Tour of Mongolia

Hello! Welcome to Mongolia, where you can join us at any time before our group meeting at 18:00, during which we will share important information. Afterwards, we will have the opportunity to dine together at a local restaurant. If you have arrived early and have some time, explore Ulaanbaatar, where ancient traditions and modernity meet. Those who wish can participate in optional activities such as a tour of the Fine Arts Museum, a visit to the Gandan Monastery or the National History Museum, the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan, the Intellectual Museum for a taste of the fascinating Mongolian culture, and the Genghis Khan Museum.

Our day will begin as we drive through the beautiful Mongolian countryside. Most of the journey will be on paved roads, but we will brace ourselves for some bumps after the last detour to the remote Amarbayasgalant Khiid. The leader and drivers will be happy to teach us some basic Mongolian words along the way: a great way to prepare for interactions with the locals, few of whom speak English. Our final destination will be the second most important place of worship in Mongolia (after the Gandan Monastery in UB), located in the beautiful Iven Gol river valley, at the foot of Mount Burengiin, in the Selenge province. After visiting the monastery, we will get our first taste of life in a ger at the first camp of the journey. This is how the majority of the Mongolian population has always lived: away from the city and in the vast open spaces of seemingly endless countryside. It will be the quintessential Mongolian experience. Although these camps are set up for visitors, this type of accommodation will still be used throughout the country, even in the capital where we will have seen many 'ger suburbs' surrounding the city center. Our drivers and leaders will often also act as cooks in places where we will prepare our own meals. We will always be welcome to lend a hand! We will share our meals together in the dining halls. It will be possible to accommodate vegetarians, although the choice may be limited: let us know if we have any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided every day until our return to Ulan Bator. Some foods will be in traditional Mongolian style, but since the traditional diet consists exclusively of meat and dairy, most meals will be less challenging and more based on Russian or Western dishes that are now also common in the Mongolian diet.

Today we will continue towards the enchanting Selenge River crossing the copper mining town of Erdenet (about 7 hours including stops). We might have the opportunity to spot some interesting wildlife along the way, such as marmots and many different species of birds. We will arrive at our ger camp in the Unit settlement in the afternoon. We'll stretch our legs upon arrival and take a walk up to Togoo Uul (Pot Mountain), an extinct volcano that looms over the surrounding steppe. The hike to the top will reward us with a view of the lush interior of the crater. From this vantage point, we can only imagine what this incredible landscape must have looked like millions of years ago.

Today our journey (about 7 hours including stops) takes us to the mountainous outskirts of Ikh Uul for our first stay with a local nomadic family. This is a rare opportunity to see how modern Mongolian nomads preserve an ancient lifestyle while embracing some elements of modernity. We will be welcomed into the family's ger and will be shown the traditional Mongolian hospitality, starting with a bowl of salted milk tea and perhaps some aaruul (dried curd). This evening we will help our hosts prepare dinner, possibly some buuz (steamed dumplings) or a barbecue. Many nomadic families raise animals, so we won't be surprised if there's some interaction with goats, dogs, horses, and sheep. The location is remote, with no nearby settlements or light pollution. The night sky will be incredible when the weather is clear, so we will make sure to star-gaze before retiring for the night.

We will have breakfast with our host family and say goodbye to them. Today will be another long day of driving, on rough terrain, all the way to Lake Khovsgol (about 7 hours including stops). Some say this is the most beautiful destination in Mongolia, a wild and pristine area that is home to many ethnic minorities. It boasts spectacular scenery with beautiful fir forests, lush green meadows, and fields dotted with wildflowers. Since it's a popular destination for both foreign tourists and local holidaymakers, we will likely meet other travelers here, especially during the peak months of June and July. Along the way, we will stop in the Uushig Valley and admire the unique deer stones that represent the religious, cultural, and social significance of the Bronze Age. Tonight we will stay in a tourist camp right near the lake.

Today we might want to go hiking on one of the nearby peaks or perhaps take a boat trip on the lake (optional and not included). We will explore on foot and relax during one of our few non-travel days. All these are great ways to experience this beautiful region. We will spend the night in the tourist camp.

Today we will leave early to head back through the city of Murun and continue towards Shine Ider (about 8 hours on a dirt road, including stops). Here we can enjoy the second homestay of our trip. Now that we know what to expect from a Mongolian homestay, we should feel more comfortable the second time around. We will get to know our hosts as we help them prepare for an exciting Mongolian-style barbecue dinner and learn about the importance of meat in their diet and how Mongolian characters are intertwined with their food and cooking. We might also have the chance to observe the milking and livestock farming of the family.

After breakfast with the family, we will head towards the surreal Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, also known as the Great White Lake (about 9 hours on a dirt road). This natural volcanic lake, surrounded by mountains, is a surreal and memorable sight. Depending on where we are this evening, we might drive up to one of the volcanic craters and climb to the top for spectacular views. There are many beautiful trails to explore during our two-night stay here, so we will make the most of this relaxing break from the road.

We'll be journeying to the Tsenkher hot springs, a trip that will take us around 6 hours. These springs are nestled in the Delger river valley. Along the way, we'll make a stop at Tsetserleg, a provincial town with a local market and a unique small museum housed in an ancient temple. We'll explore this with a local guide. During this stop, we'll have the chance to stroll around the town, getting a glimpse of what provincial life in Mongolia is like. We might even stock up on snacks and drinks for our upcoming travels. From here, it's about another hour to the hot springs. Upon arrival, we'll check into the ger tourist camp.

We will enjoy a lesson in Mongolian archery today and then savor the rest of the free day to relax, explore, or simply lounge in the thermal waters of these invigorating natural hot springs. Let's make sure to bring our swimsuits to be able to participate in this activity. Surrounded by the remote beauty of the landscape, this place is perfect to slow down and achieve a more meditative pace and take it easy. There are also optional hikes and activities on offer if we prefer something more active, like an archery lesson.

We'll journey to Karakorum, a city built by the legendary Genghis Khan in the 13th century, a roughly 4-hour drive. We'll ask our guide and drivers to share some tales about this great man on the way - after all, he's a national hero. In Karakorum, we'll explore Mongolia's first Buddhist center, the vast Erdene Zuu Monastery. This fortified complex retains much of its ancient grandeur, and we'll get to inspect its three temples, each dedicated to a different phase of Buddha's life: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. For those interested, a visit to the Karakorum Museum is also on the cards. Later in the afternoon, we'll head to Khogno Khan, where our tourist camp will be set up.

Right next to Karakorum, there's a sudden strip of sand dunes, a striking contrast to the landscape we've just traversed. Here, we'll enjoy a camel trek across the dunes, an ideal way to experience this astonishing scenery. We'll follow our leader on a short hike to the ruins of an ancient local monastery. The afternoon will be ours to spend as we wish, offering us the freedom to explore at our own pace.

We will travel back through the rolling prairies to Ulan Bator (about 8 hours). Along the way, we will pass by the "ovoos" (roadside shrines) and the ger suburbs. Upon arriving in the metropolis, we will return to our hotel. Depending on the arrival time, there might be a chance to purchase some local handicrafts such as cashmere and felt products, or to visit other attractions and museums in the city. Tonight we can celebrate our journey in Mongolia by attending a special cultural show featuring throat singing and traditional dances. There will be an optional final dinner at a local restaurant recommended by our leader.

Goodbye, friends! There are no further activities planned for the day, so you are free to leave the hotel at any time before 12:00 PM. If you wish to stay longer in Ulan Bator, I recommend booking additional accommodation well in advance.