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NAADAM FESTIVAL and

DINOSAURS HOMELAND

Tour Highlights:

  • This classic tour covers the major destination and must-see attractions in Mongolia
  • Private Tour, any parts of the itinerary can be customized
  • Suitable for first-time visitors to experience the combination of the history, culture, and nature of Mongolia
  • Relaxing in wild nature and exploring the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle… Horseback and camel riding, climbing to sand dunes, hiking, and driving through the wilderness are the main activities.

Tour Information

  • Tour Code: NF-DH-1
  • Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
  • Availability: 01 June – 30 Sep
  • Trip from: Ulaanbaatar
  • Price: from US$ 2,140 p/p
  • Age Requirement 0-95 yrs
  • Max Group Size 12

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Day 02: Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Day 03: Tsagaan suvarga /White Stupa/
Day 04: Yol Valley, “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park                            Day 05:  Khongor sand dunes, the biggest sand dunes in the Gobi Desert
Day 06:  Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
Day 07:  Ongi temple, Middle The Gobi
Day 08:  Orkhon valley and Orkhon waterfall
Day 09:  Tsenkher Hot Spring, Khangai Mountains
Day 10:  Karakorum &Erdenezuu Buddhist Monastery – Lake Ugii
Day 11:  Khustai National Park (Wild Horse Park)
Day 12:  Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex – Terelj National Park
Day 13:  Ulaanbaatar city tour
Day 14:  Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Tsogoo Travel Mongolia’s driver in the arrivals hall at the international airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, be free at leisure and have a good rest to recover from the jet lag. If you feel like going for a walk and checking out places nearby, feel free to ask the hotel receptionist for recommendations.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: D

Day 02

Baga Gazriin Chuluu

At 8 am, your tour guide and driver will pick you up and start your trip to Baga Gazriin Chuluu which is a beautiful landscape with amazing rock formations.
Check-in and lunch at tourist Ger camp. It is a kind of hotel that serves guests with Ger (yurt) instead of the hotel room and is always located at the best viewing spot.
In the afternoon, explore the surrounding area. The area is home to many species of wild animals and birds, such as gazelles, ibex, vultures, hawks, and eagles.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 03

Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa)

In the morning, we will drive towards Tsagaan Suvarga. We will drive through endless steppes and wildlife of the Middle Gobi province.
Upon arrival at the Ger camp just beside the Tsagaan Suvarga, we will check in and have lunch. Tsagaan Suvarga is big escarpment with 200m height and 400m. The eerie, eroded landscape was once beneath the sea and is rich in marine fossils and clam shells. Over 10 million years the wind has created this amazing structure. This area is an excellent site for hiking and taking photographs of the beautiful panoramic views.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 04

Yol Valley, “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park

After breakfast, we will go ahead to Yol valley (also called Yolyn Am & Eagle valley) situated in the “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park. This green valley is one of the main highlights in the Gobi Desert and is sheltered by high cliff walls and covered with wildflowers and Gobi plants.
In the winter season, a narrow stream in the valley creates ice on the bottom of the valley that even lasts during the summer months.
The walk through the valley is a lot of fun, about an hour walking there and an hour of walking back by walking the same route, where you climb over rocks and must jump over the small river. If this walking seems challenging, you can just walk until the middle of the way or on horseback through the valley.
The high cliffs that flank the valley are very impressive. You may be lucky enough to spot wild sheep and goats, grazing high on the cliff walls.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 05

Khongor sand dunes, the biggest sand dune in the Gobi Desert

Today, we will drive through the wilderness of the Gobi to the extraordinary Khongor, which is one of the most scenic areas of the Gobi Desert. These impressive white sand dunes stretch more than 180km and the highest point is around 300m known as Duut Mankhan.
Upon arrival at the tourist camp near the sand dunes, we will have lunch and time for relaxing at the cozy Ger camp until Gobi’s hot temperature decreases.
In the late afternoon, we will visit the local camel herder family in their gear, and explore their unique nomadic lifestyle. Then, we will ride a camel and explore the area from the camel’s back. Around the area is the perfect place for camel riding. Mongolia is home to 2/3 of the two-humped Bactrian camels in the world. It is a gentle, calm, and extraordinary patient animal.
Afterward, we will make a little excursion to a beautiful green oasis of Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River and sand dunes. Then, take a little drive to the highest point of sand dunes known as Singing Dune and climb up to the Duut Mankhan. When it is windy some of the dunes give a strange sound like the engines of an aero plane. From the top of the sand dunes, the view of the desert is excellent and breathtaking view. We can see the amazing sunshine panorama of sand dunes from the top if you want.
Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 06

