Tour Mongolia Golden Circle Tour & Naadam Festival 2022 - 16 Days

Meals

All Meals, listed in the itinerary: Breakfast - 14, Lunch - 13, Dinner –12,

Accommodation

Hotel 4* in Ulaanbaatar - 4 nights, based on double/twin Good Tourist Ger camps in countryside – 11 nights, based on two persons sharing one Ger with twin beds

Guide

English speaking guides at all times

Flights

Internal flight-1: Ulaanbaatar/Dalanzadgad, Southern Mongolia Internal flight-2: Murun, Northern Mongolia/Ulaanbaatar

Transport

Airport/hotel/airport transfers Main trip with 4x4 Toyota Land Cruise or Lexus 470 Jeeps

Others

Sightseeing and entrance fees according to the itinerary, Naadam Festival 2019 Opening Ceremony Ticket, Car entry permission to Naadam stadium and horse racing field “Wonders of Mongolian Art” performance by “Tumen Ekh” ensemble Camel riding fee in Gobi (1 hour) Horseback riding fee at Khovsgol Lake (1 hour) Bottled mineral waters during the tour, Visa invitation letter, if required Included all taxes

Not included:

Insurance

Travel & medical insurance

Others

International flights Daily personal expenses, Hotel early check-in and late check out, Excess luggage charges - free luggage allowance is 15kg for internal flights Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrival In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrival In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Whenever, your international flight lands in city airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. You may need some time to relax and recover from the long-distance flight or possibly from jet-lag. If you feel like going for a walk and checking out places nearby, feel free to ask from your hotel reception for recommendations.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: not included on this day
Day 2 Day 2: Flight To Gobi Desert - Yol Valley (Vulture’S Valley)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Flight To Gobi Desert - Yol Valley (Vulture’S Valley)

In the morning, you will be transferred to the city airport for morning flight to Dalanzadgad, which is a town in Gobi.

Today we will visit Yol valley (Eagle or Vulture’s valley) - is situated in “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park. Yol valley was originally established to conserve birdlife in the region. But it’s now more famous for its dramatic scenery in the middle of the Gobi Desert with a meters’ thick ice almost all year around, except late summer.

We will explore the valley and do hiking through grassy meadows, small streams, long and narrow valley with sheltered by high cliff walls, sunlight bouncing off amazing rocks, covered with wild flowers and Gobi plants. You may be lucky enough to spot wild sheep and goat, grazing high on the cliff walls.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3 Day 3: Khongor Sand Dunes, The Biggest Sand Dune In Gobi Desert
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Khongor Sand Dunes, The Biggest Sand Dune In Gobi Desert

On this day, our trip will continue driving west to the extraordinary sand dunes of Khongor. This is one of the most scenic areas of Gobi. The dunes rise abruptly from the plain, in some places reaching a height of 300 meters, and extend over an area between 2-12 km in width and 180 km in length. Upon we arrive, we will have lunch and relax at cozy Ger camp until Gobi hot temperature decrease.

In the evening, we will visit camel herder family in their Ger, and explore their unique nomadic lifestyle. Its chance to try drinking Hormog (fermented Mongolian camel milk). Then we will ride a camel.

The Khongor Sand Dunes are the perfect place for camel riding. We will discover this magnificent place on camel back. Mongolia is home to 2/3 of the two-humped Bactrian camels in the world. It is a gentle, calm and extraordinary patient animal.

Afterwards, we will hike and climb up to the Singing Dune, one of the highest dunes. From the top of the sand dunes, the view of the desert is awesome and amazing sunshine panorama of sand dunes. When it is windy some of the dunes give a strange sound like the engines of an aero plane, for which they are named the “singing dunes”. The Khongoryn River flows along the sand dunes and gives birth to oases.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4 Day 4: Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)

After breakfast, we will drive to the Bayanzag which is a famous for the first discovery of fossilized dinosaurs. Also, this area is well known for red tall hillocks formed as a result of wind and water erosion which look like fire in the middle of the desert from distance.

