MAT Kod: 04
Active trekking tour
The Essentials
- Length of tour: 13 days
- Group size: 4-15 people, plus tour guide
- Tour cost: 3-5 pax 6 and more pax
- Accomodatrion: Hotels- 2 nights (twin share) for this tour we will be using 3-4 star hotels. Mongolian Ger- 7 nights (shared) Tent-3
- Schedule 2019: June 20 – July 03, July 05- July 18 /Naadam festival+350$/, July 15- July 28, August 02- August 15.
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Our Sod Namnaa Company's guide will meet you at the “Mongolian railway” train station or Airport and arrange your transfer to the hotel. City sightseeing tour, Sukhbaatar Square, Gandantegchilen Monastery, Last King's Winter Palace Museum, Zaisan Hill Memorial, Buddha's Statue. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Drive to Ogii Lake teeming with fish, first impression in the steppe and first night in a traditional dwelling ger. Arrival at the lake and today we have two-hours walking. Ger camp.
Day 3. Walk by side of the lake and ride horses (Mongolian horses are small and docile; children begin to ride when they are very young). On the way, we will visit to nomad family and meet their real nomad life and we have chance to taste home-made milk products. This day we have four hours walking. Ger camp
Day 4. Drive to Karakorum, ancient capital city of Great Mongol Empire. Visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery which is the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. This day we have 3-4 hours walking. Ger camp.
In 1220, Genghis Khan made a decision to build the capital city Karakorum in Orkhon valley. It was completed by his son, after his death; but only four decades after, Kubilai Khan moved it to what it now Beijing. Karakorum was abandoned and then later destroyed by Manchurian soldiers. All things left of Karakorum was used to contribute to the construction of the Erdene Zuu monastery, in the 16th century, which itself was badly destroyed during the Stalinist purges. Erdene Zuu was the first center of Lamaism in Mongolia. The monastery was built in 1586.
All the temples, except three zuu temples, were destroyed and an unknown number of monks were killed in Stalinist purges. The monastery closed until 1965 when it was permitted to reopen as a museum. It was only with the collapse of communism that monastery became active again. The three main temples or Three zuu temples were dedicated to the three periods of Buddha’s life: as a child, adult and old. Monastery is surrounded by fortress wall and 2 turtle rocks remained from Karakorum city.
Day 5. Drive to the Tovkhon monastery on the way we visit to Shakhiin khiid. The Tovkhon monastery is settled on the Shiveet mountain top. This is the place where Zanabazar, the head and founder of Mongolian Buddhism, was creating his famous art works such as the national script “soyombo” in XVI century. Now, the temple has accepted as “the world precious heritage” by UNESCO. We can see the symbolic rock formations named “Mother womb”, stone script and caves in surroundings. 4 hours walking. Ger camp.
Day 6. We continue our trip by car to the Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall which is one of the biggest waterfalls in Mongolia and drive to Uurtiin Tokhoi scenery place. This day we have three hours walking. Tent stay. Three-four hours walking. Tented camp.
Day 7. It’s the beginning of our easy two-day trek; we will leave our vehicle behind, and further horses will support our team. We climb up to the Bodongiin Hamar Pass (3000 m above sea level), passage way through a green valley, and we walk down to the place of our tent. Three-four hours walking. Tented camp.
Day 8. Now trekking through Orkhon valley until we reach the magnificent Khuisiin Naiman Nuur Lake, which means “The eight lakes of the Navel”. The lake is surrounded by extinct volcanoes. Altitude is 2500m high. We meet herders of yak, horse and sheep, and we stop in nomad family. Four hours walking. Tented camp.
Day 9. Whole free day at Khuisiin Naiman Nuur. This beautiful lake was created by volcanic eruptions centuries ago, covers 11,500 hectares around the lake located in Ovorkhangai Province to the southwest of the Khangai Mountain Range. Naiman Nuur with its exceptional configuration is surrounded by the beautiful nature of the middle part of the Khangai Mountain. These lakes with fresh water and interconnected by ground water channels such as Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Onon, Doroo, Bayan-Uul are called Khuisyn Naiman Nuur. These lakes located in 500m to 3km to each other. It was placed under state protection in 1992.
Day 10. Enjoyable day at the lake, too. Visiting to nomad family and walking through surrounding area.
Day 11. Drive to the Khogno Khan Mountain, just like a gateway of the Gobi Desert. On the camel back we go for a ride in a landscape of sandy dunes. 2-3 hours walking. Ger camp
Day 12. We come back to Ulaanbaatar. Free time and shopping. Before dinner we will see traditional songs and dance show. Hotel.
Day 13. After breakfast at the Hotel it time to Departure. Our guide and driver will deliver you at the “Mongolian Railway” train station or Airport for departure to your country.
What’s included
- All transportation as specified in the itinerary.
- Meals
- Excellent English-speaking local guide
- Comfortable well located tourist class hotels and Ger camps
What’s not included
- Visa fees
- Vaccinations
- Tipping
- Insurance
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