NORTHERN MONGOLIA TOUR ITINERARY

*Please note that changes in program might occur due to changes in flights schedule and/or weather conditions.

DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR AND CITY TOUR (L,D)

Arrive at Chinggis Khan International airport, just out of the Mongolian capital city, Ulaanbaatar. After immigration procedures, meet the local guide and driver and head to the city center. After checking into our hotel, if time permits, we will have a tour of the city center through the central square. We then visit the Chingis Khaan museum, which holds a permanent exhibition on the different civilizations that have inhabited the territory of Mongolia. This exhibition includes a significant display of objects from the era of the Great Mongol Empire. From here we take a short walk to the restaurant where we will have a Mongolian cuisine for lunch. After this, we will continue sightseeing city tour and walk to drama theater where we attend an impressive folk concert, featuring some traditional Mongolian art forms. After a welcome dinner, we drive back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.

DAY 2.  TERELJ NATIONAL PARK SIGHTSEEING  TOUR (B,L,D)

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to the central stadium to see the opening ceremony of Naadam festival, one of the the biggest national holiday in Mongolia.  Terelj National Park is one of Mongolia’s most visited national parks, known for its scenic landscapes and proximity to Ulaanbaatar city (less than ahour and a half on a paved road). After arriving, we will visit Aryabala meditation temple- the only temple built for meditation in the country. The temple looks like a white elephant head from far and we will climb 108 steps to reach the main temple and take a breathtaking view of the serine beauty of the park. You can try riding a two humped bactrian camel here. We will have a lunch in one of ger camps. After lunch we will drive to the Chingis Khan’s statue complex called Tsonjinboldog. In the evening we will drive back to the city have a dinner at a local restaurant and head back to our hotel.  

DAY 3. ULAANBAATAR-MURUN-BELCH RIVER (B,L,D)

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your local tour guide in the lobby to start the journey to the northern Mongolia. This morning we take the first available flight to Murun, the capital city of Khuvsgul Province. Upon arrival in Murun we drive north to Belch River. On our way we will stop at an ancient burial site featuring Mongolia’s mysterious deer stones, memorial stones representing important leaders and warriors carved with deer motifs and have our picnic lunch. In the evening we will reach the entrance of Darkhad valley to overnight in a small but comfy ger camp.

DAY 4.  BELCH RIVER – SOYO VILLAGE (B,L,D)

After breakfast we continue driving north to meet our horse man in Soyo village. Arriving at the horse man family in the afternoon we hold a welcome lunch and learn about their nomadic life in Darkhad basin. If time permits, we will do chores such as gathering the livestock and milking them. After loading the horses we will drive to a small wooden cabin to stay for the night.

DAY 5-6. SOYO VILLAGE – TAIGA (B,L,D)

Day 5. After breakfast our 2 days and one night journey to Taiga continue on horseback. After enjoying a traditional breakfast with the nomadic family and packing our horses, we ride our horses by beautiful Darkhad basin lakes surrounded by high mountains covered with thick pine forests. On the way we will find a spot to have a picnic lunch and to rest a little bit. In the evening we will find a suitable place to cook the dinner and have a good rest after a long day.

Day 6. Early in the morning after having breakfast, we will pack the horses and continue our adventurous journey to meet the Dukha family. After lunch we have our first experience meeting a Reindeer herder family, known as ‘Tsaatan’. A small tribe of Tsaatan consisting of about 40 families live with their herds of reindeer in remote area between mountains. These graceful animals provide the tribe with all its basic needs – milk, transportation, meat, skin and bones and antlers used as building materials of their traditional dwellings-tippy and for clothes. Overnight with Reindeer people. 

DAY 7-8. EXPERIENCE LIVING WITH THE REINDEER PEOPLE (B,L,D)

 These two days, we study Reindeer people and their life style by participating in their daily life chores such as herding and riding reindeers, milking and cooking and prepare milk tea. In the evening, we will help the reindeer people to gather the reindeers from the pasture. We will ride on horse for at least 2 hours in the true wilderness and experience time-traveling to a non-digital age. Tsaatans choose to live in the lower lands as reindeers feed mostly on green grass whereas in wintertime they live in the deep forest at higher altitude for their reindeers need for moss on larch trees. Overnight with Tsaatan family.

DAY 9. DRIVING TO LAKE KHUVSGUL (B,L,D)

On this day, after having a farewell breakfast with the Tsaatan family, we will ride our horses for 3-4 hours to meet our driver waiting with a Russian van. We will say good baye to our horse men and return the horses after going back to their home. The rest of the day will be on the vehicle to reach our ger camp. On the way we will find a beautiful spot to have a picnic lunch and have a rest from our long drive. After reaching the ger camp right on the shore of Lake Khuvsgul we will have a dinner and have a rest.

