Mongolia Highlights & Gobi

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, the capital and the largest city of Mongolia! Our locally based driver will wait for your arrival ahead of time at Chinggis Khaan International Airport or Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, holding a sign which can be easily recognized. After picking you up, the driver will then transfer you to the hotel by a clean and comfortable private car. There is no sightseeing arrangement during the rest of the day, so after finishing the check-in procedure, you may take a stroll around and have the first impression of the country by yourself.

Suggested Activities: 
Chinggis Khan Square is the landmark of Mongolia. It is the most favorite place for locals to get together in free times, to talk with friends and to have fun for kids. Almost every couple take their wedding photographs here. Walk there and feel the happy atmosphere of local people. Not far from the square, about 10 minutes walking to the south, there is restaurant called Grand Khaan Irish Pub located in Seoul Street, delicious steak and lamb chops with a glass of beer may revive yourself from the long flight.

Things to Know before Travel
1. Smoking is prohibited nationwide in Mongolia, including restaurants, shopping malls, trains and especially the places close to schools.
2. The traffic in Ulaanbaatar is very congested, with fewer streets but more vehicles. Please pay more attention to safety when taking a walk on your own.
3. The public transportation in Ulaanbaatar is quite dilapidated and not a good choice for city transfers. If you prefer to go outside during your free time, take a taxi instead. There are hardly any regular taxis, and you can stop private cars at the price of 0.5 US dollars per kilometer, and it is important to negotiate the price before boarding.
4. Located on the Mongolian Plateau, with an altitude of 1600 meters, the climate is dry and there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening. We suggest you wear a thick coat.
5. Ulaanbaatar suffers from the severe air pollution, with 80% of the pollution coming from the yurts around the city. People there burn raw coal, garbage, and other things for warmth during the long winter season. Even worse, the special terrain makes it difficult for the polluted air to dissipate. Even in summer, air pollution still exceeds the safety limit set by the World Health Organization. For those with respiratory diseases, please consult your doctor before departure or bring sufficient medication.
6. The local currency is tugrik, which can be exchanged in advance, or at airports, train stations, foreign tourist shops, and ATMs in Ulaanbaatar. Credit cards are acceptable by most of the restaurants and shops.

Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center (4 stars)

Our Mongolia tour will officially start today. After breakfast, the driver will send you to the airport and help you board the flight to Dalanzadgad Airport, where our local experienced bilingual guide will welcome you and later escort you to hike the Eagle Valley, known as Yol Am. Also called Yolyn Am, this narrow valley lined by rocky cliffs is covered by ice almost all around the year. Even though, animals like camels and eagles survive one generation after another. Tonight, we will book a ger nearby for you to stay in, meanwhile experience the life of local herdsmen.

How Long Does the Hiking Take along the Yol Am?
It may take 4 hours for a round way to hike through the valley, most parts are mild, but the last 500-meter hike on the rock surface is a little challenging, and sometimes you need to jump over the flowing streams, or ice surface when the temperature is low. Our experienced guide will remind you and will keep you safe. There is no doubt this pleasant hiking matches better with comfortable outdoor shoes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Juulchin Khan Bogd Ger camp

Today, our guide will accompany you to move on to Khongor Sand Dunes by private car. It is also called the "Singing Sand" because dunes here can make sounds when the wind is blowing. The highest dune reaches up to 800 meters (2,600 feet). While traveling through the wild sand dunes, you will see the dunes' color and shape changing at different times of a day. If interested, climb to one of the peaks to admire the wonderful scene of “sea of sand dunes”. At the end of the day, also check in a ger for overnight stay.

★ The Privilege of Taking Our Tours:
You will ride a Bactrian camel to enjoy the colorful sand dunes, they are considered the gentlest animal to ride on. As they move forward slowly with the guidance of herdsman, the two hump support you and keep you sitting in between comfortably. Do remember to wear dust-proof clothes and put on thick sunscreen. This activity is usually scheduled in the afternoon, avoiding the hottest hours and also avoiding strong ultraviolet rays.

Khongoryn Els - One of the Grand Mystic Realm
What kind of travel do you like? Enjoying food, shopping, and top hotels in big cities, or experiencing the leisurely pace of life in the beautiful and tranquil countryside? There is another type of travel where one may have to leave a comfortable environment but can enjoy the rarest and most luxurious landscapes. Today we would like to introduce some of them to you.

1. The Pinnacles in Western Australia. Located 250 kilometers north of Perth, you will find the stunning The Pinnacles. Being part of the Nambung National Park, thousands of weathered limestone pillars scattered on the vast yellow sand land, ranging from high to low with various shapes.

2. Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument in Utah, USA. An unmissable adventure sanctuary and a living class for geology. In addition to natural arches, steep canyons, wavy slits, mushroom like giant rocks, and colorful rock layers, there are also relics and anthropomorphic rock carvings from the pre Columbian Fremont and Ancestral Puebloans.

3. Kirkjufell in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland. The scenery here is really stunning. Kirkjufell, known as the church mountain, which stands 463 meters high, has been eroded by glaciers and presents steep slopes on each side. This is also one of the filming locations for the movie Song of Ice and Fire - Game of Thrones.

4. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. As the name suggests, how difficult is it to traverse? This national park covers an area of 321 square kilometers and can only be reached on foot. Located in the southwestern part of Uganda in East Africa, on the western edge of the Great Rift Valley. It is one of the most diverse forests in East Africa, with 163 species of trees and 104 species of ferns, and over 1000 species of flowering plants. There are also various animals and birds. The biggest highlight is that half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas inhabit here.

