Tour Description

Best of Mongolia Adventure Photo Tour 2022

The northern and central regions of Mongolia are considered the highlights to adventure lovers who traversed through Mongolia. On this Mongolia Exploration journey, you will go beyond the highlights and explore and experience the Mongol nomadic traditional way of life in immersive landscapes. 

On this Mongolia tour, travellers will visit 2 nomadic families to get acquainted with 2 distinctive nomadic lifestyles in two different regions of Mongolia and learn from their story of life and will relax in a luxury hot spring that has a healing ability with beautiful surroundings, Guests will ride horses in the home of our host families as like they are real nomads. Also, travellers will do hiking, and horseback riding through the alpine-like beautiful landscape, and do a small boat cruise on a crystal clear lake, and do birdwatching through a lakeshore, and explore the Mongolian Gobi desert and will ride a camel through gobi sand dunes.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1:

ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR CITY

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar city, our driver and English-speaking guide will pick you up from the airport and be transferred to your hotel in downtown. After you settled in, we will start a sightseeing tour including a visit to Sukhbaatar’s square. The Square is in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, in front of the Mongolian Parliament House. Across from the central square, we will visit the National Museum of Mongolia, the biggest museum with over 54000 exhibitions from the prehistoric period till the 21st century. Our next stop will be the Gandan Monastery. The monastery is the largest and most significant Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar city with over 200 years old. If time permits, we will visit Zaisan Hill memorial, the hill provides a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. Overnight in a hotel.

• Transfer to Hotel from Ulaanbaatar New International Airport, about 35 km, and Ulaanbaatar City tour
• Meal(s): Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. But if you prefer to stay alone just tell us before the tour, we will provide you with no extra single-supplement charge. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 5-star hotel to a home-stay.

DAY 2:

VISIT SEMI GOBI DESERT IN CENTRAL MONGOLIA

After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up from your hotel, and begin our Northern Mongolian Journey. Today we will visit Mongol els in central Mongolia. It is a unique place with three different forms of the natural landscape; a combination of Gobi sand dunes, green steppe, and rocky mountains. Here we will visit a camel breeder family to learn to milk and ride a Bactrian camel. Bactrian camels have two humps which makes them very comfortable to ride than Arabian camels. After the camel breeder family, you have some time to explore the sand dunes in the middle of the Mongolian green steppe. Overnight in a ger camp near the sand dunes.

• Travel time: 270 km on the asphaltic road, and 5-6 km on a dirt road.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: We will stay in a local camel breeder family,  our community-based tour programme member & long term cooperative family. The host family offers 3 extra “gers”, our group will share a ger with 2-4 other members of the group. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. An option for a (brilliantly engineered) cold shower.

DAY 3:

VISIT KHARKHORIN THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THE MONGOLIA EMPIRE

Our team will head to Kharkhorin city. The city had existed as a capital for the world’s largest contiguous empire through over 40 years. In Kharkhorin city, we will visit a museum, has many exhibitions which show the history of Mongolian nomadic life from hunter gatherers’ period till most powerful and consummate empire throughout the world. After the museum, we will visit Erdenezuu monastery, the biggest Buddhist Monastery Museum in Mongolia. Which has many expensive and precious Buddhist artworks from the 17th century including mould deities of gold and silver, thankas, split paintings and manuscripts. In the evening before sunset, you have time to wander on the bank of the Orkhon River. Overnight in a ger camp.

• Travel time: 110 km on the asphaltic road. Approximately 3-4 hours of driving, but have photo breaks en route to Kharkhorin.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
• Accommodation: You will stay in a traditional ger camp on the Orkhon River’s shore. The Ger camp has a western toilet & shower. 

DAY 4:

RELAX AT TSENHER HOT SPRING

This morning, we will have breakfast at the ger camp, and continue our journey to Tsenkher hot spring. The host spring is the 2nd hottest spring in Mongolia, elevated at 1860 m above sea level. Water from this geological spectacle emerges to the ground at 87°C with a flow rate of 101/sec. The composition of sodium carbonate, hydro-carbonate, sulphur and other chemical ingredients have healing properties for some ailments. Facilities include outdoor pools (separately for men and women), showers, and both cosy gers and houses. In the afternoon, we will drive to a village for visit to Zayan Gegeen Monastery, founded in the 17th century, housed over 1000 monks before its closing in the 1930s. Overnight in a ger camp.

• Travel time: From Kharkhorin to the hot spring, approximately 120 km on the asphaltic road and 40 km on a dirt road.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation:: We will stay in a hot spring-based Khan Khujirt Resort. (2 guests in a twin room or in a ger). Shower, and western toilet.

DAY 5:

TRAVEL TO MONGOLIA’S WHITE LAKE

On this day we will drive to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake also called “White Lake, which is elevated at 2,060 m above sea level, and surrounded by an extinct volcano named Khorgo, which contains spectacular combinations of ebony forest-covered mountain scenery and rocky formations formed by volcanic eruptions. The Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is registered in Ramsar’s Convention because many rare species of birds including whooper swan, shelduck, common heron, great white egret, and bar-headed goose gather here. Once we arrive in Khorgo – Terkh National Park, we will climb up to the extinct volcano, and saunter on the shore of the lake for bird watching. Overnight in a ger camp.

