Tour South Gobi And Central Mongolia

Guide

English speaking local certified guide.

Others

Admission tickets to the monumnets Mongolian folklore cultural show

Flights

One domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad Airport in South Gobi

Meals

11 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 11 dinner

Transport

Van or minibus in the city. 4WD van outside Ulaanbaatar One domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar to South Gobi

Accommodation

Three nights four star hotel accommodation Eight nights traditional ger accommodation with shared toilet and shower.

Not included:

Optional

Horseback riding and camel riding

Others

International airfare Drinks, tipping, laundry, phone and other expenses of personal nature. Extra expenses or loss due to nature and unforeseen events such as flight cancellation and delays, road blockade, illness, accident or any other reason beyond our control Travel insurance Emergency medical transportation and evacuation costs. Admission tickets for camera

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included. Highly recommended.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive In Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive In Ulaanbaatar

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar on your own. If you need help with flight reservation, we are able to help you with. U.S. Citizens don’t need visa for Mongolia for stays of up to 90 days and Canadians up to 30 days for tourism purpose. After clearing immigration and customs, meet your guide and driver at the arrival gate and following introductions, you are transferred to the hotel in the city (30 minutes).Check-in hotel and take rest for the day to rest or explore on your own. If you arrive during dinner time(6-7 p.m.), you will be taken for the dinner. Overnight at Ramada Hotel or similar 4* Meals: Dinner (subject to your arrival time)
Day 2 Day 2: Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you for sightseeing of Ulaanbaatar. The first stop will be at the Gandan Monastery that is the largest and most famous functioning monastery in Mongolia; here you may experience the monks in worship and see the impressive Golden Buddha Statue of Migjid Janraisig. Next, visit the Chinggis Khan Square, in the central square of the city. The center of the square has an equestrian statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, one of the leaders of Mongolia’s 1921 revolution and actually the square was named after him from 2013 to 2016.The square also features monuments of Chinggis Khan, as well as to Ögedei Khan, and Kublai Khan in the square’s north side and in front of the government palace called Saaral Ordon. Now, visit the National Museum of Mongolia, located in the west side of the palace. The museum exhibits prehistory, pre-Mongol empire history, Mongol empire, Mongolia during Qing rule, ethnography and traditional life, and the twentieth-century history of Mongolia The other two attractions nearby are Bogd Khan Palace Museum and Zaisan Memorial. The Bogd Khan Palace Museum is one of the few Ulaanbaatar historical attractions not destroyed by the Soviet and Mongolian communists. It used to be a winter residence of the last Bogd Khaan of Mongolia, Javzandamba. Among the museum’s exhibits are sculptures by Mongolia’s first Bogd Khaan Zanabazar, the famous Taras. The museum has 21 invaluable sculptures of Taras. The Zaisan memorial lies in the foothills to the south of Ulaanbaatar). It was built by the Russians as a monument to Soviet soldiers fallen in World War Two. A tiled mural lies within a huge concrete ring, which is raised about 5 m above the ground. Zaisan is a popular tourist attraction and one of the highlights of Ulan Bator due to the fantastic views it offers over the city. Overnight at Ramada Hotel or similar Meals: Breakfast, lunch dinner Note: Jul 10 trip times with Naadam festival and so you will be attending the festival instead of sightseeing.
Day 3 Day 3: Yolyn Am Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Yolyn Am Valley

This morning we have a 90-minute flight to South Gobi, Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Our local guide and driver will greet us with a 4WD vehicle for a two-hour drive to the Yol Valley in Gurvansaikhan National Park, situated in the lap of the Altai Mountains. On the way to the camp, we can stop to visit the local Natural History Museum for an insight into the flora and fauna of the area. This valley, nestled deep within the hills, is a haven away from the desert heat. Some areas of the valley are continually sheltered from the hot sun and house huge, blocks of ice that gradually melt away during the summer. It is very wide at the entrance and narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. We will get to see wild animals such as ibex and wild sheep, and the vulture. We can hike on foot or horseback or camelback around the area to the gorge. (Horseback ride costs US$ 5-7 with the lead, not included in the trip). Check into the ger camp. The next three days will be well spent exploring the vast Gobi. It is the habitat of the Bactrian Camels, Argali mountain sheep, Golden Eagles, Jerboas (which resemble the Kangaroo rats), Saker Falcons, and more. We might also take a scenic hike through the valley to discover the habitat of the indigenous vulture-like lammergeyers, Altai snow cocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali mountain sheep. Overnight at Gobi Mirage Ger Camp Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4 Day 4: Khongoryn Els
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Khongoryn Els

This morning we set out by 4WD vehicle for a four-hour drive to to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els, which run for 60 miles alongside the Gobi-Altai Mountain range. The sand strip was called the Singing Sands because when there is high wind, it produces the sound like an aero plane. These “Singing Sands,” which stand up to 2,500 feet in some areas, are probably the Gobi’s most impressive sand dunes. Isolated from the rest of the country, the "Singing Sands" have been the best kept secret for thousands of years in the history of Mongolia.Hiking the sand dunes is an amazing experience. The dunes seem to stretch on forever like a soft ribbon of sand draped over the desert. From the top, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the area. Next, we can stop to visit a camel breeding family near the sand dunes, and perhaps ride a camel to the sand dune areas. The family might even offer us the fermented camel milk and cookies. You can also rent the camel (double humped) from the family (about $5-7, and not included in the trip) for an hour. There is also a beautiful green oasis known as Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River. Overnight at Gobi Erden Ger Camp Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5 Day 5: Bayanzag
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Bayanzag

