June 30 ~ Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Upon arrival at Genghis Khan International Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to the hotel in the city center. We set out to explore Ulaanbaatar-the capital city of Mongolia-the home to over a one third of the country’s population where the traditional gers and Buddhist temples coexist with sky-kissing towers! Begin from the Gandan MonasteryMongolia’s most revered religious site-home to more than 100 Buddhist monks with beautiful chapels, courtyards and a giant 75-foot gold gilded Buddha statue.
Next, we stop in the Natural History Museum that showcases the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi desert. After lunch, we visit the National Museum of Mongolian History and culture that has rich collection of stone and Bronze Age artifacts, costumes, sacred relics and items related to the nomadic life such as hunting and fi shing tools. The balance of the day is open for you to stroll the streets of the city on your own.

Overnight 4* hotel
Meals: Dinner

July 1 ~ Fly to the Gobi Desert (1.2 hours) and then drive to Yol Valley and Gurvansaikhan National Park

This morning we fl y over vast steppe to the Gobi, Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Meet your local guide and driver and then transfer by 4WD vehicle to the Yol Valley in Gurvansaikhan National Park, situated in the lap of Altai Mountains. On the way to our lodge, we stop to visit the local Natural History Museum for an insight to the fl ora and fauna of the area.
The next three days will be well spent exploring the vast Gobi-the habitat of the Bactrian Camels, Argali mountain sheep, Golden Eagles, Jerboas that resembles the Kangaroo rats, Saker Falcons etc. We may also take a scenic hike through the valley to discover the habitat of indigenous vulture-like lammergeyers, Altai snow cocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali mountain sheep.

Overnight in Ger Camp, Sand Dune
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 2 ~ Drive to Hongoryn Els (Approximately 4 hours by 4WD)

Following breakfast, we set out on our 4WD vehicle to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els, which run for 60 miles alongside the Gobi-Altai Mountain range. These “Singing Sands,” which stand upto 2,500 feet, are probably the Gobi’s most impressive sand dunes. Isolated from the rest of the country, the Singing Sands are the best kept secret for thousand years in the history of Mongolia. We will visit camel breeding family near the sand dune and will ride camel to the sand dune. The dunes seem to stretch on forever like a soft ribbon of sand draped over the desert. The shifting sand blown by the wind or someone makes sound so it is called Singing Sand Dunes. There is a beautiful green oasis known as Seruun bulag near the Khongor River. Return to the camp for lunch and enjoy feeling silence and a peaceful in the beautiful surroundings Gobi Deserts. Today, we sleep in the traditional Ger Camp

Overnight in Ger Camp, Sand Dune
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 3 ~ Drive to Bayanzag (The Flaming Cliffs)

After breakfast, we leave Hongoryn Els for Bayanzag. It’s a long day drive today and can take up to 5 hours but it’s a scenic drive through the vast land. We will occasionally stop for photography and to watch the birds and the animals of the area. We check in our camp, wash and change and after lunch, we drive to visit the Flaming Cliff. The place was named as ‘Flaming Cliffs’ by Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer who searched throughout the Mongolian Gobi Desert and found dinosaur skeleton and eggs for the fi rst time in Asia. The red cliff gleams with sunlight and can be seen from far away. We will take a short walk on the ridge of the cliff and look for the pieces of Dinosaur bones. We will drive little further to see the saxaul trees that contributed the name Bayanzag. Bayanzag means-rich in saxaul.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 4 ~ Day trip to Khavtsgait Petroglyphs and nomads day

In the morning we drive to the site of the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs. The Khavtsgait Petroglyphs from the Bronze Age (4000-3000 BC) are beautifully carved on many rocks on the top of a sacred mountain. It is easy to fi nd the rock paintings there because they are spread on rocks all around. The area is very rocky and can be slippery to climb, but by carefully following a path up the mountain, you can reach the top to see these beautiful rock paintings.
The petroglyphs were carved and painted with motifs consisting of animals, hunting scenes and weapons. They depict various animals related to everyday life of ancient people including deer, bears, wolves and hunters, and wolves with livestock. Other paintings depict more domestic scenes of yaks pulling carts, the wheels and horses fl attened sideways like hieroglyphs, and herders on horseback. The engravings vary in size, ranging from two-centimeters to the real life size of horses.

Note: The area is very rocky and can be slippery to climb, but by wearing appropriate shoes and carefully following the mountain path one can reach the top to see these beautiful rock paintings.

