Mongolian Classic Tour

It is a long term trip which is totally need to drive nearly 3500 km via different types of natural zones, from empty Gobi desert to horses land Central Mongolia continued to black forested Northern Mongolia. This tour itinerary is one of the famous tour itinerary in Mongolia. Many tour companies offer this route with different length. Due to recently developed paved road network of Mongolia, TGC developed the 17 days itinerary zipped to 14 days without rushing. It is cost effectiveness because there is no domestic flight in this route. Also, we added 1 day camel trek and 1 day horse trek in appropriate places. Enjoy your time in Mongolia.

• Take a tour of all the best places in Mongolia
• Great journey through most famous parts of Gobi Desert including camel trek
• Discover Erdene Zuu, built from the rubble of Genghis Khan’s capital
• Discover Khuvsgul Lake on the horse back, one of nature’s miracles – Blue Pearl Of Asia

Length: 14 days
Area: Gobi, Central and Northern Mongolia
Type: private package tour
Potential date and weather condition: from June to Sept, each year.
Difficulty: easier – moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities)

Price

Our company offers 2 different prices for this trip.

Mongolia Classic Tour itinerary

Daily plan:

Day1. Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff Day2. Yol Gorge Day3. Khongor Sand Dune Day4. Bayanzag Day5. Ongi Monastery Ruin Day6. Karakorum Day7. Tuvkhun Temple & Orkhon Waterfall Day8. Tsenkher Hot Spring Day9. Khorgo-Terkh National Park Day10. Shine-Ider sub-province Day11. Khuvsgul Lake Day12. Khuvsgul Lake Day13. Uran Extinct Volcano Day14. Back to Ulaanbaatar

Day1. Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff – colorful earth wall

We will pick you up from your accommodation at 08:00 o’clock and drive to Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff (470 km – 6 hours on the paved road). It is sheer slope and was an old seabed with sedimentary structure created by millions years and the different colors of the ground represent different times. The formation is over 50 m in its highest point and continues 400 m and looks like a ancient ghost city form a distance. There is no clear date of geography research work and it is good spot take rest and overnight place driving to South Gobi desert from Middle Gobi desert. We will do some hiking around the site. Overnight there.

Day2. Yol Gorge – natural museum

After breakfast time, we will drive to Yol Gorge (200 km – 3 hours on the paved road). Yol means vulture in Mongolian and the gorge is located in Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range & stretches over 10 km. The narrowest part, only 3 or 4 person can pass in same time, of the valley is completely shaded from the direct sun shine by high cliff walls. Also, the valley is famous for the fact that there is ice created in winter by small stream of the valley present there even during the hot summer months until mid of Jul. We will do an hour hiking there & then also visit to the small natural museum. Overnight there.

Day3. Khongor Sand Dune – camel ride

After breakfast time, we will drive to Khongor Sand Dune (190 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). Khongor is biggest sand dune in the Gobi Desert that extend from 5 to 10 km in width, nearly 100 km long, with crests rising 80 to 300m above the surrounding landscape. The booming sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar when occurs windy day. Hence locals called it as Singing Sands. Near Khongor River at the northern edge of the dunes, there is an oasis. We will ride camels today to explore these massive sand-dunes and explore the area where climbing one of the dunes affords the energetic traveler with an unforgettable experience of endless vistas across a sea of daffodil-colored sand. Overnight there.

Day4. Bayanzag – famous dinosaur site

After breakfast time, we will drive to Bayanzag (150 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered this place and named as Flaming Cliffs. A lot of dinosaurs’ findings such as Protoceratops & dinosaur’ eggs have been found there in first time. The red colored cliffs themselves are very imposing from a distance, and are particularly fiery in the light of the setting sun. We will walk around the site. Overnight there.

Day5. Ongi Monastery Ruin

After breakfast time, we will drive to Ongi Monastery Ruin (155 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). It is the ruins of a Buddhist monastery founded in 1760 and destroyed in 1937 by communist purges. Located on the shore of the Ongi River, the monastery was formerly one of the largest monasteries in Gobi Desert. Raw violence of the destruction at the site was still visible, still palpable, even though it happened over years ago. We will hike to the ruins for visiting to local ger museum displayed survived objects of destroyed monastery and a small lovely and active Buddhist temple. Overnight there.

Day6. Nomadic family & Karakorum

After breakfast time, we will drive to a nomadic family (200 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). Enjoy the joyful atmosphere and learn the clever nomads’ way of life by taking every chance of taking part in the nomadic life activities like a nomad. Then we will drive to Karakorum (40 km – 1 hour mostly on the paved road). Karakorum, the capital of Great Mongolian State where today there is a small local township. After 200 years its sacked by Chinese, Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia and by various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. We will respectively visit  to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum & other interesting historical sights there. Overnight there.

