ - see Great Imperial Map - lunch time - visit to Erdene Zuu monastery complex and its turtle rocks - dinner - free time - overnight in Kharkhorin

Lake Ugii is nearest lake to Ulaanbaatar capital city. It is also called a paradise for fishers and located in the territory of Arkhangai province, the central part Mongolia.  Tough this small lake covers area of only 61 km.sq, it is the main destination for fishers and boating adventurers. If you want we can do some boating experience and fishing there!

Kultegen and Bilge Khaan's Legendary Monuments which is belong to Turkish culture of VIII century.

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.

Day4. Ongi monastery ruins
breakfast time - drive to Ongi monastery ruins /250 km/ - lunch time - visit to Ongi monastery ruins - dinner time - free time - overnight around Ongi monastery ruins

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.

Day5. Bayanzag
breakfast time - drive to Bayanzag /180 km/ - lunch time - ride camel - dinner time - hike around Ulaan Ereg (Flaming Cliffs) - overnight around Bayanzag

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. Before reach in Bayanzag, we will see Gobi precious stone market. It is really interesting. 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. 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. Also, we will visit local dinosaur ger museum.

Day6. Khongoriin Els
breakfast time - drive to Khongoriin Els (Sand dunes Khongor) /120 km/ - lunch time - free time - dinner time - climb up to the sand dunes and hike around it - overnight around Sand dunes.

After dinner time, we will explore the area, climbing one of the dunes affords the energetic traveler with an unforgettable experience of endless vistas across a sea of daffodil-colored sand. The dunes extend for 185 kilometers and include dunes that can reach 80 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 Khongor Gol (River Khongor) at the northern edge of the dunes, there is an oasis.

Day7. Yolyn Am
breakfast time - drive to Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley) /280 km/ - lunch time - hike through Valley - dinner time - free time - overnight around Yolyn Am

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 ride Mongolian horse in this narrow green valley. It will be great experience for you. You will ride horses 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! Also, we will visit to local small museum of Yolyn Am.

Day8. Ulaanbaatar
breakfast time - drive to local airfield of Dalanzadgad /30 km/ - fly to Ulaanbaatar /1.3 hours/ - transfer you to your accommodation - end

Price range:

Gallery of the itinerary: 

Amarbayasgalant monastery


Amarbayasgalat monastery

Extinct Volcano Uran

 Wall of Erdene Zuu Monastery Complex

Bayanzag

Camels at Bayanzag

Khongor River and Khongor Sand dunes

A camel at Sand dunes Khongor

Yol bird

In Gobi, in August, some ice in Yolyn Am, It is miracle.

Yolyn Am Valley, It is narrow and very picturesque

Gobi road