Aery Gobi and Lake Huvsgul
The most time saving tour that covers the great Gobi desert and Mongolian Blue Pearl Huvsgul Lake, also a must visit Terelj National Park is so far one of our bestselling tours. This travel will take you to the destinations by commercial planes, and cruise to the attractions by a suitable vehicle according to number of travellers taking this tour.
Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Best dates: From middle of May – middle of September
Hotel: ****
Total driving distance: 880 km
Price from: 1350$
Catch a flight to the South Gobi province and explore the phenomenal landscape which features timeless formations in the desert terrain.
Highlights of this travel are the famous Khongor Singing Sand Dunes, “Yoliin am” –The Vulture Valley, Flaming Cliffs site, and Bayanzag saxual forest in the South Gobi desert.
After taking a flight back to UB and having a city tour, another flight allows you to bend distance of 680 km in just 2 hours and take you to Murun, capital of Huvsgul province.
Huvsgul freshwater lake in northwest of Mongolia offers you a range of activities and unforgettable experiences. With Terelj National Park near the capital city Ulaanbaatar, this tour allows you to see most of the ecological and cultural diversion in Mongolia. Accommodation in country sides are tourist standard ger camps /4 nights/.
Day 1. Arrival
Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), your preferred language speaking guide will warmly welcome you, and check-in to your preferred hotel (*** to *****) for the overnight rest. According to the schedule of your arrival, lunch and dinner at a local restaurant, also half day city tour is available. (optional L, D)
Day 2. Vulture Valley (Yoliin am), and Khongoriinels sand dunes (50 km, 200 km)
After buffet breakfast at the hotel, take a domestic flight to South Gobi province with your guide. The driver will pick you up from Dalanzadgad airport and journey to Gobi GurvanSaikhan(Three Beauties of the Gobi) National Park. An excursion to Yol Valley is a good trekking that gives you stunning photographic opportunities. After lunch at the camp, you’ll leave to the “Khongoriinels” known as the Singing Dunes. Climb up to sand dunes will rewardyou with a breathtaking panoramic view, then visitSeruunbulag, and Khongoriingol. In the evening, observe thefamous Gobi sunset. Lunch, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 3. Flaming Cliffs and Bayanzag (160 km)
After breakfast, drive to the world famous Flaming Cliffs and Bayanzag (saxualforest). After lunch in a camp, discover the dreamlike area where first paleontological finding in Mongolia was found, by following the footsteps of American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. Visit a nomadic camel breeding family and experience hospitality of the nomads. Enjoy a short camel ride and see how true is the local’s saying, “The sun is nearer from the back of a camel”. Bayanzagsaxual forest is also admired for its beautiful appearance during sunset.
Lunch, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 4. Ulaanbaatar (70 km)
After breakfast, the traveling party drive to Dalanzadgad airport and take domestic flight back to UB and arrive around noon. Today is dedicated for sightseeing the top attactions of Ulaanbaatar, including Gandan Monastery, Zaisan hill, Chinggis square, and BogdKhaan palace museum. A cultural folk concert is also the highlight of the day.
Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at preferred hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 5.Huvsgul Lake (101 km)
Have a buffet breakfast at the hotel and take a flight to Murun, capital of Huvsgul province. The driver will pick you up there and get you to the Huvsgullake. After lunch at a camp you are staying, there are opportunities to sail by boat or ferry, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and photographing. Dinner and overnight in a camp. (B/L/D)
Day 6.Huvsgul Lake (20 km)
Early in the morning, a walk by the lakeshore is highly recommended. Usually the mist takes off from water by sunrise, when you get a chance to see the striking mystical environment. After breakfast, visit a reindeer herder’s family and learn about their distinct culture and lifestyle. Optional rafting and kayaking activities are available.
Dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 7.Terelj (80 km)
In the morning depart from Murun airport to Ulaanbaatar after breakfast. From the ChinggisKhaan airport drive to Terelj National Park 80km southeast of Ulaanbaatar, and spend the day touring the area and enjoying the magnificent alpine scenery. Visit to local nomadic herder’s family, and top attractions including Tuul River, the Turtle rock, and Aryabal temple are the highlights of this day. Lunch and dinner is at ger camps, and overnight at hotel in the city. (B/L/D)
Day 8.Departure.
Buffet breakfast at the hotel, and then transfer to your international departure point. Before the time you leave, you could shop at local cashmere and goods stores. (B)
FROM – USD 1350
The price is calculated per/person for four person group, based on **** hotel rate.
Upgrade to ***** hotel is possible at your request.
Children aged 2-12 get discounted price.
Infants travel free, with their own equipment.