After breakfast, we leave Hongoryn Els for Bayanzag, about 106 miles away. It’s a long day’s drive, and can take up to 5 hours. However, it’s a scenic journey through the vast land. We will occasionally stop for photography and to watch the birds and the animals of the area. We first visit the Flaming Cliff. The place was so-named by Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer who searched throughout the Mongolian Gobi Desert and found dinosaur skeleton and eggs for the first time in Asia. The red cliff gleams with sunlight and can be seen from far away. We can take a short walk on the ridge of the cliff and look for the pieces of dinosaur bones. We might drive little further to see the saxaul trees that contributed the name Bayanzag, which means, naturally, “rich in saxaul.” Our final 32-mile leg takes to our camp. Overnight at Mongolian Gobi Ger Camp Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 Day 6: Ongiin Khiid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Ongiin Khiid

After breakfast, we head up north on a four-hour, 100-mile drive to Ongiin Khild, a popular stop on the way to the Harhoryn (Karakoram). On the bank of the Ongiin River, we’ll see the ruins of two monasteries, collectively known as Ongi or Ongiin Temple. Formerly one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, with 1,000 monks and 28 chapels, it was destroyed in the 1939 communist purges. As we visit the ruins and the surrounding area, the views of the river, ger camps and the nearby hills are spectacular. Overnight at Secret of the Ongi Ger Camp Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Day 7: Orkhon Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Orkhon Valley

Today we will leave the deserts of South Gobi and enter the mountainous and steppe zone on a 150-mile, six-hour drive. Orkhon Valley sprawls along the banks of the Orkhon River in Central Mongolia, some 200 miles west of Ulaanbaatar. Orkhon Valley is recognized by UNESCO as the World Heritage List for representing evolution of nomadic pastoral traditions spanning more than two millennia. We’ll have at our ger camp in the afternoon. We will have lunch and time to settle in to our ger before we proceed for an excursion to the Orkhon waterfall which is about 30 miles further up. The water doesn’t run all year and you will be disappointed if you arrive here in the wrong time of the year. The water flow starts only after a good summer rain. The water flow is very good and scenic in late July and August. Overnight at Ursa Major Ger Camp Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Day 8: Kharkhorin
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Kharkhorin

This morning we have a three-hour, 65-mile drive to Kharakhorum, which was the ancient capital of Mongolia established by Chinggis Khan. His son, Ogodei is believed to have built a palace enclosed by walls in the 13th century, but nothing can be seen today. What we can see is the Erdene Zuu monastery, built from the remains of the ancient capital. Before the communist purges in 1937, the monastery complex believed to have 100 temples with more than 1000 resident monks; now only three temples remain. We can also visit a museum here that has the collection of the ancient capital. If you are interested, we can visit a workshop of hand-made felt items used by locals. Overnight at Mukhtenger Ger Camp Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Day 9: Lake Ugii
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Lake Ugii

A short drive further north – 60 miles in about two hours – brings us to the beautiful Ugii Lake. On the way we will stop visit Khushuu Tsaisam museum that houses the artifacts from the Turkish empire. This lake covers 27 square kilometers (10.42 square miles) and is rich in perch and pike. Ugii Nuur is a wonderful place for bird life - cranes and ducks especially. This lake is stunning and would take most of a day to walk around, but it’s also a great place to unwind and reflect. This could be one of your favorite places in Mongolia. Overnight at Ugii Ger Camp Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 Day 10: Gurvanbulag Soum
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Gurvanbulag Soum

After breakfast, leave for Gurvanbulag Soum, a short 40-mile drive from Ugii Lake. Here we visit a nomad family of Gurvanbulag community. The nomads are always welcoming, with traditional hospitality. We can try unconventional home-made special dairy products, such as aaruul-dried curds, Mongolian salty milk tea, Suuteitsai and so on. Gurvanbulag is a small community of families who live in the beautiful natural reserve of Khugnukhaan Mountain. This is a rare chance to interact with nomad people and learn of their lives in this amazing place. In the afternoon we can enjoy a half-day trek to Elsen Tasarkhai, which is a small sand dune. In the evening, we can get a lesson on a traditional game, “Shagai,” with the family members. Overnight at Community Ger Camp Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Day 11: Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Ulaanbaatar

We have a long day’s drive – about 175 miles over six hours. So, we can stop along the way in Hustai National Park, renowned for the restoration of wild horses, also called Przewalski Horses. We should be able to watch a few herds, then continue another hour to our hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at Ramada Hotel. Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Day 12: Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Ulaanbaatar

Extend your trip or you are transferred to the airport in time for flight to your next destination. Meals: Breakfast

12 days tour

South Gobi And Central Mongolia

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip South Gobi And Central Mongolia

Day 1: Arrive In Ulaanbaatar

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing

Day 3: Yolyn Am Valley

Day 4: Khongoryn Els

Day 5: Bayanzag

Day 6: Ongiin Khiid

Day 7: Orkhon Valley

Day 8: Kharkhorin

Day 9: Lake Ugii

Day 10: Gurvanbulag Soum

Day 11: Ulaanbaatar

Day 12: Ulaanbaatar

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