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Journey through Mongolia's vast open lands dotted by nomadic camps under a massive sky before witnessing the Nadaam Festival.
Start in Ulaan Baatar. Those not travelling with the group from London will join us at the hotel. There are no activities planned for today to allow for different arrival times and to rest after the flight. However, for anyone who arrives into Ulaan Baatar early, why not explore some of the city’s sites including UB’s main square: Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum and the landmark State Department Store. *Bayangol Hotel or similar*
Before leaving UB we visit the Gandan Monastery, the largest functioning lamasery in Mongolia and the seat of Buddhist studies in the country. Here we may see monks praying and the 20m gold and bronze statue of Migjid Janraisig. We then drive on the main road westwards towards Karakorum, making a detour to the Khustain Nuruu National Park, 2 hours west of Ulaan Baatar. Khustain Nuruu is famous for the re-introduction of Mongolia's wild horse. The Takhi Horse (also known as the Przewalski's horse) was once native to Mongolia and almost became extinct earlier in the 20th century. Through the efforts of several Mongolian and international organizations, these magnificent wild horses now roam in the steppes of the national park once again. We will visit the Project Information Centre and take a guided hike to see the wild horses. Tonight will be our first night staying in gers, traditional Mongolian felt tents. *Ger Camp*
Today we continue on our drive to the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire - Karakorum - making a brief stop to see the dunes of the Little Gobi along the way. . Karakorum was established by Ogedei Khan and remained the Mongols power base until Khublai Khan established Beijing as the capital. Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) monastery was the largest Monastery in Mongolia, built in 1586 under the direction of Abtai Khan on the ruins of the ancient capital. Much of the monastery was destroyed during Stalin's purges of the 1930's, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and a number of temples still remain. After lunch, we visit the monastery, the modern Karakorum Museum and the surrounding area *Ger Camp*
We continue along the paved road to Arvaikheer, the capital of Ovorkhangai Aimag on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. On the way we will visit the Shankh Monastery, once the home of the great Mongolian theologist Zanabazar. We should arrive at Arvaikheer during the middle of the afternoon and check in to our hotel. In the afternoon there will be time to visit the local museum, which contains nature collections, stone figures and Turkic scripts and possibly go to a local market. *Arvaikheer Palace Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*
Today is a long day as we head properly off the tourist route into some of the wilder parts of the Gobi Desert. After an early breakfast we start our journey and rapidly leave the tarmac behind. The landscape changes as we head deeper into the Gobi and the majestic Ikh Bogd Mountain should be visible in the distance, the highest mountain in the Gobi Altai Mountain Range. Eventually, after about 9 hours travelling (with stops) we will arrive at our Ger Camp in the wilderness. This is the longest day’s driving but is also a definite highlight of the trip as we pass through some of Mongolia’s most spectacular scenery. *Ger Camp*
After going over a desert pass and visiting the quartz rich ‘White Cave’ our journey continues through classic Gobi desert scenery of flat stony plains mixed with small rocky outcrops and patches of sand across the Khatan Suudal Steppe. We stop for a picnic lunch on the way, with views of Arts Bogd mountain to the north. We head off to the Kongoriin Els sand dunes and arrive there in the late afternoon. *Ger Camp*
We have a full day to explore the sand dunes and surrounding area. The Khongoriin Els stretch for 200km and are as high as 300m in places. They are known as the 'Singing Dunes' because of the beautiful sound that resonates through the dunes on a windy day. The South Gobi has 100,000 camels, typically used by herders for transportation of their gers. We will have the opportunity today to visit a camel breeding family and get a glimpse of the way of life of the nomadic herders of these parts. *Ger Camp*
This morning we will drive through the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Gobi Gurvansaikhan means 'Three Beauties of the Gobi' and this range marks the eastern end of the Gobi Altai mountain range. The park's landscape is extremely varied, with rocky and sandy desert plains, precipitous cliffs and ravines, salt pans and oases. We visit a spectacular natural sight of this region - Yolyn Am. Yolyn Am means Vulture's Mouth and is a canyon so deep and narrow that even in the height of summer winter ice can remain on the valley floor. This region is also renowned for the diversity of its wildlife and many endangered species can be found here, including Khulan, Ibex, Argali and elusive Snow leopards. We visit a local museum and explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight. *Ger Camp*
Today we have time to relax in our luxury ger camp. Either in the morning or afternoon we take a short drive to Bayanzag (70 km). Known as the Flaming cliffs, the red/ochre colour can be striking and we have the opportunity for a short hike amongst colourful sands of red, yellow and orange. Bayanzag is a world-renowned dinosaur fossil exploration site, discovered in the 1920s by Mongolian and American palaeontologists. We are free to explore the region and may even be lucky enough to spot dinosaur fossils. We later return to our ger camp. *Ger Camp*
We leave the Gobi Desert behind and fly back to Ulaan Baatar. Depending on what time our flight is will determine what time we get back to Ulaan Baatar. *Bayangol Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel*
