Best of Mongolia

★ Spot Endangered Purebred Wild Horses in Hustai

Today, we’ll have an excursion to Hustai National Park, home to the globally endangered purebred Przewalski's horses. Although smaller than domestic horses, the white-bellied wild horses feature thicker necks and stronger physiques. They usually venture out to drink water in the early morning or around dark, so encountering these prairie spirits takes some luck. To make the most of your trip, we'll drive to locate them around dusk after you check into a ger. Bring your binoculars! Climb to hilltops to behold them from afar as they leisurely graze and roam around the verdant grassland. You may also see other wild creatures like red deer, Mongolian gazelles, and corsac foxes!

Afterward, your guide and the driver will escort you to the ger camp. An interesting riddle is: “Besides turtles and snails, who else carries a house around?" The answer is the herders. They carry portable yurts and move to seek water sources and fresh pastures. Although the amenities in the ger are not as nice as those in hotels, it is the greatest way to experience traditional Mongolian life, allowing you to view the expansive grassland and starry sky as soon as you step out.
► Tip: Toilets in Mongolian steppes and deserts are usually outdoor pit latrines rather than flushing toilets. However, it’s relatively safe as there is no one around, and such an experience is an indispensable part of the adventure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp or similar

Today, let’s delve into Karakorum, aka Kharkhorin, a vital part of the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape nestled between Mongolia’s two major mountains, Khangai and Khentii. Along the way, immerse yourself in the views of the expansive plains stretching for miles and come across herds of cattle and sheep under the blue sky. After about 5 hours, we’ll arrive at Karakorum. In the 13th century, Ogedei Khan, the son of Genghis Khan, ordered the city’s construction and developed irrigation systems on its outskirts, bringing agricultural growth to the city. And during this period, Mongol's westward conquests made it a global political hub, drawing merchants and envoys from all across Europe and Asia. However, it suffered devastation in the 14th century, leaving only the remnants of palaces, city walls, and stone turtle pedestals that once held inscriptions. Adjacent to the ruins of the ancient capital, the modern Karakorum is a Soviet-style town rebuilt in the 20th century.

Then, let’s visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, situated on the old capital site. Its building materials were even from the capital's remains. It was Mongolia’s first Tibetan Buddhist monastery, built around the end of the 16th century, following the replacement of Shamanism as the official state religion. Despite repeated destruction and reconstruction, leaving only a few Tibetan- and Chinese-style halls and scattered buildings, it is still one of Mongolia’s primary religious sites and has preserved many religious collections from the 15th to the 17th centuries, including thangka scroll paintings, embroideries, and wooden books. After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you to today’s ger camp for rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Urgoo Tourist Camp or similar

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will escort you to Tsenkher Hot Spring, an outdoor hot spring tucked away in a pine forest at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters (6,562 feet). The water comes from an old volcano, and there are pools of varying temperatures for your choice. Because of its high mineral content, the water can help cure joint problems and neurological issues. Soak in the warm water, while breathing the fresh air of the lush pine forests, gazing out over the expansive grassland, and listening to the yaks’ low mooing. How wonderful! Remember to remove your silver jewelry beforehand to avoid chemical reactions. Apart from that, you can also stroll over the tracks carved by yak hooves through the pine forest to take in the grand Orkhon Valley. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you to today’s resort.

► Tip: The Mongolian Yak Festival is held in the Orkhon Valley annually on July 23rd, featuring lively events including yak herding, a yak beauty pageant, and wrestling. If you are interested, we can customize a tour for you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Duut Resort or similar

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will accompany you to visit Tuvkhun Monastery. It is one of Mongolia’s oldest Buddhist temples, erected in 1648 by the revered Buddhist master Zanabazar, who frequently came for meditation. It is tucked away amid rocks at an elevation of over 2,000 meters near the northern foot of the Khangai Mountains, surrounded by lush woods. After arriving at the foot of the mountain, we’ll take a 1-hour horseback ride or 1.5-hour walk to the monastery. The hike is usually considered a pilgrimage on par with the monastery itself. Upon arrival, admire the wooden prayer halls, Buddhist shrines, and white stupas. You may notice the stone mill tied with cloth strips on the summit. It is an "ovoo" used for praying or worship, and the strips of cloth are "Khiimori," a fabric to express respect and blessings. After the tour, your guide and the driver will escort you to today’s ger camp.

