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Naadam - The Best of Mongolia

Itinerary

Arrive early in the morning at Chinggis Khan Airport. Our guide will pick you up with the sign "NoNa Travel Mongolia" and transfer to the hotel (approx. 60 km). Refresh yourself and get some rest. Then we can start sightseeing with the famous Gandan Monastery. Then we can start sightseeing with the famous Gandan Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1727 and was badly damaged in 1937 during the Stalinist terror in Mongolia, and several buildings were even destroyed. The complex remained closed until 1944, only then was there a conditional re-use of the temples that had been preserved. Until the end of the Mongolian People's Republic, the Gandan Monastery was the only monastery in all of Mongolia in which religious ceremonies - under the control of the secret police - were allowed to take place. But today it has become a peaceful and beloved place for Mongolians. It will always be something special.

After enjoying the first Mongolian meal, visit the newly built Chinggis Khan Museum with rich treasures and go to Sukhbaatar Square, which played a major role in the 1921 People's Revolution. The Government Palace and the statue of Genghis Khan can also be visited here. We are right in the center of the capital city. After walking, we will visit a Mongolian folk art performance with wonderful performances such as throat singing, traditional long song, and contortion. Welcome dinner.

L.D

Hotel

You will be picked up by our drivers in South Gobi. It has the largest land area of ​​the other 20 provinces. Lunch in Dalanzadgad, the provincial capital. We would see an interesting new museum "Nature and History of the Gobi '' which features giant dinosaur skeletons and many other interesting finds from the Gobi. Drive to Yoliin Am (Eagle Valley). It's one of the most beautiful destinations “Yolyn Am” from the National Park Gobi Gurvansaikhan. Also known as Eagle Valley, first established as a park in 1965.

We will go through the beautiful lush green valley and rock canyon. The main attraction of Yolyn am  is a year-round “glacier”-actually layers of accumulated snow and ice - which is sheltered by the soaring canyon walls and survives through the South Gobi’s hottest summer days.

(5-6 km to walk)

Today we will wake up atOur journey continues with interesting adventures. Leaving Vulture Gorge and driving through a beautiful mountain gorge if we are lucky we will see wild animals like ibex and wild sheep and we will come across a beautiful gorge following the narrow stream of Gobi river. This is a narrow passage that only a vehicle can pass very carefully. It will be very interesting for you. Believe it Our miracle didn't end here. Because when the mountain gorge ends, we can admire the beauty of the vast plains of the Gobi.

Overnight will be near Khongor sand dune.

In the early morning watching the beautiful Gobi sunrise’s with its 180 km long sand dunes and the blue mountains behind it will be one of the best things you will ever do in your life. We'll be here all day, so don't rush. But many interesting things await us, such as visiting a nomadic family, eating local food, talking with family members, playing games, and riding camels. In the late afternoon, you can climb Duut Manhan, the highest part of the Hongor Sands, and experience the true bliss of watching the Gobi sunset with the surrounding mountains, sand dunes, and small springs.

Today we will go to a wonderful place that made Mongolian Gobi known to the world. This is Bayanzag (reach in saxaul), or the place called “Flaming cliffs” because it looks amazingly beautiful like a fire burning in the evening sun.  It is important fossil finds have been made. It was given this name by American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, who visited in the 1920s. The area is most famous for yielding the first discovery of dinosaur eggs.

Views to the surrounding desert steppe are wide ranging. There is a small saxaul (haloxylon ammodendron) forest.  Although the Saxaul Forest is rather reduced in size now, the local administration has planted new saxaul seeds and they are growing successfully in many areas. It comprises ancient small trees with deep root systems that enable them to survive the desert conditions and is important to protect Gobi from desertification.

Today we will drive to a place connected to the Mongolian religion. We will visit the ruins of the Ongi Monastery on the banks of the Ong River. Built between 1760 and 1810, the monastery had a capacity to accommodate over one thousand monks at one time. It was completely demolished and destroyed in 1939 during anti-religious purges.  The foundation of a temple was restored in 2004. Today, the monastery works with a small number of monks. The surrounding scenery is so beautiful that you can go hiking or meditate.  We will spend the night in a small hilly area in Middle Gobi province.