DAY 10. RESTING BY THE SHORE OF LAKE KHUVSGUL (B,L,D)

After an early breakfast in our ger camp by the lake shores, we start our mostly off-road long journey with vehicle to the western most part of the country to see the the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. On the way, we will be able to see the beauty of north-western part of the country including Lake Khyargas, one of the biggest lakes in Mongolia. Overnight camping.

DAY 11. HIKING BY LAKE KHUVSGUL (B,L,D)

Today we will start the day with a early breakfast and drive to a hiking trail of Khyasaa to take a view of spectacular beauty of Khuvsgul lake. The hiking takes 4 and a half hours to reach a top a of mountain rises right on the shore of the lake. Khuvgul lake lies at 1650 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains rising above 3100 meters, the waters of Khuvsgul are deep and spectacularly clear and pure. We will hike through thick pine forests carpeted with flowers and explore the setting of Mongolia’s ‘Blue Pearl’.  We will have a picnic lunch by the shore of the lake after we finishing our long hike to recharge. The whole evening is leisure time  follwed by dinner and bonfire by the ger camp.

DAY 12. ULAANAABAATAR CITY TOUR (B,L,D)

Taking the first available flight in morning, we return to Ulaanbaatar. From the airport, we drive straight to Ulaanbaatar. After resting in the hotel for few hours meet your local tour guide to enjoy lunch and visit Mongolian history museum and Sukhbaatar square. In the evening enjoy a folk art concert . If time allows, we will be able to do some shopping in the State Department store and cashmere shops. End  a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. 

DAY13.  INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTURE (B)

After breakfast at the hotel (or packed breakfast depending on departure), we drive to Chinggis Khan International Airport for our international flight.

PRICE INFORMATION

2 PAX: $4200 per person

4 PAX: $3930 per person

6 or more PAX: $3270 per person

*Please deposit $ 500 to confirm your booking.  

*Please send a scanned copy or a clear photo of your passport for booking domestic flight and hotel.

*Feel free to contact me at any time at otgontuya0407@gmail.com if you have any enquiry.

INCLUSIONS

All meals mentioned accordingly /”B”-breakfast, “L”-lunch, “D”-dinner/

All transportation mentioned Local domestic flight if mentioned

All accommodation listed Professional Tour Leader/Guide – English speaking Airport transfers Staff meals, accommodation and other expenses where applicable Entrance fees to museums, concerts, monasteries, national parks included in the itinerary. /Road charges for tourists, staff, and vehicles are also included/

EXCLUSIONS

Single rooming supplement

International flights and cost for visas

Inoculations and personal insurances

Toiletries Video recording or photography fees at sights

Tips and gratuities

Personal expenses

RECOMMENDED PACKING LIST

 If you don’t have previous horse riding experience, we recommeend you to bring a padded bike shorts to make the ride more comfortable

Bring good quality riding boots, rain jackets, riding gloves, and windproof jackets among others. No need to bring a saddle or bridles. Because we provide comfortable western-type saddles, and horses are taken good care of by our horse guide.

You can also bring the following for your own comfort and usage:

1. Your own helmet (we do offer them in case our travelers do not bring theirs).
2. Small-sized saddle bag for a water bottle and other accessories.
3. Saddle pads

Head torchor flashlight  – useful in the evening to go to the restroom or shower

Warm gloves, socks, beannie hat, scarf, inner thermo layer, jacket as in September the days are sunny and hot but evenings are very cold

Enough pants, t-shirts, zipped or buttoned shirt or hoodie

Hiking shoes, light shoes or hiking boots prefferably goretex, waterfroof with good grip

Sunscreen – 15 SPF or more

Sunhat, sun glasses – during some days they will be useful

Rain jacket or rain coat

Insect repellent – There aren’t any dangerous insects in Mongolia, especially in September but some small bugs and mosquitos might annoy you in the countryside

Day pack to carry your personal belongings, documents and favorite snacks

Own reusable water bottle (prefferably thermo insulated ones) to reduce ecological footprint. We will refill water from 5L big bottles for you whenever you need to refill

Personal toiletries

Flip flops- to wear to in the shower

Swim suits – to wear when we visit the hot spring

Personal medications- (IF NEEDED)

Camera or drone

Small gift to the nomadic family’s children (OPTIONAL)

Some local currency (if you wish to buy a coffee or snack on the way from small shops)

*Please visit our instagram page: mongolian_adventures for reels, photos and videos from this trip 🙂