Peaceful Mongolia tour

[Day 1]

Khustai National Park – Elsen Tasarkhai – Camel riding

Pick up from the hotel and drive to Khustai National Park. First stop is Khustai National park, where animals roam freely in their protected natural habitat. The national park also serves as the home to the once extinct Przewalski horses, gazelle, red deer and many other animals. After the lunch continue driving to Elsen tasarkhai, which literally translates into “piece of desert” that stretches for 80km. Settle at the tourist ger camp located next to the dunes. After lunch, just before sunset we will go riding camels among the dunes and enjoy the beautiful sunset view. Dinner and overnight at tourist ger camp.

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

[Day 2]

Tsenkher Hot Springs – Horseback riding – Nomadic family visit 

After breakfast, we leave the camels and dunes to travel further towards Tsenkher hot spring camp. On the way we drive through refreshing green pine forest area, through mountains and over small rivers to reach the natural hot spring. Upon reaching the camp, we will have some rest. Then, we will go visit the local nomadic family, go horse riding in the beautiful surrounding nature. In the evening have a relaxing dip in the hot spring. Stay overnight at the ger camp.

[ Driving distance – 200 km ,  Driving duration – 3.2 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 3]

Kharkhorin town – Erdenezuu Monastery – Kharkhorum museum 

Early in the morning, leave the ger camp. Drive to the ancient capital of Great Mongol Empire, Kharkhorin city. First place to visit is the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest Buddhist temple of Mongolia built in 1585. Afterwards, we will visit Kharkhorum museum. The museum holds precious artifacts belonging to Stone Age, Bronze Age, 4 empire eras including numerous findings of Great Mongol Empire all found from the surrounding Orkhon Valley. Stay overnight at the ger camp

[ Driving distance – 120 km ,  Driving duration – 2.2 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 4]

Terelj National Park – Turtle rock 

Early in the morning our journey will continue to the Terelj National Park. This day we will drive for 450km, which is approximately 6hrs drive. Upon arriving in National Park, we will settle into our camp. Another attraction we will visit on this day will be the unique Turtle rock. Rest at the camp.

[ Driving distance – 420 km ,  Driving duration – 6.5 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 5]

Aryapala meditation temple – Nomadic family – Traditional food and dairy products 

After breakfast we will take a short hike up to the Aryapala meditation temple that is located at the mountainside. Upon reaching the monastery you will be rewarded by a scenic view. Next part of our day will be spent with the local nomadic family who lives in the national park. This day we are going to experience how the nomadic people cook traditional food and prepare the dairy products. We will participate and help the herders to prepare all of this. We will have a unique dish Khorkhog for lunch. The khorkhog is one of the few Mongolian traditional meals and the way of preparing it is very unique, as you cook it using heated stones. We going to go for horse riding tour while the khorkhog is getting ready. Rest and stay overnight at the camp.

[ Driving distance – 30 km ,  Driving duration – 1 hour,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 6]

Chinggis Khan Statue Complex – 13th Century Complex 

In the morning we will depart from Terelj National Park. Our first stop is the Grand Chinggis Khan’s majestic statue complex that is considered as the world’s tallest horseman statue of 40-meters. Inside the complex you will visit mini museum of history, souvenir shops, see the Guinness world record holding 9m tall boot and golden whip. Furthermore, we will elevate onto the horses saddle and observe the surrounding, take close up selfies with the Chinggis Khan. Then we will take the dirt road trip to do time travel into the 13th century zone where you will visit six different camps: the Herder’s camp, Shaman’s camp, Craftsman camp and the King’s palace to closely observe their ways of living.

Relay-station camp

Craftsman camp

Educational camp

Herder’s camp

Shaman’s camp

King’s palace

Back to the city and rest at hotel.

[ Driving distance – 170 km ,  Driving duration – 4 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

[Day 7]

National history museum – Megjid Janraisig – Gobi Cashmere store – Tumen Ekh folk concert

Pick up from the hotel at 9:00am. Go to the National historical museum. After viewing the museum and visiting Sukhbaatar Square to take some memorable photos, drive to Gandantegchinlen monastery to explore the main and oldest Buddhist Monastery of Ulaanbaatar city. We will visit Megjid Janraisig temple that holds the largest indoor statue that is 26m tall. Have lunch at a local restaurant where you will try authentic traditional dishes. After lunch, we will drive to world renowned Gobi cashmere factory store to shop for one of the most exquisite cashmeres in the world. Drive to city center to watch the mini folk concert performed by famous Tumen-Ekh ensemble and enjoy fold songs, dance also contortionist performance. Back to hotel. End of the trip

[ Driving distance – 50 km ,  Driving duration – 3 hours,  Meals – Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner ]

HIGHLIGHTS

Khustai National Park

National Park became a protected area in 1993. This was due to the reintroduction of Takhi or Przewalski’s horses project into Khustain Mountain range. Besides being home for the Przewalski’s horses the park is also home to 459 species of vascular plants, 85 species of lichens, 90 species of moss and 33 species of mushrooms. Moreover 44 species of mammals including Red deer, Mongolian gazelle, Roe deer, Wild boar, Wild sheep, Ibex, Mongolian marmots, Grey wolves, Lynx, Pallas’ cat, Red fox, Corsac fox and Eurasian badger live in this park.

ELSEN TASARKHAI SAND DUNES

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.

ERDENEZUU MONASTERY

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.

KHARKHORIN MUSEM

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

TURTLE ROCK

The Turtle Rock, or called Melkhi Khad by the locals, is an interesting rock formation that looks like a turtle. This giant rock formation is a popular spot for visitors and has its own legend.

GER ( YURT )

A traditional yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger (Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises an angled assembly or latticework of pieces of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent. The roof structure is often self-supporting, but large yurts may have interior posts supporting the crown. The top of the wall of self-supporting yurts is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs. Modern yurts may be permanently built on a wooden platform; they may use modern materials such as steam-bent wooden framing or metal framing, canvas or tarpaulin, Plexiglas dome, wire rope, or radiant insulation

 

CHINGGIS KHAN STATUE

Chinggis Khaan statue complex- everyone including foreign and local tourists should visit this statue at least once as it is a MUST see in Mongolia. It is recognized as the world’s tallest horseman monument standing 40m tall. Inside the complex you will find mini museum of history, giant Guinness world record holding horse whip and Mongolian traditional boot.