Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be greeted by our company driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel

Accommodation: Hotel 3*. Meals: None

After your breakfast,  we will leave the capital city of Ulaanbaatar for Elsen Tasarkhai, part of the Mongol Els sand dunes, that continue for an astounding 80 km long 5 km wide. is the dunes are located 280 km west of Ulaanbaatar and 80 km east of Karakorum - the ancient Mongolian capital. The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with sparse bushes and a small forest near a river. Together this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests, and Gobi-type landscape in one location. You will have the chance to experience the lifestyle of a nomadic family in a traditional Mongolian ger or ride the camel, walk on sand dunes, and relax in beautifully serene nature. 

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Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp. Meals: B, L, D

In the morning, head to Karakorum, a small village that is nevertheless one of the country’s major tourist destinations. Historically known as Karakorum, it was an ancient capital of the Mongol Empire founded in the 13th century by Ogodei Khan.  (Chingis Khan’s third son and successor). For several centuries, it was a major city and main trading hub, with caravans coming and going as well as the center for the entire Mongolian empire. Many progressive policies were in place, including religious freedom; foreigners were allowed to engage in religious debates.

After lunch, we will visit local museum of Karakorum and learn more about the beautiful ancient Karakorum city and the remarkable Genghis KhanWe’ll then visit the magnificent Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu, one of the oldest in the country. In 1580s, by the order of the Dalai Lama. The first temple of Erdenezuu monastery was built on the ruins of Mongolian capital of Karakorum. At its peak, the monastery housed over 1000 monks and held 62 temples.  Tragically,  in the 1930s, the monastery suffered greatly in the communist religious purges.  Most of the temples were destroyed and the monks killed. Nowadays, the monastery is slowly being restored. The monastery was registered in “Heritage of Mongolia” by UNESCO.  If  we are lucky, we will be able to listen to the monks chanting.

Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp. Meals: B, L, D

Today we will drive to the Khustai National Park, home to the last of the truly wild horses in the world. This is our only chance to see Takhi (Przewalski’s horses) in their natural environment. Not long ago, there were none left in the wild, but after a successful captive breeding program in various worldwide zoos, they were reintroduced, here in Mongolia.

Late In the afternoon, we will visit the information center to learn more about the park and its mission and vision. We’ll take a short drive into the park to look for the wild horses in their natural habitat.  Remember, because they are wild, we depend on some luck and the right timing to see them. We also  have a good chance of seeing other wildlife in the park.

Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp. Meals: B, L, D

We leave Khustai National Park after breakfast, heading for Terelj National Park. At 1600 m above sea level, the park offers spectacular alpine scenery.  Along the way, we will stop to make an offering to the local spirits and make a wish at an ovoo – one of the many rock piles that dot the country and are part of the local religion.

We’ll enjoy lunch at a ger camp in the National Park before continuing onto the famous Turtle Rock formation.

We’ll stretch our legs and get a bit of (not too strenuous) exercise by hiking up to the Aryabal meditation temple – surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations. If we are lucky, we will be able to hear the monks chanting.  But no matter when we arrive, we will be blessed by the inner calm that this beautiful site engenders.

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Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp. Meals: B, L, D

This morning, we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar. On the way, we will visit the Genghis Khan Statue Complex. Genghis astride his horse statue is forty meters tall—the largest equestrian statue in the world.  It commemorates Genghis Khan, whom many consider one of the greatest military geniuses of all time.  At its zenith, the Mongolian Empire was larger than the Roman Empire. We’ll explore the statue complex and enjoy the panoramic view from the top.

From the statue complex, we will continue our drive to Ulaanbaatar. After lunch at a local restaurant in the city, we will go visit the Bogd Khan Palace Museum. The complex was built between 1893 and 1903.

After Bogd Khan's death of illness in 1924, a state museum office was created and it was decided to transmit the remaining property of the Bogd Khaan to public museum ownership. Now, the Museum consists of seven Summer Prayer temples and the Winter palace, which was built in European style. It contains many interesting artifacts from that period, including an amazing collection of taxidermied animals given to the Khan by leaders all over the world.

Then we’ll take a short drive to Zaisan Memorial Hill, which offers the best views of Ulaanbaatar and the surrounding country. The large monument on the top was erected for the memory of soldiers who died in World War II.

Now the hill is also home to a sprawling modern complex with plenty of amenities for tourists and residents alike.

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Meals included: B,L,D

 

Accommodations: Hotel 3 *

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Day 7  Departure