| WEST MONGOLIA + LAKE KHUVSGUL + CENTRAL MONGOLIA + GOBI |
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| Thursday, 12 March 2009 00:50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Itinerary name: WEST MONGOLIA + LAKE KHUVSGUL + CENTRAL MONGOLIA + GOBI Area: Western Mongolia - National park Altai Tavan Bogd, Northern Mongolia - Khövsgöl nuur, Central Mongolia - Khorgo-Terkh, Gobi desert Potential dates: From Jun. to Sept. Duration: 23 days Difficulty: moderate (need some experience necessary. The trip suitable for 20-50) Total distance: driving: 3540 km (+1710+580), flight: 3 + 1.3 hours Sights: Mountain Shiveet Khairkhan, National Park Altai Tavan Bogd, Potanin's Glacier, Tolbo nuur, Khoid Tsenkeriin agui, Khar-Us nuur, Khyargas nuur, Bayan nuur, Tunamal nuur, Uushigiin Uvriin bugan chuluun khushuu, Khövsgöl nuur, Orookhyn davaa, Terkhiin Tsagaan nuur, Khorgo, Chuluutyn khavtsal, Taikhar chuluu, Tsagaan davaa, Bulgan uul, Karakorum, Ongiin khiid, Bayanzag, Khongoriin els, Yolyn Am and more... Activities: horseback riding, visit to Kazakh nomadic family, hiking, mountain climbing, bird watching, visit to nomadic families, off road, camel riding, mountain climbing, flower watching, reindeer herder family visit and more... Price: from 1060 USD p.p  Pick you up from your accommodation → transferred to Chinggis Khaan airport → fly to Ölgii /3 hours/ → visit to local museum → visit to local food market → overnight around Ölgii town. Ölgii is provincial center of Bayan-Ölgii province. Day2. Altai Tavan Bogd and horseback riding breakfast time → drive to Mountain Shiveet Khairkhan /170 km/ → lunch time → prepare our luggage for the next 3 day-trekking trip to Altai peaks → dinner time → visit to Khazakh nomadic family → overnight around Mountain Shiveet Khairkhan /tent/ Shiveet Khairkhan mountain is the most near place to the high peaks of Mountain Range Mongol Altai reachable by the car. National Park Altai Tavan Bogd. The name Altai comes from the Turkish word Ala-Tau, which means red mountain. Altai is a braid that intertwines high mountain ranges of incomparable beauty alternating moorlands, gorges, rivers and valleys sprinkled with small towns rich with culture and old traditions. The Altai Mountains is recognized as the one of the huge long range that forms a chain of unbroken highlands in Central Asia. In Mongolia, Altai extends up to 2000 km and is one of the most popular natural wonder in the country, attracting thousands of visitors every year, from all around the world. There are pristine lakes and rivers, glacier parks, snow-capped peaks, and green mountain forests. The Mongol Altai mountain range is a paradise for nature as well as adventure sports lovers. It offers many opportunities for all types of outdoor activities such as trekking, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and cave exploration. The mountain range boasts of unimaginable natural beauty that you will cherish for the rest of your life. The indigenous Kazakhs still farm the rural highlands like their ancestors did and wear colorful traditional clothing. The Kazakhs live in surrounded with ornaments. They richly decorate their yurts with wall carpets and multicolored embroideries. Kazakhs are also very proud of their mountains, rare animals such as snow leopards, eagles, and falcons (a large eagle appears on the Kazakh flag under a rising sun), and their national instrument, the dombra, a two-stringed instrument with a thin neck and potbelly base, resembling a guitar. more... Day3. Potanin's Glacier and horseback riding Day8. Khoid Tsenkheriin Agui breakfast time → drive to Khoid Tsenkheriin agui /85 km/ → climb up and explore to Khoid Tsenkheriin agui → lunch time → drive to Khar nuur /210 km/→ dinner time → free time → overnight around Khar nuur /tent/ Khoid Tsenkher (Mongolia for 'North Light-Blue') is a cave in Mongolia famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings featuring drawings and polychrome rock paintings of wild mammals and human hands. The Cave is located about 30 km from center of Mankhan sum (sub-province), about 80 km from center of Khovd aimag (province), Mongolia. This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on August 1, 1996 in the Cultural category. The cave at Khoid Tsenkher, contains many figures and most of the major images have been painted onto the walls using mineral pigments (red and yellow ochre, hematite, manganese oxide and charcoal), although some designs have also been incised into the stone. The most famous section of the cave is Second hall where mammoths, ostriches, kannada antelopes are depicted. Additionally, the animals appear to be in motion. Scientists believe age of drawings of the Cave is approximately 40000 years old. Day9. Khyargas nuur and bird watching breakfast time → drive to National Park Lake Khyargas nuur /300 km/ → lunch time → continue driving to Khyargas nuur → dinner time → hike around Khetsuu Khad natural wonder → watching birds → overnight around Khetsuu Khad Lake Khyargas, the one of the largest lake in Mongolia, is one of the top attraction in Western Mongolia. Another smaller Lake Khyargas, which contains saltwater, covers an area over 146.8 sq km, has a length of some 75 km, width is about 31 km and reaches a depth of about 40-50 m. The Lake fed by River Zavkhan gol and other smaller Rivers via Airag, nearly located smaller fresh-watered lake. The Lake and its surrounding area was proclaimed as National Park and established in 2000 and covers about 3,328 sq km. It also includes a freshwater lake Airag nuur. The basic attraction of the Lake is Khetsuu Khad (Hard Rock), an enormous rock sticking out of the water that attracts migratory cormorant birds. The birds arrive in April and hatch their young in large nests built on the