Duration: 12 days, 11 nights
Dates: 10th – 21 July (including Naadam tour)
Group size: Min- 3 pax, Max- 15 pax
Destination: Ulaanbaatar, Middle Gobi, South Gobi, Karakorum, and Hustai Nuruu Nature Reserve
Highlights: Naadam Festival, Baga Gazriin Chuluu, Yolin Am, Flaming Cliffs, Khongor Singing Sand Dunes, Ruins of Ongi Monastery, Erdenezuu Monastery, wild horses
Accommodation: Tourist standard ger camps / 9 nights
Total driving distance: 2140 km
Price per person: 1 pax 1620 USD
This tour is a combination of unforgettable Naadam Festival and the great Gobi excursion. Naadam – one of the main events in Mongolia has been organized since the times of great Khans. During Naadam Festival, all good sportsmen and women of the country compete in one of the three National sport competitions that are: archery, horse racing and wrestling. This is a rare opportunity to dip in to magnificent Mongolian culture, along with the eye opening tour to Gobi. Gobi has been a habitable place for rarest animals and nomadic people. One of the famous “Silk road” branches used to go through the great Gobi desert. Today, Gobi desert – one of the main attractions of Mongolia, has been attracting visitors like magnet. 2 humped Bactrian camels, dinosaur excavation area, sandy dune and ruins of Buddhist temple will give you a clear idea about Gobi desert and nomads who live there.
Day 1. Arrival
Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, our English speaking professional local guide will warmly welcome the travellers at the airport оr train station, and transfer to hotel of your choice (hotel stay not included).
Day 2. Naadam Festival (40 km)
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Ulaanbaatar Central Stadium to enjoy the Naadam Festival Opening ceremony. It is always a magnificent folk and modern art performance with different agendas each year. Then get to know more about the three manly game competitions alongside cheered local Naadam Festival goers. Have lunch in a city restaurant, then transfer to “Khui Doloon Khudag” field to see the horse racing. It is a spectacular competition which attracts most visitors over the other two sports of Naadam. After exploration, transfer to a nearby ger camp and have dinner, and stay overnight. (L/D)
Day 3. Middle Gobi – Baga Gazryn Chuluu (260 km)
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby after breakfast. Today you begin your journey heading to Baga Gazryn Chuluu, a unique formation of rocks in the Middle Gobi province. Visit ruins of an ancient temple and explore the area. Lunch is on the way. Have a dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 4. Tsagaan Suvarga (250 km)
After breakfast, drive further heading magnificent Tsagaan Suvarga. Meaning “White Stupa”, it is a deep escarpment formed over time due to erosion of a sedimentary mud in the sea bottom and looks like a stupa from far distance. From far-east it looks like a city ruin or a settlement, but from west it looks like a flat steppe. This escarpment is 60m high, about 400m wide, and believed to have almost 900 steep banks. After rainfall, torrents of water flowing down the banks looks like a massive waterfall. Lunch is on the way, dinner, and overnight stay are in a ger camp near Tsagaan Suvarga. (B/L/D)
Day 5. Yolin Am – Vulture Valley (220 km)
Drive further south. Arrive at the Three Beauties of the Gobi National Park. Spend the day on an excursion to Yolin Am (Vulture Valley) – a deep and narrow gorge that cuts a path through the foothills of mountains and is covered by snow and ice for most time of the year for hiking and stunning photograph opportunities. Lunch is on the way, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 6. Khongor – Singing sand dunes (200 km)
After breakfast drive to Khongor sand dunes, known as Singing Dunes. A good climb up to the sand dunes will be challenging, but will reward you with a breath taking panoramic view. In the evening observe a spectacular sunset, please prepare your cameras. Lunch is on the way, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 7. Bayanzag (200 km)
Drive to the world famous Flaming Cliffs and Bayanzag (forest of the Gobi). Discover the area of first paleontological finding in Mongolia by following footsteps of American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. Visit a nomadic camel herder family and experience the authentic hospitality of nomads, and also enjoy a short camel ride. Lunch is on the way, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 8. Ongyn Khiid (150 km)
After breakfast drive to north heading Ongyn Khiid. Visit the ruins of Ongy Monastery and have a walk in the mysteriously beautiful surrounding area. Lunch is on the way, Dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 9. Karakorum (320 km)
After breakfast, drive to Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, which was once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, but heavily damaged in the 1930s. Tour the monastery grounds and visit several temples with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum. Lunch is on the way, dinner and overnight in a ger camp. (B/L/D)
Day 10. Hustai Nature Reserve (280 km)
Have breakfast in the ger camp and transfer to Hustai Nature Reserve – where the endangered Mongolian “takhi” wild horses are re-introduced to nature. Lunch is on the way. Upon arrival watch short documentary film about these wild horses, then around dinnertime go look for the last true wild Takhi/Przewalski horses in the field. Dinner and overnight in a ger camp near Hustai Nature reserve. (B, L, D)
Day 11. Ulaanbaatar (110 km)
After breakfast travel to Ulaanbaatar for about over an hour. Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, check-in to hotel and have free time. Then in the evening we welcome you to a farewell dinner. After the dinner, shopping at State Department store or Cashmere factory store is available. (B/L/D)
Day 12. Departure
Today we transfer you to your international departure point and conclude the tour.
Price does not include accommodation in UB.
Please contact us for prices of children (3-12 years old).
Package price includes:
- Airport or train station transfers in Ulaanbaatar;
- Accommodation in ger camps * – twin sharing;
- English speaking professional local guide
- Naadam Festival opening ceremony admittance;
- Chauffeured tour couch 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 litre drinking water per day;
- Sightseeing as per itinerary;
Package price excludes:
- Hotel in Ulaanbaatar;
- Ger camp single supplement 25 USD per person/per night;
- Visa application fee;
- International airfare;
- Travel insurance;
- 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 41 countries covered in a 30 day visa-free visit regime until 31st December 2016, 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 and Mongolian national currency “Tugrug” are in notes of 1, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000. The US dollar is preferred currency. Credit cards are also accepted at major hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. UB and major cities have ATMs.
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 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