Package price includes:
- Airport or train station transfers in Ulaanbaatar
- Accommodation: Hotel***, ger camp*
- Your preferred language speaking guide
- Chaffeured transport during the tour
- Entrance fees to National Parks and protected areas
- Tickets to museums and art performances
- Meals as mentioned in itinerary
- Two bottles of 0,5 liter drinking water per day
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
.
Package price excludes:
- Visa application fee
- International airfare or train tickets
- Travel insurance
- Single room supplement
- Hotel extras (phone calls, laundry, minibar,. etc)
- Personal toiletries
- Gratuity to local guides and drivers
- Optional excursions unless stated in the itinerary
How to get a visa?
If you are a citizen of one of the 46 countries that has been granted “visa-free access” to Mongolia, or 42 countries covered in a 30 day visa-free visit regime until 31st December 2015, you do not need to present a visa when entering Mongolia for tourism purposes. With exception of those, visitors are required to have a valid visa issued by Mongolian diplomatic missions or honorary consuls abroad. The following materials are required to obtain a visa under grounds of tourism:
- Passport, valid for at least six months from the end of intended period of stay in Mongolia
- One passport size photo
- Completed and signed Visa Application Form for Tourists
- Invitation from Mongolia (Either an invitation of the receiving entity, or an official request of the sending country and the organization).
- Transit visa processing requires visa for next destination, and copy of onward tickets.
How to get to Mongolia?
By airways: Providing you with comfort flights, Mongolian national flag carrier MIAT – Mongolian airlines operate scheduled and chartered flights to Ulaanbaatar from Berlin, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Beijing. The Chinggis Khaan international airport, conveniently located 18 km southwest of the capital, hosts following carriers apart from MIAT:
- Aeromongolia
- Hunnu Air
- Aeroflot Air
- China
- Korean Air
- Turkish Airlines
We will always be happy to help arrange your international flights to Mongolia. By railways: If your holiday duration and plan allows, another great way to get to Mongolia is via trans-Mongolian train. This is possible either from Moscow or Beijing. The journey takes 4 nights and 5 days from Moscow, and 1 night and 2 days from Beijing. It is a magical journey which takes you from the heart of buzzing downtowns of metropolises into nomadic Mongolia, past the Great Wall of China through the Gobi desert, or Russian countryside villages through the Baikal Lake. Also trains to border cities run every day, as the cities of Ulaan-Ude (Russia) and Erlian (China) are both popular get-away destinations for locals, for a little cultural sightseeing and a bit of shopping. You can let us handle your international railway tickets, to make your travel plan even smoother.
What to bring? What to wear?
Yes, you would want to pack a few additional things to make your travel more comfortable.
Those are:
- Your personal toiletries
- Summer hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Earplugs to use when camping in the countryside
- Small headlamp or a flashlight
- Portable battery charger for your phone, tablet, camera etc.,
Small first aid bag including following:
- Small adhesive bands
- Blister plasters
- Painkillers
- Medicine to treat occasional diarrhea
- Lip balm
- Wet tissue
- Mosquito repellent cream
Other optional:
- Sleeping bag or sleeping sack
- Mosquito net
- After sun cream when possible
Clothing:
- Trekking shoes
- Weatherproof jacket
- Wool hat, gloves, scarf
- Pajamas
- Spare pairs of socks and underwear
- Bathing or swimming suit
- Other casual clothing
Currency
Foreign currency can be exchanged at commercial banks into Mongolian national currency “Tugrug”, which are in notes of 1, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000. Credit cards are accepted at all the hotels, restaurants, and tourist shops, with exception of small scale places. Ulaanbaatar and other cities and towns have “ATM” – automatic teller machines, where you can withdraw cash from your card.
Electricity
Mongolian nationwide electricity output is 220V/50HZ in a European style plug. Most likely all the wall sockets will feature 2 widely spaced round pins. But no worries if your device is different, because universal plug converter is commonly used, and found at relatively cheap price here in Mongolia.
Public Holidays
Mongolians have several national holidays and celebrations, and when we talk about celebrating holidays, we mean to do it nationwide. Believe us, celebrations take festive forms in most cases, and some certain are following:
– New year’s eve — 31st Dec to 1st Jan
– Mongolian Lunar New Year — 3 days in January or February according to Lunar calendar
– International women`s day — 8th of March
– Children`s day — 1st of June
– Naadam Festival — 10-13th of July
– Birthday of Chinggis Khaan — National Pride day: 14th of November
– Independence day: 26th November
Tipping
Like many modern societies, tipping is part of modern life in Mongolia. You can leave small amounts with meals, drinks and round off taxi fares. Tip concierges and bellboys for help with luggage, typically USD 1$ per bag. Tour guides and drivers are used to tips as well. However, giving small gift or present to nomadic families you have visited or stayed with, is preferable over tipping.