When we arrive at Ger camp, we will watch interesting video about how Roy Chapman Andrews and American expedition discovered the first dinosaur eggs from Bayanzag and transferred dinosaur skeletons on the camel back through Gobi Desert. Their findings proved to the world that dinosaurs laid eggs. Then we will take 5min drive to the Flaming cliffs and wander on the red hillocks. We will find bones of dinosaurs around Bayanzag. White fossilized bones are still found nowadays. Return back ger camp and overnight.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5 Day 5: Ongi, Middle Gobi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ongi, Middle Gobi

Today, we will travel through the huge open landscape called Ongi steppe, which is over 80km wide steppe in the Gobi zone and come to around lunch time at Ger camp, which is near to the ruined monastery of Ongi Temple. This small mountainous area along the Ongi River makes a good resting place to break a trip between the two major destinations.

Ongi temple was established in 1660 and once composed of 30 temples, 4 big Buddhism universities. It was destroyed by the communist purges of the 1930s and is being restored by a number of monks. Nowadays that one temple serves as a museum.

When you reach Ger camp, you will have lunch and explore ruins of the monastery. The views of the ruins, river, Ger camps and the surrounding area are very impressive, you can see from any of the nearby hills.

If you want, you can have pleasant massage and sauna at the camp. Rest of the day is yours to relax on your own.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6 Day 6: Karakorum & Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Karakorum & Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery

After breakfast, we will drive to Karakorum and Erdenezuu Monastery. Karakorum was not only the capital of the vast Mongolian Empire, but the epic center of trade along Silk Road. However, the Karakorum of today is a small settlement with little focus on tourism. Today there is a museum does show off some of the artefacts they’ve recovered so far,

Upon arrival in the village, we will visit museum of Karakorum and learn about beautiful ancient Karakorum. Then we will visit to the magnificent and the oldest Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu, built in the 16th century, with 108 stupas. Here you can listen to interesting monk chanting Buddhist sutras. Return to ger camp and have dinner.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7 Day 7: Tsetserleg Town – Taikhar, Khangai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Tsetserleg Town – Taikhar, Khangai

Today our tour will continue towards to Taikar Rock, which is a massive granite rock located on the banks of the Tamir River surrounding flat country. It’s covered with 150 writings in many different languages and dating back from many different periods.

On the way, we will visit Tsetserleg town, which is the capital of Arkhangai province with population of around 20,000. Tsetserleg means garden and the city ringed by scenic mountains, the streets are tree-lined and a lovely little temple overlooks the town.

In the evening, we will enjoy visiting the local nomad family to experience firsthand how people live in the country side and a lifestyle which has not changed for centuries. Here you can help the herders with their daily tasks to get an idea of how nomadic people alongside of their livestock. There is we can taste Airag, which is made horse fermented milk.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8 Day 8: Khorgo Extinct Volcano & Terkh White Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Khorgo Extinct Volcano & Terkh White Lake

In the morning, we will continue trip to Khorgo, Terkh National Park is amazingly beautiful scenery of mountains, cliffs, rapid rivers, lakes, extinct volcanoes and fantastic caves green forests and pastures, where the long-haired yaks and horse thrive.

After seeing extinct Khorgo volcano crater we will have dinner in shore of Terkh white lake’s tourist Ger camp. Terkh White Terkh Lake is a mesmerizing beautiful lake with crystal clear fresh water. This lake was created as a result of basaltic blockage of Terkh River following the eruption of Khorgo volcano and some other volcanoes about 8000 years ago. Hiking, horse riding, mountain climbing, fishing and swimming are all good here.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 9 Day 9: Jargal Hot Springs – Ulziit Khishig Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Jargal Hot Springs – Ulziit Khishig Camp

After breakfast, we will drive towards to Ulziithishig camp through beautiful nature routes, vast grasslands cross High Mountain passes. On the way, we have lunch at Jargal juguur Ger camp at Jargalant Hot Springs. The spring comes out from 150 m of the ground and its water is not mixed with soil waters because it is hot at 70 Celsius degree. The spring produces water that is good for health reasons.

