Nomadic Gobi & Nature

Talking about Mongolia, the first things that usually come to mind are the vast grassland and nomads. However, the country has much more to offer. During your western Mongolian tours, you will be escorted by our private guide and the driver to discover its different landscapes! We will pick you up at the appointed time and transfer you to the hotel. Considering that you may feel exhausted after a long flight, we will not arrange sightseeing for the rest time. If not tired, you can stroll nearby on your own to explore the city and feel the locals’ worship of Genghis Khan, one of the world's greatest conquerors.

 Legendary Story of Genghis Khan - Founding Father of Mongolia
People in Mongolia venerate Genghis Khan so much that nearly every family hangs his portrait in their houses. Born in 1162 near the bank of the Onon River, he was given the name of Temujin. Throughout the first half of his life, Temujin faced significant challenges and hardships, which shaped his tough character and exceptional leadership. At the age of 44, he was crowned Genghis Khan, which means “the ruler of the universe”, marking a pivotal moment in Mongolian history. In 1206, he conquered over 40 countries and finally established the Great Mongol Empire encompassing territories including modern-day Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, and North Korea.

 Information for You before Departure:
1. Visa Requirement: Mongolia has implemented a visa-free policy for countries including the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Citizens from Finland, Japan, and Greece need an on-arrival visa, while those from France and South Korea can apply for an e-visa online 1-2 weeks in advance.
2. SIM Card: Mobicom and Unitel are both widely used, but Mobicom has better signals out of Ulaanbaatar and more favorable packages. For MNT 12,000 (about USD 3.4), Mobicom offers 15 GB of data valid for 15 days, while Unitel provides 12 GB for 7 days. They are available at the airport or business halls and convenience stores in downtown Ulaanbaatar.

Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

Hope you had a good rest last night! After breakfast, our experienced private guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive 5 hours to the Bayan Gobi Desert. Also known as Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes or Mini Gobi, it is a beautiful stretch of Gobi desert surrounded by rolling sand dunes, hills dotted with rare bushes, and a river lined with willow trees. On the way, you can ask for photo stops at any time.

★ Experience Authentic Nomadic Lifestyle with a Camel Herder’s Family

Upon your arrival, our guide will escort you to visit a local camel herder’s family to get a glimpse of their unique lifestyle and you may see them herding, milking, and feeding camels. After a warm greeting, the host may treat you with traditional Mongolian food such as khuushuur (fried meat dumplings) and buuz (steamed meat dumplings). Airag, aka fermented mare milk, may also be served to you. Locals will pour the filtered mare milk into a wooden vat for fermentation. After 3 to 5 days, the milk becomes acid-taste, which means it is time for drinking.

Then, we will head to the Bayan Gobi desert and ride on a camel to explore the sand dunes. You can touch the camels’ hair, have a close look at their twinkling eyes and flickering eyelashes, and take pictures with these gentle creatures.
► Tips for Camel Riding:
1. Camels are easily startled by vibrant colors, so it is suggested to wear clothes in brown, khaki, grey, etc. Sandals and slippers are not recommended as they easily slip off during the riding.
2. Please grab the saddle and lean backward when the camel starts to stand. Ride accordingly with the camel’s walk, and let your body swing back and forth.
3. It is better not to feed camels with your own food, which may do harm to their health.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bayan Gobi Camp or similar

Besides deserts, Mongolia is also home to spectacular valleys and waterfalls, such as Orkhon Valley and Waterfall. Alongside the Orkhon River, Orkhon Valley was recognized as the cradle of the nomadic civilization of the steppes and listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. Apart from seeking the life traces of ancient Mongolian nomads, you may sit by the river and watch horses running on the lush grasslands. The Orkhon Waterfall, formed 20,000 years ago, is on our visit list, too. The tributary of the Orkhon River rushes through lava and dashes down to the 20-meter-high (66-feet-high) cliff. Flowing through the valley covered with larches, it finally empties into Lake Baikal. When the sun shines through the spray from the waterfall, you can even see a rainbow.
 Best Time to Visit: July-August
The waterfall is dry most of the time in spring (March-May) and rejuvenated until the first summer rain (July-August), when the clear days bring better scenery and path conditions.

In the early evening, we will visit a local herdsman’s family, sitting and chatting with them, then ride a horse for about one hour to explore the nearby landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Orkhon Waterfall

Today, we will head to Tsenkher Hot Springs at Tsenkher Valley. As the woods get denser, you will reach the top of a hill. Continue driving until reach the edge of the forest, and then you will get an opened-up view of the valley. Meander down following the unpaved road, and you will see the grassland dotted with grazing cattle and yurts.

