Essence of Mongolia

Welcome to our classic Mongolia tour package to Terelj National Park, Karakorum, and other most popular attractions in the country! Today, our guide and the driver will meet you at the airport or the train station and transfer you to the hotel in a comfortable private car. After settling down, the rest of the day is free for you. Just take a stroll around to get the first impression of the country.

 Free Time Suggestion
For those who want to experience local life, Naratuul Open Air Market is recommended. Here, people can buy anything imaginable in life from Mongolian robes, slippers, and socks to pots and pans, toothpaste and toothbrushes, furniture and household appliances, and so on. You can also see some stores selling shaman instruments in the corner. We suggest you watch more and buy less, and treat it as a place to learn about the lives of the locals.

Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

In the early morning, our guide will come to meet you in the hotel lobby and give you a short briefing about today’s itinerary. After that, set out for Gandan Monastery, the largest and most prosperous temple in Mongolia, famous for a 26-meter-high (85-foot) majestic gilded statue of Megjid Janraisig. 

Then, drive to Hustai National Park, the habitat of the native wild horses named Takhi, which is recognized as the world’s only surviving wild horse species. The guide will drive you into the deep park to observe the wild horses, during which you may encounter many other wildlife, too. If interested, we can stop at the designated parking lot where you can have a small hike around.

Tonight, we’ll stay in a local ger camp, as we will for the following several days. The conditions may not be as good as the hotel in Ulaanbaatar downtown, but it offers a more immersive traveling experience. Since the yurts only provide towels and bath towels, you are advised to prepare toiletries, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp or similar

After breakfast, we’ll move on to visit the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage of Mongolia - the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. The valley extends up to about 121,967 hectares (300,000 acres) and was once the cradle of empires, including the Xiongnu and Rouran, as well as the capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum. To better know the prosperous past of Mongolia, let’s visit the Museum of Karakorum, where you can see the scale model in the exhibition hall of the ancient capital and parts of its ruins preserved under the glass floor. Then, head to the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Presumably, it is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, surrounded by a white wall, with 108 white stupas standing on it.

 Karakorum, the Holy Land of the Mongols
Genghis Khan set his capital in Karakorum after gaining victory over the Khwarezmian Empire, a Central Asian kingdom in 1225, which made this city become the center of the world in the middle of the 13th century, with most of the Eurasian continent shrouded in the power and prestige of this city. The missionaries of the Pope, the envoys of the Southern Song court, the camel caravans of Persian merchants, and the tribute givers of the Goryeo Kingdom brought tons of rare treasures from various countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the whole of Asia. After the Mongolian Civil War, the city gradually declined in 1260, and was destroyed in 1387. By the 16th century, the ruin of Karakorum was dismantled to build the Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the prosperous capital completely vanished. In 2004, the Karakorum and its surrounding landscapes became a world cultural heritage site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp

Today, we’ll drive 290 kilometers (180 miles), passing through the rolling hills and vast steppes to visit the Ongi Temple in the middle Gobi. On the way, we’ll park by a tourist camp to take a break. The driver will also be glad to make stops at scenic spots for you to take amazing photos. Ongi Monastery, built in 1660, once consisted of two temple groups on the two banks of the Ongi River. Today, most of them have been destroyed, leaving only ruins and broken walls. But we can still tell its past glory from a small museum nearby. The surrounding rolling hills are a great hiking path, allowing you to encounter nature completely. After checking in at the ger camp, explore the surrounding nature and feel the wind of freedom.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp

Today’s sightseeing spot will be Flaming Cliffs, also called Bayanzag, whose rocks appear to be red like a burning fire. It is actually better known to the world for the unearthed remains of dinosaurs that lived here 60 million years ago. On arrival, the guide will escort you to trace the footprints of dinosaurs and wander on the red hillocks. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mongol Gobi Ger Camp or similar

In the morning, we’ll drive west and have a full-day exploration of Mongolia's largest and most famous Khongor Sand Dunes, reaching approximately 800 meters (2,625 feet) at the highest point and stretching for over 100 kilometers (60 miles). It is locally known as the "Singing" or "Sounding" Dunes because the sand makes a sound when the wind blows. Upon arrival, the guide will accompany you to climb to the top of one sand dune to appreciate the amazing grand view. 

