Are you dreaming the most wonderful and nicest trip? Then this tour is for you. Once in Gobi, visit the Vulture Gorge which has perhaps the only glacier in a desert in the world and the Flaming Cliffs where the first dinosaur bones were found. Traveling to Karakorum with 4WD off-roader, you will feel freedom of space and time, freedom on vast free land which exist nowhere else in the world. Erdene Zuu is one of the most glorious examples of the revival of the Buddhist religion in Mongolia, where the temples are slowly and lovingly being restored and are once again teaming with chanting monks. The Monastery lies near the town of Karakorum. Although little evidence remains of the great man himself, this was the site from where Genghis Khan launched his army, which eventually created the biggest empire the world has ever known. Such as chance to discover largest sand dune, dinosaur’s homeland, visit Erdene-Zuu Monastery, once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, the ancient capital at Karakorum and crystal clear Lake Khuvsgul at the beautiful Mount Horidol Saridag and the Tsaatan – Reindeer riders.
- Great journey through most famous parts of Gobi Desert including camel trek
- Discover Erdene Zuu, built from the rubble of Genghis Khan’s capital
- Orkhon Waterfall, home of yaks and visit to yak herder family
- Take rest and relax in open bath of Tsenkher Hot Spring under millions star
- Take a very scenic hike across a lava field of Khorgo Extinct Volcano and get to know a bunch of stuff about volcanoes and volcanic activity
- Discover Khuvsgul Lake on the horse back, one of nature’s miracles – Blue Pearl Of Asia
Length: 12 days
Area: Gobi, Central and Northern Mongolia
Tour type: Private Package Tours
Potential date and weather condition: from May to Sep, each year.
Difficulty: easier – moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities)
Prices
We offer 2 different type of tour arrangements for our customers.
Tourist ger camp arrangement
| 3280 USD for 1pax 2060 USD p.p for 2pax 1670 USD p.p for 3pax | 1480 USD p.p for 4pax 1390 USD p.p for 5pax 1330 USD p.p for 6pax |
| Included: 10 nights in tourist ger camp, 1 night in the camel herder family, food service, land transportation, English speaking guide service, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs, sleeping bag, mineral water, domestic flight drop off & pick up | Not included: one way domestic flights, gratuities for staffs, personal expenses (extra some drinks, souvenir buying, locals concerts etc), travel insurance Single supplement: 160 usd |
Local ger guesthouse arrangement
| 2750 USD for 1pax 1650 USD p.p for 2pax 1450 USD p.p for 3pax | |
| Included: 2 nights in tourist ger camp, 9 nights in local ger guesthouse, land transportation, English speaking guide service, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs, sleeping bag, domestic flight drop off & pick up | Not included: one way domestic flights, food service, gratuities for staffs, personal expenses (extra some drinks, souvenir buying, locals concerts etc), travel insurance |
Detailed itinerary of Discover Mongolia Tour
Day1. Fly to Gobi Desert & Yol Gorge
Day2. Khongor Sand Dune
Day3. Bayanzag
Day4. Ongi Monastery Ruin
Day5. Karakorum
Day6. Tuvkhun Temple & Orkhon Waterfall
Day7. Tsenkher Hot Spring
Day8. Khorgo-Terkh National Park
Day9. Shine-Ider sub-province
Day10. Khuvsgul Lake
Day11. Khuvsgul Lake
Day12. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar
Day1. Fly to Gobi Desert & Yol Gorge – natural museum
We will pick you up from your accommodation (pick up time will be confirmed after get domestic flight ticket) & transfer to the airport. Fly to Dalanzadgad town (1 hour flight). After you landed there, our local guide & driver will pick you up & will drive to Yol Gorge (50 km – 1 hour on the paved road). Yol means vulture in Mongolian and the gorge is located in Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range & stretches over 10 km. The narrowest part, only 3 or 4 person can pass in same time, of the valley is completely shaded from the direct sun shine by high cliff walls. Also, the valley is famous for the fact that there is ice created in winter by small stream of the valley present there even during the hot summer months until mid of Jul. We will do an hour hiking there & then also visit to the small natural museum. Overnight there.
Day2. Khongor Sand Dune – camel ride
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khongor Sand Dune (190 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). Khongor is biggest sand dune in the Gobi Desert that extend from 5 to 10 km in width, nearly 100 km long, with crests rising 80 to 300m above the surrounding landscape. The booming sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar when occurs windy day. Hence locals called it as Singing Sands. Near Khongor River at the northern edge of the dunes, there is an oasis. we will ride camels today to explore these massive sand-dunes and explore the area where climbing one of the dunes affords the energetic traveler with an unforgettable experience of endless vistas across a sea of daffodil-colored sand. Overnight there.
Day3. Bayanzag – famous dinosaur site
After breakfast time, we will drive to Bayanzag (150 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered this place and named as Flaming Cliffs. A lot of dinosaurs’ findings such as Protoceratops & dinosaur’ eggs have been found there in first time. The red colored cliffs themselves are very imposing from a distance, and are particularly fiery in the light of the setting sun. We will walk around the site. Overnight there.
