Flight: CA955 Beijing - Ulaanbaatar 15.15 - 17.30

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Ulaanbaatar airport, you will be welcomed to Mongolia by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuushin Hotel (Standard Room)

Guided tour of Ulaanbaatar:  The plan for today is quite flexible and depends on how much time you want to relax after your journey. In the first instance, your guide will help you to exchange money and other practical things. We recommend starting with a visit to the Dinosaur Museum which has an impressive collection of fossilised bones, eggs and skeletons of numerous dinosaurs that once roamed the Gobi desert. The highlight is the complete skeleton of a Tarbosaurus, a relative of the T Rex, which is 15 metres tall. You can then take a walk across the impressive Sukhbaatar Square to Ulaan Bataar's National History Museum, which has extensive exhibits on Mongolian history as well as artefacts from the age of Chinngis Khan including weapons and letters from Pope Innocent IV to Guyuk Khan dated 1246.

Welcome Dinner:  Early this evening, you will be taken for a welcome dinner at one of our favourite Mongolian restaurants.

Evening Tumen Ekh Performance: After dinner, you will be taken to the National Amusement Park to see a performance of folk and traditional music, throat singing, dance and contortion.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuushin Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Overland journey to Terelj National Park: After breakfast this morning, head east to the Terelj National Park, a journey of around 2.5 hours. There will be a top en route at the sacred Turtle Rock which you can climb up, and then visit the Aryabal Temple.  Head through the main valley, which is popular with day trippers from Ulaan Baatar, and cross over the river until reaching the family you will be staying with this evening.  Step inside their ger and experience local hospitality and homecooked traditional food for lunch. Tonight you will be staying in a separate guest ger.

Afternoon activities: This afternoon, you have a choice of activities to choose from. You can help construct a traditional nomadic dwelling with the help of the locals - this is a truly memorable experience that will provide some great photo opportunities. Alternatively saddle up on horseback for an afternoon ride up into the valley towards Jalman Mountain and along the east side of the Saikhan Saridag range of hills. Another option is a cookery lesson, which provide a great way to mingle with your homestay hosts and understand a little more about their daily life. Some of the greatest insights and memories are made as you sit on stools crimping buuz alongside the women of the family. Typically you'll help russle up some traditional everyday fare such as huushuur (fried dumplings), buuz (steamed dumplings) or Tsuivan with homemade noodles and best bit is, you'll get to reap the rewards for dinner. It might also be possible to arrange a Mongolian wrestling demonstration, lesson and mini competition, with children from nearby nomadic families.  

Play some Ankle Bones: Shagai (or Ankle Bones) is a traditional game in Mongolia played using the ankle bones of sheep or goats that have been cleaned and polished. The game is somewhat of a national pastime and is enjoyed by everyone, young and old.  There are even national tournaments, usually around the time of Naadam in July.  The most skilled players must flick the ankle bones at a target around 10 metres away.  Playing Shagai is a great way to interact with your host families in the evenings.  There are a huge number of variations on the game, which involve tossing a handful of Shagai in to the air and how they land will determines the animals you have. Your guide will be on hand to explain the house rules!  

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Family Homestay (Simple Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Kayaking on the Tuul River:  After breakfast, say farewell to your hosts, and drive around 2 hours to the near the confluence of the Terelj and Tuul Rivers for some kayaking. The river is wide, shallow and obstacle-free, but is fairly fast flowing with plenty of twists and turns which makes for ideal conditions. The kayaking lasts around 4 hours, with a picnic lunch on the river banks around half way. All equipment is provided including top quality kayaks, lifejackets and dry bags to store all your personal equipment during the experience.

Overland journey to Khustai Nuruu National Park: After this morning's activity, set off on the 3 hour drive to Khustai Nuruu National Park. En route, there will be a stop at the remarkable Chinggis statue near Erdene. Climb up inside until you reach the exterior staircase which runs up the mane of the horse to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River, Terelj National Park and hills of Khan Khentii. Upon arrival at your ger camp there may the chance to visit a nomadic family and do some riding.

