Contrasts Of Mongolia Tour

Day 1: Travel to Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Your service team will pick you up from your hotel at 8:00 am, board the vehicle, and drive south toward the Gobi. The rock formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu form a picturesque mountain rising to an elevation of 1,751 meters in Mongolia’s Granite Belt.

After a 5-hour drive, arrive at your ger camp, where you will be staying tonight, and enjoy lunch. Later, venture out to explore the caves, streams, and shrines that dot this sacred site. The scenery is beautiful, and the area has abundant wildlife unique to the Gobi, including both flora and fauna. Enjoy 2–3 hours of hiking. Overnight stay in a ger camp. LD

Day 2: Travel to Tsagaan Suvarga

In the morning, return to the road and head further south to the imposing cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga, translated as White Stupa and named for its appearance. This stunning area features 30-meter-high white limestone formations, created over thousands of years by natural wind erosion.

Enjoy a hike among the sedimentary cliffs, offering excellent photography opportunities. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 3: Travel to Yol Valley – Hiking

In the morning, drive approximately 220 km to Yol Valley (Lammergeier’s Gorge). This picturesque valley is nestled between the beautiful peaks of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains and is home to rich wildlife. Visit the Gobi Museum and hike through the valley. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 4: Travel to Khongor Sand Dunes & Bactrian Camel Ride

Travel 180 km to the Khongor Sand Dunes. Known as the Singing Dunes, they rise up to 300 meters high, stretch 15 km wide, and extend for 180 km. In the afternoon, walk through the golden dunes and enjoy incredible views from the top. Optional camel riding is available. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 5: Explore Ancient Petroglyphs and Bayanzag

Continue traveling 170 km to Bayanzag. En route, stop at the ancient sacred site of Khavtsgait, where hundreds of stone engravings (petroglyphs) can be found atop rocky hills. Some date back to 3000 BC and were carved by hunters while waiting for prey.

Enjoy sweeping desert views before arriving at the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs, where you will see the saxaul forest and striking red cliffs formed by erosion over many thousands of years. This area is internationally famous for dinosaur remains, including complete skeletons, eggs, and hatchlings from the Cretaceous Period. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 6: Travel to the Ongi Temple Ruins & Walking

Today, drive north to the Ongi Temple ruins. Walk among the ruins and visit the partially reconstructed temples. Ongi Monastery, founded in 1760, commemorates the Dalai Lama’s first visit to Mongolia. You may see the stupa displaying the names of victims and possibly meet local monks. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 7: Drive from Desert to Steppe

Travel approximately 280 km (5–6 hours) to Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral heartland of Mongolian nomads. Hike to Orkhon Waterfall, a scenic cascade on the Ulaan Tsutgalan River, measuring 20 meters high and 10 meters wide. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 8: Travel to Kharakhorum

Travel 120 km to Kharakhorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, where Chinggis Khan established his headquarters in 1220. In 1235, his son and successor Ögedei Khan built a palace enclosed by walls.

Visit the local museum showcasing Mongolia’s past and explore Erdene Zuu Monastery, the country’s first and largest Buddhist temple complex, built on the ruins of the 16th-century city. Later, attend a traditional felt-making workshop at a local cooperative. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 9: Travel to Tsenkher Hot Spring

Travel to Tsenkher Hot Springs and relax in the naturally heated mineral water, reaching temperatures of up to 86.5°C, with a mild scent of hydrogen sulfide. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 10: Travel to Taikhar Rock

Enjoy a restful morning and lunch at the ger camp. In the afternoon, travel to Taikhar Rock. En route, visit Zaya Gegeen Temple in Tsetserleg town. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 11: Travel to Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan

Travel to Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, an astonishingly beautiful lake formed by lava flows from ancient volcanic eruptions. En route, visit Khorgo Mountain, an extinct volcano east of the lake. Its crater is 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep, with northern slopes covered in Siberian larch forest. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 12: Travel to Zuun Lake

Travel to Khuvsgul Province, exploring steppe landscapes covered with beautiful wildflowers along the way. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 13–14: Travel to Khuvsgul Lake & Walking Around the Lake

Travel to Murun, the provincial center of Khuvsgul, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the crystal-clear Lake Khuvsgul. In the late afternoon, enjoy walks along the lakeshore, discovering medicinal herbs and wildflowers. You may also hike a nearby hill for panoramic views. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 15: Travel to Uran Togoo Mountain

Travel to Uran Togoo Mountain, an extinct volcano with a crater 600 meters wide and 50 meters deep. Explore the surrounding natural landscapes. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 16–17: Travel to Gurvanbulag Community Ger Camp

Travel to the Gurvanbulag community-based ger camp, located in the buffer zone of Khognokhan Nature Reserve. Enjoy hiking in nearby mountains with panoramic valley views. Optional horse riding is available. For dinner, enjoy khorkhog, a traditional Mongolian barbecue cooked with hot stones. Participate in traditional games in the evening. Overnight stay in a community-based ger camp. BLD

Day 18: Wildlife Tracking – Wild Horses

Travel to Hustai National Park, a 50,620-hectare reserve protecting wild Mongolian horses known as Takhi (Przewalski’s Horse). Visit the information center and hike through the park to spot these rare horses in the wild. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD

Day 19: Travel to Ulaanbaatar

Travel 100 km back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. End of services. B

SERVICES INCLUDED:

Ger camp accommodation (18 nights) in the countryside • English-speaking guide • Entrance fees to protected areas and sightseeing sites • Transfers by 4WD Japanese minivan • Breakfast, lunch (picnic), and dinner as outlined in the itinerary

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

International transportation to and from Mongolia • Hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar • Travel insurance • Bottled mineral water and alcoholic beverages • Tips and gratuities • Laundry services • Personal expenses

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ulaanbaatar • Baga Gazriin Chuluu • Tsagaan Suvarga • Yol Valley • Khongor Sand Dunes • Bayanzag • Ongi Temple Ruins • Orkhon Valley • Kharakhorum • Tsenkher Hot Springs • Taikhar Rock • Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan • Zuun Lake • Lake Khuvsgul • Uran Mountain • Gurvanbulag Community • Hustai National Park • Ulaanbaatar

MEETING POINT:

Good news! You will be picked up from your hotel. Just email us the details. If you haven’t booked your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar yet, you can send the information later.

FITNESS LEVEL:

MODERATE – This tour involves short walks and optional activities such as camel riding, with a relaxed travel pace.