MONGOLIA JEEP TOURS – Gobi, Khuvsgul, Amarbayasgalant

MONGOLIA JEEP TOURS to GOBI DESERT, KHUVSGUL LAKE and AMARBAYASGALANT MONASTERY

This itinerary has been tailor-made for those travelers that desire a right mix of ingredients: a little bit of community based tourism, some desert, an oasis as well as natural hot springs mixed with ancient volcanoes, Khuvsgul Lake, Amarbayasgalant Monastery (Ancient cultural gem that escape destruction) and more! Yes, this Jeep tour offers the perfect recipe for those avid adventurers who that the time, flexibility, finances, etc., that just desire to hit the road for 13 days!

Day One – Arrival to Ulaanbaatar, local sightseeing and fine dining (D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi & Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight in Hotel): Upon arrival you will be transferred to your 3 Star Hotel, and possibly have a short city sight-seeing tour (depending on arrival time) that includes visiting the main square, oldest Buddhist Gandan Monastery and the National Museum. In the evening, you will have a welcoming dinner at a fine local restaurant before returning to your hotel for the evening. It’s a good idea to rest early this evening before tomorrow’s early departure that will take you to the first point along the travel route.

Day Two – Khogan Khan National Park (B,L,D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Lake, Overnight in a Nomadic Ger): In the morning you will travel by vehicle to Rashaant village for 280kms, along the way you will see many scenic locations as it drives by vast nomadic pastures. Upon arrival at the first nomadic family, they will prepare and greet you with an afternoon lunch. Afterwards the host and/or his sons will guide you to the locally worshipped site of Khadagt Khoshuu that is 10.5kms away. Upon arrival, you can observe or even participate with the herders’ in local customs to honor the site (more common with elderly nomads). Early this evening you will return to the family’s ger where you will be welcomed with a hot nomadic dinner before retiring to the family’s extra ger.

Day Three – Trekking Mongol Desert’s golden sand dunes and Swan Lake (B,L,D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight in Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, you will trek to the next nomadic family where you will be greeted by the next nomadic family with a hot nomadic lunch and traditional Mongolian tea. After your meal and some rest, you will have an afternoon walk to the beautifully scenic Swan Lake that is located at the base of the Mongol Desert sand dunes. Swan Lake is both a pristine example of the beauty of co-existence of extremes (desert and water) as well as a lovely migratory home to Swan Couples – that are testimonies to strength, tolerance and passion. Later you will return to the nomadic family where you will enjoy an evening dinner before returning to the family’s extra Ger for rest and sleep.

Day Four – Queen Manduhai Monument, the overland to Karakorum (B,L,D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight at a Ger Camp): In the early morning you can participate with the family and experiencing a little of their daily nomadic chores that include milking of livestock before your breakfast. Afterwards, they will guide you to Queen Manduhai’s dedication monument (5km round trip). In the afternoon, you will return to the family where they will prepare and serve you with a farewell lunch and tea. Afterwards, we’ll continue overland to the ancient capital city of the Mongol Empire known as Karakorum where you can spend time walking through the ruins as well as visiting the Erdenezuu monastery that is located within its fortress walls, before retiring to a nearby ger camp. Karakorum was established in 1220 and flourished both as Mongol Empire’s Capital for 32 years as well as Mongolia’s Capital for 140 years and Erdenezuu Monastery is Mongolia’s first Buddhist Monastery established by Abtai Sain Khan in 1585.

Day Five – Overland to Arkhangai Province’s Tsenher Hot Springs for Relaxation (B,L,D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight at Ger Camp): After breakfast, you will travel overland to Arkhangai Province which is commonly referred to as the ‘horse breeders’ paradise’ as its pastures are geographically rich in vast green fields and clear river valleys. Some travelers and locals refer to Arhangai Province as little Switzerland with its amazingly beautiful mountains, cliffs, rapid rivers, and green forests. Today you will enjoy the natural bounties of Tsenher Hot Springs where the hot spring water flows out of the ground at 82° C and overnight at the ger camp.

