Itinerary

July 7, Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Our driver will greet you at the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. Relax and explore the city while staying in a superb location hotel.

Accommodation: 3* hotel

July 8, Day 2: Start countryside tour to Amarbayasgalant Monastery

In the morning, drive to the stunning architectural old monastery Amarbaysgalant. On your way, you will visit Darkhan city and have lunch. Arrive at Amarbayasgalant monastery late afternoon and check in at a ger camp close to the monastery. After some time, visit the beautiful monastery and hike up the foothills of Burenkhaan Mountain to see Buddha sculptures and big stupas. From the tops of the hills, you can have gorgeous views of the Iven River Valley and the whole monastery.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 9, Day 3: Urantogoo extinct volcano

Along the way to Urantogoo extinct volcano, we will drive via Erdenet copper mine city and a central town of Bulgan province. The landscapes will change into more forested areas. Urantogoo volcano became extinct 800,000 years ago. The volcano's inner and outer northern slope is covered with trees and has a small lake. The volcano top is accessible after some challenging hike up, and the vista is awe-inspiring once you are on the top.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 10, Day 4: Khuvsgul Lake

The journey continues to one of the world's freshest pure-water lakes, Lake Khuvsgul. This 136 km-long, 38 km-wide lake lies 1600m above sea level in the middle of the Siberian taiga forest and among majestic sheer rock mountains. The driving to the lake takes place on paved roads with scenic views. Arrive at Murun, a central town of Khuvsgul at lunchtime. After lunch, continue the journey and arrive at the lake late afternoon. The lake and its surrounding area are pristine and have much to offer its guests. Enjoy nature and relax after long driving or have some optional activities of hiking, bird watching, climbing a mountain, flower watching, etc. Motorboating and kayaking are available at the base of additional payment.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 11, Day 5: Participate in the local Naadam Festival

Today, you will drive short to attend the Naadam, held close to a small village Hatgal on the western shore of Khuvsgul Lake. See the main events of the festival, such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery, apart from seeing how Mongolians celebrate their festival by wearing their finest traditional clothes and riding their nicest horses. You can even challenge yourself by participating in wrestling, archery, and other games. You also see the Naadam commerce and taste the Naadam main dish Huushuur. You will visit reindeer people on your way back to the ger camp. Reindeer herding Tsaatan people live in the depths of the taiga forest. A few reindeer are the primary resource of their livelihood. In the summer months, some reindeer families move down from the Taiga mountains close to the lake to supplement their income.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 12, Day 6: Visit Reindeer herders, see deer stones and Ulziit Khishig camp

In the morning, you will visit the Reindeer herders. Reindeer herding Tsaatan people live in the depths of the taiga forest. A few reindeer are the primary resource of their livelihood. In the summer months, some reindeer families move down from the Taiga mountains close to the lake to supplement their income. They live in huts covered with canvas or animal skins, even in the cold winter. The remoteness of the Taiga forest makes their life entirely dependent on nature. They know well how to use herbs and plants for meals and medicinal purposes. They are well known for their famous Shamans. The reindeer family we will visit this day will have moved from the depths of Taiga near the lake. The journey continues with an exploration of ancient deer stones. Deer stones spread widely throughout Central Asia and are the first monuments of humans; the earliest of them belong to the 13th to the 9th century BC, while they mostly date back to The Bronze Age. On restored, standing stones, pictures including the sun, the moon, belts, knives, and jumping deer are carved fantastically. The journey continues through the mountain valleys on rough roads and arrives at a ger camp. If you are an active traveler, you can climb a mountain, where you will see the surrounding beautiful area in bird's eyes and get a cellphone reception signal to contact your loved ones.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 13-14, Day 7-8: Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park

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. Among them, the Khorgo volcano is the easiest accessible and most spectacular one. Astonishingly beautiful, clear water lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (known as Great White Lake) formed after lava flows from the volcanoes blocked the north and south water access from the Terkh River. Late afternoon, we climb the Khorgo Volcano, now extinct for nearly 8000 years. Its surrounding area has several caves and hideouts. That is why the volcano was named “Khorgo,” meaning shelter. We arrive at the ger camp late afternoon and relax after the bumpy road adventure. The next day, you explore the beautiful national park, climb the volcano top, and walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas; a small village can be seen from the volcano, as well as a bird’s eye view of Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake. Next, travel to Tekhiin Tsagaan Lake and explore some caves.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 15, Day 9: Erdenezuu Monastery in the Orkhon River Valley

On the way, you will see the Chuluut River lava canyon and Tsetserleg town market. Kharkhorin, formerly known as Kharakhorum, was 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, 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 established on ancient capital Kharakhorum site. You will visit the temple museum and active temple and see Turtle Stone, which marked the ancient city Kharkhorum boundary.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

July 16, Day 10: Visit the Kharakhorum museum, Elsentasarkhai semi-desert, camel riding, and return to Ulaanbaatar

In the morning, you will visit Kharkhorum Museum to learn about Mongolia's past and see the remnant of Kharakhorum city. The journey continues to Elsentasarkhai semi-desert. Ride two-humped camels and return to Ulaanbaatar in the evening

Accommodation: 3* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

July 17, Day 11: Departure

The driver meets you at your hotel and transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Price

Background

The tour does not include challenging activities besides Khorgo Volcano and Uran Togoo volcano climbing. 5 to 75-year-old travelers traveled along this itinerary and did the above. We hope you can do the same as the trekking is not long and exhausting. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes and scenic views. You will drive approximately 5 to 6 hours a day, plus some time for sightseeing and lunch. Local equestrians will help you when riding horses and camels.

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

We developed the tour to let you stay at cozy and beautiful accommodation gers of the ger camps for 8 nights and 2 nights stay in a centrally located 3* hotel in Ulaanbaatar. If you wish, you can upgrade the hotel by paying additional. Please get more detailed information about the ger camps.

The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese-speaking guides are available upon request. All of our guides are 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. During horse and camel riding, local equestrians will support you.

Depending on the group size, Mitsubishi Delica, Hyundai Starex, Grand Starex, Toyota Hiace, or Lexus 470 serves. You can upgrade the vehicle to Toyota Land Cruiser 200, paying extra. Besides the cars, our experienced, friendly, flexible, and knowledgeable mechanic-drivers helps you enjoy a safe and fun trip.

July is the warmest month, as well as the wettest. The average day temperature is +28°C, hottest is +34°C in central and northern Mongolia. The night temperature could drop drastically to + 10°C. Northern Mongolian forested mountains receive relatively high precipitation compared to other parts of Mongolia. So, you may feel less dry lips and skin compared to traveling to the Gobi Desert. You should expect both warm weather and some rain. The rain period starts from the beginning of July when observing the annual average, but not constant. The rain could be a short shower or drizzling rain. Therefore, be prepared for warm weather, rain, and cool evening temperatures. For your pre-departure preparation, you may check the discovery tour packing list.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, please check things you can do in different parts of Mongolia.

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