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The Secrets of Gobi Desert & The Steppes of Mongolia 12 days 11 nights

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12 Days / 11 Nights
The Secrets of Gobi Desert & The Steppes of Mongolia

Tour Code: MON-FA-001

 

General Description

From the beautiful, fertile grassland and sandy dunes of the Baia Gazrin Chuluu region to the inhospitable, rocky landscape of the Gobi desert, this 12 day – 11 night Mongolian adventure is a step-back-in-time trip that will leave you speechless. Explore old stone monasteries, granite monuments, canyons, impressive cliffs carved by the wind and the largest dunes in Mongolia; learn about the rare and endangered Takhi horses, swim in spectacular waterfalls, take a ride though the gorges of the Altai Mountains and look out for Argali sheets, desert gazelles and golden eagles in the Gurvansaikhan National Park, before ending your trip in modern Ulaanbator.

 

Itinerary

Day 1Baga Gazriin Chuluu (320 km about 5-6 hours driving)

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave for the Mongolian countryside. Our first stop is 250 km southward in the beautiful region of Baga Gazrin Chuluu. It is a huge granite formation in the middle of the Mongolian sandy plane.
On the open plain we visit the ruins of a small monastery named Delgeriin Chior Monastery. Here you can enter for the first time inside a Ger, in this case a huge and richly decorated and carved Ger used by monks to chant in the colder season, when the stone monastery gets too cold to be used.
In the late afternoon we drive and hike around the area. We visit the picturesque remains of a small monastery that are hidden in a nice, little protected valley and wander among huge endless piled granite rocky hills. There is a little spring between the rocks of Baga Gazriin Chuluu which is renowned for its eye healing power. Try healing your eyes as locals do, by pouring some magic water over them.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Lunch – Dinner

Day 2Tsagaan Suvarga (250 km about 5 hours driving)

After breakfast, we start driving towards the Gobi Desert. Today we will admire the landscape changing dramatically from fertile grassland to the inhospitably rocky land. The number of families and cattle we will see along the road will gradually reduce. Camels will slowly replace cows.
In the late afternoon we reach Tsagaan Suvraga. The Cliff is 30 meters high and 100 meters wide, and it’s been created by the wind over thousands of years.
From a distance, Tsagaan Suvraga resembles the ruins of an ancient town with crumbling buildings. Painted and carved in the rocks are ancient images of people hunting ibex with long bows and petroglyphs depicting wild animals and cattle and Turkic inscriptions with different seals and images. In a crevice running east to west from the upper slopes of a mountain down across the steppe, you will admire high mud columns rising from the depths below. The yawning gap looks like the open jaws of some fabulous animal. Some of the caves are multi chambered, with one of them stretching back over 70 metres.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 3Yolyn Am and Dungenee Canyon (250 km about 4-5 hours)

The Gobi Desert stretches over 1,610 km in a southwest to northeast direction and 800 km from north to south, extending over Mongolia and China. Covering a surface of 1,295,000 km2 in land, it is the fifth largest desert in the world and Asia’s largest. Much of the Gobi is not sandy but covered in bare rock. The Gobi is a cold desert, its dunes covered in frost snow over the winter months. Beside being quite far north, it is also located on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 meters above sea level, all this causing the low temperatures. An average of approximately 194 millimetres of rain falls per year in the Gobi. Additional moisture reaches parts of the Gobi in winter as snow is blown by the wind from the Siberian Steppes. These winds cause the Gobi to reach extremes of temperature ranging from –40°C in winter to +50°C in summer.
We take a ride through the beautiful gorges of the imposing Altai Mountain Chain, passing through the Yolyn Am and the Dungenee Canyon, both located in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Ancient rivers carved those green valleys. We may catch a glimpse of the wild Argali sheep, the Ibex, the desert gazelles or the Golden Eagles. We will also pay a visit to the little museum of the park to admire a collection of dinosaur bones and local flora and fauna.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 4Khongoryn Els (150 km about 4 hours)

After a good breakfast, we drive 150 km westwards to Khongoryn Els. These are Mongolia’s largest sand dunes, they can reach an height of 275 meters in some places, stretching from East to West for more than 100 km. Behind the sand dunes we will see the impressive black rocky mass of the Sevrey Mountain. The bravest and fittest can climb to the highest dune, equivalent to climbing a 40 storey building. Once you reach the top of the dune, your effort will be rewarded, though: the whole environment looks full of mysteries, and you will be amazed by such an incredible landscape. After the dune excursion, we visit a camel breeding family. It is their tradition to offer food and drinks without asking the visitors, so be prepared to enjoy some traditional food.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 5Bayanzag, Flaming cliff (150 km about 4 hours)