• Travel time: From the hot springs to the Terkhin Tsagaan Lake approximately 190 km on the asphaltic road and 30-40 km on a dirt road.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: We will stay in a community-based eco ger camp on the lakeshore. 2 guests will stay in one ger.

DAY 6:

VISIT A MONGOLIAN NOMADIC FAMILY

After breakfast, we will pack up and head for an off-road journey to the village Shine-Ider in Khuvsgul province. At the end of approximately 5 hours of driving, we will reach a nomadic family. When we are in nomadic family, you have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle including how they milk cows, how they take care of their herds in the vast pasture land, and also you will get a chance to try what nomadic people do in daily life. Overnight in a ger with a nomadic family.

• Travel time: From the lake to the nomadic family approximately 160 km on a dirt road. An average pace of 40-60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions. 
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: Today we will be invited by our community-based tour programme member, our long term cooperative family. The host family offers 3 extra “gers”, our group will share a ger with 2-4 other members of the group. Mongolian traditional “ger” – a round-shaped felt dwelling with no separate rooms, and no shower, no water from the wall, and no western toilet. Asian style outside long-drop toilet.

DAY 7:

EXPLORE KHUVSGUL LAKE – ASIA’S BLUE PEARL

Today we will wake up at the same with nomadic people, and acquainted with their morning routes and will have a warm breakfast with the family in their cosy ger. After breakfast, we will pack up and head for the long, yet for an incredibly scenic drive to Khuvsgul Lake. Along the way to the lake, we will have lunch in Murun town. Khuvsgul Lake is the deepest and the 2nd most voluminous freshwater lake in Asia. The lake is surrounded by snow-topped mountain ranges from its west side, and by flat-topped mountains with slopping mountainsides, covered by forest from the east side. Once we reach Khuvsgul Lake, we will check-in to our ger camp on the west shore of Khuvsgul Lake which means you will see the view of the lake just outside of your ger’s door. Overnight in a ger camp on the lakeshore.

• Travel time: From the nomadic family to Khuvsgul Lake, 130 km on a dirt road and 110 km on the asphaltic road.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: We will stay in an environment-friendly ger camp on Khuvsgul Lake’s shore. One ger will be shared with 2 guests.

DAY 8:

A LEISURE DAY ON KHUVSGUL LAKE’S SHORE

We will have breakfast at the camp, and today you have options for the excursion including a boat cruise of approximately 1 hour in the lake, horse trekking on the lake shore averagely 1 hour or kayaking in the lake. In the afternoon, you have time to relax on the lakeshore. Overnight in a ger camp on the lakeshore.

• Travel time: We will ride a horse around the lakeshore
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: We will stay in an environment-friendly ger camp on Khuvsgul Lake’s shore. One ger will be shared with 2 guests.

DAY 9:

DRIVE TO URAN EXTINCT VOLCANO

On this day, we will expand our journey in Bulgan province. The province is famous for its breathtaking nature with thick forest-covered mountains, magnificent pasturelands and even streams with beautiful banks. Throughout the day, we will hike up to ‘Uran’ extinct volcano, its mountainsides covered with fir and ebony forest from its backside and inside the crater. Also, there is a lake inside the crater. Overnight in a ger camp near the Uran volcano.

• Travel time: From the lake to the extinct volcano approximately 6-7 hours on a dirt road. An average pace of 40-60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions.
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: We will stay in a horse breeder nomadic family. The family offers additional “gers” to guests. The number of guests in 1 ger will depend on the nomadic family’s possibility. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide tents for each guest and these can be put up next to the family’s home.

DAY 10:

VISIT AMARBAYSGALANT MONASTERY

We will head to Amarbayasgalant monastery, which was the biggest pilgrimage Buddhist centre for Mongols in the 18-19th century. Meantime the monastery had 40 temples and over 6000 monks before it was affected by anti-religious victimization in the 1930s. The architectural complex of the Monastery embodies Manchu-style spatial arrangement in construction planning, Chinese architectural arts, and vernacular architectural elements and knowledge of Mongolian people. The monastery’s restoration has been performed with its original materials and design archive photos, after restoration, the monastery was registered in the Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO.

• Travel time: Approximately 6-7 hours on a dirt road. An average pace of 40-60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions. 
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: We will stay in an environment-friendly ger camp on Khuvsgul Lake’s shore. One ger will be shared with 2 guests.

DAY 11:

DRIVE BACK TO ULAANBAATAR

Early morning, we will have breakfast at the camp, and head for a long drive back to Ulaanbaatar city. We will arrive in the capital city in the afternoon, and you have time for visiting the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops or relax in your hotel until dinner. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.

• Travel time: Transfer to the hotel
• Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
• Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. But if you prefer to stay alone just tell us before the tour, we will provide you with no extra single-supplement charge. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 5-star hotel to a home-stay.

DAY 12:

DEPARTURE

Today is the end of the “2022 Naadam Festival & The Mystical Reindeer Herders” tour. Our team will transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight. Have a nice trip back to your home and thank you for choosing Expedics Travel Mongolia.

• Meal(s): Breakfast
• Transport: Transfer to the airport from the hotel by vehicle.