Roaming Mongolia
Roaming Mongolia with a Glimpse of China is a once in a life time trip. We start this intrepid adventure in China and then make our way to Ulaan Baatar the capital of Mongolia. Continuing through the Gobi Desert-the green scenery turns into wild, dry dusty landscapes. Ending with the Naadam Festival a cultural highlight not to be missed.
Dates: Jun 29 – Jul 13, 2010
Cost: $5300.00 CAD OR $4700.00 CAD Mongolia ONLY start on Day 4 arrival in Ulaan Baatar
Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Transfer to Crown Plaza Hotel (5 star)
Day 2 Beijing
Visit the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Hutong and the Olympic Stadium
Day 3 Beijing
Today’s activities include Mutianyu Great Wall, the Sacred Way, Changling tomb, and the Cloisonne Factory. Our evening meal is at Qianmen Quanjude for a Roasted Duck dinner.
Day 4 Depart Beijing for Ulaan Baatar
Transfer to the centre of the Capital where we will begin our journey visiting the Gandan Monastery, the most important Buddhist core for the Mongolian people. A short visit to the Buddhist schools, and a Tibetan-style temple.
After, we will have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit to Chojin Lama Museum to see a wonderful collection of Tsam Masks. Rest of the afternoon free for shopping and/or watching folk dances and listening to folk songs. Dinner at restaurant overnight in Ulaan Baatar.
Day 5 Ulaan Baatar
After breakfast we visit the Natural History Museum that hosts a unique collection of Dinosr fossils. Next stop is the Fine Arts Museun (Zanabazaar Museum) with its ancient rock carvings. Lunch at a restaurant.
In the afternoon we depart for Khustall National Park, a drive of about 2 hours over the savannah-like landscape. The buildings vanish, and on the horizon, we see the white gers-the Mongolian traditional felt tents that will be our accommodation.
Day 6 Khustall National Park-Kharkhorin
After breakfast, we leave the camp and we visit the inner park, escorted by rangers. Here we will see many wild animals-eagles, marmots, gazelles, foxes and the famous Takhi horses. After we’ll drive to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Chinghis Khaan. Lunch is at a local restraint. We drive back to camp for diner and overnight.
Day 7 Kharkhorin-Tsennkher Hot Spa
The morning is dedicated to exploring this ancient capital. After lunch we will head towards Tsenkher Hot Spa. On our way, we will pass through green pasturelands where we will meet local families and observe how they manage heir livestock and their lives. In the late afternoon we arrive at our ger camp for the night. Time to relax, have a massage or go to the baths. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Tsenkher-Tovkhon-Orkhon Valley
After breakfast, we leave and drive across hills and woods and arrive a the Tovkhorn Monastery which stands on a mountain rise. A short trek brings us to the Monastery where we can visit the temple. After a picnic lunch, and a visit to the local areas, we leave in the afternoon and drive to the Orkhon Valley. Arrival at the ger camp. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9 Orkhon-Ongii Khid
Today this trip leads us towards the Gobi Desert-the green scenery turns into wild, dry dusty landscapes. We will stop in Khujirt, a small village for lunch. In the late afternoon we arrive at Ongii Khid and our ger camp-Dinner and overnight.
Day 10 Ongii Khid-Bayanzag
Today we drive to the Gobi Dessert to the ger camp near Bayanzag. Lunch. In the afternoon walk with our guide in the Flaming Cliffs, searching for dinosaur bones. In the late afternoon we admire the sun setting on the rocks as the get redder as if on fire. Return to the camp for dinner and over night stay.
Day 11 Bayananzag-Yolin Am-Khongorin Sand Dunes
After breakfast we drive to Yolin Am, situated in the Gurvainsaikan National Park. We will take a small trek in order to observe the flora and fauna in the valley. Lunch is a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, driving trough narrow canyons that cut through the Gurvainsaikan mountain range, we arrive at Khongorin Sand Dunes-a wild landscape where the wind has accumulated the sand on the slopes of a black mountain chain. Dinner and overnight in a ger camp.
Day 12 Khongorin-Ongii Khiid
After Breakfast, morning trek on the sand dunes, then drive to Ongii Khiid. Picnic lunch. In the afternoon arrival in Ongii Khiid. Visit to the ruins of this large monastic complex that hosted more than 2000 monks and which was destroyed by the Soviets in 1939. Dinner and overnight stay in a ger camp.
Day 13 Ongii Khiid -Erdenedalai-Ulaam Baatar
After breakfast-depart for Ulaan Baatar. Our stop this morning is to visit the Erdenendalai’s monastery. Picnic luncheon. In the afternoon arrival in the Capital. Transfer to hotel-Diner and overnight stay
Day 14 Naadam Festival
In the early morning, after breakfast we leave for the Naadam Festival. Enjoy a full immersion in the Naadam atmosphere. We will have an opportunity to photograph the people who gather from all over Mongolia wearing traditional “del”, see the wrestling competitions, and partake with some traditional Mongolian cooking. We will leave the festival in the late afternoon to return to Ulaan Baatar downtown, have dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 15 Depart for home