The contrast between ancient traditions and a 21st-century democracy is most visible in Ulaanbaatar, where traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries sit side by side with modern high-rises.

Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed by your Mongolian guide and transferred to a centrally-located hotel within walking distance of various museums and shops.

Note: Check-In time at the hotel is 2:00 PM

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room)

Begin the day with a visit to Chinggis Khan Museum, Mongolia’s newest and largest museum. The five-story museum showcases over 10,000 cultural exhibits revealing 2000 years of history linked to Mongolia’s Great Khans, nobles, nomads, and their statehood from the Xiongnu Empire to the end of the 20th century.

Next, visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum. Named in honor of Zanabazar, the renowned 17th century artist and politician, who was also the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia, the museum contains one of the best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts in the world, including many of Zanabazar’s original works.

Visit the Dinosaur Museum, showcasing the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi Desert. On display are fierce Tarbosaurus fossils (closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex), dinosaur eggs, and many others, all of which illustrate the richness and importance of the paleontological sites in the Gobi Desert.

Enjoy your welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L, D)

Depart early morning for Hustain Nuruu National Park (2 hours), home to the last remaining species of wild horse, the takhi - commonly known as Przewalski’s horse. Twenty-five years after becoming extinct in the wild, the takhi was reintroduced to the Mongolian steppe from zoo populations by the Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski’s Horse. Sixteen horses were flown from the Netherlands to Mongolia in 1994, and now nearly 400 roam re-introduction sites in Mongolia and China. Learn about current conservation efforts and the status of the herds found within the reserve at the visitor’s center, before trying to spot these beautiful horses in their natural habitat.

After lunch at the local ger camp, we’ll stop at the Ongot stone complex near the Tuul River Basin—the largest grave complex in central Asia. These mysterious stone figures depicting men date from the Turkic period (7th-9th centuries A.D.). They all face one direction and are behind one another, as if in a line. Some interpret this configuration as depicting a nobleman or general, with his subjects or soldiers following behind. These stones are rare historical evidence of the culture that dominated the area at that time and are especially important to historians, as few written accounts have survived the burden of Mongolia’s nomadic lifestyle and turbulent battling periods.

Continue your drive to Kharakhorum (4-5 hours), the empire created by Chinggis Khan and his descendants was the largest contiguous land empire in recorded history, and its scope has never been matched. The great Khan and his son created the beautiful and legendary Kharakhorum to serve as the heart of this monolithic empire. At the time, Kharakhorum was one of the largest junctions of the Silk Route, connecting the Oriental world with the West. Travelers in the 13th century were impressed not only with the beauty of Kharakhorum, but also by the internationalism and openness of this city where traders, intellectuals, and clergy enjoyed religious freedom. Unfortunately, this bustling capital was abandoned by Khublai Khan and later fell into ruin.

(Secrets of the Silk Road Ger Camp, Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

After breakfast, visit the Kharakhorum Museum. Founded to showcase the research findings from the ancient capital of Mongolia by the Mongolian and German joint archaeological expedition, the newly established Kharakhorum museum offers fascinating insight into what was once the center of arts, politics, trades, and religions of the world. The museum has two sections: one for the permanent exhibits; and another one for the temporary exhibits to introduce the findings of recent or ongoing scientific explorations in the area.

Our next stop is the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Mongolia’s largest monastery, neighboring Erdene Zuu, was reputedly constructed from the ruins of Kharakhorum in the 16th century. Surrounded by 108 stupas, Erdene Zuu has been a place of Buddhist activity for more than 500 years. Explore the monastery grounds and observe the monks as they perform their prayers and rituals. The temples are richly decorated with spectacular Buddhas, as well as Buddhist art and architecture. Just behind the monastery compound, visit the site of archaeological digs being conducted by German archaeologists at the former sight of Kharakhorum. Among the findings: an entire foundation of a house with brick stove and a beautifully forged gold bracelet.

Spend the rest of the afternoon, hiking through the magnificent grasslands of the Orkhon Valley, considered to be the cradle of Mongolian civilization. The beautiful Orkhon valley is not just home to many archaeological, cultural and historic sites but it also stands testimony to how age-old nomadic culture has shaped and influenced developmental changes in trade, commerce, military and religious practices. After exploring the countryside return to the ger camp for dinner.

(Secret of the Silk Road Ger Camp, Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Return to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way, stop to visit Kultegin Monument, erected during the Turkic Empire in the 8th century.

Built in honor of a prince, this magnificent statue has been the subject of research by archaeologists from around the world, and many roof tiles found in the area along with other significant artifacts are today exhibited at the newly established museum funded by the government of Turkey.

Continue your drive to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival, check-in to your hotel and enjoy an independent dinner.

(Shangri-La Hotel – Deluxe Room; B, L,)

Depart early morning for your flight to the Gobi. Of all the world’s arid lands, the Gobi has the greatest air of mystery, perhaps because it lies at the heart of Asia’s remotest hinterland between the Siberian wilderness to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. Contrary to the sameness that the word ‘desert’ suggests, the Gobi is a diverse and fascinating region, and includes sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. Explore the stunning landscapes of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali Mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, Golden Eagles, Saker Falcons, jerboas (similar to kangaroo rats), and many endemic reptiles.