After relaxing lunch, we will continue to drive Ulziit-hishig tourist camp. Dinner and overnight at the Ger camp.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10 Day 10: Khovsgol Lake National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Khovsgol Lake National Park

After breakfast, at 8am we will continue our trip to Khovsgol Lake via Murun city, which is a town of Khovsgol province with population of 35000. While we driving towards the Khovsgol Lake, we will see hundreds of grazing livestock and wild life of northern region of Mongolia.

Khovsgol Lake is the Mongolia’s largest and second-most voluminous freshwater lake in Asia and 1% of all the fresh water in the world.

We will visit Khatgal village and explore the village’s life, market and main port of the lake.

After lunch and check-in at the Ger camp, we will explore the Khovsgol Lake National Park. Relaxing free time offers us the opportunity to explore the surroundings, hiking in the surrounding hills, swimming in the lake and enjoy the natural beauty of the region. The Lake water is crystal clear blue and surrounded by deep forest and magnificent mountains.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11 Day 11: Full Day At Khovsgol Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Full Day At Khovsgol Lake

Khovsgol province is home to the southernmost indigenous reindeer herding people (Tsaatan) in the world. This day tour is not complete without a visiting to reindeer herders family. In the morning, we will saddle our horses and ride to meet a reindeer herder family. Depending on your experience, an appropriate horse will be selected for you. We will meet reindeer herders and explore their life style, custom and sacraments.

Reindeer herders practice shamanism and live in teepees. They are the last reindeer herders who survived for thousands of years inhabiting the remotest subarctic taiga, moving between 5 and 10 times a year.

In the afternoon is free time for you to be on your own. There is great opportunity to hiking, kayaking or just enjoy at wild nature to take photos. Also, you can ride motor-boat around the lake.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 12 Day 12: Fly Back To Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Fly Back To Ulaanbaatar

Today we will return to Ulaanbaatar city, capital of Mongolia. On the way to local airport, we will visit Uushig ancient Deer Stone Monument as another wonder of the Khuvsgul region. This is most clearly depicted deer stones left behind by bronze-age men. A deer, an arch, a shield, a horse, a knife, the moon, the sun and a mirror figured belt were engraved on the stones.

Upon arrival in UB and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is flexible for your will, have a rest or take a walk near the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 13 Day 13: Full Day At Naadam Festival; Opening Ceremony, Wrestling, Archery And Horse Racing At Hui Doloon Khudag
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Full Day At Naadam Festival; Opening Ceremony, Wrestling, Archery And Horse Racing At Hui Doloon Khudag

In the morning at 9am, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and joining in naadam tour group. Today we will be attending the opening ceremony of the Festival of Naadam in Ulaanbaatar national stadium. It’s Mongolia’s biggest, most colorful and most important annual cultural event, focusing on three sports: horse racing, Mongolian-style wrestling, and archery. It’s no coincidence that all three skills derive from the capabilities of Genghis Khan’s legendary military - a force that conquered and controlled the largest empire the world has ever known.

After opening ceremony, we will visit naadam archery field beside central stadium. The archery field will be filled with men and women archers in colorful ethnic national costumes who shooting arrows from their bows. This kind of contest was in existence in the 13th century and was in use until recently.

In the afternoon, we will drive to “Hui Doloon hudag” (horse racing field of Naadam festival) with Mongolian racers from all corners of Mongolia. You will experience the brilliant madness of the horse race field and the unsurpassed cultural opportunity to watch the horse racing competition included around 250-300 horses. There are you will have a great opportunity to take photography local horse trainers, peoples with traditional garments and so more contrast.

