Outline itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and city tour
- Day 2: Khuvsgul Lake
- Day 3: Explore pristine Khuvsgul Lake
- Day 4: Back to Ulaanbaatar and travel to Hustai National Park
- Day 5: Drive from HS Resort to Karakorum, Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Day 6: Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
- Day 7: Flight to the Gobi Desert, Yol Valley
- Day 8: Day trip to Flaming Cliffs and Moltsog Sand Dune
- Day 9: Day trip to Khavtsgait Petroglyphs and Nomads day
- Day 10: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and Terelj National Park with Statue of Chinggis khan
- Day 11: Back to Ulaanbaatar
- Day 12: Departure
Highlights of Mongolia 12 days
Region: Southern, Northern and Central of Mongolia
Available time:May through September
Price: On request
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and city tour
Upon arrival at Chinggis Khan International Airport, your tour guide will meet you and transfer to a hotel.
You will go on a sightseeing city tour. The first stop is at the Gandan Monastery, the center for Buddhism in Mongolia; where you learn from your about the tragis history of Buddhism in the country and see the impressive Golden Buddha Statue of Migjid Janraisig. The your tour goes to the National history museum, one of the most interesting museums, where you will be introduced with over 2000 year history of Mongolia and see the ethnic groups clothing and decorations, highlights of the museum.
Then we walk to the Sukhbaatar Square, named after the leader of Communist revolution of 1921 Damdiny Sukhbaatar. If time permits we visit the Zaisan memorial hill to get a fantastic view of whole city. In the evening we will have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Blue Sky Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Khuvsgul Lake
This day we will take an hour and half hour flight to the north, Khuvsgul province. On arrival we will have a three hour drive towards Khuvsgul Lake through Mongolian steppes into the high mountains, dense larch forests, meadows abundant with beatufitul flowers and turquoise blue lake. Khuvsgul Lake is Mongolia's largest fresh water basin, also known as the "Dark Blue Pearl" of Mongolia.
Overnight at Art 88 – Deluxe Wooden cabin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Explore pristine Khuvsgul Lake
Today we will have a full day to explore the breathtaking shores of the beautiful lake on foot or on horse. Khuvsgul Lake is a fantastic opportunity for photographers to take amazing photos of wildlife and nature. Walking and hiking to the mountain to get the view of lake, horse riding trek along the shores, visiting yak breeding family and experience their unique lifestyle are available.
Overnight at Art 88 – Deluxe Wooden cabin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Back to Ulaanbaatar and travel to Hustai National Park
Upon arrival to Ulaanbaatar city we drive to our next destination, HS luxury resort. After lunch we will drive towards Hustai National Park, where you will learn about Mongolia’s successful conservational programs, aimed at re-introducing Przewalskii’s horse (Equus przewalskii) or wild horse, called "takhi" by Mongolians. It became extinct in the wild in late 1960s, and, since 1992, has been re-introducing to Hustai from the European zoos. Please, note that wild horses roaming freely on rolling hills of the park, are possible to spot in early morning or late evening when they come down to water from stream. So, it is up to you to spend the rest of the day enjoying the view of Mongolian prairielands from the window of your luxurious accommodation or visiting Hustai national park to see the wild horses.
Stay overnight in HS Luxury Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Drive from HS Resort to Karakorum, Erdene Zuu Monastery
Early morning drive to Karakorum and arrive late afternoon, on the way have picnic. 13th century capital of Mongolia, Karakorum city, was found in 1220 on the bank of the orkhon River on the Silk Road. It was the center of economic, political and cultural development of the Mongol Empire until Khulilai Khan settled the capital in Beijing.
Erdene Zuu monastery
Erdene zuu monastery was built on the ruins of Kharkhorin in 1586 by Avtai Sain Khan. It is the biggest and oldest Buddhist Monastery of Mongolia and the part of the World Heritage Site, Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. Stones from the ruins of Karakorum were used in construction of the monastery. It is surrounded by a wall with 108 stupas lining on it. The monastery is an example of bravery of safekeeping Buddha statues, tsam masks, thangkas and other relicts by the locals during the stalinist purges. In 1965 the monastery was reintroduced as a museum to public.
