Region: Gobi Desert and Central Mongolia
Interesting sites: Middle Gobi, South Gobi, Karakorum and Erdene-Zuu Monastery
Available:
May 15 - September 30
Length of tour:
9 nights / 10 days
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to a three or four star hotel. Check in. City tour of Ulaanbaatar if time permits. Folk performance in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Gandan Monastery
Tour the Gandan Monastery, followed by a tour of the Bogd Gegeen Winter Palace, home of the last Mongolian Khan and religious head Bogd Javzundamba who ruled from 1911 until 1924. In the afternoon, visit the Natural History museum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3. Middle Gobi
After an early breakfast leave UB. On the way to the Gobi visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu Lake and the ruins of Sum Khukh Burd Temple. Overnight in traditional Mongolian gers at our Middle Gobi camp.
Day 4.
South Gobi
Breakfast at the camp. Continue driving towards the South Gobi. On the way visit Sangiin Dalai Temple in Erdenedalai, one of the few monasteries and temples to survive the communist purges in 1930s. Arrive at our camp in the South Gobi in the evening, dinner and overnight.
Day 5.
Yol Valley National Park
Breakfast at the camp. Full day excursion to Yol Valley (Eagle Valley) National Park for hiking and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape, the Gobi Glacier and the local wildlife. Picnic lunch in the Yolyn Am National Park. Spend the afternoon hiking or relaxing. Return to the camp and overnight.
Day 6.
Bayan Zag
Early breakfast at the camp. Start the drive towards Karakorum. On the way explore the world famous Flaming Cliffs (Bayan Zag), the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetary and the trail of paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Stop for the night in a ger camp near Ongyn Khiid.
Day 7.
Karakorum
Breakfast at our campsite. Continue driving to Karakorum. Arrive at Karakorum in the afternoon. Overnight at our ger camp.
Day 8.
Erdene-Zuu
Early breakfast at the camp. Visit Erdene-Zuu, once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia and almost destroyed in the 1930s. Tour of the monastery grounds and several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. Drive to Bayangobi. Explore the area and visit the Uvgunt Monastery. Overnight at the Ger camp.
Day 9.
Ulaanbaatar
Breakfast at the camp. Drive to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10.
Ulaanbaatar
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to railway station for departure.
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