★ Special Arrangement: Nomadic Family Visit & Camel Riding

After descending the dune, visit a local herder’s family to get to know their daily routines, their nomadic life, and how their children get an education. The hostess will treat you with buuz (Mongolian steamed meat dumplings) and milk tea. With permission, you can try Mongolian traditional clothes, deels. To make the tour more interesting and memorable, a camel ride to the top of the sand dune follows. Mongolia is home to a large number of two-humped Bactrian camels, which are mild and very safe to ride. Relax yourself waggling on the camelback with their rhythm, seeing the moon-shaped footprints left on the canvas-like sand slope, and admiring the changing light and shadow of the dunes. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gobi Discovery Ger Camp or similar

Our trip will be extended to Eagle Valley (Yol Valley) in the morning, which is a deep and narrow gorge situated deep in the arid Gobi. Let’s trek for around 3-4 hours to discover the ice glacier in the deep valley, during which you can also appreciate the stunning scenery and find rare wild animals. Remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes suitable for trekking. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Juulchin Khan Bogd Ger Camp or similar

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport to fly back to Ulaanbaatar. After landing, our local guide will pick you up and head directly to Terelj National Park to explore the unique landscapes and breathe the fresh air. Also, we’ll see Turtle Rock and visit the Ariyabal Meditation Temple sitting at the top of a mountain, where you can get a panoramic view of the surroundings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Terelj Lodge Ger Camp or similar

Today, we’ll drive back to Ulaanbaatar. En route, visit the 40-meter-high (130-foot) Genghis Khan Statue Complex, the biggest equestrian statue of Genghis Khan in the world. You can take an elevator or walk to the platform over the head of the horse to have a sweeping view of the great leader’s vast territory while listening to his legend.

 The Enigma of Genghis Khan’s Death
No exact record can prove how this heroic leader died. Some believe he succumbed to malaria when he conquered the Western Xia, the empire in northwestern China. Others think he was assassinated by the captive Western Xia princess who sought revenge for her fallen home country. There is another speculation saying that he died in a coup by disloyal generals. Nowadays, no one even knows where his grave is, making his death a big mystery in Mongolia. 

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and check into the hotel for a short break. Then, you’ll be escorted to visit iconic spots in Ulaanbaatar. First, pilgrim to Gandan Monastery, Mongolia’s largest Buddhist complex, which houses a 26.5-meter-high (87-foot) Buddha statue. Then, discover the nomadic country’s glorious past in the Museum of Mongolian National History, where you can see steles, traditional clothes, and ancient tools and weapons. After getting out of the museum, we will accompany you to stroll around Sukhbaatar Square. On its north, you can see a bronze sitting statue of Genghis Khan, in front of which students or newlyweds usually take photos. 

★ Shake Your Shoulder to the Rhythm of Mongolian Folk Music

At the end of the day, we’ll arrange a traditional music and dance show for you. Close your eyes and open your ears; the singer’s metallic voice will give you the illusion of listening to a small choir. Accompanied by the rhythm, dancers in colorful dresses appear. They sit on the ground and change movements of their upper bodies to tell stories about nomadic daily life, mainly about herding, milking, and horse riding. You can try to decode what they intend to tell by decoding the poses of dancers. Finally, you’ll be transferred to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

All the visits in Mongolia will end here. If your flight is late in the afternoon, you may seize the last chance to explore the city on your own. The State Department Store near Sukhbaatar Square is an ideal place to buy some souvenirs, such as Mongolian cashmere and woolen rugs. There are also many restaurants on the fifth floor where you can try some traditional Mongolian food at a reasonable price. Please inform us of your flight information beforehand so our guide can transfer you to Chinggis Khaan International Airport on time. It’s our pleasure to have you here. Bon voyage!

Meals: Breakfast