Majestic Western Mongolia tour

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, meet at the airport after custom formalities and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is for you to get over jet lag and take a good rest before your wonderful journey across Mongolia. Centrally located excellent hotel 3*.

Meet your English-speaking local guide at 9.00 in the morning in the hotel lobby and start the city tour. The city tour of Ulaanbaatar takes you through some of the principal sights of this unique city. You visit the Gandan Monastery, housing a 26-meter-high gilded statue of the Buddha. Your tour also takes you to the Genghis Khan monument on the square and the National Museum, which has a number of fascinating displays of traditional Mongolian clothing and weaponry, as well as exhibits charting the course of Genghis Khan's empire-building. Welcome lunch in a Mongolian restaurant. In the afternoon, we drive out from Ulaanbaatar toward Giant Chinggis statue. Arrive and visit the museums at the complex and climb to the statue horse head. Return to Ulaanbaatar in the evening. Transfer to the hotel and rest. Free time for dinner. Centrally located excellent hotel 3* B+L

Meet in the hotel lobby by 8.00 am and we start our Mongolia discovery tour this morning and head to the west to Elsen Tasarkhai located in Khugnu Khan nature reserve. Arrive and transfer to the tourist ger camp for check in and lunch. In the afternoon, we travel to Khugnu Khan mountain to visit historical Erdene Khamba monastery temple and ruins. Visit the dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai and enjoy 1-hour camel riding around. Dinner and overnight at the ger camp. Ger camp. B+L+D

After breakfast, we drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongol Empire located in the Orkhon valley. Arrive and visit legendary monastery Erdene Zuu, the first Buddhist monastery in Central Mongolia founded in 1586 and newly established Museum of Karakorum which gives a good introduction to Central Mongolia, its’ history and the UNESCO world heritage site Orkhon river valley. Lunch in Karakorum and we proceed to Tsenkher hot springs in the afternoon. Arrive at Tsenkher camp in the late afternoon, enjoy relaxing in the natural curative hot spa. Dinner and overnight at ger camp. Ger camp. B+L+D 

After breakfast, we continue our journey toward Terkhiin Tsagaan lake in located in Khorgo Terkh National park. Break our journey at Tsetserleg town, Arkhangai for a visit to legendary Zayiin Gegeen Monastery from 17th century. Short drive from Tsetserleg to historical Takhar rock. Over 150 inscriptions in various scripts including Turkic, Uyghur, Mongolian, Tibetan, Manchu and Chinese were engraved on the cliff, but most of them seem to have barely appeared as time passes. Optional yak riding and lunch near Taikhar rock. In the afternoon, we continue our drive toward Khorgo Terkh. Short stop at Chuluut river canyon, a picturesque 20 m deep steep basaltic rock canyon. Arrive at our ger camp in the late afternoon, transfer to the tourist ger camp and rest. Ger camp. B+L+D

After breakfast, we will have a trip around the lake and volcanic surrounding. The lake lies calmly in the arms of tall hills, its water extremely clear and lined with long sand beaches. The road winds along the shoreline, past Shamanic piles of black lava, before it cuts a short distance inland towards the Khorgo Volcano. At around 10,000 feet up, the volcano is now extinct, but still revered by the nomads of the region. A short walk takes you to the crater rim, where red-stained rock descends into a deep chasm surrounded by sacred Ovoo mounds. Look back towards Lake Terkh Tsagaan - there is an excellent view over the lake through a small hill pass. Lunch back at the ger camp and we depart to Hojuulyn Gol valley via Solongot pass, one of the tallest mountain pass of astounding Khangai Mountain range. In the early evening, arrive at Hojuulyn gol ger camp, dinner and rest.  Ger camp B+L+D 

Continue our journey toward Ulaagchyn Khar lake located along the Bor Khyar sand dunes. You will enjoy incredible setting of lake over in the middle of golden dunes surrounded by picturesque mountains. Enjoy hiking around the dunes and visit the most scenic spot at this unique landscape. Dinner and overnight at tourist ger camp (basic facility). Ger camp B+L+D  

Located 1132 m avove the sea level, Ulaagchyn Khar lake is 38 km long and 50 m deep in places, extends along the south of the northern Margats mountain range at the northern edge of Bor Khyar sand dunes.

