SCENIC MONGOLIA – LAST FRONTIER

Amarbayasgalant Khiid was built between 1727 and 1737 by the Manchu emperor, and dedicated to the great Mongolian Buddhist and sculptor Zanabazar, whose mummified body was moved here in 1779. It is in the Manchu style, down to the inscriptions, symmetrical layout, imperial colour scheme and roof guardians on every roof corner. The monastery was largely spared during the 1937 purge, possibly because of sympathetic and procrastinating local military commanders. These days about 30 monks live in the monastery, compared with more than 2000 in 1936.

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar.

Day 2. Terelj National Park

Day 3. Baga gazriin chuluu

Day 4. South Gobi

Day 5. Yol valley and Khongor sand dunes

Day 6. Khongor sand dunes

Day 7. Ongi Monastery via Bayanzag

Day 8. Orkhon Waterfall

Day 9. Kharkhorin

Day 10. Uran togoo

Day 11. Amarbayasgalant.

Day12. Ulaanbaatar

Day 13. Departure.

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to hotel and start city tour in Ulaanbaatar, the nation’s capital, visit Chinggis square, Zaisan Hill; Museum of National History, famous for its exhibition for Stone and Bronze Age, Turkic and Mongol Empire, rise of Buddhism and communist regime. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. Terelj National Park – We will visit Gandan Monastery a centre of Mongolian Buddhism and see the outstanding 24m golden plated statue of Buddha; Megjid Janraiseg. This monastery is the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. Drive to the Terelj National Park after breakfast. The park lies at 1600 meters high and offers great opportunities for hiking, horse, camel and yak riding and rafting and rock climbing. The park is over 1.2 million acres large. Explore amazing egg-shaped granite rock formation and beautiful wildlife and Alpine flowers. Visit Turtle Rock and Aryabal Meditation Monastery in the mountain. Lunch at the ger camp. On the way we will visit 46m high equestrian Statue of Genghis Khaan. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3. Baga gazriin chuluu – Drive to Zorgol Khairkhan, a sacred mountain, 150 km from Ulaanbaatar. Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain is venerated and revered by the local people, who believe that it is the siege of a great, benevolent spirit. Picnic lunch near the mountain. Drive to Baga gazriin chuluu, a 15km long and 10 km wide stone massif. Visit Surtiin am, which is a narrow canyon with asp, birch, white whicker and elm tree, as well the ruin of a stone temple and the site of 2 yurts where monks lived and meditated since the seventieth century. Overnight at the camp

Day 4. South Gobi – Drive to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park about 400 km. Visit Sum Khukh Burd, an ancient monastery, built in the 16th century, on what once was an island in the middle of a lake and Erdenedalai Monastery, is known for the Gimpil Darjaalan Khiid, an old monastery that survived Stalin’s purges by becoming a warehouse and shop. The monastery was built in the late 18th century to commemorate the first ever visit to Mongolia by a Dalai Lama in the morning. Picnic lunch and drive to the park. Overnight at the ger camp near the park.

Day 5. Yol valley and Khongor sand dunes – Visit Yoll valley and local museum in the morning. The valley is the narrow canyon of a river that flows through the Zuun Saikhan Mountain. The rock walls stand 200m and the canyon has glacier layer that is deeply set between the walls. Picnic lunch and drive through the Dungenee mountain. Arrive at the dunes in the afternoon. Overnight at the camp

Day 6. Khongor sand dunes – Breakfast at the camp and visit Khongor sand dunes which stretch for 180 kms, sometimes as wide as 7-20km. The dunes lie on the northern part of Sevrei and Zuulun mountains. The sound of sand masses can be heard from the long distance, it is called as “Singing Dunes”. We will have an opportunity to ride two humped Bacterian camel named by locals as Living Dinosaur and visit camel breeder’s family. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 7. Ongi Monastery via Bayanzag. Drive to Bayanzag visit Flamming Cliff, an ancient red rock creation formed 60-70 million years ago, famous as Flamming Cliffs named by Roy Andrew Chapman, an American explorer who visited Mongolia in 1920s. The red Bayanzag cliffs have dinosaur fossils, eggs and bones all over the place. Lunch at the camp in Bayanzag. Drive to Ongi Monastery via Ongi steppe. Visit Ruins of Ongi Monastery, which used to have 28 temples on the south slope of the Rocky Mountain. This monastery had about 1000 lamas and it was destroyed during the Stalinist purges in 1930s. Overnight at the camp.

Day 8. Orkhon Waterfall - Drive to the Orkhon Waterfall, which is situated in the Orkhon river, that flows an 1120km; the longest river in Mongolia. The local name of the waterfall is Ulaan Tsutgalan and the height is 24m, waterfall was formed by a volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20 000 years ago. On the way visit horse breeder’s family. Visit Orkhon waterfall and drive to the camp and overnight.

Day 9. Kharkhorin – Drive to Kharkhorin via Shankh Monastery, one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Mongolia founded in 1647 by Zanabazar Lunch at the camp in Kharkhorin. Visit Erdenezuu monastery, is the first Buddhist monastery was founded by Avtai Sain Khaan, in 1586. The monastery is surrounded by white walls with 108 stupas. Explore small town Kharkhorin and visit local market, Kharkhorin museum and overnight at the ger camp.

Day 10. Uran togoo – Drive to Uran togoo Mountain in Bulgan province. This extinct volcano lies near the road, and stretches from Bulgan town to Moron, provincial capital of Huvsgul province. The reserve occupies a territory of 8 sq km with an elevation of 1,686 meters. It has been protected since 1965, and today enjoys the statue of “ Natural Monument ”. We will drive via Ulziit soum in Arkhangai. Box lunch on the bank of Orkhon river. Visit Volcano and overnight at the ger camp.

Day 11. Amarbayasgalant. – Drive to Amarbayasgalant via Erdenet city. Exploring the city and lunch. Drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, is a beautiful monastery which was built in 1736 by Zanabazar, the first Bogd Khaan, a religious and cultural leader. The overall design is Chinese despite some Mongolian and Tibetan influence. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day12. Ulaanbaatar - Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Picnic lunch on the road. Arrive in town in the afternoon check in to the hotel. Visit Cashmere factory and State Department Store for shopping. Traditional cultural performance with traditional folk songs, throat singing, beautiful melody of horse-headed fiddle, ethnic dances and arty contortion. Overnight at the hotel

Day 13. Departure. Our travel in Mongolia ends here by transferring to the airport.