Quick Escape – Mongolia

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 a visit to Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. Although Buddhist monasteries were either destroyed or converted into museums during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, Gandan Monastery continued to operate as a showpiece for government officials. However, in spite of the 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. Strolling through the monastery grounds, hear the low tones of the horns used to call the lamas to the temple and observe their daily rituals, including the reading of sutras, the teachings of the Buddha. Also visit the magnificent statue of Migjid Janraisig, “the lord who looks in every direction.” This 82-foot high statue, gilded in pure gold and clothed in silk and precious stones, completely fills one of Gandan’s temples. Next, explore the National Museum for an excellent overview of Mongolia’s history and culture. The newly remodeled museum displays traditional implements of daily nomadic life including Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, historical costumes of Mongolia’s minority tribes, sacred religious relics, and agricultural, fishing, and hunting equipment.

After visiting the National Museum, you will 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. Drive to Zaisan Memorial, built by the former Soviet Union to commemorate fallen soldiers of World War II. Those who climb the 300 steps will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the capital city, the Tuul River, and the surrounding countryside. Enjoy your welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

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

In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to the Gobi (1.5 hours). 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. Here you will 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. The Gobi is also home to some of the Northern Hemisphere’s most rare and elusive mammals, such as the dhole, snow leopard, and Gobi bear, known in Mongolian as Mazaalai.

Upon arrival, drive to Yol Valley National Park (1 hour), cradled in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. An ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley, and its 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, enjoy a picnic lunch and then drive to the Three Camel Lodge (1.5 hours), an award-winning eco-lodge located near the Gurvansaikhan Gobi National Park. Spend the afternoon at leisure or explore the surrounding area on foot. 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.

In the evening, if time permits, drive to the Havsgait Valley (30 minutes), site of ancient rock drawings left by early Gobi settlers for more than 5,000-7,000 years ago. Hundreds of petroglyphs adorn the rocks scattered on the top of the mountain. Return to
the lodge for dinner.

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

In the morning, drive to Tugregiin Shiree, a white escarpment where the famous “Fighting Dinosaurs” fossil of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat was discovered in the 1970s by the Polish Mongolian Paleontological Expedition. Stop at the site of primitive stone tool making to the north of Tugregiin Shiree.

Next, drive to Alag Teeg. Located close to Tugregiin Shiree (1.5 miles), this site is known for its findings of the armored dinosaurs. Explore the surrounding area on foot before returning to Three Camel Lodge. Along the way, stop at Bulgan, a town established near a natural spring. Bulgan has one of the only farms in the Gobi and is a prime example of sustainable ecotourism.

In the late afternoon, visit a nearby nomadic family to learn more about their traditional ways of living. You may choose to help the family herd their animals, milk them or perhaps learn how to prepare milk tea or help them with their daily chores. Mongolia is home to one of the last remaining nomadic cultures in the world and often travelers compare Mongolia with traveling back in time to witness an old way of life that hasn’t changed for centuries. About 30% of Mongolia’s population still lead a nomadic way of life and move from a pasture to a pasture and live in harmony with nature and off the land. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

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

Drive to Moltsog Els, one of the few regions of the Gobi covered by sand dunes. The sand dunes are spread across 55 square miles with dunes reaching up to 50 feet in height. You will have the opportunity to visit a local camel herding family and experience
their hospitality and way of living.

After a safety briefing, mount your camels and explore the area surrounding the dunes on back of a bactrian camel (1.5 - 2 hours).

Later this afternoon, drive to the legendary Flaming Cliffs, named for the orange glow of the rock at sunset. It was here in 1923 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. Although not obvious to the untrained eye, the red sandstone of the Flaming Cliffs is rich with dinosaur fossils, and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site. In the evening, return to the Three Camel Lodge for an overnight stay.

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

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ulaanbataar. Upon arrival, join a paleontologist for a behind-the-scenes tour of a local laboratory and examine the latest batch of dinosaur fossils excavated from the field.

Later, visit the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, home of Mongolia’s last theocrat, Bogd Jabtzan Damba Hutagt VIII, which displays elaborate ceremonial robes, other personal effects of Mongolia’s “8th Living Buddha.”

In the evening, enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and khoomi throat singers, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

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

Depart early morning for Hustain Nuruu National Park (2 hours), home of 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 nearly 400 now 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 camp, we will 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 the time and are especially important to historians, as few written accounts have survived the burden of Mongolia’s nomadic lifestyle and turbulent battling periods.

In the evening, return to Ulaanbaatar and enjoy a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.

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

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.

(B)