Breakfast at the ger camp and we drive to Muhart river, a river that’s originating from ground surrounded by towering sand dunes – unique natural combination.

Enjoy hiking around and optional sand sledding into the river. Lunch nearby and we continue our journey west toward Khyargas lake. Break our journey at Hungii river basin located along Bor Khyar sand dunes. Set out tents at our camping spot. Overnight under starry sky. Tent camping. B+L+D

In the morning, we continue our journey toward western Mongolia. Our today’s journey end at Khetsuu Khad, a dramatic rocky outcrop on the southern shore of Khyargas lake. Khyargas lake is one of the 4 biggest lakes which cover more than 1000 square km and 40-90 m deep. Transfer to the ger camp at Khetsuu Khad and lunch. The afternoon is spent leisurely with optional swimming, hiking or boat trip on the lake. Ger camp. B+L+D

Lake Hyargas, one of the largest lakes of Mongolia, lies about 100 kilometers south of Lake Uvs in the territory of the Depression of Great Lakes. The Zavkhan river feeds Airag lake, which is further connected to Hyargas lake that has not outlet. The salt water lake, stretching from west to east, is 83 kilometers long and 31 kilometers wide. Few species of fish including the rare Altai Osman (Oreoleuciscus potanini) inhabit in Khyargas lake.  

Today we continue our journey toward west. Our drive takes 4-5 hour until our next overnight spot Ulaangom, a center of Uvs province. Arrive and transfer to the hotel for check in. After lunch, we explore the province by visiting province museum, central square and local bazaar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Local hotel B+L+D

Uvs province is located in Great Lakes Depression of Altai Mountain. The regions are home to diverse ethnic groups and nationalities living in Uvs province including Durvud, Bayad, Khalkh, Tuvans, and Kazakhs. The province is famous by its majestic high mountains and great lakes.    

Check out from our hotel and we continue to Uureg lake surrounded by Turgen and Tsagaan Shuvuut mountain. The saline lake is 1425 m above the sea level and it is known to be mosquito free lake. Our drive takes 3-4 hour passing Turgen soum and Ulaan Khutul pass along our way. Arrive and check in to our next ger camp located along the lake shore. In the afternoon, we will explore the area by hiking for 2-3 hours to the Turkic men stone that dates back to 6-8th century. Arrive back at the camp by jeeps, dinner and overnight at the ger camp. Ger Camp B+L+D

Today we drive to Ulgii for 6-7 hour passing by Achit lake along our way. Arrive in Ulgii in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel for check in. Visit Bayan-Ulgii province museum and local bazaar in the town. Dinner and overnight at local hotel. Local hotel. B+L+D

Breakfast at the hotel and we start our Bayan-Ulgii exploration today. Drive more west from Ulgii passing by Ulaan Hus and Tsengel soum, we arrive at our host Kazakh eagle hunter family in the afternoon. Pitch our tents near the eagle hunter’s ger. Rest of the day is spent with Kazakh family observing and taking part in their daily life chores including herding, milking, eagle training and so on. Enjoy Kazakh traditional meal for dinner. Overnight in tent. B+L+D

We say good bye to our host family and continue our journey south to Dayan Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Western Mongolia. It is 18 km long moraine lake fed by small rivers from snow peak mountain in Altai Mountains. Arrive and pitch our tent one the shore of the lake. In the afternoon, we trek along the lake while observing its beauty. Dinner and overnight at tent. Tent camping B+L+D

Early morning drive back to Ulgii today. Lunch along the way in a scenic spot. Arrive in Ulgii in the late afternoon. Arrive and check in at the local hotel. Dinner and overnight in Ulgii. B+L+D

Farewell to the tour staffs and we catch morning flight to Ulaanbaatar today. Arrive and transfer to the hotel for check in. Optional souvenir and cashmere shopping if you wish. Enjoy traditional folklore concert by the magical Tumen Ekh ensemble. Farewell dinner. Centrally located excellent hotel 3*. B+L+D

You are transferred to the airport/train station after breakfast. End of service. B