IN THE GOBI’S
NOMADIC HERDSMAN’S FAMILY
Tour Highlights:
- Legendary Orkhon Valley
- The ancient capital of the
- Mongolian Empire – Kharkhorin
- Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Gobi’s nomadic family
- Beautiful Gobi Desert,
- Khongor Sand Dunes
- Yol valley – Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park


Tour Information
- Private Tour Code: WTT-NHF- 01
- Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
- Availability: 01 June – 30 Sep
- Trip from: Ulaanbaatar
- Price: from US$ 2,050 p/p
- Age Requirement 0-95 yrs
- Max Group Size 12
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Day 02: Baga Gazriin Chuluu mountain area
Day 03: Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park
Day 04: Khongor sand dunes
Day 05: Bayanzag – The red stone cliffs and canyons
Days 06-09: 3 days In the Gobi’s nomadic family
Day 10: Ongi Monastery ruins
Day 11: Erdene Zuu monastery in Kharkhorin
Day 12: Hustai National Park
Day 13: 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 mountain area
Drive to Baga Gazriin Chuluu in Dundgobi province. this is another granite rock formation in the middle of the steppe plains. Five km away, the highest peak 1768 meters in the area; Baga Gazariin Uul mountain will take about 5 hours to climb. Leisure time for rock climbing and hiking activities.
Accommodation: Ger tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.


Day 3
Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park
Drive to South Gobi and Yol Am known as Eagle valley in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountain -this sunless canyon located in the middle of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountain has a particular beauty with narrow paths broadening in places between rocks, while buzzards and eagles wheel and glide in the blue skies above. The cliffs of the canyon block the sunlight from the rivers below so that they remain frozen throughout the year.
Accommodation: Ger tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.
Day 04
Khongor sand dunes
Drive to Khongor Sand Dunes (195km) – the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. The dunes of Khongor are known as the « singing sands » and rise from the plain reaching a height of 80m and extending for about 180km long. The spectacular dunes are bordered by lush green vegetation supported by a small river, named Khongor. Hiking and sliding through the sand dunes. Visit the camel breeding family and experience short camel riding.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D


Day 05
Bayanzag – The red stone cliffs and canyons
Drive towards Bayanzag (140 km) – classic desert of rock, red sands, scrub, sun, and unbelievable emptiness has become known to the world as the “Cemetery of Dinosaurs”. The red sandstone cliffs and canyons of Bayanzag are where the American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews first discovered fossil beds of dinosaur bones and the first ever recorded dinosaur eggs in 1922 – discoveries that made world headlines. Nowadays there is a local museum which displays important facts and some exhibits about this famous area.
Accommodation: Ger tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D
Days 06-09
3 day’s in Gobi’s nomadic family
Before noon on the first day, everyone will ride a camel to the nearby scenic spots. It will be a pleasure to take pictures. In the afternoon, try to do the shepherd’s work. Try to do many exciting jobs like herding animals, building a house, making curds, etc.
The next day the men go to the fields to water the cattle. On the other hand, the ladies will get to know the daily life of the herdsman’s family, such as cooking for the hostess, distilling alcohol, and making curd.
The third day will be celebrated with traditional Mongolian folk games. The afternoon will be spent at leisure for photography, horse and camel riding, and hiking in the nearby mountains.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D


Day 10
Ongi Monastery ruins
Ongi Monastery or Gundjambaalin Monastery (Hotol Oglogch) is a ruin located on the bank of the Ongi River and on the slopes of Mount Saikhan-Ovoo in the area of Saikhan-Ovoo Sum of Dundgov Province. It was built between 1760 and 1810 by the noble monk Ishdonlkhundev and his disciple Bar Lama Damtsagdorj. The ruins of the monastery, which at its peak had over 1,000 monks and was one of the largest monasteries in Khalkh, are located 18 km south of the center of Saikhan-Ovoo Sum. At a distance of 15 km from the monastery, and along the bank of the Ongi river, there was another monastery called “Hoshuu knural monastery”. The monastery of the noble monk on the right wing of the Ongi monastery and the monastery of Hamba Damtsagdorji on the left wing of the Ong monastery were together called “the three monasteries of Ong”. Ongi Monastery had 4 training halls, where courses were conducted in religious philosophy, secret mantra meditation, medicine or mamba, and numerology or mathematics.
The monastery was completely demolished in 1939. More than 200 monks of the monastery were executed and dozens of monks were imprisoned.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D
Day 11
Erdene Zuu monastery in Kharkhorin
Drive to Kharkhorin – ruins of ancient capital of Mongolian Empire built by Ugudei Khaan in 1235. The city was strategically located at the crossroads of traditional routes, creating a staging post for migrating nomads and merchants caravans. Foreign envoys and prominent clerics travelled to this city for an audience with kings of Mongolian Empire. Far after when the king Hubilai has ordered to move the capital to Beijing in 1264, Kharkhorin was raised to the ground by Manchu soldiers. However the bricks and stones from the ruins of this ancient city were used to build the Erdene Zuu Monastery nearby, so in that way the old city lives on till today.
Accommodation: Ger camp.Meals: B, L, D


Day 12
Khustai National Park
Drive to Khustai National Park /190 km/ to watch wild horses takhi, widely known as “Przewalski horse ”.
Przewalski horses are the only wild horse to survive in modern times. The species were returned to Mongolia from world zoos and reserves within Khustai National Park in 100 km west of Ulaanbaatar. Khustain Nuruu has good vegetation, springs, birch forest and rocks which are suitable for many wild animals including 46 species of mammals and 172 species of birds.
Accommodation: Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D
Day 13
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: Ger camp.Meals: B, L, D


Day 14
Departure
You will be free at leisure in your hotel or wander around on your own until being escorted to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure flight home. End of service.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B
PRICES & INCLUSIONS
1 – 2 person US$ 2,350 p/p
3 – 5 person US$ 2,250 p/p
6 – 12 person US$ 2,050 p/p
* 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 2024/2025!
What’s included in the Price?
Accommodation: Hotel****, Ger camp
Guiding and interpreting service
Full board meals
Transport: 4×4 vehicle or minivan
Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks
Museums and cultural performance
Festival taxes
What’s NOT included in the Price?
International airfare
Personal equipment
Optional activity cost
Excess baggage charges
Single room supplement
Alcoholic drinks
Travel Insurance
The extra cost for photography in museums
Tip for a tour guide, driver, etc
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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