MONGOLIA JEEP TOURS – Mongolia’s Karakorum to Hot Springs

MONGOLIA JEEP TOUR TO KARAKORUM & HOT SPRINGS

Along this itinerary, you’ll travel the pathway of the Ancient Empire as you make you way towards Karakorum before making your way towards the famed Tsenher Hot Springs for some good ole relaxation in the springs. In ancient history, the lands around Karakorum were famed to the Mongols as being “the homeland” of Mongolia’s nomads and the Mongol Empire. Your travels will include a visit to Khadagt Khoshuu—a special place of worship for local herders, the Queen Manduhai Monument, the beautiful Swan Lake, as well as walking along the sand dunes. You will visit nomadic families and have the opportunity to explore the location with a nomad guide. In addition to experiencing nomadic lifestyle, you are going to have plenty of time to greatly enjoy the more relaxing aspects of Mongolia before returning to Ulaanbaatar City.

Day One – Jeep tour to Central Mongolia’s Khogan Khan National Park (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs and Overnight in Nomadic Ger – Cultural Home Stay): In the morning you will depart from Ulaanbaatar at 8am and travel to Rashaant village for 280kms, along the way you will see many scenic locations from the bus as it drives by vast nomadic pastures. Upon arrival a rural vehicle will take you to the Mr. Byambatogtoh’s family (first family), they will prepare and greet you with an afternoon lunch. Afterwards Mr. Byambatogtoh and/or his sons will guide you to the locally worshiped site of Khadagt Khoshuu that is 10.5kms away. When you arrive, you will observe or even participate with the herders’ local customs that honor the site (it depends on the nomads who is with you – the older generation is ceremonial whereas the younger generation not so much). In the early evening you will return to the family’s ger where you will be welcomed with dinner before retiring to the family’s extra ger to rest and sleep for the night.

Day Two – Camel or horseback riding to next nomadic family (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs and Overnight in a Nomadic Ger – Cultural Home Stay): After breakfast, you will travel by for 10 kilometers by camel and/or horseback to the next family where upon arrival Mr. Otgonbayar and his family will serve you a nomadic lunch and tea. Afterwards they will prepare an Ox cart that you will travel by for 12kms to visit the locally respected Bugdiin Ovoo which translates as “All People’s Ovoo”. Generally, an Ovoo worship ceremony originates from the Mongolian people’s deep traditional respect and historical connection to nature. An Ovoo is a pyramid shaped collection of stones, bones, woods and silk scarves that is often established on the top of the hill, mountain or site of sacred significance.

It is customary when visiting an Ovoo to walk around it three times in a devotional state and make your wishes – afterwards you return to the family where you will be welcomed with dinner before overnight in the families extra ger.

Day Three – Horseback riding to Mongol Desert Sand Dunes to enjoy the locally famous desert oasis known as Swan Lake (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs and Overnight in Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, you will continue your trip by horseback for 6kms to next family where you will be greeted by Mr. Idertsogt and his family with an afternoon nomadic lunch and tea. After your meal and some rest, you will have an afternoon horseback ride to the beautifully scenic Swan Lake that is located at the base of the Mongol Desert Sand Dunes. This roundtrip is generally a 6km horseback ride – Swan Lake is both a pristine example of the beauty of co-existence of extremes (desert and water) as well as home to Swan Couples that are testimonies to strength, tolerance and passion. Later you will return to the family where you will be warmly invited to enjoy your evening dinner before returning to the family’s extra Ger for rest and sleep.

Day Four – Horseback Riding Trip to Mongolia’s Queen Manduhai filming location followed by overland travel to Ancient Capital City, Karakorum (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs and Overnight at Mongolian Ger Camp): In the early morning you can participate with the family in their daily nomadic routines that include livestock milking before breakfast. Afterwards, Mr. Idertsogt will guide you by horseback to the location of the monument that was constructed for the featured film about Queen Manduhai (5km round trip) for a quick look. In the afternoon, you will return to the family where they will prepare and serve you with a farewell lunch and tea. This afternoon you will travel 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 visit 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 Ahangai Province’s Tsenher Hot Springs for relaxation (B, L, D – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs and Overnight in Mongolian 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 crystal clear river valleys – in fact it’s so renown across Mongolia that Mongols say the best milk products originate from this region. Some travelers and locals refer to Arhangai Province as a little Switzerland within Mongolia with its amazingly beautiful mountains, cliffs, rivers and lush green forests. Today will have an opportunity to 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 – Travel overland to Rashaant and return to Ulaanbaatar (B, L – Mongolia Jeep Tour to Karakorum, Hot Springs): After breakfast, you will travel overland back to Rashaant village where along the way you will stop by a nomadic family for lunch before returning to Ulaanbaatar that departs around 5pm.

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