Best of Mongolia

Itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to a three or four star hotel. Check in. City tour of Ulaanbaatar if the time permits. (Gandan Monastery, Bogd Gegeen Winter Palace, Natural History Museum). Folk performance in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Baga Gazariin Chuluu
After an early breakfast leave UB. On the way to the Gobi visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu Lake and the ruins of Sum Khukh Burd Temple. Overnight in traditional Mongolian gers at our Middle Gobi camp.

Day 3: South Gobi/ Flaming cliffs
Breakfast at the camp. Continue driving towards the South Gobi. On the way visit Sangiin Dalai Temple in Erdenedalai, one of the few monasteries and temples to survive the communist purges in 1930s.
Arrive at our camp in the South Gobi and explore the world famous Flaming Cliffs (Bayan Zag), the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery and the trail of paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: South Gobi/ National Park Yol Valley
Breakfast at the camp. Drive to National Park Yol Valley. Full day excursion to Yol Valley (Eagle Valley) National Park for hiking and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape, the Gobi Glacier and the local wildlife. Picnic lunch in the Yolyn Am National Park. Spend the afternoon hiking or relaxing. Return to the camp and overnight.

Day 5: South Gobi/ Khongor Sand Dune
After breakfast drive to Khongor sand dunes known as Singing dunes. Packed lunch on the way. Visit and possibly claim up to Mongolia’s biggest sand dune. Dinner and overnight in Ger camp.

Day 6: Ongyn Khiid
After breakfast drive to north. Stop for the night in a ger camp near Ongyn Khiid. Visit local small temple museum. Dinner and overnight in the ger camp.

Day 7: Karakorum
Breakfast at our campsite. Continue driving to Karakorum. Arrive at Karakorum in the afternoon. Overnight at our ger camp.

Day 8: Bayangobi
Early breakfast at the camp. Visit Erdene-Zuu, once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia and almost destroyed in the 1930s. Tour of the monastery grounds and several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. Drive to Bayan Gobi. Explore the area and visit the Uvgunt Monastery. Overnight at the Ger camp.

Day 9: Ulaanbaatar
Breakfast at the camp. Drive to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. Folk performance in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 : Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to railway station for departure.