The Naadam Festival celebrates the ‘three games of men’ (or Erin Gurvan Naadam) which are wrestling, horse-racing and archery. More recently a fourth game, knuckle-bone flicking was added to the competitions. The festival is celebrated throughout the country but the biggest festival is in Ulaan Baatar. Over the next two days we attend the grand opening ceremony before we watch Mongolians compete in all four sports. We also get to mingle with hordes of Mongolian spectators as the grounds around the stadium (where wrestling, archery and bone-flicking takes place) and the horse races are filled with stands selling food, games, flags and various other things. The atmosphere is a big part of the experience and many Mongolians dress in their best traditional clothes for the occasion. In 2010 the festival was entered into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and is great celebration of the Central Asian nation’s culture. *Bayangol Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel*
We leave Ulaan Baatar and head for Terelj National Park. Terelj National Park is a large protected area of green mountain meadows filled with edelweiss and other wild flowers. The contrast to the Gobi Desert is striking and it feels like being in a different country. We visit the Tibetan-style Aryabala temple, a meditation centre located on a mountain side with sweeping views over the national park. As we follow the walk up to the temple there are inspirational sayings on placards every few steps. The climb to the temple is not difficult but does involve many steps and can be tiring. Tonight we have our final night sleeping in a ger. *Ger Camp*
As we make our way back to the city we visit the giant Genghis Khan statue at Tsonjin Bolog. Standing 40m tall, the statue depicts the Mongolian ruler astride his horse and sits atop the visitor’s centre (itself 10m tall). It is possible to climb up onto the horse’s head to get a closer look of Genghis Khan’s face. This afternoon there should be some free time for some last minute shopping or site-seeing. *Bayangol Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel*
* 6 nights hotel, all en suite, 8 nights ger camps
* Travel by 4WD vehicle, bus and one internal flight
* Some long drives through very remote country
* Also Eagle Festival and non-festival departures
Traditional Mongolian diets are very meat and dairy heavy. Whilst there will
be opportunities to try some of these products such as dry-curd and fermented
mare’s milk, the meals provided in the ger camps are generally western
meals, at times with an Asian influence. There will normally be some form of
soup and salad as well as a main course and desert. Vegetarians are generally
well catered for, if you are vegetarian or have other dietary requirements
please make sure to inform us in advance. Breakfasts can vary from place to
place, some are buffet style whilst others are set, normally cereal, bread
and possibly a hot dish will be provided. On some days a pack lunch will be
provided, this is often still a proper meal (though without the soup). Water
is provided and will generally be from 5L water-containers so make sure to
bring a water bottle to decant into. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, vodka
and (most of the time) wine are available to buy at the ger camps. There is
opportunity to buy snacks in Ulaan Baatar and on a couple other occasions
along the way when we drive through towns or villages.
* 6 nights hotel, all en suite, 8 nights ger camps
* Travel by 4WD vehicle, bus and one internal flight
* Some long drives through very remote country
* Also Eagle Festival and non-festival departures
Mongolia is 6.5 times larger than the UK but with a population 21 times
smaller. Understandably this means that large tracts of the country do not
have much infrastructure. Much of our time is spent in areas where roads are
barely tracks through the landscape. On this trip we go further into the
wilderness than the average visitor to Mongolia and whilst this allows us to
travel through stunning parts of the country, encountering few people other
than the odd nomad, it does mean that some days involve long and bumpy
drives. These drives are balanced out with some downtime to relax and just
take in the incredible surroundings or often, with the option of going for a
walk or even, at times a horse or camel ride. There are some scheduled hikes,
looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the Singing sand dunes, Vulture canyon
or the Flaming cliffs, for instance. These are relatively short, no more than
one or two hours on mostly flat or undulating terrain. The Flaming Cliffs
hike may not be recommended if you have an acute fear of heights and can
involve some scrambling, however, it’s possible to still enjoy great views
of the cliffs and opt-out of the walk.
The climate in central Mongolia is generally pleasant in summer when the trip
runs. In the Gobi Desert, however, temperatures can get well above 30’C,
even approaching 40’C.
This is a trip that goes off the ‘tourist trail’ and comes to the
encounter of local nomads. It takes us through spectacular and diverse
wilderness and gives us an insight into a fascinating country unlike any
other.
Hotels & Ger Camps We use hotels in Ulaan Baatar and Arvaikheer and ger camps elsewhere. Gers
are similar to yurts, generally airy and comfortable with beds and, normally,
a stove (though in the summer the stoves are not normally needed). The
bathrooms are normally shared and all have hot water (however due to the
remoteness of the camps this can, at times be erratic). Many of the ger camps
now have 24hr electricity in the ger itself for charging batteries. If there
is no charging facility inside the ger itself then there are charging
facilities in the common area (though this may during limited periods of the
day only when the generator is turned on). There will normally be no more
than two people per ger, however in some cases, due to availability issues we
may need to have triples in the ger. There may also be rare occasions when a
single cannot be guaranteed in a particular ger camp.
