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 Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and a culture that evokes images of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire. Enter the serene land of Mongolia and experience the raw beauty and tradition of this remote region. Hidden from the world, it is hard to imagine that this secluded country was once the largest empire in known history. Explore Mongolia’s untamed landscapes, pristine grasslands, mountain steppes and the otherworldly Gobi Desert.
Enjoy all the experiences that make Mongolia a fascinating place to visit.
Staying in luxuriously appointed traditional gers and meeting local families of Mongolia’s eminently hospitable nomadic people—you will come to know more than a place, but a timeless way of life. Included are cultural experiences, such as a ger camp stay and horse riding, and emblematic places like the Gobi Desert.
Day 1 - Thursday, August 17, 2023
Welcome to Mongolia! You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, where your guide and driver will be waiting for you. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you can freshen up. Depending on arrival times, your guide can take you on a walk to see Sukhbaatar square, where a sitting statue of Genghis Khan and the parliamentary building resides. Join us in the evening for our welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Shangri La Ulaanbaatar Hotel , Ulaanbaatar, 5*
Day 2 - Friday, August 18, 2023
After a hearty breakfast at Shangri-la, we will make our way to the Gandan Buddhist Monastery to see a 105 foot tall copper buddha. After lunch we’ll visit the Mongolia Museum of Natural History to learn all about Mongolia’s tumultuous past.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Shangri La Ulaanbaatar Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, 5*
Day 3 - Saturday, August 19, 2023
In the morning, we will depart from Shangri-la hotel after breakfast and head out of the city to Khustai national park, an area that was specifically set aside to reintroduce the stocky, wild horses called the Przewalski’s Horse in the West, and Takhi in Mongolia. In the past, the Takhi had been completely wiped out of Mongolia. Luckily, about 50 had been preserved in European zoos. These Takhi were reintroduced to Mongolia and now there is a herd of about 200 Takhi roaming around in their natural habitat! We will take a guided tour through the visitor’s center and the park to see these rare horses along with, hopefully, some other wild mammals and birds. Fortunately, hunting is strictly prohibited in this area, so we can enjoy nature untouched by man. We will then head to a HS khaan resort to spend our first night in a luxury ger.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: HS Khaan Resort Hotel, Khustai National Park, 4*
Day 4 - Sunday, August 20, 2023
After a leisurely morning, we will see a mini “Naadam” festival that is arranged nearby that will show off the three sports of Mongolia: Horse racing, wrestling, and archery. The Naadam festival dates back to the times of Genghis Khan, but was stopped during China’s occupation of Mongolia. After China’s departure form Mongolia, this holiday was reintroduced and has become the pride of the country. After the festival, we will return back to HS Khaan resort and take a leisurely horse ride arranged by the local herders nearby.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: HS Khaan Resort Hotel, Khustai National Park, 4*
Day 5 - Monday, August 21, 2023
In the morning, we will catch a flight to the South Gobi and head straight towards the Yol Valley (Yolyn Am). This unique valley doesn’t seem to belong to the desert at all. Containing lush vegetation and cute voles, the valley has a river running through it and remains partially frozen until late June! This area also contains a variety of other wildlife, such as the Altai snowcock, the Bighorn Argali Sheep, the wild ibex ram, wolves, and foxes. Scan the skies and keep your eyes open for the Lammergeyer vulture, for which the valley is named. There are even occasional reports of snow leopard tracks in the area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Gobi Mirage Lodge, Gobi
Day 6 - Tuesday, August 22, 2023
In the morning, we will continue our journey and head towards the world-famous dinosaur fossil sight known as the “Flaming Cliffs” (bayanzag in Mongolian). Roy Chapman Andrews, whom some say was the model for which Indiana Jones was made after, discovered great amounts of not only intact dinosaur bones, but also the very first dinosaur eggs ever to be discovered at the cliffs. The Flaming Cliffs, so aptly named, are red in color and almost seem to glow in the rising or setting sun. As you wander through here, keep your eyes peeled for any geodes. Fossils here are still being discovered today. Nearby, there is a small stretch of sand dunes named “moltsog els.” When we arrive, we will ride Bactrian two humped camels while we take in these golden dunes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Gobi Mirage Lodge, Gobi
Day 7 - Wednesday, August 23, 2023
After breakfast, we will head towards Khavtsgait, an area that contains bronze age petroglyphs. We will take a 40 minute walk (uphill to reach these ancient carvings. We can explore this area while the guide explains about bronze age life in the Gobi. In the afternoon, we will visit a Nomadic family. We will be welcomed into their home and learn about their lifestyle and what it means to be a modern nomad in this day and age.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Gobi Mirage Lodge, Gobi
Day 8 - Thursday, August 24, 2023
After flying back to the capital, we will head straight to Terelj National Park. This area is known to be the southernmost point of the Taiga forest that extends into Siberia. We will spend the day hiking and driving around the park to absorb the beautiful landscape and take small treks around the park. This area has many unique rock formations, including the famous turtle rock whose name is derived from its uncanny resemblance of a huge turtle.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Terelj Hotel & Spa, Terelj National Park, 5*
Day 9 - Friday, August 25, 2023
Today we will climb the 108 stone steps to reach the Ariyabal Buddhist temple, where Mongolian monks that practice Tibetan Buddhism gather to meditate and pray. Afterwards, for those that are comfortable with it, we can take short horse rides on mellow horses around the park . In the afternoon, we will take an hour drive’s out to visit the 40-meter high stainless steel statue devoted to Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan in English) known as Tsonjin Boldog. This is the area that it is said that Genghis Khan found a golden whip while searching for his kidnapped wife. The whip was a sign that he would conquer the world. In the evening, we will return to the capital and check back into Shangri-la hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Shangri La Ulaanbaatar Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, 5*
Day 10 - Saturday, August 26, 2023
Today, our final day, brings a mix of activities in the capital city. We plan to visit the LGBTQ Center and hear about LGBTQ life in Mongolia. Enjoy a Tumen Ekh performance and a private interaction with the performers. We’ll also have demonstrations of Mongolian Dance, Horse Head fiddle playing, contortionism and more! There will also be time in the afternoon for souvenir and Mongolian Cashmere shopping before our farewell dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Shangri La Ulaanbaatar Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, 5*
Day 11 - Sunday, August 27, 2023
After breakfast at the hotel, you are transferred to the airport for your journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
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