Orkhon Waterfall, also known as Ulaan Tsutgalan, is one of the top attractions in Central Mongolia. About 25 m downstream from the waterfall you can descend to the bottom of the gorge; 22 m deep and dotted with pine trees. About 20,000 years ago, the waterfall was formed due to earthquakes and merged by volcanic eruptions. However, the water does not run all year round and only starts to flow after the first good summer rain.

Today we are heading to the monastery of Tuvkhun. The remains of this ancient monastery are in the high mountains north of the Orkhon Valley. In 1653 Zanabazar meditated here and built this temple. As said, the monastery is in a very beautiful spot on top of a mountain, so it can be reached on horseback or on foot. From the area around the monastery you can see nature all around.

Behind this temple is an amazing little cave called "womb" which people can go in and out of. This process symbolizes the rebirth and purification of a person.

After breakfast, drive to the small village Kharkhorin, one of the main tourist attractions in the country. Historically known as Karakorum, it was the ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire founded by Chinggis Khan in 1220. And Karakorum was one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road.

We will visit the Karakorum City Museum and learn more about the beautiful ancient city Karakorum and one part of the Mongolian history.  Continue to Erdenezuu Monastery complex, built in the 16th century and with 108 Buddhist stupas, the oldest and most magnificent. Great place!

Inclusions

After breakfast through the beautiful mountains of Arkhangai Province, we continue to Tuvkhun Monastery, which is located in the beautiful place. We will walk about an hour or if you want, you can also go downhill on horseback. It takes us to the monastery, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Afterwards, drive to the hot springs of Tsenkher.

Today we drive deep into the heart of Khangai Mountain Range to explore Khorgo volcanic crater and The Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. There are dozens of extinct volcanoes here in a comparatively small area. Walking around the volcano and having a nice view from the top of extinct volcano.

(200 km|4-5H|dirt/paved road)

Today we will drive to the Mongolian highlands and towards Jargalant. Drive through a changing landscape with rock formations and a lush green steppe. The route takes us across picturesque high valleys and past some mountain lakes. Here you can see beautiful colors of the landscape with the white nomadic gers.

After breakfast we continue towards Murun. Murun is the capital of Khuvsgul Province, which borders Russia. We will visit ancient tombs (deer stones) from the Stone Age. It is called Uushgiin Uvur and it is outside of Murun. Continue to Khatgal.

We will rest here for 2 days and relax by the lake. We have the opportunity to hike in the area, visit a shaman, horseback ride to explore, even take a boat on the clear lake...

Drive to Murun. Shopping from local stores. Domestic flight from Murun to Ulaanbaatar.

We will go to Sukhbaatar Square and visit the “Deeltei Mongol Festival”. Many events held around the Naadam festival, which are noteworthy both in size and meaning, make the festival a big celebration with something for everyone to attend and enjoy together. Mongolian National Costume festival and parade, during which Mongolians and tourists dressed up in ethnic costumes rejoice together, is a must-sTsee celebration.

Opening ceremony. The Naadam Festival begins traditionally with the arrival of Nine White Banners to the Central Stadium, which was carried out all the way from Sukhbaatar square.

Participate in the Mongolian National Naadam Festival, celebrated every year from 11 to 13 July across Mongolia that focuses on three traditional games: horseracing, wrestling and archery. Mongolian Naadam is inseparably connected to the nomadic civilization of the Mongols, who have long practiced pastoralism on Central Asia’s vast steppe.

In the early morning we will pick you up. Today racing events are held of Soyolon-five-year-old horses and half-bred horses at the Khui Doloon Khudag Valley on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. In the Soyolon race with a distance of 23 km.

The main tournaments of horse racing, wrestling and archery are scheduled to complete by this evening, July 12, and the President of Mongolia will present certificates and medals to all winners.

Pick up from the hotel and drive to the largest equestrian statue Chinggis Khan in the world (40m high). Then drive to the most visited National Park Terelj and enjoy beautiful nature. Visit an interesting rock formation looking like a turtle. Visit the meditation temple Ariyabal, surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations and sits on top of the mountain. Return back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel

INCLUSION

INCLUDED

  • Std twin room at 4* hotel
  • Shared accommodation at Gercamp for 2-4 people
  • Private transports
  • English or german speaking guide
  • All meals as mentioned
  • All entrance fee
  • Horse and camel ride as mentioned
  • Sleeping tents and general camping equipment

NOT INCLUDED

  • Personal Expenses
  • Optional Activities
  • Camera fee
  • Travel insurance
  • Single supplement
  • International Flights

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