Number of days: 7 days
Number of people: 1-15
Transportation: 4x4 jeep
Accommodation: Hostel in Ulaanbaatar, camping , nomadic family stay & ger camps in the countryside.
Guide: English speaking guide
Meals: Mongolian or European style meals
Price: starting from $1050 per person
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar.
Your guide and driver will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hostel. Depending on your arrival time, your guide will take you on a half day of Ulaanbaatar city tour including National museum, Gandan temple, Sukhbaatar Square and Narantuul market. (D)
Day 2: Kharkhorin
Today you will drive back to the central Mongolia, Kharkhorin. The ancient capital city of Kharkhorin was once very much the centre of the world. Now there is an excellent UNESCO museum that houses many of the old city’s archaeological remains and the various treasures that have been uncovered over the years. The Erdenezuu Monastery contains many smaller temples and shrines that you can spend a full day exploring. Stay with a nomadic family who will show you how Mongolian traditional costume deel is made. Overnight in a nomadic family. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Ongi temple
After breakfast drive to the middle Gobi for about 4-5 hours to Ongi temple. Ongi Temple was once the world’s biggest Buddhist University and Monastery comprising 8 different temple colleges but the area was targeted in the 1930s Socialist purges and now lies in ruins. Despite the destruction, the temples are still fascinating and you are free to wander over the area for the whole day. In the afternoon, there will be a ger construction lesson for you to build a ger. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Bayanzag
The 1920s explorer Roy Chapman Andrews spent many years exploring Mongolia in the hope of finding remains of early man. He did not succeed in this quest but he did stumble across some of the most extensive fossilised remains ever discovered at Bayanzag. The cliffs are bright red and are named the flaming cliffs for their appearance at Sunrise and Sunset. Overnight in a tent camping (B, L, D)
Day 5: Kongor sand dunes
Today you will visit the Khongor sand dunes or Singing sand dunes. The singing sand dunes were first described by Marco Polo in the 13th Century. He travelled across the Southern Gobi desert and was struck by the eerie sounds that the dunes produced when the wind passed over them. Nowadays the dunes still sing in the wind and are a hugely popular spot for climbing. The climb to the top of the highest dunes takes several hours and is very hard going but is hugely rewarding at the top with truly astonishing views. Stay with camel herder family. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Yol valley
In the morning you will drive to Yol valley. Yolyn Am Valley literally means the Vulture’s mouth and it is easy to see why when you get there as the entrance resembles a gigantic vulture. The interior is some of the best hiking in all of Mongolia, stunning high valley walls, ice fields and short scrambles up and down slick rock faces. Overnight in nomadic homestay (B,L,D)
Day 7: Back to Ulaanbaatar
In the morning you will fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Have a lunch in the city and a half day tour of the city. Overnight in a hostel (B, L, D)
Included: Personal guide & driver, accommodation, transportation, meals and attractions mentioned in the itinerary, airport pick up & drop off.
Not included: international flight, personal insurance, alcoholic drinks.