Bayanzag (flaming cliffs)

On this day, our trip will continue to Bayanzag (Flaming cliffs) which is famous for containing exceptional dinosaur fossils in the heart of the Gobi Desert. Also, this area is well known for red tall hillocks formed as a result of wind and water erosion, which look like fire in the middle of the desert from a distance.
Roy Chapman Andrews and the American expedition discovered the first nests of dinosaur eggs from Bayanzag in 1923. Their findings proved to the world that dinosaurs laid eggs
We will explore around the significant areas, including the saxaul trees, and wander on the red hillocks. Occasionally the pieces of fossilized bones and eggs are still found by visitors. If you found something, don’t touch it, because removing fossils without a permit is illegal.

Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 07

Ongi temple, Middle The Gobi

Following breakfast, we will travel through the huge open landscape called Ongi steppe, which is over 80km wide steppe in the Gobi zone, and come to around lunchtime at Tourist camp, which is near the ruined monastery of Ongi Temple. This small mountainous area along the Ongi River makes a good resting place to break a trip between the two major destinations.
Ongi temple was established in 1660 and was once composed of 30 temples, and 4 big Buddhist universities. It was destroyed by the communist purges of the 1930s and is being restored by a number of monks.
Nowadays that one temple serves as a small museum. When you reach Ger camp, you will have lunch and explore the ruins of the monastery. The views of the ruins, river, Ger camps and the surrounding area are very impressive, you can see them from any of the nearby hills.
If you want, you can have a pleasant massage and sauna at the camp. The rest of the day is yours to relax on your own.

 Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 08

Orkhon valley and Orkhon’s waterfall

Today we will travel across vast grassy plains, interspersed with basalt rocks and meandered rivers. Our slow progress on the damaged track leaves us plenty of time to observe the different scenes of nomadic life. Orkhon Valley was recognized as a “Cultural Landscape” of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2004. Orkhon waterfall was formed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes some 20000 years ago. The Waterfall cascades down from a height of 27 meters. Once we come, we will check in and have lunch.
Take an excursion to the waterfall and explore nature.

Accommodation: Ger camp.Meals: B, L, D

Day 09

Tsenkher Hot Spring, Khangai Mountains

After breakfast, drive through a forested mountain road to the beautiful valley of Tsenkher, which is some of the lushest countryside in Mongolia with green forested mountains and meandering rivers.
There is a famous Tsenkher hot spring that reaches +86.5″C, which is supposed to have curative properties for arthritic joints and other ailments.
Check-in, lunch at Ger camp, and time for relaxing. There you can hike and walk around the camp to watch wildflowers. Have a relaxed evening taking a hot bath in the hot spring water.
In the evening, we will enjoy visiting the local nomad family to experience firsthand how people live in the countryside and a lifestyle that has not changed for centuries. From there, we explore nature on horseback for one hour.
Dinner and overnight at the Tourist camp.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D

Day 10 

Karakorum & Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery – Ugii Lake

In the morning, head to Karakorum/Kharkhorin/, a small village, and one of the country’s major tourist destinations. Historically known as the Karakorum, which was an ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire founded by Chinggis Khaan/Genghis Khan/ in 1220. Also, Kharkhorin was one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road.
After lunch, we will visit the museum of Karakorum and learn more about the beautiful ancient Karakorum city and Genghis Khan.
Continue to visit the magnificent and the oldest Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu, built in the 16th century, with 108 buddhis stupas. Here you can see interesting listening to monks chanting Buddhist sutras.
In the late afternoon, we will take a 1.5hrs drive to Ugii Lake – which is located up 1337m from the ocean level it is a pure water steppe lake, which is 7.9km long, and 5km wide. Lake Ugii is famous for its birdlife. The Ogii lake has been registered in the Ramsar Convention for being an important breeding and staging area for a variety of waterfowl.
Check-in Ger camp on the shore of the lake. The rest of the day is free time on your own.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D