Day4. Ongi Monastery Ruin
After breakfast time, we will drive to Ongi Monastery Ruin (155 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). It is the ruins of a Buddhist monastery founded in 1760 and destroyed in 1937 by communist purges. Located on the shore of the Ongi River, the monastery was formerly one of the largest monasteries in Gobi Desert. Raw violence of the destruction at the site was still visible, still palpable, even though it happened over years ago. We will hike to the ruins for visiting to local ger museum displayed survived objects of destroyed monastery and a small lovely and active Buddhist temple. Overnight there.
Day5. Nomadic family & Karakorum
After breakfast time, we will drive to a nomadic family (200 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). 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. Then we will drive to Karakorum (40 km – 1 hour mostly on the paved road). Karakorum, the capital of Great Mongolian State where today there is a small local township. After 200 years its sacked by Chinese, Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia and by various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. We will respectively visit to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum & other interesting historical sights there. Overnight there.
Day6. Tuvkhun Temple & Orkhon Waterfall
After breakfast time, we will drive to Tuvkhun Temple (110 km – 2 hours mostly on the paved road). The monastery is located on the peak of the densely forested and picturesque mountain Shiveet at the elevation of 2000m. Mongolian first bogd (head of the Buddhism) Zanabazar’s followers built the temple in 1653 for meditation and art studio purpose. There is several interesting things to see. Meditation caves, foot print of Zanabazar on the rock, first drawn version of soyombe, independence symbol, etc. We will hike from the bottom of the mountain to the top or the monastery (2 hours). After lunch time, we will drive to Orkhon Waterfall (60 km – 2 hours on the dirt road). Over 25 m high and 10 m wide Orkhon Waterfall is the biggest waterfall in the country and one of the most attractive destination in Orkhon River valley, UNISCO World heritage site. The surrounding areas of the waterfall was formed by volcanic activities dated back approximately 20,000 years and covered by over 10 m thick lava layer. After dinner time, we will take a refreshing walk to the waterfall. You’ll hear it before you see it – the sound of tumbling water fills the valley. Overnight there.
Day7. Tsenkher Hot Spring – relax
After breakfast time, we will drive to Tsenkher Hot Spring (115 km – 3 hours on the dirt road). It is the most famous pool in the country & one of the most popular Central Mongolian attractions. The water has a perfect temperature of about 36 – 40°C and contains a lot of minerals. In fact, the Tsenkher Spring has now become so popular that in order to it may crowded. In the evening, we will stay in the open pool of the tourist ger camp. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.
Day8. Khorgo-Terkh National Park
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khorgo-Terkh National Park (215 km – 4 hours on the paved road). The volcano erupted in the Quaternary Period and its lava closed the water stream of a river and result of this meeting has created a truly incredible landscape, Khorgo Extinct Volcano and Terkh Lake, large placid lake is ringed by sandy beaches. There is a number of small or big circuit gorges, Shar Nokhoin Tam & Solo Person’s Cave etc, and complete or not complete erupted 13 volcanoes and rock formations with fast flowing rivers and cascades. From the top of the volcano panoramic view is superb. We will climb up to the top of the volcano and walk discover the circuit gorges. Overnight there.
Day9. Shine-Ider sub-province
After breakfast time, we will drive to Shine Ider sub-province (170 km – 6 hours on the dirt road). On the way, we will see picturesque and high Orookh Mountain Pass. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.
Day10. Uushig Deer Stone & Khuvsgul Lake
After breakfast time, we will drive to Uushig Deer Stone (110 km – 3 hours on the dirt road). A complex of 30 deer stones of Uushig Valley and its burial mounts belong to the ancient Huns period and over 3000 years old. The Bronze Age funeral practice, sacrificial ritual and ideology and animal style art, which were spread among ancient nomads, are all together represented through deer stones made by long block of granite. Then we will drive to Khuvsgul Lake (145 km – 3 hours mostly on the paved road). About midway along border between Mongolia and Russian Siberia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110 km long and almost 40 km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth – Lake Khuvsgul. Overnight there.
Day11. Khuvsgul Lake – horse ride & reindeer people
After breakfast time, we will ride horses. This ride will take you back through the shore of the lake area to the beautiful sights and sounds of Mother Nature for 2 hours journey up the mountain to view. With no experience required. Then we will go to reindeer people. They are Tuvan people who moved to the Mongolia from Tuvan Republic around 1920s to the northern most part of Mongolia. Some reindeer people moved to the lake area for selling hand made souvenir to tourists and brought their reindeer. Overnight there.
Day12. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast time, we will drive to airfield of Murun town (130 km – 3 hours mostly on paved road). Then we will fly back to Ulaanbaatar (1 hour flight). After you landed in the city, our driver will pick you up and transfer to your accommodation.
End time: Depends flight schedule. Usually in the afternoon.
Total driving distance: 1930 km (+600, +775)
Information
- Above prices are changeable by changing components (kind of services) of the itinerary.
- This is a private tour and you or your travel buddies will be in the tour.
- Domestic flight companies accept only 10kg-15kg lugguge incuding your carry on bags too for free transfer.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you are in correct pick up location at correct time as stated on your booking form.
- No smoking in travel vehicles or aircraft.
Please let us know should you have further inquiries! We are looking forward to assist you with organizing your stay in Mongolia and answering any questions you might have about this tour. We want your holiday experience in Mongolia to be as amazing as it is possible.
