Classic Mongolia Tour — Gobi & Kharkhorin

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the largely modernised capital hub of Mongolia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel.

Despite its concrete façade, this city is home to nearly half of the population of Mongolia.  Many people can still be seen in  traditional dress with a huge proportion of the inhabitants continuing to live in gers in the suburbs. Depending on your flight time, this afternoon you can enjoy a city tour including Sukhbaatar Square and the National Museum of Mongolian History. 

In the evening there will be a welcome dinner at one of our favorite restaurants

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Dalanzadgad, the capital of South Gobi province. After arrival, drive to the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. The park's landscape is extremely varied, with rocky and sandy desert plains, precipitous cliffs, ravines, salt pans and oases.  We will visit the spectacular Yolyn Am valley.  Yolyn Am means Vulture's Mouth.  The canyon is deep and winter ice can remain even into the height of summer. This region is also renowned for the diversity of its wildlife.  Many endangered species can be found here, including Khulan, Ibex, Argali (wild sheep) and Snow Leopard. It is rare that you will see them but keep your eyes open and you might be lucky. 

We explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight.

 Drive to the Khongoryn Els sand dunes. These spectacular dunes stretch for 180km and, in some places, reach heights of 300 metres.  They are known as the 'Singing Dunes' because of the beautiful sound they make when they resonate on a windy day. 

These dunes are bordered by lush green vegetation supported by a small river, the Khongoriin gol.  We are sure to meet herders with some of the 100,000 Bactrian camels which inhabit the South Gobi. 

We have a full day to explore the dunes and the striking desert scenery.  We will also visit a camel-breeding family and learn about the way of life of these nomadic herders. For those that wish there will be an opportunity to take a camel ride.

Climbing the dunes to witness the evening sunset is a highlight 

After breakfast head to Bayanzag.  The cliffs here are known as the “Flaming Cliffs” due to their varied colours of red, yellow and orange. This is a world-renowned site for dinosaur fossil exploration.  Dinosaur eggs were found here in 1922 by Roy Chapman Andrews. 

We will have time to discover the area and enjoy the dramatic landscape. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the indigenous Gobi desert trees.

Drive to Ongiin Khiid monastery which spreads across both banks of the Ongiin river. The monastery, which once served as a stopping point for Buddhist pilgrims travelling to Tibet, was destroyed by the communist purges of the 1930’s, but is now undergoing partial restoration.

We have an opportunity to look around the site and visit a small museum before continuing our journey towards the central heartland of Mongolia.

Today we drive through ever greener lands to Kharkhorin town, the ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire, the largest land empire the world has ever known. It was from here that the Empire was governed until Khublai Khan, the grandson of Chinggis Khan, moved the capital to Beijing. It was from the ruins of this once great city that Erdene Zuu Monastery, the largest monastery in Mongolia, was built in 1586. 

In the morning we will visit the site of Erdene Zuu Monastery.  Much of the monastery was destroyed during the time of communist rule in the 1930’s, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and a number of temples still remain. There are numerous unusual cultural and religious exhibits to be seen as well as an active Tibetan-style monastery in the Erdene Zuu which is still considered as one of the leading religious centres of Mongolia. 

We will also visit the monument of the Great Khans of Mongolia and an interesting museum containing artifacts and remains from the ancient city before continuing our journey.

We travel east to Khustai Nuruu National Park which is home to the only truly wild horses on earth. The Takhi, also known as Przewalski's horse, was once native to Mongolia but almost became extinct earlier this century due to habitat loss and poaching. However, a few survived in European zoos and, following a successful programme of breeding and re-introduction, there are now some 250 horses in the park, half of whom have been born in the wild. 

We will visit the Project Information Centre and drive out with a ranger to see these magnificent animals.

Return to Ulaanbaatar where you will have time to relax and do some last minute souvenir shopping - cashmere, leather goods and traditional handicrafts are all good options and the guide will recommend the best places to go for these.

In the evening there will be a concert of traditional Mongolian music and dance including throat singing followed by a dinner.

Today we drive 54 kilometres east of the city to visit the giant Chinggis Khan statue at Tsonjin Bolog. The Secret History of the Mongols recounts that this is the place where Chinggis Khan found a golden whip. Standing 40m tall, the steel statue depicts the Mongolian ruler astride his horse.  Visitors can take an elevator to the viewing deck on the horse’s head where they will be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

We then continue northwards to the beautiful Gorkhi-Terelj National Park to see fascinating rock formations including the famous Turtle Rock against a backdrop of pine-covered mountains. 

Enjoy a farewell dinner at another of our favourite restaurants in the city

Free morning for last-minute shopping. Transfer to airport for departure.