rock. When the chicks hatch, their squawking is constant and deafening. The aura created by the white cliffs and shrill birds makes you feel as if you’ve arrived at the ocean. By October the cormorants are off again, migrating back to their breeding grounds in southern China. Breakfast time → drive to Lake Tunamal nuur /345 km/ → lunch time → continue drive to Lake Tunamal nuur → dinner time → free time → overnight around Lake Tunamal nuur /tent/ This is a place situated in the North Mongolia close to the border with Russia. This is just a small part of a lovely, picturesque place in northern Mongolia called Tunamal nuur. This is an ideal spot for holiday makers. If you look for nature at its best or you like hike this is an ideal place to come. Day12. Mörön breakfast time → drive to Mörön town /150 km/ → lunch time → visit to local museum → dinner time → overnight in Mörön town Mörön is small town and provincial center of Khövsgöl province. Day13. Khövsgöl nuur breakfast time → drive to deer stone site Uushigiin övör /10 km/→ see deer stone sites of Huns period → drive to National Park Lake Khövsgöl Nuur /105 km/ → lunch time → cross Mountain Pass Jankhai /35 km/ → dinner time → free time → overnight in National Park Northern Mongolian travel boast two of Northern Mongolia's most impressive spots, Khövsgöl nuur and Darkhad depression. A slice of paradise right in our doorstep, Khuvsgul Lake N.P offers a kaleidoscope of attractions and activities. Once you step afoot the shore of the huge lake , be mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the lush greenery asps pine arch black forest, with exciting attractions that will certainly blow you away! It’s a themed attraction, Siberian resort, Nature Park and heritage centre all rolled into one! more... Day14. Khövsgöl nuur breakfast time → horseback riding → lunch time → visit to reindeer herder family → dinner time → drive to Khatgal village /35 km/ → overnight in Khatgal village 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. Day15. Jargal village and Valley Toin gol breakfast time → drive to Mörön town /105 km/ → lunch time → drive to Jargal village /161 km/ → dinner time → hot spa → free time → overnight in Valley Toin gol Day16. Khorgo-Terkh breakfast time → drive to National Park Khorgo-Terkh /90 km/ → see picturesque Mountain pass Orookh → lunch time → horseback riding → climb up to Extinct Volcano Khorgo → dinner time → overnight in the National Park. This large placid lake is ringed by sandy beaches. There are a number of ger camps and hotels around the like, but camping is also very easy because of the sheer quantity of ideal sites to pitch up. The lake lends itself to swimming and is reputedly good for fishing, but the fish here are harder to catch than in other areas. The lake has volcanic origins, something that is easy to figure out by the trail of solidified lava formations leading from the lake to nearby Khorgo Uul volcano. The volcano is worth climbing if only to walk around the crater it is easy to hire a horse and ride it up the volcano, which also gives you chance to visit of the more interesting lava formations on your way, or cars can be driven almost to the visit almost to the to the summit. Khorgo volcano is a dead volcano covered with basalt lying to the east of the lake Terkhiin Tsagaan in Arkhangai aimag. There are interesting bubbles of solidified lava, named “basalt ger” and it is possible to visit yak herders in this area. Day17. Tsetserleg breakfast time → drive to Tsetserleg town /165 km/ → see picturesque River Canyon Chuluutyn Khavtsal (Canyon of Rocks) → contunue drive to Null Rock Taikhar chuluu → lunch time → continue drive to Tsetserleg town → visit to local food market → take rest & free time → dinner time → overnight in Tsetserleg town Travel due west from Ulaanbaatar and you are very likely to find yourself in the small town of Tsetserleg. The town comes alive every Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) when the whole town takes part in a candlelit climb up the holy mountain of Bulgan Uul that towers over the town. The town is refreshingly pollution free and picturesquely situated among several peaks making it a good place to overnight on your way. Day18. Karakorum breakfast time → drive to Karakorum /120 km/ → lunch time → see Great Imperial Map → visit to Erdene Zuu monastery complex and its turtle rocks → dinner → free time → overnight in 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. Day19. 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 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. Day20. 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. Day21. 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... Day22. Yol Valley breakfast time → drive to Yolyn Am /220 km/ → lunch time → visit to local museum → hike along Gorge Yolyn Am → dinner time → drive to Dalanzadgad /40 km/ → overnight around Dalanzadgad After lunch time we will explore 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. Day23. Fly to UB breakfast time → drive to Dalanzadgad town & its airfield /40 km/ → fly to Ulaanbaatar city /1.3 hours/ → transferred to your accommodation → end 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!
- The prices are changeable by changing components (kind of services) of the itinerary! - TGM able to book accommodation of Ulaanbaatar city and could do Ulaanbaatar city's City tour, if you interest in. - 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) 99601918. Gallery of the itinerary:  Kharkhorin town  Wall of Erdene Zuu Monastery Complex  Erdene Zuu monastery wall  Phallic rock at Karakorum  Turtle Rock at Karakorum  Another (bigger) turtle Rock at Karakorum  Countryside roads |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 11 March 2011 16:22 ) |