Today our drive will take us to Bayanzag, also known as the “Flaming Cliffs“: it’s the worldwide renowned place where palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews found dinosaur bones and eggs. The surrounding landscape is a beautiful combination of rocks, red sand and scrubs. Here we will spend some time exploring the cliffs.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 6Ongiin and Khoshuu monastery (180 km about 5 hours)

Today we continue driving northwest to the Ongiin Monastery. We will enjoy the peace and beauty of the Delger Khangai Mountains, explore the remains of Khoshuu Monastery on one side of the river and the ruins of Ongiin Monastery on the other side. We will hike around this massive series of rocky hills cut by the river.
Both monasteries were built in the 17th century and destroyed in 1937. They were among the largest temples in Mongolia and housed over 1000 monks.
Nowadays, a little monastery has been built between the ruins and interesting and rare remains of the old monasteries are exhibited in a Ger museum.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 7Orkhon valley and waterfall (300 km about 7-8 hours)

The valley is registered as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO due to its ancient findings, artefacts dating back to the early 6th century and before. Then, in the 12th to 13th century, the great Mongol empire expanded its capital Karakorum to this area.
In the Quaternary era a volcano erupted near the spring of the Tsagaan Azarga (White Stallion River) and the lava flowed down the Orkhon valley forming a 10-meter-thick layer of basaltic rocks. The basaltic layer had been crosscut continuously by the Orkhon River until the canyon was formed.
At the beginning of this canyon lies a 20 meters high, 10-meter-wide waterfall. The most adventurous will want to climb down the canyon and swim in the lake located at the foot of the waterfall.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 8Tovkhon Monastery and Tsenher Hot Spring (200 km)

There is an optional stop to be made at Tovkhon Monastery, established during the 1650’s by Zanabazar, one of Mongolia’s most respected religious leaders. The monastery’s wooden buildings are integrated in a natural system of caves perched near a hilltop, from where you can get beautiful views of the Orkhon Valley and the surrounding pine forests. On the top of the cliff, there’s a pile of stones assembled to worship a god of the mountain. It is called Ovoo.
After visiting the monastery, we drive westward in the direction of the Khangai Mountains. On average, the Khangai Mountains are 2500-3000 meters above sea level and are mainly composed of granite, intrusive chert and sandstone belonging to the Palaeozoic era. The Khangai Chain is about 800 km long, ranging from Zavkhan province to Tuv province.
The green mountainside and the network of smaller and larger rivers offer excellent pastureland for the herds of horses, yaks and cows.
In the afternoon we will reach Tsenkher hot spring resort which offers a large open-air pool. The hot water of the pool flows continuously in from the hot water spring. At the spring, the temperature of the water is over 80° C. A complex pipeline system regulates the water temperature. You can spend hours sitting in the pool talking to friends while staring at the stars or scanning the nightly scenery around.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 9Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur and Khorgo volcano (220 km)

In the afternoon we will reach Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. The lake is surrounded by extinct volcanoes, and it was formed by lava flows from a volcanic eruption that happened many millennia ago. As a result, the landscape is covered in black volcanic rocks. We will make an excursion to the top of Khorgo Uul Volcano passing the gorges that lead from Tariat to the volcano. The volcano crater is 200 m wide and 100 m deep, covered in trees at the back and around the opening of the crater. To the south of Khorgo there are numerous basaltic “gers” formed during the cooling of lava; some of the gers have gates and upper holes and reach 1.7 m high.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 10Karakorum (480 km about 6-7 hours)

