Mongolia’s sublime beauty reveals itself in endless expanses of steppe and sky and an age-old nomadic culture that joins the people with the land. Journey through this remote, seldom-travelled region of Asia, from sprawling Ulaanbaatar to green, grassy plains where wild horses roam. Discover the country’s surviving Buddhist heritage on visits to historic temples and monasteries; walk across the rocks and sands of the sweeping Gobi, which conceal troves of dinosaur fossils; and get a taste of traditional Mongolian life.
Travel Style
National Geographic Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Nomadic Family Desert Ger Building & Archery Lesson Experience, Bulgan
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Yak Milking with Herding Family, Orkhon Valley
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Yak Family Farm Experience, Orkhon Valley
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin
Your G for Good Moment: Cafe No Limits Visit, Ulaanbaatar
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group. National Museum of Mongolia Visit & Tour. Nalaikh Village Family Ger District Lunch. Genghis Khan Monument Visit. Gandan Monastery Guided Tour. Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain & Picnic Lunch. Baga Gazriin Chuluu National Park Hike. Yolyn Am Visit. Moltsog Els Sand Dunes. Free time in Bulgan, Elsen Tasarkhai. Flaming Cliffs Visit. Ongiin Khiid and Hoshuu Monasteries Visit. Orkhon Waterfall Hike. Mongolian Dumpling (Buuz) cooking class. Khorkhog (Mongolia Traditional BBQ). Erdene Zuu Monastery. Karakorum Museum. Uvgun Monastery Hike. Khustai National Park (Khustain Nuruu) Visit. Mongolian Cultural Show. Arrival Transfer. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Visit with a nomadic camel-herding family in the Gobi to learn how to build a local ger (yurt) and take a lesson in archery: Mongolia’s national sport, Experience the uniqueness of Mongolia’s incredible culture up close with a visit to a yak herding family to milk watch them milk the yaks and try their fresh yak milk products, Discuss the history of Buddhism in Mongolia with the head monk of Erdeni Dzu Monastery-one of the oldest Buddhist complexes in the region, Hear from rangers at Hustai National Park and track wild horses across the grassy steppe.
How large will the group be?
Max 14, avg 12
What meals are included in this trip?
13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private vehicles, 4x4, walking, hiking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels – 3 nts, Ger camps – 9 nts with ensuite bathroom; 1 nt with shared bathroom.
Itinerary
Ulaanbaatar
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. After the welcome meeting, join your group for an orientation walk around Ulaanbaatar on the way to an optional welcome dinner.
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia's rich history is on full display at the National Museum of Mongolia. Explore the museum with your National Geographic Expedition Leader learning about the traditional ethnic groups of Mongolia and view some of the archaeological artifacts on display. Next, walk to No Limits Cafe, a G for Good project supporting youth with Down Syndrome who work alongside their mothers to serve delicious teas, coffee and snacks. This afternoon, visit Nalaikh Ger Village for a local lunch of Mongolian Buuz dumplings with some of the families who call this place home. After learning about life in a ger village, continue to the imposing statue of Chinggis Khan. The monument of Mongolia's most emblematic figure is observed as you take an elevator to the head of the horse to get the best view of both the statue itself, and the vast expanse of the surrounding Mongolian mountainside. The evening is free for dinner at your leisure.
Ulaanbaatar/ Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Travel by 4x4 to Gandan Monastery, one of the most important temple complexes in all of Mongolia to learn about the history of Buddhism and listen to the monks chant. We then make our way to the Gobi, one of the world's largest deserts, which covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. On the way, we'll stop for a picturesque pond-side picnic at Zorgol Khairkhan, a sacred mountain considered to be the most beautiful in central Mongolia. Arrive in the afternoon to our first ger camp–we will stay in these traditional Mongolian lodgings through day 12 of the trip. Tonight at the camp, it's time to get competitive and try your hand at some traditional Mongolian Games, like The Knuckle Bone game and Khorol, a Mongolian style dominoes. This trip covers a lot of ground and we will do so in 4x4 vehicles but there is a lot of driving on some very rough and unmaintained roads. A large part of Mongolia's appeal is its wild, untouched nature and, as such, accommodation and infrastructure can be very basic in nature. As such, hot water and electricity can be uncertain. Mongolia is a country which is very different to anything you will have experienced before and while this means it is not the easiest place to travel, this is also what makes it so special.
