Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Mongolia Cultural Discovery
Day 1 Arrive in Mongolia
Welcome to the energetic Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar! Upon late arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, meet an MT Sobek representative and transfer to the Ramada Ulaanbaatar Citycenter, one of the best hotels in the city. On the way, pass a large suburban area with traditional nomadic felt tents alongside Western-style family homes. In the late afternoon, receive a trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar Citycenter Hotel
(D)
Day 2 Explore the Sights of Ulaanbaatar
2–3 hour city walking tour
This morning embark on a sightseeing tour of Ulaanbaatar, the "world's coldest capital" and the epicenter of Mongolia's political, economic, and cultural life. Visit the important 19th-century Gandan (Gandantegchinlen) Monastery, one of the country's few Buddhist structures that survived destruction by the Communists in the 1930s. The bejeweled 20-ton Migjid Janraisig statue, a replica of the original copper statue erected in 1911, stands as the monastery's prime attraction. Other tour highlights include the Fine Arts Museum and the National Museum of Mongolia.
Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar Citycenter Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Journey to Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
1.25-hour flight; 4-hour private van transfer
1–2 hours desert walking
Fly to Gobi and drive to Khongoryn Els. Like Mongolia's nomads, travel through an iconic Mongolian desert landscape and along the Altai, or "Golden," mountain range. Stop in Khavtsgait Valley to stretch your legs and observe Bronze Age petroglyphs! After lunch, continue to the spectacular "singing" sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, which rise dramatically 2,600 feet from the desert floor, creating a distinct sound as they shift in the wind. The dunes are part of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, Mongolia's largest stretch of sand dunes (over 110 miles).
Accommodation: Gobi Discovery Ger Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Ride a Camel Through the Gobi Desert
2–3 hours/6 miles walking with 500’ elevation gain
Enjoy a day at the Khongoryn Els sand dunes, with options for camel riding, hiking, visiting a local family, and tasting camel-milk products! Learn about the two-humped Bactrian camel — a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of Mongolia, used by locals to get from one place to another. After lunch, take an exciting climb up to the top of the sand dunes.
Accommodation: Gobi Discovery Ger Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 5 See the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag
2–3 hours/5 miles walking with 200’ elevation loss
Today explore the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Bayanzag, with its striking Flaming Cliffs — red-rock bluffs reminiscent of areas in the American West. Internationally renowned as the place where celebrated explorer and naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews — on whom the ultimate adventurer Indiana Jones is said to be based — first discovered dinosaur eggs in the 1920s, Bayanzag boasts a treasure trove of important fossils that you can see all over the rocks. Hike from Bayanzag to the saxual "forest" (saxual is the only kind of shrub found in the Gobi).
Accommodation: Gobi Mirage Tourist Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Spot Eagles in Yolyn Am
2-3-hour private van transfer
2–3 hours/5 miles walking
After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Yolyn Am, or Eagle Valley, about 130 miles from camp. As you walk leisurely through the stunning valley, keep a look out for wild sheep and goats grazing high on the high cliff walls, and soaring eagles hunting for prey. (The best time for spotting wildlife is at dawn or dusk; we'll discuss with the guides which hours are best when we are there.) An interesting local natural history museum at the opening of the valley displays information about the area's animals.
Accommodation: Gobi Mirage Tourist Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Explore Khogno Khan & Orkhon Valley
1.25-hour flight; 5-hour private van transfer
2–3 hours/7 miles walking
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and drive to Karakorum, stopping at Khogno Khan Natural Reserve en route. The arid terrain and rocky landscape of this remote, 46,900-hectare reserve is almost surreal. Visit the remains of a small Buddhist monastery tucked away in a well-protected valley, and walk up the hillside to the small Uvguun temple. On arrival in Karakorum, the first and most obvious landmark is the massive wall with 108 whitewashed stupas that surrounds Erdene Zuu Khiid, a Tibetan-style monastery built in 1586. Little else of the original Karakorum remains.
