Arrival 7.15am

Site seeing in Ulaanbaatar

Our day starts by attending the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival from 11am – 1pm. We will then experience local archery and wrestling and then drive to the Terelj national park. The massive Genghis Khan Monument will be our first stop where it is possible to ascend to the top of the monument. A small museum provides a thorough overview of the history of the Great Mongol Empire.

We will visit Turtle Rock and the Aryaval Monastery. There may be some possibilities for hiking, climbing, and horseback riding.

Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Genghis khan statue
• Visit Aryapal monastery
• Visit Turtle rock

Today we will fist experience horse racing and then drive to Khustai national park where it is possible to observe the Przewalski’s Horse, a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse found in Central Asia’s steppes, also known as the Takhi horse. There are also 459 vascular plant species and 217 bird species in the park.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Khustai national park
• Spot the wild horses
• Hiking possible

Today we will be driving to Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongolian Empire in the thirteenth century.

Erdene Zuu Monastery is now all that is left of what was once a massive monastery with 100 temples and over 1.000 lamas. We will walk around the and we will be guided around the 3 remaining temples: the Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha and Lavrin Temple.

The Karakorum Archaeological Museum will be another stop on our itinerary.

We can also visit the Turtle Rock and the Phallic Rock, as well as a small market that showcases local artists’ work.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Erdene Zuu monastery
• Visit Karakorum archaeological museum

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur is one of the country’s most beautiful lakes formed by lava flows from a millennia-old volcanic eruption and is surrounded by extinct and craterous volcanoes. The landscape is coated with black volcanic rocks as a result of the volcano eruptions.

In the afternoon, we may plan optional events such as valley trekking, lake boating, swimming, horseback riding, or visiting a nearby family to learn about nomadic life.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Zayiin Gegeenii monastery
• Visit Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Lake

We will climb to thetop of the Khorgo Uul Volcano in the morning. Khorgo Peak, a volcanic field, is about 4 kilometers from the lake. The volcano crater is 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep, and it is surrounded by trees at the back and around the opening. We will also visit the Single Man cave, which is small on the outside but rather large on the inside.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Hike to Khorgo extinct volcano (about 100 metres – could take one hour) – those who do not wish to walk/hike could wait inside the transfer vehicle. 

Today we will travel to Ongi Monastery where we will find the ruins of two monasteries that face each other across the Ongi river in south-central Mongolia with a sad history. Founded in 1660, it was one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia and housed over 1000 monks at its height.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit the ruins of Ongi monastery
• Hike Delger Khangai mountains

Today’s drive will take us to Bayanzag, also known as the “Flaming Cliffs,” the world-famous site where palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur bones and eggs. The local scenery is a lovely blend of rocks, red sand, and scrubs. We will spend some time exploring the cliffs while you’re here and visit the museum.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Bayanzag cliffs where the dinosaur skeletons and egg were found
• Visit the Bayanzag museum
• Hike around the cliffs

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll travel to the Khongoryn Els. Mongolia’s biggest sand dunes can be found here. The dunes, which can reach a height of 275 meters in some areas, extend for more than 100 kilometers from East to West. The sands have appealing curves that end in a sharp point, resulting in wave patterns on the sand. The impressive black rocky mass of Sevrey Mountain can be seen behind the sand dunes.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Khongoryn Els sand dune
• Hike to the tallest dune and across the dunes (45 mins – 1 hour hiking, lower sand dunes can be hiked in 20 minutes)) – those who do not wish to walk/hike could wait inside the transfer vehicle. 
• Visit camel breeding family
• Possibility of camel riding

The Gobi Desert extends through Mongolia and China, measuring 1,610 kilometers from southwest to northeast and 800 kilometers from north to south. It is the world’s fifth largest desert and Asia’s largest although most of the Gobi is coated in bare rock rather than sand.

We’ll take a trip through the majestic Altai Mountain Range’s breath-taking gorges. We will visit the Yolyn Am where we may be able to see Wild Argali sheep, Ibex, desert gazelles, and Golden Eagles. We’ll also pay a visit to the park’s small museum.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit small museum of the park
• Hike Yolyn am gorges involves about 6km (could take 4.5 – 5 hours in total ) – those who do not wish to walk/hike could wait inside the transfer vehicle. 

After breakfast, we will embark on a drive and reach Tsagaan Suvraga. The cliff stands 30 meters tall and has a width of 100 meters. The wind has intricately sculpted this remarkable structure over thousands of years.

We will drive Del Uul Mountain to discover ancient petroglyphs. Ancient depictions of people hunting ibex with long bows and petroglyphs depicting wild animals and cattle are painted and carved into the rocks.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs
• Visit ancient petroglyph
• Hiking possible

Baga Gazriin Chuluu is a big granite formation in the center of Mongolia’s sandy plain.

The remains of a small monastery known as Delgeriin Choir Monastery can be found on an open plain.

You can drive and hike around the area in the late afternoon. You’ll walk between massive endlessly piled granite rocky hills that appear to be placed and see the picturesque ruins of a small monastery hidden in a peaceful little protected valley. In the rocks of Baga Gazriin Chuluu, there is a small spring known for its eye-healing properties. Try dripping some magic water into your eyes to cure your eyes like the locals do.

Accommodation: Ger camp (B, L, D)

Activities:

• Visit Choir monastery
• Visit the impressive rock formation of Baga Gazar
• Visit ruined monastery of one monk
• Hiking possible

Transfer from Baga Gazriin Chuluu to Ulaanbaatar (approx 4 hours)

Accommodation: Hotel (B, L, D)

Transport will be provided for the group to the airport 

Every client is required to have a travel insurance package. This needs to be presented to us.

Bring an international adapater

Maltese citizens do not need a visa for up to 30 days.