After the rest, we will visit a herder family nearby. We will spend some time there getting to know the family members and their casual yet unique daily lifestyle. It is a good chance to see how the family members cooperate together to do their daily even hourly chores such as milking mares, fencing and milking the goats. If you wish, you are welcome to try some mare’s fermented milk and other dairy products.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 5 ~ Drive to Ongi Temple

Today you’ll drive to the ruins of the Ongi monastery. It was the largest Buddhist center in the Gobi region. There are 2 complexes of temple ruins which were built up in 1780s. During political repression in 1930s’ these two temples were destroyed and many lamas were executed and imprisoned. Visit Ruin of monastery reconstructed parts. On the way visit basin of the Ongi river which is dried out because of mining activity.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 6 ~ Ongi Monastery to Karakorum

After breakfast at the tourist camp, drive to Karakorum, the symbolic ruins of the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. On the way, you may stop for an optional camel ride in the sand dunes of Mongol Els. Mounted on the double hump camel, you can wander about the sand dunes and visit the nomadic camps in the area.
In Karakorum, we will visit Erdene-Zuu, the oldest monastery, with 108 stupas, built in 1586. The monastery was built of the remains of the ancient Mongolian capital. Next, we will visit the Karakorum museum and see the Great Mongol state period, Stone Age, Bronze Age, Ancient state period halls.

Overnight in Ger Camp,
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 7 ~ Karakorum to Tsenher Hot Spring

Following breakfast at tourist camp, we will drive to Tsenher hot spring. Along the way we will stop for a break in the small town of Tsetserleg to visit a monastery museum. We spend overnight in a ger camp based at natural hot springs. Soak in hot water; enjoy a hike in the hills.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 8 ~ Tsenher Hot Spring to Elsen Tasakhai via Ugii Lake

In the morning, drive out to Ugii Lake with stops at several eighth century Turkish monuments in the Orkhon Valley. These monuments are dedicated to the Turkish Princes Kul Tegin and Bilge Khan, brothers who were famous for their military bravery. Continue on to Ugii Lake, one of the largest fresh-water lakes in Mongolia, known for its migratory birdlife such cranes, ducks, geese, and pelicans and for its variety of fi sh.
After a lunch break, drive to Elsen Tasarkhai, stopping to pay a visit with a nomad family and learning how they live and make dairy products. You may even have a try at drinking fermented mare's milk.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 9 ~ Drive to Hustai National Park

After a leisurely breakfast, head out on the drive to Hustai National Park , the site of a unique re-introduction of Przewalski's Horse (Equus Przewalskii), called "takhi" by the locals. It became extinct in the wild in 1969 and since 1992, has been successfully re-introduced in Hustai from zoos around the world. This has been an international effort monitored by the Foundation for the Przewalskii Horse, based in the Netherlands and MACNE (Mongoian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment.) The park extends through the Khentii Mountains and includes the western edge of the Mongolian steppe. It contains large patches of birch and aspen forests and visible remains of Neolithic graves. Other wildlife found here include red deer, the wolf, and Mongolian gazelle.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 10 ~ Drive back to Ulaanbaatar

On your drive back to Ulaan Baatar, visit the Bogdo Khaan Winter Palace Museum. The Bogdo Khaan Winter Palace is the home of the last Mongolian King, Javzun Damba Khutagt VII. The museum contains a number of Buddhist artworks and the private collection of Bogdo Khaan, composed of gifts from rulers and kings from all over the world. The artworks displayed here were made by the top Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese master- sculptors of the 18th and 19th centuries and represent the gods of Buddhist pantheon. If you did not have time on your earlier trip through Ulaan Baatar, visit the Museum of National History

Overnight in 4* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

July 11-12 ~ Naadam Festival

During whole lovely day you enjoy watch Naadam festival or three manly sports such as wrestling, archery and horse racing. Visit opening ceremony of Naadam festival at the national stadium. And you will see archery, wrestling and horse racing during Naadam festival. Naadam festival is of the victory of the People’s Revolution. Naadam festival is celebrated every year at 11-13th July in Central stadium. Mongolia celebrates its independence and its rich cultural heritage with a festival of sports and revelry in Ulaanbaatar. The distinctly Mongolian feel and fl air of the Naadam Festival make it a wonderful spectacle, a joyous time, and an intriguing cultural event. Colorful ceremonies and parading soldiers kick off the celebrations. The ancient game of wrestling follows, with men competing in many rounds of competition. Both men and women compete in the archery games, using the traditional Mongolian compound bow that terrorized Europe when Genghis Khan and his Golden Horde moved their empire west. The quintessentially Mongolian art of horse racing follows, where up to 800 horses compete, jockeyed by children so that the skill of the horse, and not the rider, is tested.

Overnight at 4* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

July 13 ~ Depart Mongolia

Transfer to the airport for flight to next destination.

Meals: Breakfast