► Warm Tips:
1. The path from the mountain foot to the temple is mostly uneven, so please wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring snacks and water to replenish energy.
2. The summertime weather here is unpredictable with frequent rainfall, so rain gear is a must.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tuvkhun Ger Camp or similar

Today, your guide and the driver will accompany you to Ongi Monastery, a monastic complex founded in 1660 in the Middle Gobi. Originally a modest temple along the Ongi River, it gradually expanded to a large complex as Buddhism spread, encompassing two major temples: the Barlim Monastery and the Khutagt Monastery. The nearby villagers' forebears may have studied at the monastery and passed on their medical and philosophical knowledge. However, it was later destroyed, and now we can only see just one restored temple, a stupa, and a small museum displaying valuable treasures, such as prayer wheels and religious ritual objects that the locals concealed to preserve from warfare.

Afterward, let’s enjoy a one-hour hike to a Gobi mountain. Before dark, your guide and the driver will escort you to the nearby ger camp for rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Secret of Ongi Tourist Camp or similar

Today, we’ll continue to venture into the Gobi Desert and explore Bayanzag, which means "abounding in saxaul shrubs", as saxaul trees thrive in the surrounding area. You’ll find that this sandstone cliff looks like the surface of Mars. It is also known as the Flaming Cliffs because its red rocks resemble blazing flames under the sunlight. In 1923, a paleontologist and adventurer came and discovered dinosaur egg fossils, bones, and egg nests, shocking the globe! Take your time exploring the area and hiking on the various-shaped rock formations; perhaps you'll come upon stone blocks that resemble dinosaur egg nests! When the sun sets, take in the magnificent panoramic view of the continuous red cliffs standing on the vast plain. If there is an approaching rainstorm, the interplay of dark clouds and golden sunlight will make the scene even more dramatic. At the end of the day, your guide and the driver will escort you to the nearby ger camp.

► Insider Tips about the Gobi Desert:
1. It features a big temperature difference between day and night, so you can wear a shirt and a windproof jacket during the day and add a lightweight down jacket at night. Due to the dryness and powerful UV rays, pack sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen, a sun hat, a dust mask, and lip balm.
2. It has spotty network connectivity and occasionally no access at all, so you can inform your family of your safety in advance.
3. As it lacks shopping spots, bring your favorite snacks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mongol Gobi Ger Camp or similar

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will accompany you to explore Khongor Sand Dunes, the largest and most magnificent sand dune in Mongolia. They stretch for 180 kilometers (110 miles) and reach an average height of 100-300 meters (330-980 feet). The locals also call them "Singing Sand Dunes" as they would make humming sounds when the wind blows. Drop by a local herder family upon arrival. Chat with the host and learn about how they rely on camels for a living in the Gobi Desert, and might savor the salty camel milk tea, a signature local drink.

In the afternoon, ride a Bactrian camel across the sand dune, and let the Gobi star transport you back to the days when traders used camel caravans to carry tea, silk, and china across the desert. As the camel has coarse fur, wearing long pants would be a wise choice. If interested, you can also climb the sand dune on foot. It is fun to take one step and slide half a step when climbing. Just climb on all fours! Once you reach the top, appreciate the stunning view of the golden hills and the small oasis with a meandering river on the northwest side. The descent will be fairly easy and allow the sand to shift beneath your feet as you dash down freely. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you to today’s ger camp for rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gobi Discovery Ger Camp or similar

