Classic Mongolian Odyssey

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.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room)

Begin the day with a visit to Chinggis Khan Museum, Mongolia’s largest and newest museum which holds a collection of over 10,400 objects relating to the history of the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire and the history of Mongolia from the Xiongnu to the end of the 20th century.

In the afternoon, drive to Khui Doloon Hudag (1 hour), the famous horse racing field in Mongolia, to experience true Mongolian horse racing. Horse racing originally involved adult jockeys and the most popular contests involved riding unbroken horses. Later, so as to ease the burden on horses in long-distance races, the adult riders were replaced by children as young as six years old riding broken horses. The racing is done both with and without saddles, and the horses that take part are two years old and older. Depending on the age of the horses, the distance of the races varies from 5 - 30 kilometers. The race’s winner is honored with a cup of airag (fermented mare’s milk), which he or she drinks and sprinkles on the head and croup of the horse.

Return to Ulaanbaatar and enjoy your welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant.

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

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 your dinner at a fine local restaurant.

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

Day 4, July 12 TO LAKE HOVSGOL In the morning, fly north to Murun (1.5 hours), the capital of Hovsgol Province, and continue overland to Lake Hovsgol (1.5 hours). The beauty and mystical qualities of Lake Hovsgol are legendary.

Mongolia’s largest lake by water volume, it extends 85 miles in length, 18 miles in width, and is fed by over 90 streams and rivers. This crystal-clear alpine lake, known as Mongolia’s “dark blue pearl,” remains untouched by industry and is situated among the most pristine forests, mountains, and meadows in the world. Along the way, stop at Uushigiin Deer Stones, one of the best-preserved monuments of its kind in Mongolia. Dating back thousands of years, the Uushigiin Deer Stones are comprised of 14 magnificently preserved deer stones, lined from north to south and often referred to as the “graveyard of deer stones.” The front stone is carved with a human face on top and is the only one to have been found. Awareness of the Uushigiin Deer Stones has increased recently as a result of the Smithsonian Institute’s research at the site.

Continue your drive to Lake Hovsgol. Overnight at a ger camp on the lakeshore.

(Local Ger Camp)

In the morning, begin your hike into the breathtakingly scenic Khoridal Saridag Mountains, bordering the western shore of Lake Hovsgol, where you will gain spectacular views of the lake from mountaintop. Return to the ger camp for lunch and enjoy an afternoon of kayaking on Lake Hovsgol using quality expedition kayaks. Explore the shoreline and photograph the surrounding mountains from the lakeside.

You will also have the opportunity to visit local herders and learn about their traditional ways of living.

Dinner at the camp.

(Local Ger Camp)

After breakfast, return to Murun for a flight to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way (time permitting), stop at Lake Irkh, a small saline lake in the midst of the steppe that is popular with a variety of birds.

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, visit the Dinosaur Museum, showcasing the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi Desert. On display are fierce Tarbosaurous 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 dinner at a fine local restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

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

Set off in the morning across the vast steppe to the Gobi (1.5 hours). Contrary to the sameness that the word ‘desert’ suggests, the Gobi is a fascinating and diverse region, and includes the sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. Explore the stunning landscape 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 to Yol Valley National Park (45 minutes), cradled in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. An ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley, and it’s remnant streams create ice formations at the base of the valley that sometimes persist as late as July. A hike through the valley leads to the habitat of indigenous vulture-like Lammergeiers, Altai snowcocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali mountain sheep.

After your exploration of Yol Valley, drive to the award winning Three Camel Lodge (1.5 hours) located at Bulagtai Mountain on the edge of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure. The lodge offers a wide variety of activities to travelers from reading a book on Mongolia to watching a documentary about nomadic culture, and from learning traditional Mongolian games to enjoying a relaxing massage.

Return to the camp in time for dinner.

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

In the morning, drive to Tugregiin Shiree (1 hour), first explored by Polish expeditions in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Tugregiin Shiree is best known for the famous “Fighting Dinosaurs,” a fossil of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat. Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

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 archeologist 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)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival in the afternoon, visit Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. 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 worshippers 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.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure or head out for last minute shopping for Mongolian cashmere products or locally created arts and crafts.

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)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.

(B)