Discover Central and Northern Mongolia

Day1:

Amarbayasgalant Monastery

After you are picked up from your accommodation, we will drive to Amarbayasgalant monastery, which is the second largest monastery in Mongolia. It is located in the beautiful Iven Gol river valley at the foot of Burenkhaan Mountain (near Baruunburen town, in Selenge province). We will hike in and around the monastery and take some good pictures. The Amarbaysgalant monastery was established by order of the Manju emperor king Enkh- Amgalan Khan and built between 1727-1736 as a sign of respect to his teacher Undur Gegeen Zanabazar.  It is an excellent place to enjoy the Buddhist cultural heritage of Mongolia. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day2:

Uran togoo Crater

Today we’ll drive to Uran togoo. It’s about 60 kilometers directly west of Bulgan city, and is the extinct volcano of Uran Uul and nearby Togoo Uul, now part of the 1600 hectare Uran Togoo-Tulga Uul natural reserve in the village of Khutag-Undur. The trail to the top of the volcano leads up from the west side, which also has some nice camping areas. The Uran Togoo-Tulga Uul national monument is a national protected area in the Bulgan province. This mountain has been protected since 1965. In 1995, it was designated as a monument by Parliament Resolution with an area of 5800 hectares. Overnight in a Ger camp.

Day3:

Khuvsgul lake

Early in the morning we will drive to the great Khuvsgul Lake. The lake is the second-largest fresh water lake in Asia, after Lake Baikal, and is the largest lake in Mongolia at 136 km long, 36 km wide and 264 meters deep. It is the 14th largest lake in the world. Khuvsgul Lake contains 93.6% of the total surface fresh water in Mongolia and 1% of the world’s fresh water. Khuvsgul Lake is surrounded by the beautiful high mountains of the Khoridol Saridag and Bayan Mountain Ranges along the west shore. Many mountain rivers flow into this lake including 17 rivers that flow during the whole year. Overnight in a Ger camp.

Day 4:

Khuvsgul Lake & Horse riding

This day is no driving: we will relax and do horse riding or hiking around the lake, one of the natural wonders of the world. This mountain lake covers 2760 square kilometers, and its water is so pure that we can drink it! It’s surrounded with many peaks culminating at more than 2000 meters and covered with forests of pines and lush meadows where yaks and horses graze. Overnight in a Ger camp.

Day 5:

Shine Ider village – Ider river

Today we will head to Terkh white lake. But we will stop driving on the way to meet a nomadic family and experience their lifestyle. Overnight with the family.

Day 6:

Terkh White Lake, Khorgo volcanic crater

After breakfast we will drive to the White lake (Terkh). The lake was formed by lava flows from a volcanic eruption many millennia ago. This is a 16 km long, 4-10 km wide, 20 m deep fresh water lake at 2060 metres in altitude. The lake and its whole volcanic surroundings are the emblematic area of the province of Arkhangai. The waters of the lake are full of fish and it’s possible to fish if you wish. Overnight in a ger.

We also offer hikes or horse trekking to the Khorgo volcanic crater. It is the last volcano in Mongolia, and went extinct around 9000 years ago. It is 2240m high in altitude. Swimming and fishing is possible here. About 8000 years ago volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small forests of Siberian larch and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods there are lots of deer, wild goat and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds. Overnight in a Ger camp.

Day7:

Tsenher hot spring

After breakfast we will drive to the Tsenher Hot Spring. The spa can reach 86 degrees. Here you will have the opportunity to bathe in the healing spa. Relax in the hot spa.  The spring is kept under high pressure because the ground flow rate is high, roughly 10 liters per seconds. The water has a high mineral content and contains minerals ranging from calcium and sodium to sulphur. Folklore claims that this spring has medicinal properties, so it is often a popular tourist destination for the Mongolian people. Overnight in a tourist camp.

Day8:

Orkhon Waterfall

We will drive to the Orkhon waterfall. The red waterfall is situated in the historically significant Orkhon valley, whose river flows an incredible 1120 km to the north before it joins the Selenge river. Also called Ulaan Tsutgalan, the waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes some 20,000 years ago, and now cascades down from a height of 27 meters. The Orkhon, the longest river in Mongolia, begins at the state-worshipped mountain Suvraga Khairkhan in the Khangai mountain range.   Overnight in a Ger camp.

Day9:

Karakorum- former capital of Chinggis Khan

After breakfast, we will drive to Karakorum (265 km), the capital of the Great Mongolian State where today there is a small local township. The historical city of Karakorum was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon River Valley by order of Genghis Khan, and after the collapse of the Yuan dynasty of Khubilai Khan, Min state invaders sacked the city and massacred its inhabitants in 1388 and ruined it. After 200 years, Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia and used various construction materials that were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. At its peak in the late 18th century the complex of ornate gardens and 62 temples was home to over 1000 lamas. But in 1937, due to communist purges, the whole monastery was completely destroyed. We will visit the Karakorum Museum, Karakorum Ruin Open Museum and Erdene Zuu Monastery Complex respectively. Overnight there.

Day10:

Elsen tasarkhai

After breakfast we will drive to the Semi-Gobi for some camel riding in the Khugnu Khan Mountain Natural Reserve. This area has a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gob- type landscape in one location. That’s why this area is called Semi-Gobi by the locals. Overnight in a local nomad family.

Day11:

Khustai National Park- wild horses and back to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we will drive to Khustai National Park, which is where re-introduction of the wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky’s horses) has taken place since 1992. Takhi is the last wild horse subspecies surviving in the 21st century. It was discovered in western Mongolia in the late 1870s by the Russian explorer N.M. Przhevalsky.

Several expeditions since 1969 failed to find this horse, which has probably now been crossed with half-wild domesticated horses and lost its distinct features. Specimens have been kept and bred in zoos, and Mongolia in the late 20th century attempted to reintroduce them into the wild. We will reach the research center and drive further for looking wild horses to take some pictures.

What is included:

Accommodation: Hotel***,* ger camp, tented camp

Guiding and interpreting service

Full board meals

Transport: vehicle 4×4 or minivan

Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks

Museums and cultural performance

local guide

Horses

Camping equipment

What is not included:

International airfare

Personal equipment

Optional activity cost

Excess baggage charges

Single room supplement

Alcoholic drinks

Sleeping bag

Travel Insurance