| TRIP TO GOBI DESERT + NAADAM FESTIVAL + KHUSTAI |
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| Friday, 22 April 2011 22:53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Itinerary name: TRIP TO GOBI DESERT + NAADAM FESTIVAL + KHUSTAI Area: Central Mongolia and Gobi desert Dates: 05 July - 13 July Length: 9 days Difficulty: easier - moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities) Total distance: driving: 1200 km (580), flight: 1.3 hours Sights: Elsen Tasarkhai - Karakorum - Ongi - Bayanzag - Khongoryn els - Gobi Gurvan Saikhan: Yolyn Am - Dalanzadgad town, Khustai nuruu Activities: horseriding, visit to real nomadic family in Övörkhangai, hiking in Ulaan ereg, camel riding, climb up Sand dune, horse riding through narrow valley, participate Naadam festival in Ulaanbaatar: see opening ceremony, wrestling and archery competition and see horse racing in Khüi Doloon khudag, explore and search wild horses Takhi, horse riding in khustai Price: from 540 USD p.p  Gobi. In 1991, the United Nations designated the Gobi as the fourth largest biosphere reserve in the world. The Gobi is vast. It covers almost a third of Mongolia and though it is classified as a desert, it is not as lifeless as the first time visitor might reasonably expect. While it is an arid area of largely homogeneous scrubby steppe, it is dotted with camel breeders and some fascinating natural wonders. The Gobi consist of two distinct parts. There is Altai Gobi to the south and Dzungarian Gobi to north. Of the two, it is the south Gobi was provides the biggest draw for sightseers. The quickest way to get to the south Gobi fly to the aimag capital Dalanzadgad. Flaying is cheating, however and you do miss out on Dundgovi and watching the scenery change as you drive. Whichever way you travel Dalanzadgad is a gateway town with little to keep you there for long, particularly during the hot summer months. Day1. 05 July. Karakorum breakfast time - drive to Karakorum /350 km/ - see Great Imperial Map & phallic rock - lunch time - visit to Erdene Zuu monastery complex and its turtle rocks - dinner - free time - overnight around Kharkhorin 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. Day2. 06 July. Ongi monastery ruins breakfast time - drive to Ongi monastery ruins /250 km/ - on the way visit to nomadic family - lunch time - visit to Ongi monastery ruins - dinner time - free time - overnight around Ongi monastery ruins After breakfast time, we will head to Saikhan Ovoo sub-province of Dundgobi (middle Gobi) province. On the route we will see Mongolian great steppe changing its natural scenery to Gobi' semi desert. We will arrive in Ongi monastery ruins before lunch time. On the route we will visit real steppe nomadic family. Taste their drink Airag (horse milk). During the way visit the mountainside remains of the Ongiin Khiid, 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. Day3. 07 July. 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. Day4. 08 July. 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. Khongoryn Gol. 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. More... Day5. 09 July. Yolyn Am breakfast time - drive to Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley) /200 km/ - lunch time - horseback riding through Valley - see local museum - dinner time - free time - overnight around Yolyn Am Today we will drive to 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! Day6. 10 July. Fly to UB breakfast time → drive to Dalanzadgad town /80 km/ → lunch time → fly to Ulaanbaatar city /1.3 hours/ → transferred to your accommodation → free time Dalanzadgad is provincial center of Ömnögobi province. Day7. 11 July. Naadam festival Dating from the Genghis Khan era, the Naadam Festival is a showcase for traditional sporting events and a summer celebration enjoyed throughout Mongolia from 11-13 July. The most spectacular events for visitors take place at the National Stadium in Ulaanbataar where nomads compete in wrestling, archery and horsemanship. National Park Khustai where re-introduction of the wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky's horses) has taken place since 1992. Takhi is last wild horse subspecies surviving in the 21st century. It was discovered in western Mongolia in the late 1870s by the Russian explorer N.M. Przhevalsky. Several expeditions since 1969 have failed to find this horse, which probably crossed with half-wild domesticated horses and lost its distinct features. Specimens have been kept and bred in zoos, and Mongolia in the late 20th century attempted to reintroduce them into the wild. 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. 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.Day9. 13 July. Drive to Ulaanbaatar Price range: Our company offer 2 kind of prices based on customers' specific request and budget for the travel itinerary. Leave All Matters With Us! First one is standard arrangement and you will stay in 3 or 4 star tourist hotels in urban area and tourist camp in rural area and will be served 3 meals in a day and use Japanese Jeep etc. Save Your Money In Easy and Happy Way! About budget arrangement, it is good way to save your money. You will stay in local guest house or hostels and you will arrange your food yourself and will use Japanese minivan for driving. But you will see same things just like standard arrangement. Please carefully check what is include and what is not include in these prices!
- TGM able to book accommodation of Ulaanbaatar city and could do Ulaanbaatar city's City tour, if you interest in. - It is possible that mixture of tourist camps/local family/ger/guesthouse and based on your interests. - If you want to book this travel itinerary, please send us your email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call to our hot line (+976) 8810 1918. Gallery of the itinerary:  Elsen Tasarkhai and Mountain Khugnu Khaan  On the top of small sand dunes of Elsen tasarkhai  Erdene Zuu wall, Karakorum  Kharkhorin village  Erdene Zuu monastery wall  Phallic rock at Karakorum  Turtle Rock at Karakorum  Another (bigger) turtle Rock at Karakorum  A photo shooter taking photo of Ongi monastery ruins   Ongi steppe  Bayanzag  Camels at Bayanzag  Hose and Maria walking on the Sand dunes Khongor  Our guide and Hong Kong traveler at Sand dunes Khongor  Cow skull and camels in Khongor  Khongor River and Khongor Sand dunes  Hello? Is there someone?  A camel at Sand dunes Khongor
 Gobi road
 Opening ceremony of Naadam festival at Main statium of Ulaanbaatar  Opening ceremony of Naadam festival at Main statium of Ulaanbaatar  Our guide Jagaa in National Park Khustai  Wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky's horses)  Mike with Takhis  Takhi, wild horses |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 24 April 2011 00:59 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
