CHARMS OF MONGOLIA

The Ongi monastery has 28 temples and other buildings on the south slope of the Rocky Mountain like Balsa country and stupas which are not broken. This monastery had about 1000 lamas and it was destroyed during the Stalinist purges in 1930s.The ruins of Ongi Temple are found in Saikhan Ovoo soum of Dundgobi (Middle Gobi) province. The monastery was built on a steep rocky slope of a mountain in a Nepalese architectural fashion and used to house over a thousand of Buddhist monks. Unfortunately, the Ongi Temple had the same fate of destruction during the communist purges of 1930s as other 700 Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia.

Day 1. Capital – Ulaanbaatar

Day 2. Baga gazriin chuluu

Day 3. South Gobi

Day 4. Yoll valley and Khongor sand dunes.

Day 5. Khongor sand dunes.

Day 6. Ongi Monastery via Bayanzag.

Day 7. Kharkhorin

Day 8. Khustai National Park

Day 9. Ulaanbaatar

Day 10. Ulaanbaatar

Day 1. Capital – 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, Gandan Monastery a centre of Mongolian Buddhism. This monastery is the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. 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 3. 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 4. Yoll valley and Khongor sand dunes. We will 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 5. Khongor sand dunes. Breakfast at the camp and we will 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 6. Ongi Monastery via Bayanzag. Drive to Bayanzag visit Flaming Cliff, an ancient red rock creation formed 60-70 million years ago, famous as Flaming 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 7. 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 8. Khustai National Park - We will drive to Ulaanbaatar via Hustai National Park. The park is the best managed park in the country. You will see wild horse called Takhi known as Przewalski horse to the world. The wild horses survive in nature by themselves because they have been reintroduced successfully to their homeland after 40 years of extinction. Currently, the number of Takhi has already reached more than 230. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 9. Ulaanbaatar. We will visit the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum, known as Summer Green Palace. The palace was built in 1903 dedicated to the 8^th Bogd Gegeen, the last religious and political of Mongolia. The museum has fine collection of bronze castings, silk paintings, paper icons, mineral paintings, Buddhist deities made by Zanabazar. We will visit the Central Market to see local goods. We will watch a performance of traditional folk songs, throat singing, beautiful melody of horse-headed fiddle, ethnic dances and arty contortion. Farewell dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 10. Ulaanbaatar. Our Charming Mongolia tours ends here by transferring to the airport.