Certainly this is the most experiential and activities-filled family tour suitable for adventure-loving parents and children. First, your family tour around the capital city Ulaanbaatar. Next, travel to Elsentasatkhai, the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. The countryside adventure will start building the traditional dwelling ger upon a visit to the nomad family. Your family will spend the next two days in that ger experiencing the nomadic life, voluntarily tending animals, learning to cook and try traditional meals, and riding horses and camels. Your children will meet with the nomad children, interact and play the nomadic games on the steppes. Not only the nomadic experience. You will also do a day tour of the famous Orkhon River Valley to visit the ancient monastery Erdenezuu and witness the historical remnants of the 13th-century city Kharakhorum. Following days, your family will travel to the giant equestrian statue of Genghis Khan, the mountainous Khan Kentii National Park, and the picturesque Gorkhi Terelj National Park. There is an ox cart tour and archery, except for the natural beauty.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Ulaanbaatar, transfer to a hotel and city tour
Your guide and driver welcome your family at the airport and transfer to a hotel. Next, visit Gandantegchilen Monastery, followed by a visit to the Central Square and the Central Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs.
Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Build your accommodation traditional dwelling Ger and experience nomadic life
In the morning, the countryside tour starts heading to Elsentasarkhai. Elsentasarhai is a unique place representing features of the Gobi Desert, mountain steppes, and grasslands in a single area. You will arrive at Elsetasarkhai by lunchtime. Visit a nomad family and have a nomadic lunch. Next, you will build your nomadic accommodation Ger with the help of nomads and make it ready within 2-3 hours. Spend the afternoon exploring nomadic life, tending animals, and kids playing on the open grasslands.
Accommodation: an extra Ger of the nomads
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Day tour to the Orkhon River Valley, continue the nomadic experiences, horse and camel riding
Kharkhorin, formerly known as Kharakhorum, was once the capital of Genghis Khaan's Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the move of the Mongolian capital to Beijing and the fall of the empire, Kharakhorum was abandoned and then destroyed by Min soldiers in 1388. Today, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with Kharkhorin town in the Orkhon River valley. See some valuable religious items in the monastery museum and visit the Kharakhorum Museum to see remnants of the ancient city Kharkhorin. Drive back Elsentasarkhai, continue the nomadic life discovery, horse and two-humped camel riding. In the evening, you will try authentic Mongolian barbecue for dinner.
Accommodation: an extra Ger of the nomads
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Return to Ulaanbaatar, see Mongolian Cultural Performance
You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar after 5 hours of driving. Check-in at a hotel and be refreshed from the nomadic adventures. In the evening, you will attend a traditional Mongolian cultural performance which is one of the most entertaining, must-see things in Ulaanbaatar with its play of horse-headed fiddle, colorful dances, throat singing, contortion, and much more.
Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Giant statue of Genghis Khaan and Khan Khentii National Park
Today, we will tour to the east of Ulaanbaatar, heading to Khan Khentii National Park. On the way, you will see a giant statue of Genghis Khaan. The statue is the tallest equestrian statue in the world. See the views of the Khentii Mountains and the Tuul River Valley while standing on the mane of the statue horse. As well you see an enormous traditional shoe and a whip. The journey continues to Khan Khentii National Park. Spend an afternoon exploring the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Ox cart tour and Gorkhi Terelj National Park
In the morning, you will ride an ox cart. Mountain biking and rafting are available upon request at the base of additional payment. After lunch, we drive to the picturesque Gorkhi Terelj National Park. See legendary Turtle Rock and try archery.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Free day in Ulaanbaatar
Return to Ulaanbaatar after 1.5 hours’ driving. Check in a hotel and free day to discover the city your own.
Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Transfer to the airport/railway station.
The driver transfer you to the airport. End of the tour
Meals: Breakfast
Background
Is this tour suitable for your family?
Nomadic Experiences and National Parks Family Vacation specializes in cultural insights, nomad life-based outdoor activities, and scenic places of central Mongolia, not traveling far or driving long from the capital city. We suggest this tour for families over three years old kids. Families with small children are always welcome, and we happily customize the itinerary or tailor one for your family. To let your family experience and discover much of our beautiful and unique culture country in a relatively short time, we developed the itinerary jam-packing with more outdoor activities and attractions. Luckily, infrastructure developed better in central Mongolia. Therefore, much of your driving takes place on paved roads. You will drive approximately 2-5 hours a day. The two days of nomadic family stay may challenge you and the kids as this experience is different than your living standard back home. We hope it will remain an unforgettable new experience for you and your kids. Local equestrians and your guide will help with yak cart tour, horse and riding.
Meals
Breakfast -7, Lunch-6, Dinner -6 included. In the countryside, ger camps serve European and Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs, and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes, and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. Ger camps serve salads, Mongolian soups, the main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), dessert and tea for lunch. Salads, the main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. You will try authentic Mongolian meals while staying with the nomads. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. We will supply two 0.5L bottles of water a day. Providing one large bottle (1.5 liters) of water instead of 2 small bottles is available upon request. More information on Mongolia meals
Accommodation
For an authentic experience, the tour includes 2 days nomad family stay. You also stay at a ger camp for 2 days. The ger camp experience is more western friendly than the nomad family stay. In Ulaanbaatar, you will stay in a centrally located 3* hotel. Please ger more information about ger camp and nomad family stay.
Guides
The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. We also have German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. They are all friendly and helpful. The majority of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia. Local guides will help you when riding horses, camels, and yaks.
Transportation
Depending on your group size, Japanese and Korean vans serve your family. Experienced, friendly, and good mechanic drivers drive the vehicles.
When is the best time to travel to Mongolia on a family vacation?
The most suitable time to travel along this itinerary is between 15 May and 15 September. During this period, the weather will be warm and enjoyable. Mongolia is elevated at least 700 m above the surrounding Siberian plateau and Chinese territory. Therefore, the weather is extreme, and Mongolian temperature fluctuates a lot in a day, regionally, monthly, and depending on the elevation. Receiving snowfalls is occasional in May, at the end of August, and in September. Rainfalls turn into snowfalls in high-elevated areas in the warmest months of June, July, and August. Average monthly temperatures are +20°C, highest +28°C the daytime in May, in the first half of June, last half of August, and in September. On average, +25°C, highest +35 to +39°C daytime in June, July, and August. The temperature drops 10-20°C in the evening and at night. The tour is available during the off-tourist season if you do not mind the cold weather. For your pre-departure preparation and an idea to prepare for this changeable weather condition, the discovery tour packing list will help you.
To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, please check the attractions and destinations of Mongolia.