Day6. Tuvkhun Temple & Orkhon Waterfall

After breakfast time, we will drive to Tuvkhun Temple (110 km – 2 hours mostly on the paved road). The monastery is located on the peak of the densely forested and picturesque mountain Shiveet at the elevation of 2000m. Mongolian first bogd (head of the Buddhism) Zanabazar’s followers built the temple in 1653 for meditation and art studio purpose. There is several interesting things to see. Meditation caves, foot print of Zanabazar on the rock, first drawn version of soyombe, independence symbol, etc. We will hike from the bottom of the mountain to the top or the monastery (2 hours). After lunch time, we will drive to Orkhon Waterfall (60 km – 2 hours on the dirt road). Over 25 m high and 10 m wide Orkhon Waterfall is the biggest waterfall in the country and one of the most attractive destination in Orkhon River valley, UNISCO World heritage site. The surrounding areas of the waterfall was formed by volcanic activities dated back approximately 20,000 years and covered by over 10 m thick lava layer. After dinner time, we will take a refreshing walk to the waterfall. You’ll hear it before you see it – the sound of tumbling water fills the valley. Overnight there.

Day8. Tsenkher Hot Spring – horse ride & relax

After breakfast time, we will drive to Tsenkher Hot Spring (115 km – 2 hours on the dirt road).  It is the most famous pool in the country & one of the most popular Central Mongolian attractions. The water has a perfect temperature of about 36 – 40°C and contains a lot of minerals. In fact, the Tsenkher Spring has now become so popular that in order to it may crowded. In the evening, we will stay in the open pool of the tourist ger camp. Overnight in the tourist ger camp. 

Day9. Khorgo-Terkh National Park

After breakfast time, we will drive to Khorgo-Terkh National Park (215 km – 4 hours on the dirt road). The volcano erupted in the Quaternary Period and its lava closed the water stream of a river and result of this meeting has created a truly incredible landscape, Khorgo Extinct Volcano and Terkh Lake, large placid lake is ringed by sandy beaches. There is a number of small or big circuit gorges, Shar Nokhoin Tam & Solo Person’s Cave etc, and complete or not complete erupted 13 volcanoes and rock formations with fast flowing rivers and cascades. From the top of the volcano panoramic view is superb. We will climb up to the top of the volcano and walk discover the circuit gorges. Overnight there.

Day10. Shine-Ider sub-province

After breakfast time, we will drive to Shine Ider sub-province (170 km – 6 hours on the dirt road). On the way, we will see picturesque and high Orookh Mountain Pass. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.

Day11. Uushig Deer Stone & Khuvsgul Lake

After breakfast time, we will drive to Uushig Deer Stone (110 km – 3 hours on the dirt road). A complex of 30 deer stones of Uushig Valley and its burial mounts belong to the ancient Huns period and over 3000 years old. The Bronze Age funeral practice, sacrificial ritual and ideology and animal style art, which were spread among ancient nomads, are all together represented through deer stones made by long block of granite. Then we will drive to Khuvsgul Lake (145 km – 3 hours mostly on the paved road). About midway along border between Mongolia and Russian Siberia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110 km long and almost 40 km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth – Lake Khusgul. Overnight there.

Day12. Khuvsgul Lake – horse ride & reindeer people

After breakfast time, we will ride horses. This ride will take you back through the shore of the lake area to the beautiful sights and sounds of Mother Nature for 2 hours journey up the mountain to view. With no experience required. Then we will go to reindeer people. They are Tuvan people who moved to the Mongolia from Tuvan Republic around 1920s to the northern most part of Mongolia. Some reindeer people moved to the lake area for selling hand made souvenir to tourists and brought their reindeer. Overnight there.

Day13. Uran Extinct Volcano

After breakfast time, we will drive to Uran Extinct Volcano (430 km – 7 hours on the paved road). Uran means “Artistic”,  Mongols named it so because its ridge of the crater is one of many examples of circles that arise in nature resembled a nice creature of a craftsman. A circle-shaped ridge about 500 m across that contains a crater lake at about 20 m wide and 1.5 m deep. There is  also another recognizable volcanoes with broken craters such as Tulga, Jalavch & Togoo. We will climb up to the top of the volcano. Overnight there.

Day14. Back to Ulaanbaatar.

After breakfast time, we will drive to Ulaanbaatar city (540 km – 8 hours on the paved road). After we arrived in the city, we will transfer you to your accommodation.

• End time: Around 16:00 o’clock
• Total driving distance: 3390 km

Information

• Above prices are changeable by changing components (kind of services) of the itinerary.
• This is a private tour and you or your travel buddies will be in the tour.
• It is your responsibility to ensure you are in correct pick up location at correct time as stated on your booking form.
• No smoking in travel vehicles.

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Please let us know should you have further inquiries! We are looking forward to assist you with organizing your stay in Mongolia and answering any questions you might have about this tour. We want your holiday experience in Mongolia to be as amazing as it is possible.