11Days Mongolia Camp Classic
Ulaanbaatar – Dalanzadgad – Khongoryn Els – Bayanzag – Dalanzadgad – Ulaanbaatar - Khustai – Karakorum – Tsenkhe – Orkhon Valley – Ulaanbaata
POA
Day 1: Arrive Ulaanbaatar (D)
On your arrival at Ulaanbaatar International Airport; after clearing Immigration and Custom formalities, you will be met and transferred to your Hotel.
Visit the Museum of Natural History with its excellent dinosaur display, the Fine Arts Museum with its impressive selection of local art and traditional works or the Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan, which is stocked full of fascinating artefacts. Mongolia's largest and most important monastery, the lively Gandan Khiid, is also well worth a visit to learn about the main religion of Mongolia - Tibetan Buddhism.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Dalanzadgad (B/L/D)
This morning you will be collected from your Hotel and transferred to Airport for your flight to Dalanzadgad On your arrival at Dalanzadgad Airport, you will be met and then we start our adventure by heading out to "Vulture Canyon". The area is an oasis of water, canyons and gorges, attracting wildlife from all over Mongolia. Take an afternoon hike to explore a gorge and capture some beautiful pictures of the stunning Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Valleys. Check into camp.
The Gobi Mirage Camp has 24 hour wind and solar powered electricity, western style toilet/bathrooms, soft bedding for your Ger stay. Not all Ger Camps will be of this standard throughout our journey and some locations will not have western toilets/facilities.
Day 3: Dalanzadgad – Khongoryn Els (B/L/D)
Today we drive to the Khongoryn sand dunes also referred to by locals as the 'singing dunes' (approx 4 hours). These dunes stretch for over 100 km and reach 200 meters in height. Check in to Ger Camp and enjoy a local lunch in our new surrounds.
In the afternoon try your hand at sand dune hiking and board a 2 humped back of a camel for a traditional camel ride along the singing sand dunes.
Day 4: Khongoryn Els – Bayanzag (B/L/D)
We continue our journey today and move onto the Flaming Red Cliffs, also known as Bayanzag or sometimes Bain-Dzak. This area is best known for being the first site ever where dinosaur egg nests were discovered back in the 1920's. This section of the Gobi Desert is considered a paleontologists’ paradise. Walk the labyrinths of rock and hard sand and perhaps make your own discovery. You may also visit a saxaul forest nearby. These saxaul plants help to stabilize the active sand dunes and reduce the effects of sand storms. Return to camp for dinner
Day 5: Bayanzag – Dalanzadgad – Ulaanbaatar (B)
Today, at an appointed time, you will be collected and transferred to Dalanzadgad Airport for your flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
On your arrival at Ulaanbaatar Airport, you will be met and transferred to your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own
Day 6: Ulaanbaatar – Khustai (B/L/D)
This morning we drive to Khustai National Park (approx 3 hours) today and arrive at our Ger camp by midday. The Przewalski or Takhi horse is a rare and endangered subspecies of the wild horse native to Mongolia. The species was extinct in the wild in the 1960s, but has been reintroduced back to its native habitat since the 1990s. Visit a small museum run by the Takhi horse reintroduction project.
In the afternoon we will embark on a wild life hike in the national park with a local biologist who introduce us to his work and inform us about the park and its flora and fauna.
Day 7: Khustai – Karakorum (B/L/D)
This morning we drive to the ancient capital of Karakorum, built by the legendary Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Ask your leader and drivers to tell you some stories about this great man on the way - he's the nations' hero after all.
In Karakorum we visit the first Buddhist centre of Mongolia, the impressive Erdene Zuu Monastery. This is an immense walled compound which retains much of its former glory, and within it, we can inspect the three temples dedicated to the three stages of a Buddha's life: as a child, an adolescent and an adult. Check into camp.
Day 8: Karakorum – Tsenkher (B/L/D)
This morning we travel to the Tsenkher Hot Springs (approx. 6 hrs), situated in the valley of the Delger River. On the way, we stop at Tsetserleg, a lovely provincial town with a local market and a unique little museum housed in a former temple which we visit with a local guide. There's a chance to wander around the town to have a glimpse at what provincial Mongolian life is like, stock up on some snacks and drinks for the travels ahead and if there is time and the connection is good, a chance to quickly get in touch with family and friends back home at an internet café.
We then continue another hour on to the springs and check into our tourist ger camp. Enjoy soaking in the thermal waters of these natural hot springs while surrounded by the remote beauty of the landscape..
Day 9: Tsenkher – Orkhon Valley (B/L/D)
This morning continue our journey through the famous Orkhon Valley where all the great Nomadic Empires, stretching from Korean peninsula to Caspian Sea, had their capital cities as this valley is roughly the geographic center of the inner Euro-Asian steppes. Around lunch time we will check into our Ger camp and the remainder of the day will be spent on a visit to a little museum in the middle of nowhere that exhibits the obelisks, dedicated to the Royal family of the ancient Turkish empire, which are invaluable source of information about those nomads. Here we often have a chance to practice the art of Mongolian archery under the tutorage of some local experts.
Day 10: Orkhon Valley – Ulaanbaatar (B/L)
This morning we travel back across the rolling grasslands to Ulaanbaatar past 'ovoos' (roadside shrines) and Ger suburbs. Arriving in the "metropolis", we check back into our hotel. Depending on what time we arrive there may be time to shop for some local handicrafts such as cashmere and felt products or check out some more of the city's sights and museums.
Tonight we celebrate our journey around Mongolia with a night at a cultural performance of throat singing and traditional dancing.
Day 11: Ulaanbaatar (B)
Today, at an appointed time, you will be collected from your Hotel and transferred to Ulaanbaatar International Airport for your onward flight
Included: Accommodation on twin share basis, tour guide & transfers, meals as per itinerary, domestic flights, tours & entrance fees and taxes
Note: Please contact us if you require more information on different Hotel categories.
Prices quoted are valid till 30 September 2023. Cost above is indicative, based on Low Season in NZ Dollars and subject to change due to fluctuation in exchange rates. Please read T&C before booking. Call 09 410 5060 or 0508 EXOTIC (0508 396 842) or email info@exoticholidays.co.nz for more information.