Trip overview

Spend a great time out south, central and northern Mongolian routes which take you to the most beautiful lake of Mongolia and the iconic Gobi Desert. A great opportunity to explore more about Mongolian history and culture from Orhon Valley, the UNESCO’s World Heritage site and the journey continues to Khorgo mountain, that provides a magnificent view of Khangai mountain range where lakes, craters and lava caves were uniquely formed at the same spot.

Highlights

Watch a breathtaking sunset from atop Khongor Sand Dunes
Discover the cultural sights in Orkhon Valley
Enjoy camel & horseback riding through scenic landscapes
Interact with a local nomadic family
Soak in Tsenkher's magical hot spring
Visit Khorgo Terkh National Park
Explore Khuvsgul Lake National Park

Itinerary

DAY 1. TRAVEL TO WHITE CANYON / MIDDLE GOBI /

Head to Tsagaan Suvarga, located in the Southwest of Dundgovi province. It is a big limestone escarpment facing east, which looks like Mars planet from its top and it provides excellent scenery of the amazing limestone formations created by the wind. The place is an ancient seabed aged over 70 million years and offers naturally formed sedimentary fissures with multiple colors of ochre.

DAY 2. TO GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN NP / YOLYN AM /

Travel to the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park to visit Yolyn am, a deep and narrow gorge with steep rock walls situated at the southern end of the Altai Mountain Range. The Gorge is named after vulture, which is called Yol in Mongolian as well as known as ice canyon. The ice field reaches over 3m deep in some years, and stretches several kilometers. The ice field remained whole year round in the past years, but lately the ice tends to disappear in mid-July due to global warming.

DAY 3/4. TO KHONGORYN ELS / KHONGOR SAND DUNES /

Head to Khongor sand dunes, the second largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia that offers the iconic images of the Gobi Desert which we strive for. The dunes stretched in an extraordinary 120km, 3-28km wide and about 300m high from its base to top. Here we’ll enjoy camel riding in the endless steppe and climb up to the peak of a singing dune to see gorgeous sunset and amazing panoramic views of the surrounding oasis.

DAY 5. TO FLAMING CLIFFS / BAYANZAG / SOUTH GOBI /

Drive to "The Flaming Cliffs or Bayan Zag – saxaul forest lies around 90 km from the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. The place became famous with its first scientifically recognized dinosaur fossilized eggs in the world and different species of dinosaur fossil were discovered by Roy Andrew Chapman, American explorer in 1923.

DAY 6. DRIVE TO ONGI MONASTERY

Travel to Ongi Monastery Ruins, constructed in 1660. The Monastery was one the four biggest Buddhist school and housed over 1000 sharmans and harmfully destroyed during communist purges in 1937. Once we reach the site, we’ll visit a small museum in a yurt and reconstructed temple.

DAY 7/8. TO ORKHON VALLEY NATIONAL PARK / CENTRAL MONGOLIA /

Head to the north to visit the Orkhon Valley National Park, which provide scenic views of green meadows, pine forest, streams and waterfall. The area is ideal for fishing, horseback riding, hiking and photography. Here we'll spend two nights to take an opportunity to visit yak herding nomads and ride a horse nearby Orkhon waterfall which was formed uniquely by volcanic lava streams and tumbles over the vertical drop into a deep canyon.

DAY 9. TO TSENKHER HOT SPRING

Drive to Tsenkher Hot Spring, a sulphur spring that emerges from underground at a sizzling 86C and is located at an altitude of 1860m above sea level, the second hottest spring in Mongolia. Looking up at the Milky Way on a starry night is a wonderful experience while taking a hot spa with an outdoor pool.

DAY 10. TO KHORGO TERKH NATIONAL PARK

Drive to Khorgo Terkh NP, famous with its attractive scenery, situated in Arkhangai province. When reaching to the destination, we’ll visit several small caves, formed by volcanic lava stream, then head to Great White Lake/Terkhyn tsagaan nuur/ where we’ll spend the nights on its shore. The lake is extremely beautiful with fresh water and prosperous species of fish and some rare water fowls.

DAY 11. TO ZUUN LAKE

To Zuun lake, a scenic highlight of Khovsgol National Park's far southeast, 230km far from Khovsgol Lake and once reach the lake we'll camp out on its scenic shore.

DAY 12/13. TO KHOVSGOL LAKE

Head to Khuvsgul Lake and explore Mongolian the biggest fresh watered lake, refers to a dark blue pearl with a length of 137km and 262m deep. Here we will spend 2 nights. Activities: Horseback riding, hiking, motor boating and drive up to a beautiful mountain to see the whole panoramic scenery of the biggest lake of Mongolia.

DAY 14. DRIVE TO URAN TOGOO NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, head to spectacular Uran Togoo Mountain – an extinct volcano named for its characteristic crater lies in Bulgan province. Upon arrival to Uran togoo NP – We will climb the Uran Togoo Mount to see the panoramic view of the surrounding beauties. The mountain is nearly 1689meter high above sea level.

DAY 15. TRAVEL TO AMARBAYASGALANT MONASTERY

Travel to east to reach Amarbayasgalant Monastery, the biggest monastic complex and Buddhist school in the north Mongolia. The monastery was constructed in 1736 and has survived destruction during anti-religious purges. 28 temples, rich in wood carvings and religious artifacts inside the monastery walls housed over 5000monks during its flourishing period. A golden Buddha statue and phenomenal stupa on hilltops backyard the monastery wall offer great panoramic views of the surroundings.

DAY 16. BACK TO ULAANBAATAR CITY

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar city.