Central Mongolia spiritual tour

DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR AND DRIVE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE (L,D)

Arrive at Ulaanbaatar airport, just out of the Mongolian capital city. After immigration formalities, meet the local guide and driver and head to a camp just out of the capital. After lunch, and some time to recuperate from the long flight, take a leisurely afternoon hike to enjoy and take in the serene landscape of the semi-arid steppe. If possible, visit a nomadic family for a first impression of the ancient customs and traditions of the Mongol nomads. Late in the evening, set in a ger camp- the cozy yet simple Mongolian version of a lodge, consisting of traditional felt-made dwellings the nomads of Central Asia often refer to as yurt.

DAY 2. MONGOL NOMADS – KHARKHORIN (B,L,D)

Today take a journey back in time to a place that recreates the lives of Mongolian nomads during the beginning of the 20th century. Here, attend a demonstration of how the nomads lived their lives during this era and learn about some traditions that are carried on to these very days. After lunch in the camp, take the four to five hours drive to Kharkhroin. Built by Chinggis Khan about 800 years ago, Kharkhorin, better known as Karakorum, was famed throughout Asia as the capital of the Mongol Empire. Within the walls of this spectacular city, kings were chosen, laws made, and the fate of the next city to be conquered was determined. If time permits ascend to a hill overlooking the small town to visit the Monument of Empires, erected to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Chinggis Khan as the king of all kings of the steppes. Explore the site, depicting the history of three of the largest steppe empires that were first formed here, and enjoy the marvelous view of the sun setting over the sacred Orkhon valley before setting in the camp for the night.

DAY 3. KHARKHORIN – TSENKHER HOT SPRINGS (B,L,D)

In the morning, visit the Karakorum Museum. This museum holds a permanent display of various archeological findings and compiles a picture of how the city looked like during the reign of the Mongol empire. Then take a walk through Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of the country’s oldest Buddhist monasteries, in time for the morning puje – the chanting of Tibetan prayers while playing traditional musical instruments. After lunch, leave Kharkhorin, and drive on to the region the Mongolians often refer to as the ‘horse herders’ paradise’ for its lush grasslands and open valleys. Drive through thick pine forests to Tsenkher hot springs, where water flows out of the ground at about 80°C (176°F). After setting in the camp for the night, enjoy a relaxing soak at the open hot-water pools under the Mongolian million-star sky!

DAY 4. HIKING AROUND TSENKHER (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the camp, take a short drive to the trailhead to embark on the day’s hike. The hike is a truly enchanting walk up a stream, hopping from one boulder to another to the top of a hill for a fantastic view of the surrounding valleys. This little-known trail is hidden away from most travelers’ routes, and it runs through a pristine pine forest, with its floor carpeted with wildflowers of all shapes and colors. At the hike’s end, enjoy a picnic lunch before driving back to the camp to enjoy another night of soaking in the hot water pools.

DAY 5. THE RED WATERFALL (B,L,D)

Leave the hot springs, and drive through rolling hills and thick pine forests toward the Orkhon River Valley, the cradle of Mongolian civilization. Before arriving at the waterfall, pause for a three-and-half-hour hike (with the first hour uphill) to Tuvkhon Monastery, established during the 1650s by Zanbazar, one of Mongolia’s most respected religious leaders. The monastery’s wooden buildings are integrated with a natural system of caves perched near a hilltop, offering beautiful views of the Orkhon Valley and the surrounding pine forests. With its unique natural features, the monastery was a perfect location for the great religious leader to meditate. Later in the afternoon, reach a volcanic-dominated region and take the 30 minutes’ walk to the beautiful volcanic canyon through which the Orkhon River flows. Take an easy hike along the canyon floor, and end up at the pool at the bottom of the Red Waterfall. For the brave of heart, a cool swim awaits! From here, it is only a short drive to the camp for the night.

DAY 6. THE EDGE OF THE GOBI DESERT (B,L,D)

After breakfast in the camp, drive to the summer camp of a nomadic family in the vicinity of the waterfall. This is a great chance to submerge in the nomadic way of life and get a hands-on experience with daily chores that makes the routine for nearly one-third of the Mongolian population. Participate in the making of dairy products, milk livestock, bring water from the well, and cook traditional food. This morning provides a great insight into the significant role of women in Mongolian society. After having a traditional meal together, say farewell to the host family and take a few hours’ drive to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune. Marking the northern edge of the great Gobi Desert, Elsen Tasarkhai stretches for over 130 km north into the heart of Central Mongolia. Arrive at the dune and take a hike for a marvelous view over the dune that seems as if it’s locked between two mighty mountain ranges. Then pause by a small seasonal lake to watch a variety of migratory waterfowl, stopping here on their long journey from the Siberian Tundra to the warm countries of the south. Towards sunset, take a camel ride through the dune before setting in the camp for the night.

DAY 7. ANCIENT WILD HORSES (B,L,D)

After breakfast, take the approximately four hours drive to Khustai Nuruu Strictly Protected Area. Khustai was established as part of a unique project to reintroduce the world’s last surviving wild horse back to its natural habitat. On the brink of extinction during the previous century, only a very few Takhi or Przewalski’s horses were left in zoos around Europe. After lunch, and a short visit to the visitors’ center, drive to a vantage point in the midst of the park to see the herds of horses sprinting from the mountain tops to the narrow river valley, where they come to drink as the temperatures in the lowlands cool down. After dinner at Khustai, take the two-hour drive to Ulaanbaatar, arriving at the Mongolian capital city late in the evening.

DAY 8. THE NATIONAL CAPITAL (B,L,D)

Leave the hotel on foot and head to the city center, where modern high-rises are quickly built amid Soviet-era blocks. Begin with a visit to the National History Museum, which holds a permanent exhibition on the different civilizations that have inhabited the territory of Mongolia from prehistoric times to the present. This exhibition includes a significant display of objects from the era of the Great Mongol Empire. Then, take a walk through the central square. Right at the heart of the square, see the figure of D. Sukhbaatar, one of the heroes of the communist revolution of the 1920s, boldly raising his arm towards the statue of Chinggis Khan, the nation’s forefather whose name was not allowed to be mentioned during the 70-year communist reign. In a very apt fashion, the square is surrounded by buildings of distinctively different architectural styles. Some are clear evidence of the city’s socialist past, while others serve as a striking testimony to the country’s path to development. After lunch, visit the Choijin Lama Temple. Once the private temple of the Mongolian king, it is today one of the most beautiful Tibetan-Buddhist museums worldwide. The museum holds a well-curated collection of rare Buddhist artifacts that can be seen nowhere else, all displayed in a beautiful early 20th-century temple locked amid modern skyscrapers. In the evening, attend a traditional folk concert featuring unique Mongolian art forms before enjoying a farewell dinner in one of the city’s finest restaurants before reverting to the hotel for the night.

DAY 9. DEPARTURE FROM ULAANBAATAR (B)

After breakfast, drive to Chinggis Khan Airport for the international flight out of Mongolia.