5. Khongor Sand Dunes in Mongolia. Located in Gobi Gurvasaikhan National Park, Khogoryn Sand Dunes is one of the most spectacular sand dunes in the world, with a total length of 180 kilometers. The charming curves of the sand dunes constantly change with the wind, and colors change due to the light. We hope you enjoy the sightseeing today.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Gobi Discovery Ger camp

The first escorted stop of today will be the home of local herdsmen. There, you can learn how they live their daily lives and take photos with camels raised by them. After that, take the private car to Bayanzag. It is also called Flaming Cliffs, because crimson precipices there make it exactly like a firing valley. It becomes widely known to the world due to the first discovery of dinosaur eggs as well as numerous dinosaur fossils lying under the cliffs.

What to Eat During the Camp Stay: Traditional Food or Buffet
Mongolia traditional food will be served, and the western buffet is available at the travel high seasons. Mongolian tradition dishes: Steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, hot stone barbecue, tsuivan (stir-fry of meat, pasta, potatoes and other vegetables) and fresh seasonally vegetables. Our guide always inform the camps to prepare something different for you, and an advanced notice about your diet requirement helps us make a better arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Mongol Gobi Ger Camp

Our tour today will be extended to Ongi Monastery. It used to be one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia gathering over 1,000 monks at its peak time. However, the architecture complex has been destroyed in 1937. In 2004, some monks built a small temple alongside with pillars and other materials collected from the ruins. Not far away, the flowing Ongi River adds some vitality to the debris. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp

After breakfast, we will continue driving to Karakorum, also known as Kharkhorin, which used to be the capital of Mongolia. In middle 13th century, it was the center of the world when most parts of Asia and Europe was under its powerful influence. In late 1940s, lots of ruins of walls, palaces, streets and houses were found. In 2004, the ruins and its surrounding views were listed as the first UNESCO world culture heritage of Mongolia.

Next, the guide will lead you to visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, the largest and first Buddhism monastery in Mongolia. There are 108 white pagodas built on its surrounding walls, with a distance of about 15 meters (16.5 yards) one from another. Besides, you will have a chance to appreciate lots of precious paintings, house decorations, embroidery, manuscripts and wooden books of the 15th - 17th century inside. Following, admire the historical relics in Museum of Karakorum. 

After that, you will be given some free time to wander around before being sent to the nearby ger.

A Story Behind: Why Mongolian Changed Their Capital?
Karakorum is a legendary city built in 1220 and soon became the center of politics, economy and culture. In 1260, Khubilai Khan ascended the throne in Kaiping City, and his younger brother ascended the throne in Karakorum. He defeated his brother in 1261 and then moved southward gradually to expand the territory until the Mongolian capitated in Beijing. Karakorum was completely destroyed by Ming troops in 1380 but only left the historical sites tell the glory of the dynasty at that time. Even now, we can't deny that Karakorum have always been the pride of the Mongols in history.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp

At the appointed time, we will leave for the first stop of today by car, Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dune, where you can see a unique but harmonious scene of trees scattering among the sand dunes with Tarna River flowing through. 

Then will come the highlight of today’s tour, Hustai National Park. It is home to wild takhi horses. Besides, birds, fish, amphibians, and lush trees make it quite different in this landlocked country.

The Only Existing Fury Horse in the World
Przewalski's Horse is considered the only surviving fury horse in the world. Due to extensive hunting, Przewalski's Horse had become an extinct animal in China and Mongolia, with limited individuals only found in some zoos in Europe. In the 1980s and 1990s, European countries had some Przewalski's Horse returned their hometown - Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Province, China and the three wildlife reserves in Mongolia. Hustai National Park in Mongolia is one of the three reserves and it is also the only research center for fury horses in the world.

When the fury horses were first released, experts have made great efforts to ensure the survival since they were lack of survival skills. Experts closely monitored their daily activities and sent a lot of grass to prevent them from starving. However, there were still some fury horses that did not adapt to the wild environment and die. Up to now, Hustai has over 600 fury horses, they are conservative and seldom explore or wander into the distance. Therefore, they have never been domesticated by humans or mated with other horse breeds. The national park is also a paradise for other wild animals. Our guide will share more information about wildlife with you, and you will also have the opportunity to see groups of Przewalski's Horse descending the mountain, drinking water and running.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp

Today, the guide will accompany you to visit another famous national park in the country - Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Here, the lush grassland and thick woods are all primitive, with white gers scattered among and horses running freely. The guide will also lead you to visit the Ariyabal Meditation Temple and Turtle Rock resembling like a giant turtle there.

► A Special Experience
As a symbol of Terelj National Park, Turtle Rock looks very realistic in the shape of a turtle from the side with the sun, regardless of distance. There is a road in the north side where you can climb to the top, and come out through a narrow gap to see the scenery from the neck. Climbing to the top must be a special experience, you can have a try if interested.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Terelj Lodge Ger camp

According to the tour plan, we will make our way back to Ulaanbaatar today after breakfast by car. On the way, make a stop at Genghis Khan Statue Complex, where the world's largest Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue is set, with a height of 40 meters (130 feet). He is sitting on a horse with the golden whip in his hand, ready to go to the battle field anytime. There is an escalator leading you to the head of the horse, where you can overlook the great scenery of the surrounding grassland. After that, continue driving towards Ulaanbaatar.

★  What Makes Us Different?
Before sending you to the hotel in downtown, our guide can accompany you to a local market to buy some local specialties and souvenirs if you need, such as wine pots made of leather, traditional carpets and hats. Or products made from animal bones, all these can be found in local markets. But if you’d like to buy cashmere products, please have your tour guide take you to the state-owned store. In the evening, we will serve you a farewell dinner in a local restaurant, making a perfect conclusion to this Mongolia tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center (4 stars)

According to your flight schedule, our guide will transfer you from the hotel to the airport on time and help you with the boarding formalities. We wish you a nice journey home and are looking forward to serve you again in other global destinations!  

Meals: Breakfast