Duration: | 7 Day(s) - 6 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Eco Tours |
Day 1: Gurvanbulag – Ger Homestay – Horse Ride
You will be picked up from a pre-arranged Ulaanbaatar location at a time to suit you – we suggest leaving around 9:00 am to make the most of the day. Jump in the vehicle with your guide and head west to the northern part of Gobi. On the way, you will stop briefly to visit Khar Bukhiin Balgas, interesting remains of an ancient fort used by nomadic tribes dating back to the 10th century.
Then it’s onto Gurvanbulag, where you will be staying at a guest ger alongside a nomadic family. Enter the ger and experience the hospitality and traditional nomadic way of life – you can help make and drink milk tea, plus try homemade produce such as yoghurt and milk mares. In the afternoon you will have a chance to do an hour or so of horse riding in the surrounding hills and the dunes nearby. Or you can walk if you prefer. In the evening enjoy a traditional Mongolian meal. Overnight stay in ger alongside nomadic family. LD
Day 2: Travel to Tsenkher – Hot Spring
Today you start your journey to Tsenkher town and the drive is one of the tougher remote journeys for 200km. But the scenery is fantastic. Once you arrive at the camp enjoy the hot spring that is fed by the camp and there are thermal pools for guests to bathe in. Overnight stay in ger camp. BLD
Day 3: Travel to Orkhon Valley
Today you will travel to Orkhon Valley and enjoy the beautiful scenery over the valley, a UNESCO-listed heritage site and the ancestral nomadic heartland of Mongols. After lunch at Yak Herder Family, where you will stay overnight near the river, you will go hiking to venture to Orkhon Waterfall.
Orkhon Waterfall is a scenic cascade on the Ulaan Tsutgalan River, 20m high and 10m wide. You can get involved in the activities of the nomad family – help with milking yaks and watch the nomads making yoghurts and distilling vodka from milk. Overnight stay in ger alongside yak herder nomadic family. BLD
Day 4: Travel to Kharakhorum – Visit Erdenezuu Monastery
In the morning drive to Kharakhorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia where Chinggis Khaan established his headquarters in 1220. In 1235, his son and successor, Ogodei built a palace enclosed by walls. You will visit the interesting local museum which showcases Mongolian history and Erdenezuu Monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of 16th-century Kharakhorum city.
Then we will visit a local cooperative to attend a workshop for making felt items by hand or visit an art gallery. Overnight stay in a ger camp. BLD
Day 5: Khognokhan – Uvgun Temple – Elsen Tasarkhai Dunes – Camel Riding
Today you head to the Khognokhan Nature Reserve, where you can explore the lower temple complex of Uvgun, see the reconstructed temples, and prayer wheel and look around the ruins. Then we recommend taking the 45-minute hike up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills – the scenery is fantastic, and wildflowers may be in abundance depending on the time of year. Head back down to the valley floor, and onto the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai, a 45-minute drive away. Tonight you will stay alongside a family of camel herders – settle into your gers and head off on a Bactrian ride across the dunes for an hour, then enjoy a traditional feast of khorkhog – mutton and vegetables seared and steamed with red hot stones from the fire. Overnight stay in ger alongside nomadic family. BLD
Day 6: Hustai National Park – Wild Takhi Horses – Hiking
After a leisurely breakfast jump in the vehicles for the journey back east to Hustai for 250km. You should arrive at your ger camp in time for lunch. The camp is located at the entrance to the National Park, and you will have some time to rest before venturing inside. At dusk, drive from your camp to see the Takhi – this is the time you have a better chance of seeing them up close and in inaccessible areas. You may want to combine the trip with a long walk in the park, so you should leave a little earlier.
Discuss your preference with your guide. Afterwards, head back to camp for dinner and your last night in a ger. Overnight stay in the ger camp. BLD
Day 7: Chinggis Khaan Statue
After breakfast set off for the remarkable Chinggis Khaan Statue complex for 170km, once you arrive, climb up inside until you reach the exterior staircase which runs up the mane of the horse to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River, Terelj & the hills of the Khan Khentii and visits the horse culture museum in the complex. Then a short drive to the complex restaurant will have lunch. After lunch, return to Ulaanbaatar where you will be dropped at a location to suit you (we can do multiple drop-offs if required). BL
HIGHLIGHTS
GURVANBULAG COMMUNITY - GER STAY - TSENKHER HOT SPRING - ORKHON VALLEY -KHARAKHORUM - ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY - KHOGNOKHAN - ELSEN TASARKHAI SAND DUNES - CAMEL RIDING - HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK - WILD TAKHI HORSES - CHINGGIS KHAAN STATUE COMPLEX
FITNESS LEVEL
ACTIVE: THIS TOUR INVOLVES CONSIDERABLE WALKING AND LONG TRAVEL DAYS.
MEETING POINT
GOOD NEWS! YOU CAN GET PICKED UP FROM A HOTEL OR TRAIN STATION, JUST EMAIL US THE DETAILS. DON'T WORRY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ADDRESS YET, YOU CAN PASS IT ON TO US LATER.
SERVICES INCLUDED
ACCOMMODATION IN GUEST GERS NEXT TO NOMADIC FAMILIES AND IN HUSTAI GER CAMP - TRANSPORT BY A 4WD JAPANESE VAN - LOCAL GUIDE - ALL MEALS AS LISTED - ALL ENTRANCE FEES - ALL ATTRACTIONS AS LISTED
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED
TRAVEL INSURANCE - VISAS - SNACKS & ALCOHOL - ITEMS OF PERSONAL NATURE