Day 11

Khustai National Park (Wild Horse Park)

Depart for the Khustai National Park. This area is home to the Mongolian wild horse known as Perzevalski horse (Takhi) with a unique landscape that features mountains and steppe.
Lunch and check-in at a tourist camp near the National Park.
In the afternoon, we visit the information center and learn familiar with the national park and wild horses.
Take a short drive and walk to see the horses in their natural habitat. There is a great opportunity to take photos of these endangered horses. If you are lucky, you can see fox, deer, roe deer, eagle, and more animals and birds…

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

 

 

Day 12

Chinggis Khaan’s Statue Complex – Terelj National Park

In the morning at 9 am, head to Chinggis Kaan’s Statue Complex” which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. Explore the statue complex and ascend to the head of the horse using an elevator. There you have a good panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. You are now definitely in Genghis Khan’s homeland!
Take a short drive to visit Terelj National Park. This is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia which is by its natural beauty, forested alpine mountains and interesting rock formations (Massive woolsack weather conditions) very well known.
In the afternoon, we will explore the national park and see Turtle Rock – interesting rock formation looking like a turtle. Also, visit the Ariyabal meditation temple – surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations and sits on top of the mountain. From the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the Terelj National Park.

Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D

 

Day 13

Ulaanbaatar city tour

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. After lunch visit Bogd Khaan winter Palace museum and State department store. Amazing performance of traditional dance and folk in the evening.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Day 14

Departure

 

Transfer to international train or flight. 

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B

 

                                                          PRICES & INCLUSIONS

1 – 2 pax – US$ 2.340 per  person

3 – 5 pax – US$ 2.240 per  person

6 – 12 pax – US$ 2.140 per  person

* A tour price is based on a group of 2 adults sharing one room.

* If there are more people in your group of family or friends there will be more discounts.

* This tour package can be fully customizable to fit your travel plan between 01 Jun to 30 Sep and 2025/2026!

What’s included in the Price?

  • Private English-speaking guide at all times,
  • 13 nights’ accommodation based on twin/double (Hotel 4*) and twin share (Tourist camp)
  • All meals as listed: Breakfast – 13, Lunch – 12, Dinner – 12,
  • Private Transfers/Transport with comfortable vehicles
  • All entrance fees are as mentioned in the program
  • A Cultural Show – featuring traditional performances,
  • Camel riding in the Gobi Desert ~1 hour
  • Horse riding at Tsenkher hot spring ~ 1 hour,
  • Complementary drink water during the tour
  • All service charges, local and Gov’t tax
  • Visa invitation letter, if required

What’s NOT included in the Price?

  • Visa to Mongolia (Get in advance),
  • International flights &Travels insurance
  • Hotel early check-in and late check-out
  • Tipping and other personal expenses
  • Other services not mentioned in the itinerary

FAQ & HELP

Travel FAQ's MONGOLIA

Here are the most common questions asked by our travelers. Please follow the links to get the answers. If you cannot find your answers, please send us your questions via email or on our Tsogoo Travel Mongolia Facebook page. We will email you back with your answer, and update it on our website for other travelers.

Accommodation: Hotel

What type of accommodation will we be staying in?
According to the Mongolian rating system, 2-5-star hotels are approved to receive foreign guests.
Our accommodations are carefully chosen, based on our research, our experience, and feedback from clients, to provide the best combination of high-quality accommodations, affordability, and convenient location.
We give clients the opportunity to stay in a wide range of accommodations, depending on tour from 3* to 5* hotels in cities and the best tourist Ger camps in countryside trips.