On arrival, drive (1 hour) to the award winning Three Camel Lodge – your home away from home. The Lodge is located at Bulagtai Mountain on the edge of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and offers a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, archery, nature walks, a library with interesting books on Mongolia, a screening room for watching documentary films about nomadic culture, learning traditional Mongolian games, or enjoying a relaxing massage at the Arshaan Spa.

Spend the morning at leisure and later reconvene with your guide for an excursion to Tugregiin Shiree, the site where the famous “Fighting Dinosaurs” fossil of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat position was discovered in the 1970s. Explore this white-sandstone escarpment and nearby sand dunes.

Return to the lodge for dinner

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Depart for Yol Valley National Park (1.5 hours), nestled at the heart of Zuun Saikhan Mountain of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range. This seven-mile valley is a lush landscape best known as a prime habitat for Yol vultures (lammergier), or bearded vultures. Lammergiers nestle atop the cliffs and when the air is warm, they fill the sky, soaring with the sun. Wonder why this valley is named for them? Simply look up, and the sheer number of vultures gliding through the sky will show you.

The Yol Valley is a wondrous place where ice formed during the winter does not melt until late June. It is a place where pikas jump from bush to bush. These amazing little rodents are in the squirrel family and can only survive in elevations higher than 3,000 feet. Birds, from white ramped swifts to wall creepers, are plentiful in the Yol Valley, too.

Visit the small, but informative museum to learn more about the local wildlife of the Gobi region before driving 10 km/ 6.5 miles to the starting point for your hike. The narrow valley with a stream running through the center delivers a rewarding hike for outdoor enthusiasts.

In the late afternoon, drive to the Havtsgait Valley. Only 20 minutes from the lodge, Havsgait mountain provides a challenging hike up steep slopes, but the 30-45-minute hike rewards hikers for the climb—it’s home to one of the largest collections of rock carvings in the region. Catch your breath and spend time exploring the rock faces while enjoying unrivaled views of the Gobi to the north.

First discovered by Soviet archaeologist A.P. Okladnikov, the Havsgait petroglyphs have captured the interest of archaeologists for decades. You will want to spend some time here, as there are 84 different visible rock faces within the 300-meter radius. Spot different pictures of ibex, deer, camel, and other wildlife, but the most interesting is the clear image of a campsite.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

In the morning, drive to Moltsog Els, one of the few regions of the Gobi covered by sand dunes. Explore the sand dunes on foot or on back of a Bactrian camel. You have the opportunity to visit a local camel herding family and experience their hospitality and way of living.

In the late afternoon, travel to the legendary “Flaming Cliffs” (1 hour), named for the red-orange sandstone which glows brilliantly at sunrise and sunset. It was here, in 1922, that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. To the trained eye, the ancient formations of the Flaming Cliffs are rich with fossils, and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Depart early morning for your flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival, drive to Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. Despite Buddhist monasteries being destroyed or converted into museums during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, and government’s efforts to suppress Buddhism and other religious beliefs, Mongolia’s spirituality persisted and a significant resurgence of Buddhism began in 1990 when Mongolia became a democracy. Monasteries across the country are again opening their doors to worshipers and the few lamas who survived the purges are training a new generation. Extensive reconstruction and renovation projects are underway and priceless artifacts that were hidden for safekeeping by nomadic families are now being returned to monasteries.

After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Shangri-La Hotel for check-in.

Note: Check-in time at the hotel is 2:00 PM and early check-in is subject to availability.

In the late afternoon, attend the Deeltei Mongol Naadam (Mongolian National Costume Festival) held at Sukhbaatar Square, a few minutes from your hotel. Every year, thousands of Mongolians travel to Ulaanbaatar from every province and county to showcase their best traditional clothing and jewelry. You may have the opportunity to enjoy the parade and Mongolian music while you observe the locals dressed in their finest traditional as well as high fashion and modern deels and jewelry.

Tonight, enjoy an independent dinner.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L)

Wake early in the morning to attend the Naadam Festival, the most popular festival in Mongolia. Observe as the celebrations begin with a colorful parade of marching soldiers, athletes, musicians, and people dressed as ancient warriors. True to its name, the festival is dedicated to the “Three Manly Games.”

Archery: The skill of Mongolian archers and their advanced bow design was a significant asset to Chinggis Khan and his descendants during the years of Mongolian conquest.

In the past, sharpshooters would practice by aiming for the heads of marmots.

At today’s Naadam games, small round leather targets are placed at a distance of 60-100 meters from the archers, who still use formidable compound bows made from wood, horn, and sinew. The archers wear a special glove on the thumb and index finger of the right hand and wrap the left arm in soft belts. Referees, lined up next to the targets, mark each hit, raise their hands, and move around the spot singing a short song of praise. The best archer receives the title of “mergen,” or marksman.

Wrestling: Each wrestler wears trunks, an open-fronted long- sleeved silk vest, and ornamental knee boots with upturned toes.

Before the wrestling match begins, the wrestlers perform the “eagle’s dance” symbolizing power and invincibility. The wrestler who forces his competitor to touch the ground with his knees or elbow is considered the winner. The victor then repeats the “eagle’s dance,” with his opponent passing under his arm (as though under a wing) as a sign of submission.

Enjoy an independent dinner.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L,)

In the morning, drive to Khui Doloon Hudag, the famous horse racing field in Mongolia to experience true Mongolian horse race. We will experience Soyolon horse race, the most spiritual age group of horses amongst other age groups.

Return to Ulaanbaatar and in the evening, enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and khoomi throat singers followed by a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L, D)