Day Six – Khorgo Volcano and Yellow Dog’s Cave (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight in Mongolian Ger): After breakfast, we’ll overland towards White Lake (for 185 kms), White Lake is an astonishingly beautiful lake – the lake is about 20 km long and 16km wide, it supports Pike and other fish as well as rare birds’ species can be found here. You will be served lunch when you arrive at the ger camp. Then you will trek for 20kms (round trip) to a volcanic crater called Khorgo which is 2100m above sea level. From the summit there is a splendid view of the whole lake region, then onwards to visit the famous Yellow Dog’s cave. As local legend states, there was a compassionate monk kept a sick dog in this cave in order to protect it from being killed. In the evening, you will return the ger camp for dinner and milk tea before retiring to your Ger.

Day Seven – Overland to Galt Hot Spring (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight in Ger Camp): After breakfast, we’ll overland through the wooded slopes of Khangai Mountain Range and cross high mountain passes. Along the way, you will have a picnic lunch before arriving at Galt Hot Springs, where you can relax in properly outfitted hot springs and overnight at the ger camp.

Day Eight – Overland to Khuvsgul Lake (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight in Ger Camp): Lake Khuvsgul is truly a highlight of any trip to Mongolia, and today you are headed northwards to its crystal clear waters. Khuvsgul Lake is the deepest lake in Central Asia, measured with a maximum depth of 262 meters. The reflections of larch forests and majestic mountains around Khuvsgul Lake are truly amazing as there are 96 rivers and streams feed into Khuvsgul Lake, while the Egiin River exits from it. On the way we will pass through Murun which is the capital of Khuvsgul Province before reaching the overnight destination at the ger camp located next to Khuvsgul Lake.

Day Nine – Walking along the Lake (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight at Ger Camp): After your breakfast, you can spend some time trekking or walking around Khuvsgul Lake’s beautiful scenery. The scenery of the area is well worth the exploration time! It may even be possible for you travel by boat on Khuvsgul Lake (on your own/at your own expense) as the camp organizes both full day and half day boat trips. Tonight you will overnight in a ger camp next to the lake.

Day Ten – Overland to the extinct Uran Volcano (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight at Ger Camp): After breakfast at the camp, you will drive to Bulgan province where you will enjoy the day hiking an extinct Uran volcano. This extinct volcano lies near the road and stretches from Moron to Bulgan town – the reserve occupies a territory of 8 square kilometers with an elevation of 1,686 meters above sea level, and has been protected since its 1965 environmental listing as a “Natural Monument “. On the top of the extinct volcano is crater that spans 500 to 600 meters wide and 50 meters deep that is filled with a small “crater lake” about 20 meters in diameter. Tonight you will overnight at a ger camp nearby the Mountain.

Day Eleven – Overland to Amarbayasgalant Monastery (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake, Overnight at Ger Camp): After your early morning breakfast at the camp, you will continue overland to Amarbayasgalant monastery. Upon arrival at tourist camp that is located nearby the monastery, you will be served a hot lunch and traditional tea. Afterwards, you will begin your two-kilometer trek towards the monastery that is nestled at the basin of the mountain valley. During your visitation at the monastery, you will learn about the history as well as the uniqueness of the Monastery and its daily life of the monks who continue to live the traditional ways within its walls. In the evening you will walk back to the camp where you will have your evening dinner and overnight.

Day Twelve – Return to Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tours to Gobi and Khuvsgul Lake,Overnight in Hotel): After breakfast, you will overland for roughly 160kms to Darkhan. Upon arrival in Darkhan, you will have a lunch at the Texas Restaurant, and then continue onwards to Ulaanbaatar. Today, we’ll have a farewell dinner that will be followed by a visit to the Zaisan Hill for a night view the city. Afterwards, you will return to your 3 Star Hotel for good nights rest before your departure the next day.

Day Thirteen – Departure from Ulaanbaatar (B): After the hotel breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight.

Included services:

• Jeep, Van or Car (depending on number of travelers)
• Interpreter Guide
• Visiting nomadic family
• All breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated in itinerary
• Herder guide service on route
• Sightseeing
• Cultural activities (milking animals, play ankle bone game etc)
• Boiled water on route
• National park fee & entrance fee
• Tourist camp as stated in itinerary
• Night and/or Nights at nomadic family and/or families’ extra ger as stated in itinerary