MONGOLIA: Gobi and Central Mongolia (8 days)

1st day: flight to Ulaanbaatar
Meeting at the airport, departure to Mongolia.

2nd day: flight to Ulaanbaatar – Ulaanbaatar
Arrival to Ulaanbaatar. Meeting with the guide, transfer to city centre, half day sightseeing tour in Mongolian capital: Gandan – the biggest and the most important Buddhist monastery in modern Mongolia, Genghis Square with Parliament building and monuments of Mongolian khans: Genghis, Kublai, Ögedei and 20th century Mongolian hero Sükhbaatar. A visit to the National Museum of Mongolian History and to The Winter Palace of Bogd – khan (the last theocratic leader of Mongolia called “living Buddha from Urga”). Dinner, transfer to your hotel, free time to relax. Overnight at the hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

3rd day: Ulaanbaatar – Dalanzadgad
Breakfast. Drive from Ulaanbaatar to the South. In the afternoon we reach Dalanzadgad town located on the Gobi desert. Dinner. Overnight in a traditional Mongolian yurt in Dalanzadgad area.

4th day: Dalanzadgad – Yolyn Am (The Gorge of the Vultures) – Gurvan Saikhan (Three Beauties of the Gobi) – Khongoryn Els (sand dunes)
Breakfast. Drive through the Yolyn Am (The Gorge of the Vultures) – gorge in the mountain chain of Gurvan Saikhan (Three Beauties of the Gobi – part of Altai mountain range). Short walking tour. Transfer to Khongoryn Els – the largest moving sand dune of Mongolia, whose length is more than 100 kilometres and a height is more than 300 metres. In the evening we will ride a camel for about one hour. You can also climb the dune. Dinner and overnight in yurts.

5th day: Khongoryn Els – Flaming Cliffs – Bayanzag – Ongiin Gol oasis and monastery
Breakfast. Drive to the famous Flaming Cliffs, which are the site of some of the most spectacular paleontological discoveries. Transfer to Bayanzag, beautiful oasis of Haloxylon trees in the heart of Gobi desert. This oasis was a very popular resting place during long journey between Mongolia and Tibet. Drive North – West through the scenic desert area of Ongiin Gol oasis. Visiting ruins of the old Buddhist monastery (founded in 17th century), one of the largest in the Gobi. This monastery was also a large university centre with four faculties. A visit to the small museum. Walking through the picturesque oasis. Dinner and overnight in yurts.

6th day: Ongiin Gol oasis – Orkhon Valley (Kharkhorin)
Breakfast. Today we leave the Gobi desert and in the afternoon we reach steppes of Central Mongolia. Our destination will be Orkhon Valley which is UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive to Kharkhorin, medieval capital of Great Mongol Empire, one of the largest countries in world’s history. Dinner. In the evening concert of traditional Mongolian music. Overnight in yurts in Kharkhorin.

7th day: Orkhon Valley (Kharkhorin) – Khögnö Khan Uul – Ulaanbaatar
Breakfast. Walk through to the famous sculpture of the turtle. Visit to Erdene Zuu – the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, founded in 1585. Horse ride and drive to the ruins of Khögnö Khan Uul monastery. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening free time in Ulaanbaatar for shopping. Dinner, overnight in Ulaanbaatar.

8th day: Ulaanbaatar – flight back
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for flight back to your destination. Arrival to your destination.