Nomadic Mongolia

Day 1 : Ulaanbaatar

Arrive at any time.

There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

Acommodation

J Hotel

Day 2 : Ulaanbaatar

Enjoy a free day exploring the city. Opt to take a morning city tour including visits to Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.

Spend a free day exploring this fascinating capital city. Enjoy the sights of UB and opt to visit to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill.

Optional Activities - Day 2

Acommodation

J Hotel

Day 3 : Ulaanbaatar/Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu

Drive to the Dungobi Aimag region – Middle Gobi – stopping at the Choir Monastery on the way. Spend the night at the first Mongolian ger camp.

Leave the capital and head south through the steppe to the Middle Gobi. Visit the Choir Monastery before continuing on to a small ger camp not far from Mandalgovi, the regional centre.

Gers are traditional Mongolian tents made with wooden frames and layers of felt. The camps we stay at will have 4 beds per ger with mattresses, linens, and extra blankets. They have a central stove to keep the place cozy and a small table and chairs.

Acommodation

Erdene Ukhaa Ger Camp

Day 4 : Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu/Yolyn Am

Arrive at Yolyn Am — a narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikan mountains. It's an amazing place for hiking. Bring stable shoes and warm clothes, as some places are covered in thick ice year round.

Acommodation

Khan Bogd Ger Camp

Day 5 : Yolyn Am/Khongoryn Els

Drive to Khongoryn Els. En route, stop by a local natural history museum. Enjoy the unique activities the Gobi Desert has to offer.

Acommodation

Gobi Anar Ger Camp

Day 6 : Khongoryn Els

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Gobi Desert. This morning, visit the biggest sand dunes in the western Gobi, then meet a nomadic camel-herding family. Opt to hike along other nearby sand dunes, and try riding a camel.

Acommodation

Gobi Anar Ger Camp

Day 7 : Khongoryn Els/Bayanzag

Explore the Flaming Cliffs - a world renowned archaeological site for the vast amount of dinosaur bones and eggs found here.

Made of red sandstone, these cliffs and canyons offer visitors a scene of breathtaking beauty. Take some time to explore.

Acommodation

Bayan Zag Ger Camp

Day 8 : Bayanzag/Ongiin Hiid

Drive through western parts of the Gobi Desert. In the surrounding mountains, visit the ruins of the Hoshuu and Ongiin Khiid monasteries.

Drive to the Delger Khangai Mountains area. Explore the ruins of the monasteries in the area.

Acommodation

Secret of Ongi Monastery

Day 9 : Ongiin Hiid/Nomad Camp

Leave the Gobi Desert and drive through the Mongolian grasslands. Spend the next two nights with a local nomadic family, observing how they live. Enjoy a traditional meal with them.

Enjoy a long drive northwest, leaving the Gobi desert area and heading into the Mongolian steppe. The nomads here live simple lives and move their cattle along the same routes their great-grandparents travelled hundreds of years ago. In the evening, have dinner together with your hosts. One of the best things to try is the famous Mongolian barbecue.

Depending on the size of the nomadic family and their gers, accommodations can be very basic, with minimal to no facilities. In case if nomads can’t provide enough space for our group, we will camp nearby (camping gear is provided).

Acommodation

Nomadic Family Stay

Day 10 : Nomad Camp

Learn more about nomadic life in the steppes. Get to know your hosts and opt to participate in traditional activities such as milking a yak and preparing fresh dairy products. Discover what it takes to handle a Mongolian horse, and if the season is right, try airag (fermented mare's milk) - long important to cultures across Central Asia.

Acommodation

Nomadic Family Stay

Day 11 : Nomad Camp/Kharkhorin

Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. En route to tonight's ger camp, stop by the Karakorum Museum.

Journey to Kharkhorin, stopping at the beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery. Destroyed during the Communist era, this monastery is slowly being rebuilt.

Acommodation

Munkhtenger Ger Camp

Day 12 : Kharkhorin/Khustai National Park

Stay in Khustai National Park—home of Mongolian wild horses. Here, look for Takhi horses in their natural habitat.

Acommodation

Hustai Ger Camp

Day 13 : Khustai National Park/Ulaanbaatar

Drive back to the capital for last minute sightseeing. Opt to see a local cultural show, an excellent display of dancing and Mongolian throat singing.

Optional Activities - Day 13

Acommodation

J Hotel

Day 14 : Ulaanbaatar

Depart at any time.