Does the hotel staff speak English?
Most staff working face-to-face with customers in 5-star hotels can speak English well. As for those working in 4-star and 3-star ones that contracted with Tsogoo Travel Mongolia, English is not a barrier to simple conversation. It’s suggested to ask the clerk at the front desk for help if anything is needed. They will be happy to help you.

What time can I check in and check out of the hotel?
Generally, the earliest check-in time of the hotel is 14:00 p.m., and the latest check-out time is 12:00 a.m. at noon. When you need to check in early, please let us know in advance because the earliest check-in time is dependent on whether the room is vacant or not on the day when you arrive, and the late check-out time may cost extra money.

We are a family of 4 with two young kids. What type of room we will get for our Mongolia tour?
Hotels in Mongolia can accommodate a maximum of 3 in one room due to local fire codes. We will get two separate rooms for your family based on two double occupancy rooms. We will request adjoining rooms, which have limited availability in Mongolian hotels, or rooms next to each other.

What facilities and services do our hotels normally provide?
All hotels on your Mongolia trip have a Foreign Currency Exchange Service, a business center with access to the Internet and fax, a postal service, a gym, a sauna, and massage service, and an International Direct Dialing telephone in your room. You may also find a hair dryer, iron, converter, and adaptor (subject to limited supplies) with housekeeping. Some 4 and 5-star hotels have swimming pools.

Can I store excess luggage at the starting point hotel if we are returning there later?
Most starting point hotels can store your excess luggage for you free of charge.

Do I need to bring a power plug adapter when I come to Mongolia?
Keep in mind that Mongolia uses 220V of electricity, which is higher than that Western countries use. A power plug adapter will do you a great favor if you want your electronic products to run properly during your Mongolia stay. What to do if forgot to pack it in your bag? Don’t worry. An adapter or converter is easy to get everywhere in Mongolia just by turning to your tour guide or the hotel staff.

Weather and Best Time to Visit Mongolia?

What is the best time to go?
The best time to visit Mongolia is during the Mongolian summer, from the mid of June till the last week of August.  This is the safest time of the year to travel to Mongolia in terms of weather, sunny days throughout Mongolia, and sufficient rainfall to make the steppes lush and green.
June and September are both very pleasant times to visit Mongolia. September, autumn is enjoyable, colorful, not hot, and not cold. Nomads have plenty of dairy products and are busy processing milk and preparing for winter. The beautiful countryside of Mongolia is even more beautiful and picturesque with the autumn colors.

Months to Best:

  • July is the best time to see the Mongolia Naadam Festival.
  • The best season for Gobi Desert tour: is from June to September and October is shoulder season.
  • July to August is the best season to travel to Northern Mongolia and Khuvsgul Lake tour and September is shoulder season.
  • The first of October is a chance to see Golden Eagle Festival in Altai, Western Mongolia.
  • February is the best time to experience Mongolia’s winter season.

What months in Mongolia are considered green Peak Season (High Season), Shoulder Season, and Low Season?
Generally and traditionally, the Peak Season refers to July and August; the Shoulder Season refers to May, June, September, and October; the Low Season refers to January, February, March, April, November, and December.

How to Pack for Mongolia trip

What gift would you recommend we bring to Mongolia?
Our tours are designed to enhance your learning, discovery, and people-to-people experience. For instance, all of our tours include a home visit to nomadic families and exploring their daily lifestyles. If you would like to bring some gifts to them, suggested items include Swiss pocket knives, a flashlight for men, some candies, small toys, crayons/colored pencils for housewives and kids are just as fine. Whatever gift you choose to present, the recipient will be most grateful.

Can I bring my laptop, iPad, or iPhone when traveling to Mongolia?
Internet access is available at almost all hotels on your Tsogoo Travel Mongolia itinerary. In most hotels, you can access free Wi-Fi internet. Outside of the city, some tourist Ger camps offer little charged or free internet access. So you may want to bring your own laptop.
We recommend you bring a converter to Mongolia. As throughout Mongolia, the AC power standard is 220V/50Hz. So you may use the converter for a 110-volt electrical appliance. Usually, the four and five-star hotels provide adapters, but we still suggest you bring a converter.

