Western Mongolia tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. Central Square, museums, attractions, shops, and restaurants are within 5-20 min walking distance from the hotel. Free day.

Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: not included

Day 2: Kharkhorin in the Orkhon Valley

Start the tour to Kharkhorin. Kharkhorin, formerly known as the Karakorum, was the capital of the Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the Mongolian capital moved to Beijing and the fall of the Empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then destroyed by Min soldiers in 1388. Today, in the broad valley of the Orkhon River, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with the modern town Kharkhorin. Visit the Karakorum Museum to see the remnants of the ancient capital city.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3-4:Visit Erdenezuu Monastery, Khorgo TerhiinTsagaan National Park and Arkhangai province

In the morning, visit the temple museum of Erdenezuu Monastery and the active temple to see the morning chanting. Continue the journey to Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park. Along the way to the national park, you will visit the Tsetserleg town market specializes in dairy products and meat and climb a hill with a tall statue of Buddha to see the panoramic views of the town. Next, you will break the driving at the Chuluut River flows between 30-50 m lava canyons. The Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of its flora & fauna. There are several extinct volcanoes within the national park area. The most spectacular and accessible one is Khorgo volcano. The freshwater Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, known as Great White Lake, formed after lava flows from the volcanoes blocked the North and South Terkh Rivers. The lake is renowned for its fish and birdlife, including the Ruddy Shellduck and Great Cormorant. Rare species of flowers and pine trees grow in the black volcanic soil. Arrive at the national park late afternoon and check in at a ger camp. The next day, you will climb the volcano on the stairs and trails. Walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas such as a small village by the volcano, the basalt-covered valley, forested mountains, and the bird's-eye view of the Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake. Next, visit a nomadic family to explore nomadic life and ride horses.

Accommodation: Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Ulaagchiin Khar Lake

Leave the national park in the morning and travel to Zavkhan province. Zavkhan is a picturesque province of different natural zones and landscapes of the Gobi Desert, forests, and mountain steppes. You will reach the beautiful Ulaagchiin Khar Lake late afternoon, relax, and enjoy nature. Swimming is available.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Senjit Rock, Mukhartiin River, Hyargas Lake and Khetsuu Khad

On the way, see the Senjit Rock natural arch where the cars drive through. Today’s main destination is the picturesque Mukhartiin Gol River sources out of the dunes and Khyargas, one of the most beautiful Lakes in Mongolia with rocky, as well as sandy shores. Arrive at Khyargas Lake in the evening and check in at a ger camp. You will walk over Khetsuu Khad rock formation and take beautiful evening pictures. Kyargas Lake lies in the Gobi desert.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Ulgii town via Hovd province

Today, you will drive further west heading to Khovd town of Khovd province. Khovd is one of the multi-ethnic provinces. The rugged mountains on the way are photogenic. Hovd town short tour and have lunch. Continue the journey to Ulgii town, viewing the snowcapped mountains, including Tsambagarav Mountain and scenic Tolbo Lake. Arrive at Ulgii town in the evening.

Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Ulgii town tour, visit the eagle hunters

In the morning, visit the local museum and the market to get supplies for the next few day's adventures in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Afterward, drive to and visit the home of Eagle Hunters. Explore the unique life of the Eagle Hunters.

Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Oygor Valley in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Drive to the national park along the Tsaagan Gol (White River). You will reach Oygor Valley. Numerous Kazakh families live in the valley.

Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Adventures in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Tavanbogd means “The Holy Five.” They are the Mongolian highest peaks Huiten 4374 m above sea level, Nairamdal 4192 m, Burged 4068, Malchin 4051, and Ulgii 4050 m. Load the luggage on the camels and horses. Trek for 18 km to the base camp near the Botanin Glacier. Set our tent in an area that allows us to have breathtaking views of the stunning, eye-capturing peaks of the snow-capped mountains. If you wish shorter hiking, you can drive 12 km out of 18 km and trek 5 km.

Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Explore the area and trek back Oygor Valley

You will spend the morning exploring the surrounding area and can walk to the border column, where you will see the Russian Altai Mountains. You will trek 5 km to the Presidential Ovoo shrine to meet the vehicle.

Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Explore Shiveet Kharkhain Rock Drawing and drive to Ulgii

On the way to Ulgii, you will explore the UNESCO Heritage Shiveet Khairkhan Rock Drawings. Arrive in Ulgii after 7 hours of driving.

Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Fly back Ulaanbaatar

The Ulgii-Ulaanbaatar flight lasts 3 hours. Our driver meets you at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Departure

Meet at the hotel and transfer to the airport. End of the tour. One time airport drop off.

Meals: Breakfast

Price & Date

Background

On the Western Mongolian Adventures tour, you will travel the vast open Gobi desert, central Mongolian rugged and forested mountains, and the remotest western Altai Mountains, exploring popular attractions and scenic places. You will drive over 2500 km in total within 12 days. The tour will start overland, driving a 4xWD vehicle all the way to the far western Altai Mountains and take 3 hours domestic flight back to Ulaanbaatar. About half of the 2500 km road is paved. The average daily driving duration is 5.5 - 7 hours. During the tour, you will ride a horse for a short and trek for 2 days in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. The trekking distance can be long or short, depending on your preference. The average altitude in Altai Tavan Bogd is 2500- 3000 m above sea level. We recommend you bring warm clothes, cold-weather sleeping bags, hiking sticks, hiking shoes, and wind and waterproof clothes, including hats and gloves. For your pre-departure preparation, please check the trekking tour packing list.

The most suitable time is between 1 June and 15 September because of the weather and the availability of the seasonal accommodation ger camps. You can take this tour in May, September, and October, accommodating local hotels, nomad families, and ger camps where available. The tour covers the vast territory of Mongolian different natural zones. You should expect sharp fluctuations in weather and altitude. Moreover, it gets warm late and gets cold early in western Mongolia, compared to other regions. You better be ready for chilly weather either you travel in the summer months. Mongolian territory is elevated 700 m above the neighboring Siberian plateau and Chinese land. Therefore, the temperature fluctuates geographically, hourly, daytime and night. Receiving snowfalls is regular in May, the end of August, and September. Summer rainfalls turn into snowfalls in high-elevated areas. Please expect +20°C to +30°C the end of June, July, and the beginning of August in central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert. Altai mountain temperature is 5 to 10 Celsius lower. The night temperature drops by 8 to 15 Celsius. Early June, late August, and early September temperatures are crisp morning and evening.

In Ulaanbaatar, you will stay at centrally located 3* hotels. We can change the hotel category on request. We choose the best ger camps for your comfortable stay. The ger camps in central Mongolia are better in terms of service quality and meals. When you travel further to the remote western part, you will find the ger camps are more authentic, run by local people. We will carry camping equipment for the tented camping in the Altai mountain. Although, we suggest you bring your cold-weather sleeping bags. For more detailed information about accommodation, please have a look at the recommended hotels in Mongolia and Mongolia Ger camps

Tour meals are included as indicated in the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve occasional European but mainly 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 ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups, main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), dessert, and tea. Ger camps serve salads, the main course, a dessert, and tea for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. 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 water bottles is available upon request. More information on Mongolia meals

The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. We also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia.

Regarding land transport, most of our tours were designed for four-wheel drive Japanese off-road vehicles driven by experienced, friendly and knowledgeable mechanic-drivers. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, please check things to do in Mongolia and western Mongolian attractions

Rewiews