★ Hike to Discover Eagle Valley’s Hidden Ice

Today, let’s unveil a hidden wonder nestled in the harsh Gobi Desert: Eagle Valley, locally known as "Yolyn Am". Your guide will accompany you on a 2-hour hike starting from the natural stone entryway, which is actually sheer rock walls. As we venture deeper, they rise higher, squeezing the sky into a narrow slit above, through which the sunlight filters down and you might spot vultures. Go deep in the valley, and you might discover the ice exists even in early summer. They cling to the rock cliffs and the road, with the deepest part even reaching 5 to 8 meters (16.5 to 26 feet), which endows the valley with a cool temperature, even dropping to below 0°C (32℉). The white ice, resembling a suspended, still cascade, always leaves people awed. Make sure you wear a thick coat and anti-slip boots. Hike through the uneven trail, leap between rocks, the stream, and come across wild creatures like Mongolian ibex, hares, yaks, and ovoos, which are stone piles adorned with prayer stripes. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you to today’s ger camp. In the evening, you can massage your legs to ease muscular discomfort from the hike.

► Insider Tips:
1. The valley features a flat, grassy terrain at the bottom, and you can bring some food for a picnic if you wish.
2. A horseback ride into the deep valley is also available if you don’t feel like hiking.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Juulchin Khan Bogd Ger Camp or similar

Today, your guide and the driver will take you to explore the stunning Tsagaan Suvarga. Over time, wind has molded the ochre and reddish-orange mix with white cliffs into a variety of shapes. The locals also refer to it as "White Stupa" due to its appearance. According to legend, two giant dragons flew away from here, leaving behind the South Gobi Desert with white and red tails respectively, which turned into the White Stupa and the Red Stupa 200 kilometers (124 miles) away. Let’s reach the summit to enjoy the expansive wilderness. As the sun sets, the vibrant colors of the cliffs gradually fade, and the limestone landscape takes on a hazy light pink hue. Adorable creatures like the Gobi wild ass could also be spotted by luck. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you to the nearby ger camp to rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tsagaan Suvarga Ger Camp or similar

Today, your guide and the driver will accompany you to admire the Baga Gazriin Chuluu in the Middle Gobi. Its desolate, mysterious granite rock formations make it seem like an alien planet, with the highest peak rising to over 1,700 meters (5,577 feet)! We’ll discover the Usan Bolortiin Agui Cave, which needs crawling down and sliding into the inner, ger-sized cave. Then, get a peek at the Eye Spring, naturally formed within a massive rock, measuring only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter. The water is thought to be helpful to the eyes, and people would use a long-handled spoon to draw water from the hole about 50 centimeters (20 inches) deep and apply it to their eyes. You may also encounter various wild animals like argali and ibex.

This area holds great significance for Buddhists as well, and we’ll also explore the ruins of a 17th-century temple. Buddhism in Mongolia suffered a devastating blow during the Great Repression (1937-1939 AD), with nearly all temples and monasteries demolished. Many monks sought refuge in this Gobi, leaving behind many abandoned caves and rock paintings. Locals used to hang khadags, silk scarves, on trees as a symbol of blessing. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you to the nearby ger camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Baga Gazriin Chuluu Ger Camp or similar

Today, enjoy a private transfer back to Ulaanbaatar. The 250-kilometer (155-mile) road trip will take you through diverse landscapes. The yellow desert dotted with red willows and camel thorns will gradually be replaced by broad green steppes, and trucks carrying minerals and herds of sheep and horses just occasionally pass by. Feel free to ask the driver to stop at any time for some nice photos. To make the bumpy road trip more comfortable, you can bring a cushion. We'll reach Ulaanbaatar about five hours later. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and have some rest.

★ Special Inclusion: Mongolian Folk Music and Dance Show

In the evening, your guide will accompany you to enjoy a farewell dinner, where traditional-clad performers will play the distinctive horsehead fiddle, vividly mimicking horses’ neighing and the wind’s howling. Dancers in exquisite costumes will perform ethnic dances such as the "bowl dance", in which performers carry a porcelain bowl on their heads and two clay pots in their hands, swaying gracefully as the bowl stays firm.

At last, your guide will escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

Your 13-day private Mongolia adventure will end today. At the scheduled time, your guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the airport for your homeward flight. We sincerely hope that the wonderful memories of this trip will be cherished in your heart!

If Mongolia leaves you panting for more, extend your trip to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in China, or embark on a Silk Road tour through Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Feel free to contact us, and we’ll customize an exclusive itinerary for you!

Meal: Breakfast