Today we will set off for a driving day to Karakorum (also called Kharhorin).
Karakorum is the site of the 13th century capital of the Mongolian Empire created by Chinggis Khan (aka Gengis Khan). The founding of Karakorum was started on the ruins of Turug and Uigur cities in the Orkhon valley at the eastern end of the Khangai Mountains in 1220 by the Chinggis Khaan‘s order. It was completed 15 years later during the Ugedei Khaan‘s reign. The town was a very cosmopolitan and religiously tolerant place.
The silver tree, part of Möngke Khan‘s palace, has become the symbol of Karakorum.
The highest peak of its prosperity was between 1220 and 1260, when Karakorum existed as the great capital of the Euro-Asian Empire, with Mongolia as its core. It used to be a centre of politics, economy, culture, religion, intellect, and diplomacy and the prominent tie of international relations.
Between 1260 and 1380 Karakorum lost the status of capital of the Great Mongolian Empire and became the capital of Mongolia. When Khublai Khan claimed the throne of the Mongol Empire in 1260, as did his younger brother, Ariq Boke, he relocated his capital to today’s Beijing. Karakorum was reduced to the administrative centre of a provincial backwater of the Yuan Dynasty.
In 1368, the rule of Mongolian Yuan Dynasty collapsed and the centre of the Mongolian government was shifted to its homeland after 110 years, since Khubilai Khaan had moved the Empire capital to China in 1260. It gave Karakorum a chance to prosper again.
In 1388, Ming troops under General Xu Da took and destroyed the town.
Today nothing is left of this legendary city.
In 1580, when Abtai Sain Khan together with his brother, lord Tumenkhen, visited the 3rd Dalai Lama and expressed their wish to build a temple in Mongolia, he advised them to reconstruct one old temple in Karakorum. The temple in Takhai ruins that was restored in 1588 according to the Dalai Lama‘s recommendation is the Main Zuu temple of Erdene Zuu monastery.
Now Erdene Zuu Monastery is all that remains of what once was a huge monastery of 100 temples and about 1.000 lamas residing there. We will explore the grounds of Erdene Zuu Monastery surrounded by its massive 400 m X 400 m walls. We will be guided around the 3 remaining temples: Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha and Lavrin Temple. Then we will visit the Kharkhorin’s New Archaeological Museum. It’s a small but modern building whose exhibits include dozens of artefacts dating from the 13th and 14th centuries which were recovered from the immediate area, plus others that were found from archaeological sites in other parts of the provinces, including prehistoric stone tools. You’ll see pottery, bronzes, coins, religious statues and stone inscriptions. There’s also a half-excavated kiln sunk into the museum floor. Perhaps most interesting is the scale model of ancient Karakorum, which aims to represent the city as it may have looked in the 1250s, based on descriptions written by the French missionary William of Rubruck. Another chamber exhibits a most recent addition, a Turkic noble tomb with wall paintings and artefacts, including gold items and jewellery.
We will also see the Turtle Rock and the Phallic Rock, then visit a little market exposing local arts created by locals.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 11Khustai National Park (260 km about 4 hours)

Przewalski’s Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii, also known as the Takhi horses) are a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horses native to the steppes of central Asia. The Takhi became extinct in the middle of the 20th century. They could only be found in zoos until special breeding programs increased their number. Extinct in the wild, the Takhi horse has been reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia at the Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhiin Tal Nature Reserve and Khomiin Tal. The Khustai Nuruu National Park is located about 100 km southwest from Ulaanbaatar. Today it houses and protects around 350 Mongolian’s Takhi wild horses.
The park is home to 459 species of plants, 85 species of lichens, 90 species of moss and 33 species of mushrooms. 44 species of mammals have been recorded, including Red deer, Mongolian gazelle, Roe deer, Wild boar, Wild sheep, Ibex, Mongolian marmots, Grey wolves, Lynx, Pallas’ cat, Red fox, Corsac fox and Eurasian badger. The 217 species of birds include Golden eagle, Lammergeier, Great bustard, Whooper swan, Black stork, Daurian partridge and Little owl. There are 16 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, and 385 species of insects (including 21 species of ants, 55 species of butterflies, 10 species of bush crickets and 29 species of grasshoppers).
Upon arrival at the camp of the Khustai Nuruu National Park we will meet the staff and be introduced to the project.
In the afternoon we will explore the beauties of the Park by jeep, on foot or on horseback.
Overnight in a Mongolian ger.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Day 12Ulaanbaatar (130 km about 3 hours)

We will drive back to Ulaanbaatar. End of the tour.
Meals: Breakfast  

End of services —

The program may also be subject to changes based on traffic, weather or other events beyond our control. In this case we will take care of evaluating the necessary changes together with the travelers. 

Gallery
Included
Not included
  • Licensed English-speaking local guide
  • All the transfers in any destination as specified in the itinerary on a private basis
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Admission fees
  • Any VISA if required
  • International Air tickets
  • Domestic and International Insurance Surcharge
  • Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as drinks at meals
  • All other accounts which are not mentioned in the above inclusion.
  • Optional tour available on spot
The Hotels
Mongolian Ger

A Mongolian Ger (also known as a yurt) is a portable, round tent-like dwelling traditionally used by nomadic herders in Central Asia. The Ger is constructed with a latticed wooden frame that is covered in felt or skins, typically sheep or horse.

The frame is made up of various components:

  • The krooth – a series of flexible wooden poles that form the circular wall
  • The toono – the crown or smoke hole at the top of the Ger
  • The uni – the wooden poles that radiate from the toono to support the krooth

The covering is usually made from layers of wool felt, with an outer layer that can be painted or decorated. This construction allows the Ger to be disassembled, transported, and reassembled relatively easily, making it well-suited for the nomadic lifestyle.

Inside, the Ger is divided into distinct living areas, with a central fireplace or stove. Beds, storage chests, and other furnishings are arranged around the perimeter. The Ger provides a warm, dry, and comfortable living space in the often harsh climate of the Mongolian steppe.

 

Highlights
  • Visit the Singing Sand dunes in the remote Gobi desert
  • Look out for Takhi horses in the mountain
  • Try the Mongolian hospitality by sleeping under a starry sky in their nomadic tent, the Ger
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