Upon arrival, check into the camp and have a short break. Then, enjoy the warm hot spring we arranged for you. With blue sky above and green hills around, extricate yourself from the fatigue of the long journey. The springs contain chemical elements like sodium, calcium, and sulfur, which are good for health, especially for the skin, bones, and nerves. But it is better not to soak too long because the temperature of the spring is relatively high. Besides, sulfur elements may bring a rotten egg smell, which will attract insects, so it is advised to prepare insect repellent. Moreover, please remove your silver jewelry before bathing, as it may react with the chemicals in the water.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Duut Resort or similar

After breakfast, we will extend the Mongolian trip to Karakorum, a historical city that used to be the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. To learn more details about this ancient city, we will not miss the Karakorum Museum which clarifies Mongolian history and culture from the Stone Age (about 3.3 million years ago) to the Great Mongolian Empire (1206-1368). Entering the museum, you can see a model of the ancient Karakorum. Apart from history, the museum has a toy house where you can experience a variety of Mongolian toys, such as shagai (anklebones) made from sheep, cows, or pigs’ bones. Put the bones on a launching pad and flick them with your fingers, if the opponent’s bones are hit, then you win. Leaving the museum, we will head to the nearby Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, probably the oldest existing Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, which is magnificent with a 108 stupas-decorated bounding wall.

In the afternoon, drive 1.5 hours to the Ugii Lake, a beautiful and serene freshwater lake in central Mongolia. When arriving, check in at a ger camp by the lake and the rest of the day will be left for you. If you are a bird lover, go bird watching then. Home to over 150 species of migrating birds, the Ugii Lake offers a feast for the eyes with many rare bird species such as spoonbill, Dalmatian Pelican, cranes, and ducks which are more common. A telephoto lens and telescope are necessary if you want to take high-quality photos or have a clear view of birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ugii Khishig Ger Camp or similar

An icon of Mongolia is the horse. Today, the guide will accompany you to Hustai National Park to observe the endangered Przewalski's Horse, also known as the Mongolian wild horse. It is currently the only living pure wild horse species in the world, with only 1,500 wild horses left. Hustai Park is home to 220 of them, making it undoubtedly the best place to encounter these guys. We will first go to the information center to learn the history and current status of the wild horses, and then drive deeper into the park where the horses usually show up. If interested, you can get out of the car at specific parking lots and enjoy a simple hike. The afternoon is a good time to see the wild horses, as they always gather along the river grazing during this time. In addition to horses, the intoxicating environment of the park nurtures many other wild animals like foxes, deer, eagles, and grey wolves.
► Tips：
1. A pair of telescopes is necessary, as you are only allowed to view wild horses from 200 meters (656 feet) away. 
2. Cool and sunny autumn (September-November) provides you more chances to see wild horses as they will walk out from the forest where they usually hide in summer June-August).  
3. The roads are unpaved in the park, so it will be very bumpy. It is better to take some Dramamine to prevent motion sickness ahead of time.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp or similar

Today we will drive 2 hours back to Ulaanbaatar and enjoy a city tour starting with Gandan Buddhist Monastery, the biggest Buddhist temple in Mongolia. It features a 26.5-meter-high (about 87-foot-high) copper statue of Migjid Janraisig which is almost as tall as the main hall. At the yard of the monastery, you will see a red pillar which is called “wishing pole” by locals. It is said that if you make a wish hugging it, your dream will come true. Please note that it is not allowed to take pictures in the temple, especially shooting at Buddha, which is thought to be disrespectful.

After lunch, we will take a stroll at Sukhbaatar Square. It is the place where important political and cultural events of the country are held. Then, go on to visit the National Museum of Mongolia, which has selective collections of nomadic artworks, religious tools, and domestic and technical objects from prehistory to the present. Thereafter, continue heading to another museum called Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the winter palace of the 8th Bogd Javzandamba, the last king of the Mongol Empire. Here you can see many household items and furniture used by Bogd, among which a wonderful yurt made of 150 leopard skins is the most valuable.

★ Watch Mongolia Music and Dance Show

At the end of today, we will arrange a performance of traditional Mongolian music and dance show for you to feel the charm of Khöömii, widely known as the throat singing. Allegedly, ancestors of Mongolian always imitated the sound of nature while hunting and herding, which is considered a way of communicating with nature and the universe. After a long period of evolution, Khöömii generated. Through the resonance of the throat and chest, singers can produce high and low voices simultaneously, which resemble the metallic sound from an iron pipe, making one’s voice like a small choir. After the amazing show, you will be transferred to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

Today, at the very end of the Mongolia tour, our driver will escort you to the airport. Hope you've had a wonderful journey with us! If you want to continue your trip to China to admire the majestic Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, or head to Russia to see the grandiose Kremlin， we will be very willing to tailor the trip for you.

Meals: Breakfast