Evening safari to see Takhi Horses: At dusk set off for the National Park on a driving safari to spot the Takhi prehistoric horses. This is the time when they gather to drink at streams so you have a better chance of seeing them up close, and in accessible areas. The takhii is distinct with it long nose and heavy skull and sandy colour with black legs. You may also spot deer, ibex, marmots - and if you're lucky, a wolf. If you want to combine the trip with a longer walk in the park you can start the excursion earlier.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Khustai NP Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to Elsen Tasarkhai: After breakfast, set off on the 3.5 hour drive for the nature reserve of Khogno Khaan, where you can explore over to the lower temple complex of Uvguun Khiid, see the reconstructed temples, prayer-wheel and look around the ruins. It is recommended to take the 45minute hike up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills - the scenery is fantastic, and depending on time of year, wildflowers are in abundance. Head back down to the valley floor, and onto the sand dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai, a 30 minute drive away. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sweet Gobi Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today's activities: After breakfast at your ger camp, set off on a visit to a nearby family of camel herders. Enjoy the traditional nomadic hospitality in their ger, learning more about the life of camel breeders and the camels themselves. Then it’s time to saddle up and head off on a camel ride across the sand dunes. After lunch back at your ger camp, you will have the opportunity to try out some archery using a traditional bow and arrow set and target. Archery is one of the three sporting competitions that take place during the annual Naadam Festival, so the locals will be keen to provide instruction!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sweet Gobi Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to the Orkhon Valley: After breakfast, continue your journey west and then south to the Orkhon Valley, a journey of around 3 hours.

Afternoon activities: After lunch at your ger camp, you will have the opportunity for horse riding in the surrounding countryside. You will also have time to visit a nomadic family, and be welcomed inside a family ger to experience traditional nomadic hospitality. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Talbiun Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today's activities: Today you will have a choice of activities including learning how to ride a yak cart. Other options include a hike or horse ride to the Uurtiin Tokhoi Canyon, which is a steep cliff bordering a right angled bend of the river with marvellous view over Orkhon Valley. If river levels are suitable, it is also possible to do some kayaking on the gently meandering Ulaan Tsutgalan river. Other places of interest that can be visited in this area include the ancient Bronze Age burial stones of Temeen Chuluu.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Talbiun Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to Karakorum: After this morning's breakfast, head to Karakorum, a drive of around 4.5 hours. At about the halfway point, there will be the opportunity to visit Tovkhon Monastery. Leave your vehicle in the valley, and ascend to the temple through picturesque forest-clad hills, a walk of around an hour and a half. This beautiful spot was chosen carefully by the 14 year old first Bogd Zanabazar, a prominent representative of red sect Buddhism. The first temple dedicated to meditation was established in 1651. In this monastery Zanabazar devised the Soyombo script in 1686 and created his most famous works. The monastery had 14 temples, of which 4 survive today. After some time to explore the sight and enjoy a picnic lunch, take the quicker route back down to your vehicle to continue your journey to Karakorum.

Afternoon / evening activities: This afternoon, there may be time to visit the Monument of the 3 Kings overlooking the Orkhon River, and the fertility stone on the edge of town. In the evening enjoy a performance of traditional music and dance - either at the ger camp where you are staying or at a nearby camp.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Monkh Tenger Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning tour of Erdene Zuu Monastery: Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery this morning, in time to hear the young monks calling the other monks to prayer. Enter and watch the proceedings and hear the chanting in the beautifully decorated Tibetan Style temple. Erdene Zuu monastery was built with bricks from the ruins of the ancient city of Karakorum in 1586. There even stands a stone from the ancient city with Arabic script and turtle statues, which are said to be the guardians of the ancient city. The monastery was destroyed in the 1930s but the outer walls and large temples remain and it is now a functioning monastery.

Overland journey to Ulaanbaatar: After this morning's tour, set off on the drive back to Ulaanbaatar, a drive of around 5 hours.

Afternoon / evening activities: You may want to do some shopping - perhaps at the Gobi Cashmere outlet store on your way back into town, and then also at any of the decent craft outlets (Tsagaan Alt felt shop, Quilters, Mary and Martha) or the State Department Store. Your guide will be on hand to assist. After freshening up at the hotel, enjoy a farewell meal at one of our favourite restaurants.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuushin Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner