If you are coming from Russia or Irkuts to Mongolia, you no need go to Ulaanbaatar. We can pick you up from Altanbulag border town, after you cross it and then start directly countryside tour. It will enables you save time and costs. You will see former capital city of second largest empire in the history – Karakorum and the fourth largest biosphere reserve in the world – Gobi in together by a tour.
- Discover Erdene Zuu, built from the rubble of Genghis Khan’s capital
- Visit the home of a nomadic family in the Mongolian steppe
- Explore most famous sights of Gobi Desert
Length: 8 days
Area: Central Mongolia, Gobi desert
Type: Private Package Tours
Potential date and weather condition: from April to October, each year.
Difficulty: easier – moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities)
Prices
We offer 2 different type of tour arrangements for our customers.
Tourist ger camp arrangement
| 2510 USD for 1pax 1540 USD p.p for 2pax 1220 USD p.p for 3pax | 1070 USD p.p for 4pax 980 USD p.p for 5pax 920 USD p.p for 6pax |
| Included: 7 nights in tourist ger camp, food service, land transportation, English speaking guide service, mineral water, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs | Not included: gratuities for staffs, personal expenses, travel insurance Single supplement: 140 usd |
Local ger guesthouse arrangement
| 1830 USD for 1pax 1030 USD p.p for 2pax 770 USD p.p for 3pax | 640 USD p.p for 4pax 560 USD p.p for 5pax 510 USD p.p for 6pax |
| Included: 6 nights in local ger guesthouse, 1 night in the tent, land transportation, English speaking guide service, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs | Not included: food service, sleeping bag, gratuities for staffs, personal expenses, travel insurance |
Detailed itinerary
Day1. Cross border from Russia & Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Day2. Uran Extinct Volcano
Day3. Ugii Lake
Day4. Khushuu Tsaidam Monument & Karakorum
Day5. Ongi Monastery Ruin
Day6. Bayanzag
Day7. Khongor Sand Dune
Day8. Yol Gorge
Day9. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
Day1. Arrive in Altanbulag border town & Amarbayasgalant Monastery – largest Buddhist temple
We will pick you up from Altanbulag border town after you crossed Russia-Mongolia border & drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery (250 km – 5 hours on the paved road). English meaning of the monastery is Monastery of Tranquil Felicity. It is a large and best preserved in Mongolia. By the order of Kang Xi of Qun built in 1736 for commemorate for Zanabazar who is first bogd of Mongolian Buddhism. The monastery was sacked in 1937 during Stalinist purges. After the restoration, started from 1988, the monastery complex eventually took its former glory. Now this monastery is active one & also work as museum. Overnight there.
Day2. Uran Extinct Volcano – picturesque natural wonder
After breakfast time, we will explore the monastery. After lunch time, we will drive to Uran Extinct Volcano (260 km – 4 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.
Day3. Ugii Lake – fisher’s paradise
After breakfast time, we will drive to Ugii Lake (185 km – 5 hours on the dirt road). This small picturesque lake is called a paradise for fishers and covers area of only 27 km.sq, average depth of the Lake is 6.64 m and deepest point is over 15 m. Its shore length is 23 km. In the afternoon, we will do some boating experience and fishing there. Overnight there.
Day4. Khushuu Tsaidam Monument – Turkish site & Karakorum – ancient capital
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khushuu Tsaidam Monument (40 km – 1 hour on the dirt road). Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments are two memorial stone installations erected by the Turkish people written in Old Turkic alphabet in the early 8th century in the Orkhon Valley. We will visit to the local museum at there & see old unique exhibits. Then we will drive to Karakorum (35 km 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.
Day5. Ongi Monastery Ruin – semi desert area
After breakfast time we will drive to Ongi Monastery Ruin (240 km – 5 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. Bayanzag – dinosaur site
After breakfast time, we will drive to Bayanzag (155 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.
Day7. Khongor Sand Dune – camel riding & climb up
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khongor Sand Dune (150 km – 4 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.
Day8. Yol Gorge – natural museum
After breakfast time, we will drive to Yol Gorge (190 km – 5 hours on the dirt 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 (optional horse ride is possible in here). Then we will drive to Dalanzadgad town (40 km – 1 hour ont he paved road). Overnight there.
Day9. Back to Ulaanbaatar.
We will have 2 options for going back to Ulaanbaatar city. First option is go back by same car with your driver & guide (600 km – 9 hours on the paved road) & it is included in the price. Second option is fly back to Ulaanbaatar (1 hour flight) & the domestic flight fee was not included in the price. Then we will transfer you to your accommodation.
Total driving distance: 1615 km (+350 + 600)
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.
- Domestic flight companies accept only 10kg-15kg lugguge incuding your carry on bags too for free transfer.
- 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 or aircraft.
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.
