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Exploring the Gobi And Orkhon Valley

Activities: Visit Camel and Yak Herder Nomads Traditions & Culture/Sightseeing/Hiking/Camel & Horse Riding/Climbing Sand Dunes
Recommended Days: 9days / 8nights
Transport Types: by Russian Van (4WD) or Toyota Land Cruiser
Tour Date: Depart daily

Day 1. Drive to Baga Gazariin Chuluu –Rock Formations.

After breakfast, we will drive to Baga Gazriin Chuluu. It is a huge granite formation in the middle of the Mongolian sandy plane. End of the afternoon we will drive and hike around the area. We will visit the picturesque ruins of a small monastery that hidden in a nice little protected valley. Moreover, we will drive and hike to see rock carving or petrography.

Day 2. Drive to Bayanzag-Flaming Cliffs

After breakfast, we will drive to Bayanzag - the biggest saxaul forest and Flaming Cliffs, where you will find the paleontology place when Roy Andrew Chapman discovered fossilized dinosaurs skeleton and eggs in 1920s surrounding landscape is a beautiful combination of rocks and red sand.

Day 3. Drive to Yol Valley- Vulture Valley.

Drive to Yoliin Am – a wonderfully picturesque place surrounded by sheer rocky walls, forming incredible canyons that are the narrow canyon of a river. Only two people can pass in the narrowest part. These areas situated in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

Day 4. Drive Khongor Sand Dune

Drive to Khongor Sand Dunes – one of the most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Dunes of Khongor are known as the « singing sands » and rise from the plain reaching a height of 400 meters high, stretch from East to West over more than 100 km 

Day 5. Drive to Ongi Monastery.

After breakfast, we will drive to the Ongi Monastery ruin. At the entrance of a beautiful mountainous region, the ruins of two Monasteries are there. This monastery has 28 temples and other buildings. This monastery had about 1000 lamas. Ongi monastery founded in 1660 and consisted of two temple complexes on the north and south banks of the Ongi River. The older southern complex consisted of various administrative buildings as well as 11 temples. The northern complex built in the 18th century consisted of 17 temples-among them. The monastery built on a steep rocky slope of a mountain in a Nepalese architectural fashion and used to house over a thousand Buddhist monks. It destroyed during the Stalinist purges in the 1930s.

Day 6. Drive to Orkhon waterfall.

After breakfast, we will drive to the Orkhon Waterfall. On the way, we will have a picnic for Lunch. After arriving at the waterfall we will enjoy the spectacular view of the waterfall and surrounding area, where we will have the chance to take some beautiful photo shots of Orkhon Waterfall. The height of the waterfall is 20m and the width is 10m. It’s originated by volcanic eruption and earthquake over 20000 years ago.

Day 7. Arrive at the Tsenkher hot –spa.

Tsenkher is a natural hot spring that flows out the whole year from the ground at 85 Celsius degree; country's second hottest, in mountainous Central Mongolia. It is located 1860m a.s.l. The spring comes out from the far deep part of the ground and its water not mixed with soil waters because it is hot. The water has high mineral content and containing everything from simple calcium, sodium to sulphuric. Folklore claimed the medical value some of these springs have. The spring produces water that is good for health reasons and water is the effect for joints, nerve systems and considered good for many other diseases. Sometimes, people drink water for diabetes and stomach ulcer and disabilities.

Day 8. Drive to Kharkhorin

We will drive to Kharkhorin where is the oldest and one of the most attractive monasteries Erdene Zuu locates. On the way to Kharkhorin, we will have lunch in the local restaurant. The Erdenezuu monastery established in 1585 by Abtai Sain King and built by Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese architectors.

Day 9. Drive to “Lun” village.

Overnight at a nomad family near Lun village – stay with family and have a traditional Mongolian barbeque called “Khorkhog”. On the way, we will stop at Khustai national park to watch wild horses Takhi, widely known as “Prejevalski horse”. Przewalski horses are the only wild horse to survive in modern times. The species returned to Mongolia from world zoos and reserves within Khustai National Park. Khustain Nuruu has good vegetation, springs, birch forest and rocks, which are suitable for many wild animals including 46 species of mammals and 172 species of birds.

Day 10. Back to UB and have lunch on the way

The Tour Price includes:

  • Accommodations
  • Driver + 4WD Vehicle + All Petrol
  • English or Korean speaking Guide
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Vegetarian or vegan meal are possible)
  • Water 1.5L daily
  • All entrance fee
  • Camel & Horse Riding

The Tour Price doesn't include:

  • Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar
  • Tips
  • Personal items and toiletry
  • Optional activity costs

 

Gallery

Photos by Lisa Matthes and Trang le

Reviews

Hogy was very helpful and made sure we get the best from our trip. The driver and the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great experience, and it went well because of Hogy and her team.

Russian
Tiffany Smith

Thanks, Gobi Attraction! Wonderful and very helpful couple the host. We took 10 days the Gobi and Central Mongolian Tour! They helped us from beginnings with our visa, arranged our tour and bought us ticket to Beijing... It was smooth and flexible to communicate and talk to them. We are recommending Gobi Attraction Tours. Choose Gobi Attraction Tour and travel worry-free. They will arrange everything. About meals no worry even someone who is vegetarian, vegan or whatever! We had lots of fun and adventure hiking, walking, trekking, camel and horse riding, dog sledding, sand and snow sliding, playing, and they made us nice mini concert with locals, had fun with nomads, ... lots of unforgettable time. At the end we are also suggesting you to stay their guesthouse feel like home, have real breakfast!

Tiffany Smith

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FAQ

Below are the answers to some of the questions we get asked the most often, please have a look if your questions are already there, if not feel free to email us to [email protected]

1. When is the best time to come to Mongolia?

May to October is the best season, with the high season in July for the Naadam Festival. August and September are also suitable months of the year, our climate is such that you will still have many sunny days at this time. June and October are the most colorful month of the year. If you like the cold season and if you would like to get totally different feeling December is also a good month with winter fun.

2. Is Mongolia a safe destination?

Mongolia has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and people are known for their nomadic hospitality and kindness and they will make you feel very welcome. But when you are in the street in Ulaanbaatar city, you have to watch your bag and wallet unless there are many pickpockets around. It is a city.

3. What should I bring with me?

Warm and thin layers of clothing, waterproof jacket, good walking boots, sandals, and a hat and/or headscarf to protect you from the sun and winds. Don’t forget insect repellent, sun cream, lip-gloss and first aid kit (medicine for headache, cold, diarrhea, runny nose; bandages; any medicine prescribed for you ) and camera equipment.

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