Overnight in tourist camp, deluxe ger
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar and be transferred to the hotel and do cashmere stuff and souvenirs shopping. Have a rest at the hotel.
Overnight in Blue Sky Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Flight to the Gobi Desert, Yol Valley
This morning you wiil have an hour flight to the Gobi Desert, the northernmost desert in the world. Upon arrival be met by your driver and then transfer by a comfortable 4WD vehicle to the Yol Valley in Gurvansaikhan National Park, situated in the eastern edge of the Altai Mountain range. You will enjoy a walk in the valley, a unique alpine gorge in the middle of the desert heat, and in the narrowest part of the gorge you can still in early July. Yol valley is a home for ibex, mountain goat, argali, mountain sheep, elusive snow leopard and many birds of prey.
On the way to the lodge, you will stop to visit the local Natural History Museum for an insight into the flora and fauna of the area.
Overnight in Gobi Nomad Lodge, deluxe ger with en-suite bathroom with shower and air contitioned
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Day trip to Flaming Cliffs and Moltsog Sand Dune
Following breakfast at the tourist camp then we will have an hour drive to Bayan Zag, popularly known as “Flaming Cliffs” for its glowing orange rocks at the sunset. This dinosaur site was first opened in 1920s by the Roy Chapman Andrews led expedition which accidentially discovered a dinosaur eggnest the world ever seen. Since that time Flaming Cliffs is still popular site among the paleontologists from all over the world who find here the dinosaur skeletons and fossils.
After Bayanzag we head for Moltsog Els, an arid area of the Gobi covered by fine sand dunes. Explore the area on the back of a two- humped Bactrian camel and visit a camel breeding family.
Overnight in Gobi Nomad Lodge, deluxe ger with en-suite bathroom with shower and air contitioned
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Day trip to Khavtsgait Petroglyphs and Nomads day
In the morning we drive to Khavtsgait petroglyphs. The Khavtsgait petroglyphs are related to the Bronze Age (4000-3000 BC) and beautifully carved on the rocks spread all around on the top of the hill. The rock painting depicts the images of the ancient people’s routine life including milking cattle, making offerings, riding horses and camels, taking down the dwelling and moving on yak pulled carts, as well as hunting scenes. The area is quite rocky and might slippery to climb and come down, but it is certainly worth climbing as you can see that natural installation and enjoy the view of the vast endless Gobi from the top of the mountain.
In the afternoon, we will visit local herder family nearby where you will be warmly welcomed by the family members, have a nice chat with them and learn about their simple but unique vanishing nomadic lifestyle, you can take part in their daily chores such as milking mares, goats, fencing cattle, making dairy products. If you wish, you can to sip some mare's fermented milk or traditional milk made vodka.
Overnight in Gobi Nomad Lodge, deluxe ger with en-suite bathroom with shower and air contitioned
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and Terelj National Park with Statue of Chinggis khan
We will fly back to Ulaanbaatar and be transferred to Terelj National park. Here you will have to switch your imagination as the the huge rock formations of the park will remind you the animals and people. Our tour will take you to the “Turtle Rock” through lush green scenic valleys and the winding river Tuul. Our next stop is at Aryabal meditation center located inside the mountains to learn more about Buddha teachings and enjoy breathtaking view of the valley.
On the way to the National park, you will make a stop at the 40m (132 ft) high Statue of Chinggis Khan erected in 2008. According to legend, young Chinggis Khan found a big golden whip. Statues’ base building is surrounded with 36 columns each representing Chingis Khan’s great warrior. From the top of the statue you will see the whole fascinating view of the surrounding area and in the visitor center of the complex do some souvenir shopping.
Overnight in Terelj Luxury hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Back to Ulaanbaatar
In the morning, we drive back to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival we are scheduled to visit Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, a residence of Bodg Jabzan Damba Hutagt VIII, last king of Mongolia. In the evening we will watch the local folklore concert followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. The performance features throat singing, unique and enchanting of form of musical expression, resembling the horse movements dances and playing the traditional musical instruments to bring your memory back to the vast grasslands.
Overnight in Blue Sky Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Departure
Transfer to the “Chinggis Khan”airport for your international departure flight. Meals: Breakfast