Baga Gazriin Chuluu/ Bulgan
Continue onwards to the Dundgobi Aimag region—Middle Gobi—and witness the astonishing granitic formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. Set off on a hike around the small but historic national park, and visit the ruins of an old temple dating from the 17th century hidden in the massif granite. Continue driving to the South Gobi and the next ger camp-your base for exploring the next 3-days.
Bulgan
Start today with some hands-on skills-imperative to life in remote Mongolia. Learn the basics of constructing a Mongolian ger (yurt,) then, try your hand at archery-one of the most beloved sports in the country. Later, enjoy an excursion through the magnificent gorges of the Altay Mountains to Gurvan Saikhan National Park, a vast protected area comprised of canyons, sand dunes, and a steppe. Stop for a hike in rugged Yolyn Am, known as the “valley of the eagles,” keeping an eye out for ibex, gazelles, argali sheep, and countless species of birds.
Bulgan
After breakfast, drive to Moltsog Els sand dune and witness the seemingly never ending waves of sand. Spend time exploring the ever-changing dunes and learn about this unique and beautiful landscape. Return to the camp for lunch and some down time or choose to join some optional activities, such as traditional massage by a local shaman or take a cooking class. Later, travel by 4x4 to the Flaming Cliff, a rust-coloured sandstone landscape where a vast amount of dinosaur fossils and eggs have been found. Learn about the discoveries made here and spend time exploring the dramatic crags and canyons and enjoy a fiery red sunset before heading back to camp for the evening.
Bulgan/ Ongiin Khiid
Visit the ruins of Ongiin Khiid, a complex of Buddhist monasteries and universities which were tragically destroyed during the communist purges. Tour the site and learn about the monks who have returned here in recent years, bringing new life to the complex. Continue on to the next ger camp and settle in for the evening.
Ongiin Khiid/ Orkhon Valley
Drive to the breathtaking Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site that encompasses rolling hills and pastureland, traditional pastoral societies, and archaeological remains. We'll stop for lunch along the way. Then, settle in to camp after arriving in the evening. Enjoy free time to relax before an early start tomorrow, or if you have the energy, opt to do some easier hikes around camp.
Orkhon Valley
Rise early to visit the local Yak herding family to assist them in milking the animals. After, head off for a visit to Orkhon Waterfall and walk to the observation point for an incredible view of the carved out cliffside. Return to the camp after working up an appetite–lunch will consist of buuz, Mongolian dumplings that we'll learn to make with the camp chef. In the afternoon, continue your visit with the Yak herder family and learn to make yak tea, cheese and even alcoholic yak yogurt utilizing the milk you helped retrieve earlier in the day. You can also try your hand at spinning yarn from yak's wool. After today's immersive experience, you'll understand the vital role yaks play in Mongolian day-to-day life as a source of food, clothing material, transport and even a cultural symbol. This evening, return to the camp to relax and enjoy a traditional Mongolian barbecue, prepared over hot stones.
Orkhon Valley/ Elsen Tasarkhai
Drive to the city of Kharkhorin and onward to nearby Karakorum, Mongolia’s ancient capital. Here, Genghis Khan established his headquarters in the early 13th century. Explore the remains of the Erdene Zuu Monastery, considered Mongolia’s earliest centre of Buddhism, and meet with the head monk to learn about the communist purges that decimated much of the country’s Buddhist heritage. Finish up the day with a visit the Karakorum Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the 13th and 14th centuries as well as a scale model of the ancient capital.
Elsen Tasarkhai
This morning, drive to Khungu Khan Mountain to hike up to the ruins of the 16th century Uvgun Monastery, perfectly on display atop the boulder covered mountain. From the monastery, admire the spectacular views of the valley below, and sand dunes expanding into the distance. Hike back down and return to the ger camp for some free time.
Elsen Tasarkhai/ Khustai National Park
After breakfast, drive to Khustai National Park, where some of the earth’s last wild horses roam. The takhi or Przewalski’s horse native to these grasslands had nearly vanished from the wild, until the species was reintroduced here as a result of a successful captive breeding program. Meet with park staff to learn about the takhi reintroduction project, and keep an eye out for these stocky, coffee-coloured horses that have never been domesticated. Continue on to our last camp and settle into your ger for the night.
Khustai National Park/ Ulaanbaatar
Settle in for a long drive through the Mongolian countryside to Ulaanbaatar, arriving in the early evening. Enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by a memorable performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance.
Ulaanbaatar
Depart at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
