Ancient Cities & Gobi Sands
16 Days

Days 1-2: Arrive in Ulaanbataar, a city of incredible contrasts where Soviet architecture is giving way to trendy stores and cafes; suburban homes are traditional gers on unpaved streets and monks and nomads share the streets with suited businessmen and cellphone toting teenagers.
In the afternoon visit the Bogd Khan’s Winter Palace. This series of beautiful traditional temple buildings in which Mongolia’s eighth Living Buddha and last king lived. Spared by the Russians, it is now a museum displaying fascinating artifacts and costumes associated with the last king as well as his collection of stuffed animals.
A morning visit to the active Gandantegchinlen Monastery offers the chance to see some of the 500 monks at their prayer ceremonies. The largest and most important monastery of Mongolia, Gandan was built in 1838 and hastily restored in 1944 for use as a showpiece for foreign visitors until full religious operation was reestablished in 1990. One of the monasteries main attractions is the magnificent 26.5-meter gilded statue of Migjid Janraisig (Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion).
The Monastery (now museum) of the Choijin Lama was saved destruction by its conversion into a museum illustrating the deficiencies of the feudal past. Although never restored as an active monastery it contains a magnificent collection of Buddhist statues, thangkas, masks and other artifacts.

Day 3: Leave the capital for the countryside and Bag Gazrin Chuluu, a huge granite rock formation containing caves, a subterranian lake and mineral springs. The rocky hills are considered sacred and worshipped by locals – many topped with ovoo – and at the base stand the remains of a small monastery – Delgeriin Chior. (250kms approx 6 hrs).

Day 4: Heading south to the Gobi the landscape changes dramatically; camels replace cows and the number of camps and settlements decreases. This eerie, eoded landscape was once beneath the sea and is rich in marine fossils. Overnight near the immende white limestone formations of Tsagaan Suvraga.

Day 5: The incredible gorges of the Gurvan Saikhan Nuruu (Mountains) were formed by ancient rivers and, by capturing winter snows, permit habitation of the area as well as supporting a variety of wildlife including snow leopard, wild camel, ibex and wild ass. Within the national park are dinosaur fossils, over 200 species of bird, sand dunes and rock formations including the Yoliin Am (Vulture’s Mouth) and Dungenee Am which contain ice for most of the year.

Days 6-7: Khongoriin Els are Mongolia’s largest and most impressive sand dunes – some up to 300m high and the views from the top are spectacular, well rewarding those with the energy to climb up. Spend a night in the desert and take a morning trip into the dunes by Camel.

Day 8: Bayanzag, also known as the “Flaming Cliffs” is renowned worldwide as the place where paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first dinosaur bones and eggs in Central Asia. The surrounding landscape is a beautiful, and eerie, combination of rocks, red sand and scrub.

Days 9-10: Turning north head for Saigan Ovoo. In this small, but beautiful mountainous area along the desert river (Ongiin Gol) stands the remains of a couple of small monasteries – Ongiin Khiid and Hoshuu on opposite sides of the river. Spend the day hiking around and exploring the area.

Day 11: An intensive driving day as you continue north through Arvaikheer to Khujirt, a small town renowned for its hot springs.

Day 12: Head toward the Khangai Mountains through the green mountainsides where the network of rivers offer excellent pastureland for the herds of horses, yaks and cows. The Orkhon Valley is known as the cradle of the Mongolian civilization with many ancient Mongolian and Turkish monuments in the area. The Orkhon Waterfall is the result of volcanic activity over 20,000 years ago. The night will be spent at the Tsenkher hot springs. In the large open-air pool the hot water flows continuously in from the hot water spring. Spend the evening sitting in the pool staring at the stars.

Day 13: Mongolia’s 13th century capital, Kharkhorin (Karakorum), capital of the Mongolian Empire for a mere 40 years, was established by Genghis Khan though Manchurian invaders and Stalinist purges have left little of this legendary city. In the 16th century the ruins of Karakorum were plundered by Abtai Khaan to build Erdene Zuu, the first and largest Monastery in Mongolia. It consisted of 60-100 temples, around 300 gers and up to 1,000 monks – the complex surrounded by monumental walls topped with 108 stupas and stone turtles mark the boundaries of the complex.

Days 14-16: Leave for the long return drive to Ulaanbataar. Here there is a full day for shopping and to explore the cities other sights. An evening performance will introduce such Mongolian traditions as “throat singing”. On day 16 you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Tour Costs
PRIVATE DEPARTURES
Standard Tour
(Ger Camp)
2 people: USD 1860 p/p
3 people: USD 1530 p/p
4 people: USD 1370 p/p
5 people: USD 1260 p/p
6 people: USD 1420 p/p
7-8 people: USD 1350 p/p

Budget Tour
(Tented Camp)
2 people: USD 1710 p/p
3 people: USD 1370 p/p
4 people: USD 1200 p/p
5 people: USD 1100 p/p
6 people: USD 1220 p/p
7-8 people: USD 1190 p/p