The trip is led by a local tour leader who will also be accompanied by an
experienced Mongolian guide. Other trip staff will include drivers and local
assistants as needed.
Traditional Mongolian diets are very meat and dairy heavy. Whilst there will
be opportunities to try some of these products such as dry-curd and fermented
mare’s milk, the meals provided in the ger camps are generally western
meals, at times with an Asian influence. There will normally be some form of
soup and salad as well as a main course and desert. Vegetarians are generally
well catered for, if you are vegetarian or have other dietary requirements
please make sure to inform us in advance. Breakfasts can vary from place to
place, some are buffet style whilst others are set, normally cereal, bread
and possibly a hot dish will be provided. On some days a pack lunch will be
provided, this is often still a proper meal (though without the soup). Water
is provided and will generally be from 5L water-containers so make sure to
bring a water bottle to decant into. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, vodka
and (most of the time) wine are available to buy at the ger camps. There is
opportunity to buy snacks in Ulaan Baatar and on a couple other occasions
along the way when we drive through towns or villages.
We travel around in a convoy of 4WD vehicles as we make our way around
central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert. These are generally 6-seater (including
the driver) vehicle but we normally will use them for 4 passengers (plus the
driver). Driving in the wilderness can be hard going on the vehicles and they
sometimes may get a puncture or may need to be cooled down from overheating
so please come with an open mind. We may also use a coach for getting around
Ulaan Bator and Terelj National Park. We also use one internal flight.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 16 days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Air China or Aeroflot
(depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change
regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or
your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings
may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two
weeks before departure.
The Air China flights we aim to use connect in Beijing with a
reasonable connection time, however, it may be that due to schedule changes
the outbound flight requires an overnight in Beijing. Should this happen Air
China will put you up in an airport hotel for the night. Please speak with
an Air China representative in Beijing airport who will direct you to your
airport hotel. You will be provided with a temporary transit visa for the
hotel. You will NOT need to purchase a Chinese visa. Please note that the
Air China representative will not be waiting for you straight off
the plane. You will most likely be required to take the airport train
to the arrivals terminal to the Air China desk. As there will be no leader
at this part of the trip you will need to make yourself known at the Air
China desk. Please also note that if you have paid for a single room
supplement for your trip in Mongolia, this will NOT be applicable during
your transit stay.
*Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Ulaan Baatar*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Ulaan Baatar on Day 1 of
the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the
Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight - please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense.
It is possible to book a private transfer, please contact our Sales Team for
further details and prices.
The cost of a taxi is likely to be about £16 (approx. US$25) should you
decide to make your way independently.
July and August are summer months and daytime temperatures should be a
pleasant 20degC in Ulaan Baatar and central regions. Temperatures can reach a
maximum of 33degC in the capital and 35degC in the Gobi desert in July and
although the average is lower, clients should expect some very warm weather.
July and August are summer months and daytime temperatures should be a
pleasant 20’C in Ulaan Baatar and central regions. Temperatures can reach a
maximum of 33’C in the capital and high 30s in the Gobi desert in July and
although the average is lower, clients should expect some very warm weather.
Evening temperatures are uniformly 15 to 20’C. Humidity is very low. These
months are also the wet season and over a trip of this duration you should
expect some rain but showers are not normally long lasting and the total
rainfall during this period is very low. (June - 28mm, July - 76mm & August -
51mm).
In addition to your 'normal' daily clothes, you will need the following
essential items:
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Strong sunblock
Mosquito repellent
Rain jacket
Walking shoes or boots are essential
A water bottle
torch / headtorch
warm sleepwear (the nights in the camps gets cold)
Small gifts from home for local herders are a nice touch; ideal gifts include
pictures from home, pictures of family, children's presents (colouring‐in
books and pencils etc), as well as anything practical for home, sewing kits
etc (not knives)
Bedding, including blankets and clean sheets, are provided at the ger camps.
At the time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the
recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing
only one piece of checked baggage.
Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of
15kg (10kg for checked in luggage and 5kg for hand luggage) but it is
possible to pay for extra weight (US$2/kg).
As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject
to change, we suggest you check the airline's website for the latest
information prior to your departure.
Major currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR can be changed at banks whilst
hotels will generally only change USD (at a worse rate).
Tipping is at your discretion, but is customary in Mongolia and has become
standard for tourism. We have found that a tip kitty is the easiest way to
ensure that the correct levels are given out. This will include tips for
local staff at the camps, hotels and airports as well as your driver. Your
leader will advise the amount, which will depend on the size of the group.
You should budget around US$75-100 for this.
This tip kitty will not include the tip for your leader, which is
discretionary, though USD30-50 is common.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Airport transfers for Land Only passengers
* Visas or Vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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