Accommodation: Secret of the Silk Road
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery and Karakorum Museum
After breakfast visit the Karakorum Museum, a hidden jewel packed full of archeological artefacts for the area. Proceed to Erdenezuu Monastery, built in 1586 by Abtai Sain Khan. It signified the adoption of Tibetan Buddhism as Mongolia's religion. Built with an enormous surrounding wall, using stones from the ruins of Karakorum, with 108 stupas, a sacred number in Buddhism, and the number of beads in a Buddhist rosary. After lunch hike to the King's Monument, commemorating three empires: Hunnu, Turkic, and Mongol. The monument stands on a hill along the Orkhon River.
Accommodation: Secret of the Silk Road
(B, L, D)
Day 9 See Wild Horses in Hustai National Park
4.5-hour private van transfer
Enjoy more thrilling events this morning at the Naadam festival. After lunch, drive to Hustai National Park (also known as Khustain Nuruu National Park), famous for the endangered Przewalski's horse, locally called the takhi. The area was designated a Specially Protected Area in 1993 after the successful reintroduction of this last species of wild horse. Upgraded to national park status in 1998, today there is a sustainable and growing population of over 1,500 takhi roaming the steppe. Upon arrival, drive out to the rolling hills to see these rare animals.
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 10 Take a Day Hike to Moilt Valley
40-minute private van transfer
4 hours/11 miles hiking
Enjoy wildlife watching and hiking in the stunning Moilt Valley, with patches of forest and a plethora of flowers. On return, explore the remains of Neolithic graves, known as Ongot monuments, dating back to when Mongolia was part of the Turkish Empire (552 — 742 BC). These are the biggest collection of stone monuments in Asia, with over 30 stones carved into human and animal figures. One legend claims that the stones represent the number of enemies killed; another says that they point to heaven to guide departing human souls.
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp
(B, L, D)
Day 11 Attend a Naadam Festival
2-hour private van transfer
Today, travel to witness an exciting Naadam Festival. The location will depend on your trip dates. This is the largest and the most widely attended traditional festival in Mongolia! Also known as "Eriin Gurvan Naadam" (the three games of men), the festival centers around wrestling, horse racing, and archery. The competitors are traditionally male, but women have started to participate in archery and horse racing recently. Naadam has been inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for its connection to the nomadic civilization of the Mongolian steppe. Transfer to your accommodation in the late afternoon. Notes: Departures attending the Naadam in July will see the spectacular pageantry of the National Naadam Festival's opening ceremony featuring dancers, wrestlers, horse riders, archers, and musicians. Departures attending the Naadam in August will see the Danshig Naadam, originally rooted in Buddhism and revived in 2015, it includes the three sports as well as Buddhist dance and competition between monks.
Accommodation: Tuul Riverside Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 12 Saddle Up & Meet a Local Herder Family
1-2 hours horseback riding
This morning, have the special opportunity to build a traditional Mongolian ger, and see how the wood or shrubs for walls, doorframe, poles, and roof come together to create a comfortable living space. Next saddle up the horses and ride toward mountains and hills! En route, stop and meet a local herder family and learn about traditional Mongolian life. In the afternoon, a representative from the WWF gives a brief lecture about Mongolian wildlife. Tonight enjoy a feast of traditional Mongolian barbecue around the lodge's campfire.
Accommodation: Tuul Riverside Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 13 Hike to Bayanzurkh Mountain
1.5-hour private van transfer
3-4 hours/9 miles hiking with 1,450’ elevation gain & loss
After a relaxed breakfast, pack a lunch and hike to beautiful Bayanzurkh, one of the four mountains that surround Ulaanbaatar. From the top, you'll be able to admire panoramic views of the city, and see how it blends nomadic and modern lifestyles. The easy return walk takes you over small hills, through trees, and along the river. Then drive to Ulaanbaatar and check into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a cultural program followed by a festive farewell dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar Citycenter Hotel
(B, L, D)
Day 14 Depart from Ulaanbaatar
Bid farewell to Mongolia and transfer to the airport for your homeward-bound or onward flight.
Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar Citycenter Hotel
(B)