What are the appropriate clothes for travel in Mongolia?
Mongolia is a vast country with various climates and four distinct seasons. Thus travelers may need to pack different clothes at different seasons. But weather patterns at any time can change rapidly. One minute you’re walking around in a T-shirt and sandals, you need an overcoat and boots, then it’s back to T-shirts. This is especially the case during autumn and spring.
Suggest you check the climate of your travel season, and month and then choose the appropriate clothes. In most cases, you will not need to bring towels as you will be provided in the hotels and tourist Ger camps. In general, you should take easily dry clothes and prepare an umbrella for a rainy day. In addition, we suggest you also bring along a first aid kit with the commonly used medicines.

What is Mongolian Currency?

The official currency is the Tugrug (MNT=₮). Denominations come in 20.000₮, 10.000₮, 5.000₮, 1.000₮, 500₮, 100₮, 50₮, 20₮ and 10₮. The official exchange rate at this time (July 2022) is 3.150₮ to 1 U.S dollar. Visitors are advised to carry credit cards – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Union Pay– and traveler’s checks that can be accepted by most hotels and major stores and can be exchanged for cash of MNT.

Accommodation; What's Tourist Ger camp

Tourist Ger camp is a traditional style accommodation with full-service facilities, most commonly used outside of the city. The Ger is a round structure of walls, poles, and a peaked roof covered with canvas and felt, and tightened with ropes.
Tourist Ger camp – consists of 20-30 Gers (Mongolian traditional dwelling), a restaurant, some entertainment facilities, western style toilet, and hot water showers. Each Ger has 2 to 4 beds and is furnished with a table, chairs, and wood stove. Most visitors prefer to stay in Ger, which provides an authentic taste of Mongolian culture and adventure, their most enjoyable experience in Mongolia.

What meal is included? What is the restaurant like?

We select restaurants based on our experiences, client satisfaction, location, and cuisine. Normally we include three meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) each day during the whole trip.
In Ulaanbaatar, you can expect a good variety of quality restaurants with international foods. Breakfasts usually are served in western style at the hotel where you stay in Ulaanbaatar.
We mostly use the following restaurants for lunch & dinner on the city trip: “Modern Nomads”, “bd’s Mongolia Barbeque”, “City Nomads”,  “Khaan Ger” and hotel restaurants for dinner where you stay. Lunch & dinners are m& served in Western food, and sometimes Mongolian food, or a combination.
Outside of the we generally eat breakfast and dinner in tourist Ger camp and some days of longer trips take a packed lunch. Your packed lunch will be carried in appropriate containers to prevent spillage or spoiling. Ger camps serve both Mongolian and international foods, and there will usually be a choice of the main dish.

Any problem for a Western tourist in Mongolia?
About it. Mongolian and Western cuisines are both available throughout Mongolia. If you require special meals due to religious or medical limitations, please inform us so that arrangements can be made in advance.

Will you provide vegetarian (including no chicken/seafood) meals for me?
Make the arrangement according to your requirements. So if you have any special requirements for your food, please let us know so that we can inform the restaurants beforehand to meet your needs.

What's Camping Tent?

We use camping tent for some of our remotest trips, places with no tourist Ger camps or local hotels.
Mongolia offers fantastic camping possibilities in beautiful landscapes.
On all of our camping trips, we provide our guests with high-quality 2-3 people tents, mattresses, and other necessary camping equipment. No formal toilet or shower facilities will be available. You will use a sheltered hole for the toilet and a sheltered shower. Also, we will provide you with water for washing up.
camping days, we usually send vehicle support with an expedition cook for a group tour.
e group is less than 7 travelers may not be accompanied by a cook. In this case, the guides and drivers will be cooking for you. All our guides have had basic cooks training, but not all of them are great chefs, so if you feel like it, they will be happy to let you assist them. On expeditions where there is no vehicle support, there will be dried and canned foods available, but fresh fruits and vegetables often cannot be transported beyond the first couple of days. For groups of more than 6 travelers, we usually send a cook, which in this case you shouldn’t worry – the food will be just great! Please let us know if you have any food preferences or restrictions, or if you are following a special diet.

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