Escape to the ancient capital Kharkhorum tour

[Day 1]
Pick up from the hotel and start the journey. Our first stop is Khustai National park to view the wild Przewaski’s horses that were once known to be extinct in Mongolia. The National park also serves as home to many other wild animals and plants. Have lunch at the camp. Then continue driving until we reach Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes. Here we will stay at a tourist camp, have dinner, ride camels among the dunes and rest at the camp.

[ Driving distance – 310 km ,  Driving duration – 4.5 hours,  Meals – Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 2]
After breakfast we bid the camel herder family and continue driving towards Kharkhorin. Upon reaching the destination we will visit Kharkhorin museum to get familiar with the history of Great Mongolian Empire period. After viewing the museum and learning about the 13^th century Mongolian history we will go to the camp, have lunch and take a rest for the day. Dinner at the camp.

[ Driving distance – 80 km ,  Driving duration – 1.5 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 3]
After some rest and breakfast, we will go see the Erdenezuu Buddhist Monastery built at the beginning of the 16^th century when Buddhism entered Mongolia and familiarize ourselves with the 16^th century Mongolian history. Drive to Bileg Khan’s museum. Further drive to Ugii lake for lunch. After short rest we will head back to Ulaanbaatar city.

[ Driving distance – 421 km ,  Driving duration – 6.5 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch ]

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 

Przewalski’s horses- wild horses named after the Russian scientist N. M. Przewalski who scientifically described about the horse. They are known as the last surviving subspecies of wild horse. These horses once were abundant and roamed freely in the steppe along the Mongolia-China border. They went extinct in Mongolia after the 1960s. However, the foals taken to Europe in 1920s have been growing in numbers and kept at zoos across Europe. Kindhearted Hungarian couple found out about the horses origin and contacted officials in Mongolia which led to a big project their reintroduction into Mongolia. The reintroduction went successful and the first 15 Przewaslki horses returned to their land in 1992. Since then the remaining horses were transported and released into the wild. Today more than 300 of them freely roam Khustai National park.

Mongolian camels are two humped Bactrian camels. These camels are native to the steppes of Central Asia. Camels are one of the main five livestock for Mongolian nomads. Since early days, camels have played an important part in everyday lives of their owners. They were the means of transportation before vehicles introduction, especially they were useful when nomads moved from one place to another. Moreover they provide people with milk, wool and sometimes meat. Elsen Tasarkhai The Elsen tasarkhai, which literally translates into “patch of desert” is located in Uvurkhangai province and it stretches 80km and has width of 5 km. This is a spectacular place where you can see the diversity of Mongolian landscape of mountains, sand dunes and forests meet at one place.

In the main hall it holds the precious artifacts found in the Orkhon valley belonging to Stone age, Bronze age and ancient empires. Built in 2011.

The Erdene Zuu Monastery is probably the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Located in Uvurkhangai Province, approximately 2 km north-east from the center of Kharkhorin and adjacent to the ancient city of Karakorum, it is part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site.The monastery is affiliated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Erdene Zuu Monastery is probably the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Located in Uvurkhangai Province, approximately 2 km north-east from the center of Kharkhorin and adjacent to the ancient city of Karakorum, it is part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site.The monastery is affiliated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Bilge, also spelled Bilga, was the last khagan or khan of the Turgik Empire from 716 until his death in 734. His name literally means “wise emperor” or “the wise one. He was the skillful leader and khan of the Turgik empire that ruled southern Central Asia. Most of his important battles took place around the Orkhon valley. His younger brother Kultegin was the army general and served loyally throughout his reign. Bilge khagan’s museum is located 48km from Kharakhrum city, Uvurkhangai province.

Ugii lake is a fresh water lake located in the center of Mongolia in Arkhangai province. The lake’s average depth is 6.6m. Ugii is abundant with different types of fish and the area is habitat to over 150 rare species of birds, thus it is a popular spot for fishermen, birdwatchers and for people who enjoy spending peaceful time in nature.