Mongolia
Explore Mongolia
16 days from £4,395pp
Includes : 15 nights accommodation, most meals, local transport, English speaking guide throughout.
Overview & Highlights
Inspired by BBC’s Race Across The World?
Explore Mongolia is an private tailor made adventure, taking in an overland circuit of this unique destination.
Combining cities and settlements with natural beauty and desert, travel by 4WD and stay in traditional ger accommodation.
- Explore the Gandan Monastery
- Venture into the Gobi Desert
- Discover Mongolia’s famous sand dunes
- Camp in traditional ger camps
- Visit the Flaming Cliffs of Bayan Zag
- Stunning mountains and lakes including Lake Huvsgul
“For active travellers, Mongolia’s attraction can be found in its landscapes. Leaving the cities behind, lace your walking boots and pack your sense of adventure! If you have time visit Nalaikh or Zuumnod giving you a real glimpse into authentic Mongolia. Not too far from the capital, these towns feel like wild west outposts.”
As seen on Race Across the World, Mongolia is rapidly imerging as an adventurous travel destinaion with vast unspoilt wilderness areas and traditional nomadic culture.
Visitors with a keen interest in history will explore a mix of Soviet architecture and Buddhist monasteries in Ulaanbaatar, rubbing shoulders with glass tower blocks and international restaurants. The memory of Genghis Khan is alive and well in Mongolia still, so visitors can head to see the monks in the walled compound of Erdene Zuu monastery, close to his ancient capital of Karakorum.
The Gobi Desert sets a dramatic ochre backdrop for sand dune explorations by 4WD. Lunar landscapes hide secrets of dinosaur fossils and and traditional ger camps offer a cosy, unique overnight experience for travellers keen to get to know the nomadic communities who have roamed these lands for generations.
Striking snow-capped mountain peaks frame rolling steppe that stretches for miles, and in winter months, snow and ice covered lakes offer a dramatic wilderness experience.
The below is a suggested itinerary which can be tweaked to suit individual interests. Note that some driving distances are long – full itinerary can be sent on request.
- Day 1: Arrive Ulaanbaatar. Meet the local guide and make the short journey into Ulaanbaatar, which translates literally as ‘Red Hero’ and check into the hotel for an overnight stay. Later, enjoy a city tour and discover the Lenin Statue, Sukhbaatar Square and the National Museum of Mongolian History. In the evening cross south of the Tuul River to visit Zaisan Hill, a communist era Soviet-Mongolian Friendship Memorial which affords the visitor a panoramic view over the city.
- Day 2: Depart Ulaanbaatar for an adventure into the Middle Gobi. The forested rolling hills of Central Mongolia give way to arid landscapes. Visit Baga Gazriin Chuluu and Sangiin Dalai Lake and discover the ruins of the 10th century Khokh Burd Sum. Overnight in a ger camp.
- Day 3: Travel to South Gobi, the highlight of the Gobi Desert. The landscape will become increasingly harsh in this very arid and sparsely populated region. Visit the Yoliin Am Valley for hiking and photo opportunities and to visit the Gobi Glacier. Overnight in a ger camp
- Day 4: Head to the most famous sand dunes in Mongolia, Khongoriin Els, also known as the ‘Singing Sands’. There will be plenty of time to enjoy walking in the area. Overnight in a ger camp nearby
- Day 5: Today head north to the towering peaks of Ikh Bogd and Baga Bogd Mountains. The night will be spent at the Gobi Camel Ger Camp, situated between these spectacular mountains, which are 3957 metres and 3590 metres high respectively – the highest peaks in the Gobi Desert.
- Day 6: Explore the large sand dunes near Tsaatiin Tsagaan Nuur. From here head up the slopes of Ikh Bogd an admire the spectacular mountain scenery and see the fault line from the 1957 earthquake. Visit White Cave, an attractive cave which archaeologists only recently discovered to have been a human shelter in ancient times. The night will be spent back at the same Ger Camp
- Day 7: Drive to Bayankhongor town, a provincial capital. Explore the town and experience the lives of local residents – giving an insight into town life in Mongolia. Overnight in a local hotel
- Day 8: Heading further north enter the verdent Khangai Mountains, towards Tsenkher Jiguur. En-route visit Tuvkhun Monastery the ruins of an ancient temple founded by Zanbazar, a famous Mongolian scholar, poet and philosopher and stop at the beautiful Orkhon waterfall. Arrive Tsenkher Jiguur. Overnight in a ger camp.
- Day 9: Travel across the green plateau of central Mongolia to a ger camp on the shore of the beautiful Terhiin Tsagaan Lake. Surrounded by extinct volcanoes and occupying an area of over 300 square km at an altitude of just over 2,000 metres. The extinct volcano of Horgo stands on the Terhiin Tsagaan Nuur Lake, with its crater around 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep. En-route to the camp visit Taikhar Rock and the pretty town of Tsetserleg.
- Day 10: Embark upon a two day journey to Huvsgul Lake, travelling across the mountains and steppe of the northern tip of the Khangai Mountains. Stop for the night in the picturesque Zuun Nuur Valley, half way between Terhiin Tsagaan Nuur lake and Huvsgul. Overnight in a ger camp.
- Day 11: Arrive into Murun Town, the provincial capital of Khovsgol Aimag and attend the local Naadam Festival, which features the three sports of horse racing, wrestling and archery. Continue to Lake Khovsgol. On arrival in Khovsgol settle for 2 nights into the ger camp and enjoy time to relax at leisure
- Day 12: Spend today exploring around the beautiful Lake Huvsgul, known locally as the ‘dark blue pearl’ of Mongolia. Huvsgul shares many similarities in origin, flora and fauna with Russia’s larger Baikal Lake, which lies 200 kilometres to the north east and is connected by the Egiin River. Overnight in a ger camp on the lakeshore.
- Day 13: Travel via the provincial capital of Murun, towards the Selenge River. The first day of your journey back towards Ulaanbaatar. Stop en-route at various sights during the day. Overnight in a ger camp.
- Day 14: This morning head to Erdenet, the 3rd largest city in Mongolia. Erdenet city was established in the 1970’s to mine the rich deposits in the region and its copper mine is the largest factory in Mongolia and one of the largest copper factories in the world. Here enjoy a specially arranged visit to the Copper Mine. Overnight in a hotel in Erdenet.
- Day 15: Depart Erdenet and begin the long drive towards Ulaanbaatar. After lunch in Ulaanbaatar check back into your hotel for an overnight stay and enjoy some free to to relax at leisure.
- Day 16: Depart Ulaanbaatar.
This is just one example of a holiday to Mongolia. We can also incorporate this into other itineraries crossing Central Asia, including a diversion of the Trans-Siberian Express Train. Here is an example of a Silk Road journey through Central Asia
Contact me now to start planning your Mongolia Adventure!.
A few impressions…
“Hello from outer Mongolia, well Ulaanbaatar at the moment, about to move on to Beijing! Wanted to send a postcard but realised I haven’t got you address so thought I’d let you know that the Remote Mongolia Gobi Trek you booked for me was awesome! “
Gill D
Let us begin the journey that will create memories to last a lifetime.
