• Category: Cultural tour

• Places to visit: Ulaanbaatar – Amarbayasgalant – Bulgan – Khognokhaan – Kharakhorum – Tsetserleg – Tsenkher Spa – Tuvkhun – Uurtiin Tokhoi – Ongi – Baga Gazriin Chuluu – Manzushir – Ulaanbaatar

• Activities: Visit to nomads, sightseeing, trekking

• Duration: 12nights/13 days

• Covering distance: 2000kms

• Number of participants: Min-2, max-18

• Season: June – September

• Date of departures (ex. Ulaanbaatar):
2010: HS01 20Jun; HS02 18Jul; HS03 15Aug; HS04 05Sep
2011: HS01 19Jun; HS02 17Jul; HS03 14Aug; HS04 04Sep

Day 1 Travel to Amarbayasgalant
Pick up at your hotel and travel to Amarbaysgalant monastery, located 360kms to the north of Ulaanbaatar, is one of the famous cultural sites. We will have lunch at local restaurant in Darkhan city and continue on travel to Amarbayasgalant monastery. Visit and explore the monastery. Stay overnight in Ger camp. LD

Day 2 Visit to Nomad family
Today we will travel to Bulgan town, the center of Bulgan province for 110kms. On the way we will visit a nomad family. You will be offered to taste locally made dairy products and milk tea. And talk with people to learn more about their life. Also on our way we will visit Erdenet, the second biggest city in Mongolia. This area is famous by its copper mining. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 3 Travel to Khognokhaan mountain
Drive for 210kms to Khognokhaan Natural Reserve, the area has been protected since 1997, covers 46900ha of beautiful granite mountain of Paleozoic age and its surroundings. Evening we will visit Erdenekhamba, local Buddhist temple and old remain of Uvgun Monastery which destroyed by the armies of Zuungar Galdan Boshigt. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 4 Visit Kharakhorum & Erdenezuu

Travel to Kharakhorum for 90kms. We will visit Erdene Zuu monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of Kharakhorum city. Here we also visit a local cooperative to attend a workshop for making small felt products. Evening we will have another lecture & open discussion about the history of Mongols. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 5 Travel to Zaya Gegeenii Khuree
Travel to Tsetserleg town, the center of Arkhangai province for 130kms. Visit Zaya Gegeenii Khuree, a large old Buddhist monastery, remarkably intact, preserved as a museum-but with an active community of monks. The first temple was opened in 1586, expanded to 5 temples in 1679. At its peak it may have had 200 to 1000 monks and today 70 monks are in residence. Much of the monastery now houses the Museum of Arkhangai province. The contents are magnificent, housing many treasures, clothes, games and ceremonial masks and memorabilia. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 6 Travel to Tsenkher Spa
Drive 60kms to Tsenkher, a natural hot spring with hydrogen sulphide at +86.5 degree Celsius. Enjoy having hot spa bath and relax. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 7 Visit to Tuvkhun temple
Continue travel for 70kms to Tuvkhun temple, is high in the mountain, marking the north side of the Orkhon valley. Visit the site that Mongolian first religious leader saint Zanabazar founded in 1653 and lived, worked and meditated for over 30 years. Several pilgrimage sites have grown up around the temple and hermit's caves, including one that is said to be Zanabazar's boot imprint. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 8 Move to Orkhon valley & Nomad family
Travel to Orkhon valley for 60kms, is known as the cradle of Mongolian civilization as many of Mongolia's ancient monuments lie within its borders. After staying in Ger camp nearby Uurtiin Tokhoi we will visit to nomad families. We will see some processing of dairy products and distilling of traditional vodka from fermented milk. Optional horseriding is available. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 9 Travel to Ongi
Travel to old temple ruin of Ongi for 260kms. Today we will already be feeling Gobi desert - scarce vegetation, dry and hot air, horizon as stretched so far. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 10 Visit to Ongi temple ruins
This day we will be exploring around old temple ruins of Ongi. We will go around temple ruins and meet with monks to talk about Buddhism and history of the area. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 11 Travel to Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Travel to Baga Gazariin Chuluu for 140kms, huge granite rock formation in the middle of the dusty plains. On the way we will see and visit Dambadarjaalan temple in Erdenedalai soum. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 12 Visit to Manzushir Monastery
Continue travel to Manzushir Monastery for 210kms, is located in the luxuriant valley of the Bogd Khan Mountain National Park. It was established in 1733 with 20 temples and 300 monks. Destroyed in 1932, the only remaining temple has been restored and a museum at the site tells the story of the monastery. At the top, the views are even more beautiful, and you'll find yourself in the midst of a lovely pine forest. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 13 Move to Ulaanbaatar
Travel back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. End of the service. B

Included: All activities described in the itinerary, Ger camp stay (12 nights) in countryside, English speaking guide service, entrance fees to Protected Areas and sightseeing costs, all transfers by 4WD Russian minivan in the countryside. Meals of breakfast, lunch /picnic in countryside/ and dinner as mentioned per day itinerary. 

Excluded: International transportation to and from Mongolia, travel insurance, hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar, mineral (bottled) water and alcoholic drinks, tips and gratuities, laundry and items of a personal nature.

Note:
• We are happy to arrange your hotel and transfers in Ulaanbaatar, private car transportation to our destinations at discounted rate.
• International and domestic flight and train tickets would be arranged due to the clients' requests and wishes with our pleasures.
• City sightseeing tours are offered as optional.
• Private departures are available on request.