August 2023 // Mongolia

Day notes

Meeting point, check-in and flight to Istanbul Airport.

Overnight flight from Istanbul Airport to New Ulaanbaatar International Airport.

Day notes

Arrival in the morning at the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport.

You are welcomed by your local guide and the driver and transferred to your hotel in the Gorkhi Terelj National Park (1.5 - 2 hours drive).

Comprised of the southern Khentii mountain range, this mountain-forest-steppe region provides habitat for a variety of bird and plant life.  Also sheltered in this protected area are endangered musk deer and moose, brown bear, roe deer, elk, wolf, fox, and badger. Lunch in a local restaurant and free time. Spend the evening exploring the park on foot or on horseback.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local ger camp.

Day notes

After an early breakfast, we’ll head east from Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Though only two and a half hours from the capital, the recently established Gun Galuut Nature Reserve contains a very beautiful river valley and mountain range surrounded by rolling steppe. Among the special natural attractions we will hope to find a small population of the endangered Argali sheep and the extraordinarily graceful White-naped Crane, which is even rarer. 

On arrival, enjoy a hike within the Gun Galuut Valley to spot Argali or Marco Polo sheep. You will also have the opportunity to meet your horse wranglers and horse trek towards a nomadic herder family in their summer pasture. Relatively unchanged for centuries, Mongolia has one of the last remaining horse-based nomadic cultures in the world.  Thereafter continue towards the ger camp or a short break for refreshing.
In the evening, return to Gorkhi Terelj National Park.

Enjoy a Shaman ceremony. Practiced for centuries, Shamanism was the original religion of Mongols, before Buddhism. Shamanistic practices involve Tengerism and animism. The main belief of shamanism is to call upon spirits of ancestors to human beings in order to tell more about the past, present and future of participant.

Dinner at a local ger camp and overnight at the hotel.

Day notes

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will head out to see the Turtle Rock, a natural rock formation that resembles a turtle in its shell.

Next, we will embark on a hike towards the Aryabal Monastery. A hike up along a steep road, leads to a wooden suspended bridge called "The Bridge that leads to wisdom". After crossing the bridge, we trek up 108 steps to finally arrive at the temple. The monastery is special for its spectacular views of the surrounding green valley.

After lunch, we are departing to Ulaanbaatar (1.5 hours). En route we stop at the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue in Tsonjin Boldog.  Once inside the two-story base of the statue, toucan see a replica of Chinggis Khan’s legendary golden whip and also take an elevator to a deck on the horse’s head and marvel at the surrounding area overlooking the beautiful Mongolian steppes.

On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, check-in to the hotel and later enjoy dinner at a fine local restaurant.
 

Day notes

After the breakfast, we will have an early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to the Gobi region(1.5 hours), Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert.

Contrary to the sameness that the word ‘desert’ suggests, the Gobi is a fascinating and diverse region, and includes sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. For the next four days, explore the stunning landscapes of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, Golden Eagles, Saker Falcons, jerboas (similar to kangaroo rats), and many endemic reptiles. The Gobi is also home to some of the Northern Hemisphere’s most rare and elusive mammals, such as the dhole, snow leopard, wild camel, and Gobi bear.

Upon arrival drive to Three Camel Lodge. Spend the rest of the day today enjoying the local Naadam Festival where you will witness competitions in the “three manly sports” including wrestling, archery, and horseracing.  These three sports traditionally measured the courage, strength, and pride of nomads and warriors, although men, women, boys, and girls all take part in contemporary Naadam games.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day notes

After breakfast, depart for Ulaanbaatar (1.5 hours). On arrival, visit the National History Museum for an excellent overview of Mongolia’s history and culture. The newly remodeled museum displays traditional implements of daily nomadic life, including Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, historical costumes of Mongolia’s minority tribes, sacred religious relics, and agricultural, fishing, and hunting equipment.

After lunch, visit Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum. Named in honor of Zanabazar, the renowned 17th century artist and politician, who was also the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia, the museum contains one of the best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts in the world, including many of Zanabazar’s original works.

In the evening, visit Choijin Lama Temple. Located amidst the modern high rises, one of the architectural gems of Mongolia was originally built by the order of the last king of Mongolia the Bogd Khaan dedicated to his brother and the state oracle Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama. Choijin is an honorary title given to the high rank monks. Consisted of the group of 5 temples, the Choijin Lama Temple museum houses various Buddhist artifacts dating back to 1800–1900s including the masterpieces of the famous Mongolian sculptor Zanabazar, some fine thangkas and the best collection of the tsam masks for the religious ceremonies in the country.

Enjoy your dinner at a fine local restaurant.

 

Day notes

It is time to say goodbye Mongolia!

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight to Luxembourg via Istanbul.