Mongolia is such a huge and magnificent country that it’s hard to wrap your head around seeing everything during your vacation. Luckily, there is a loop drive through Central & North Mongolia that will hit a lot of the sights and adventures that are part of a dream trip to Mongolia. Of all the 10-day loops, this trip will probably take more careful and advanced planning than most of our trips. The journey takes you through three of the Mongolia’s most famous national parks: Orkhon Valley, home to Central Mongolia’s tallest mountain and the country’s largest waterfall; Khorgo-Terkh, extinct volcano & its created lake; and a tour to the second biggest fresh watered lake Khuvsgul. Our comfortable off road vehicles take you along some of the most scenic roads in the country, and our knowledgeable guides will introduce you to the best the land has to offer.
If you can go in June or September, you will be able to avoid the massive influx of people in July and August. It will be somewhat colder in these shoulder months, but prices for lodging and food will be lower and the animals everyone wants to see will tend to be in the valleys instead of higher up the mountains. There is no domestic flight involved in this tour itinerary.
- All best sights of Central & North Mongolia in a itinerary
- Included 2 biggest destinations, Karakorum & Khuvsgul Lake
Length: 8 days
Potential date and weather condition: from June to Sept, each year.
Tour type: Private Package Tour
Area: Central Mongolia & North Mongolia
Difficulty: easier – moderate (No experience necessary. Trips suitable for most ages and abilities)
Prices
Our company offers 2 different prices for this trip.
Tourist ger camp option
| 2660 USD for 1pax 1700 USD p.p for 2pax 1400 USD p.p for 3pax | 1260 USD p.p for 4pax 1180 USD p.p for 5pax 1140 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: 280 USD |
Local ger guesthouse option
| 2280 USD for 1pax 1400 USD p.p for 2pax 1120 USD p.p for 3pax | 990 USD p.p for 4pax 910 USD p.p for 5pax 870 USD p.p for 6pax |
| Included: 5 nights in local ger guesthouse, 2 nights in tourist ger camp, land transportation, English speaking guide service, all entrance fees and Government charges, all activities costs, sleeping bag, food service | Not included: gratuities for staffs, personal expenses, travel insurance |
Detailed itinerary
Day1. Khustai National Park & Elsen Tasarkhai Sands
Day2. Karakorum & Tsenkher Hot Spring
Day3. Khorgo-Terkh National Park
Day4. Shine-Ider sub-province
Day5. Khuvsgul Lake
Day6. Uushig Deer Stone & Uran Extinct Volcano
Day7. Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Day8. Back to Ulaanbaatar
Day1. Khustai National Park & Elsen Tasarkhai Sands
We will pick you up from your accommodation & drive to Khustai National Park (100 km – 2 hours on the paved road). National Park Khustai where re-introduction of the wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky’s horses) has taken place since 1992. Takhi is last wild horse subspecies surviving in the 21st century. It was discovered in western Mongolia in the late 1870s by the Russian explorer N.M. Przhevalsky. Then we will be spent at leisure hiking in the surrounding mountains for seeing the wild horses. If we luck we may see also maral deer & other animals. Then we will drive to Elsen Tasarkhai Sands (225 km – 4 hours on the paved road). Its English meaning is Piece of Sand and considered the northern edge of the Gobi desert & It is small sand dunes, continuously lies in the lowland of legendary Khugnu Khaan and Bat Khaan Mountains. On arrival you will have dinner at the nomads’ ger. 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 ride camels here (1 hour). The two-humped camels are very comfortable to ride, as they walk slowly and gently and we will be well supported by the humps, sitting comfortably between them. Overnight there.
Day2. Karakorum & Tsenkher Hot Spring
After breakfast time, we will drive to Karakorum (75 km – 1 hour 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. Then we will drive to Tsenkher Hot Spring (125 km – 2 hours on the paved 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.
- Option: It is possible to go to Tuvkhun Temple & Orkhon Waterfall, if add one more day on the itinerary. Ask it from TGM operator.
Day3. Khorgo-Terkh National Park
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khorgo-Terkh National Park (215 km – 4 hours on the paved 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.
Day4. 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.
Day5. Khuvsgul Lake
After breakfast time, we will drive to Khuvsgul Lake (230 km – 6 hours mostly on the paved road). About midway along border between Mongolia and Russian Siberia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110km long and almost 40km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth – Lake Khusgul. 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.
Day6. Uushig Deer Stone & Uran Extinct Volcano
After breakfast time, we will drive to Uushig Deer Stone (145 km – 3 hours mostly on the paved 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. After lunch time, we will drive to Uran Extinct Volcano (310 km – 6 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 in the tourist ger camp.
Day7. Amarbayasgalant Monastery
After breakfast time, we will drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery (260 km – 4 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. We will walk there and explore the monastery. Overnight there.
Day8. Back to Ulaanbaatar.
After breakfast time, we will drive to Ulaanbaatar city (330 km – 6 hours on the paved road). After we arrived in the city, we will transfer you to your accommodation.
End time: Around 15:00 o’clock
Total driving distance: 2240 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 vehicle
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.