After explore the Hui Doloon khudag, drive back to the city and we will re-enter into the naadam stadium to watch for Mongolian national wrestling, you’ll see many wrestlers wrestling onto the green field. In the usual 512 wrestler tournament, there will be nine elimination rounds of wrestling over two days. There is no weight category in Mongolian wrestling.

We will wander around outside of Naadam stadium to watch locals who dressed their national costumes, food and trade corners etc.

End of the day, transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*, and Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 14 Day 14: Genghis Khan’S Statue Complex - Terelj N.Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Genghis Khan’S Statue Complex - Terelj N.Park

Today, we will depart for Terelj National Park. This is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia which is by its natural beauty, forested alpine mountains and interesting rock formations (Massive woolsack weather conditions) very well known.

On the way visit “Genghis Khan Statue Complex” which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. There is a recreation area, restaurants, and souvenir shops occupy the base structure. From here, you can ascend to the head of the horse using an elevator. There you have a good panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. You are now definitely in Genghis Khan’s country!

From here, we will take a short drive to the Ger camp in Terelj National Park for lunch and stay overnight.

In the afternoon, we will explore the national park and see Turtle Rock - interesting rock formation looking like a turtle. Also, visit Ariyabal meditation temple - surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations and sits at top of the mountain. From the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the Terelj National Park.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 15 Day 15: Ulaanbaatar Half Day City Tour.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Ulaanbaatar Half Day City Tour.

In the morning at 9am, we will return to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival at Ulaanbaatar city, we will visit Zaisan Memorial Hill is located in the south side of Ulaanbaatar City, right beside the Bogd Khan Mountain having a best view of the city and surrounding hills.

Next visit Bogd Khan Palace museum - the complex was a residence of 8th Bogd Javzandamba in 19th century, the head of Mongolian religion. The palace consists of seven Summer Prayer temples and the winter palace.

After lunch, visit “Gandan” Monastery, Mongolia’s largest functioning Buddhist monastery including the Mongolian Buddhist University. The highlight of visiting to Gandan is 26-meter-high majestic gilded indoor statue of Megjid Janraisig.

Afterwards, free for your choice. You can be transferred to the hotel for rest and refreshment or go shopping for souvenirs and local products, your guide will be ready to serve you for that. Suggested shopping places are State department store, famous “Gobi” cashmere factory store and “Naran Tuul” Black market.

In the evening, we will visit “Wonders of Mongolia” folklore show by famous Tumen-Ekh ensemble - is one of the most successful folk art groups to share traditional Mongolian music with the world, having traveled to over 40 countries.

Dinner is at “Bd’s Mongolian Barbeque” international chain restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 16 Day 16: Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Departure

You will be free at leisure in your hotel or wander around on your own until being escorted to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure flight home. Your driver will assist you with flight check-in and luggage, and see you off at the point of security check. Meals: Breakfast

+13

16 days tour

Mongolia Golden Circle Tour & Naadam Festival 2022 - 16 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Mongolia Golden Circle Tour & Naadam Festival 2022 - 16 Days

Day 1: Arrival In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Day 2: Flight To Gobi Desert - Yol Valley (Vulture’S Valley)

Day 3: Khongor Sand Dunes, The Biggest Sand Dune In Gobi Desert

Day 4: Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)

Day 5: Ongi, Middle Gobi

Day 6: Karakorum & Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery

Day 7: Tsetserleg Town – Taikhar, Khangai

Day 8: Khorgo Extinct Volcano & Terkh White Lake

Day 9: Jargal Hot Springs – Ulziit Khishig Camp

Day 10: Khovsgol Lake National Park

Day 11: Full Day At Khovsgol Lake

Day 12: Fly Back To Ulaanbaatar

Day 13: Full Day At Naadam Festival; Opening Ceremony, Wrestling, Archery And Horse Racing At Hui Doloon Khudag

Day 14: Genghis Khan’S Statue Complex - Terelj N.Park

Day 15: Ulaanbaatar Half Day City Tour.

Day 16: Departure

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania