Highlights of Mongolia: This is one of the most classic routes from Gobi Desert to Lake Khuvsgul, from south to the north of Mongolia for those who want to travel and experience through Mongolia. It’s a great chance for you to discover the Gobi, steppe, mountains, forest, lakes, rivers in Mongolia. Also, you’ll be able to get a firsthand experience of the nomadic way of living.

The Gobi desert popular for Khongoryn Els Sand dunes: Khongoryn Els Sand Dune is a beautiful, highest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. The Khongoryn els sand dunes is located in Sevrei sum, South Gobi province. These dunes are Located to the foot of the high Altai Mountains range, the dunes are up to 300m high, 12km wide and about 100km long on the northern part of the mountains of Sevrei and Zuulun Mountain. The Dune called “Duut Mankhan”

Central Mongolia is popular for grassland and history.

Northern Mongolia is popular for Khuvsgul lake : Lake Khuvsgul which is one of the most visited places for both locals and tourists. Khuvsgul lake which is one of the country’s largest and most spectacular protected areas. Lake Khuvsgul’s 380 cubic km of water make it the fourteenth largest freshwater lake in the world and second largest in Central Asia by volume, with over 1% of the world’s fresh water. At its deepest, the lake dives 262 meters. Ninety-six rivers and streams empty into the lake, but only the Egiin River exits the lake. The Egiin flows southeast until it joins the Selenge River, which flows through one of Mongolia’s most densely populated areas on its way to Lake Baikal. The Lake is 1645 meters above sea level and is generally frozen from January until April or May.

accommodation:yes duration:17 days 16 nights tour distance:3300km Group size:1-24 tour operator:idre tour

Route

Ulaanbaatar – Baga Gazaryn Chuluu – Tsagaan Suvraga – Yol valley – Khongoryn Els – Ongi temple ruin – Orkhon waterfall – Tsenkher hot spring – Great White Lake – Murun – Lake Khovsgol – Uran togoo - Ulaanbaatar

Activities

Horse riding, camel riding, hiking, experiencing nomadic family lifestyle, staying in Mongolian traditional ger

Day 1 Baga Gazaryn Chuluu
We'll start our trip with a half day driving to the Baga Gazriin Chuluu Ruins (1768 m high granite Stone Mountain in the territory of Adaatsag county, Dundgovi province. Is there another place with unique scenery that many tourists compare with lunar scenes? The mountain contains remains of old temples. They are not only rich in minerals and crystals, but also eye spring, old stone temple ruins related to the 17th century.
Day 2 White stupa (Tsagaan suvraga)
We’ll drive to the scarps of Tsagaan Suvarga/White Stupa/ which is located in Ulziit county, Dundgovi province. It is interesting to see the sheer slope, facing east, which is 30 meters high and 100 meters wide. Over thousands of years the wind has created this amazing structure. Spend the night in a nomadic family Ger.
Day 3 Yoliin am canyon
We'll drive to Yoliin Am in the middle of the Gobi Desert National Park which is a strictly protected area, covering 70sq.kms. The mountains here are the highest in the Gobi Desert and the rocky scenery is quite interesting, especially the ice in a gorge remains until mid-July. We'll walk and back for about 6kms in a narrow valley.
Day 4 Khongoryn Els Sand Dune
We’ll drive to the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes (195kms) after lunch. The Khongoryn Els is some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. We'll see beautiful views, huge sand dunes and a cold water spring with a river that leads to two small ponds. We'll then spend the night in a Ger.
Day 5 Khongoryn Els Sand dune
We'll climb and hike to the top of the biggest sand dunes. There is an oasis near Khongor creek at the northern edge of the sand dune. The dunes make a sound like a plane engine on a windy day so it’s named as “Singing Dunes”. Also, if you wish, you may walk alongside the creek for about 10kms. We arranged a camel riding trip to the sand dunes for a couple of hours.
Day 6 Bayan zag flaming cliffs
We'll drive to Bayan-Zag(150kms). Bayan-Zag means "rich in Saxaul Shrubs", is more commonly known as the "Flaming Cliffs" of Bayan-Zag, famous for its discovery of dinosaur fossils.
Day 7 Ongiin Khiid & Ongi monastery
After lunch we'll drive to Ongiin khiid, where you can see the ruins of a big monastery on the bank of the Ongiin River. This monastery had 28 temples, stupas and other buildings on the south slope of the Rocky Mountain like Balsa country. This monastery had about 1000 lamas and it was destroyed during the Stalinist purges in the 1930s. The Ongiin khiid was one of the biggest temples in Gobi’s area of Mongolia.
Day 8 Orkhon waterfall & Orkhon valley
We’ll drive to Orkhon Waterfall, The Orkhon valley in the history of central Asia. The grassland is still grazed by Mongolian nomadic pastoralists. Orkhon waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in Mongolia. This is a great place for taking photos, go hiking through the gorge. We’ll arrange a couple of hours horseback riding in the area.
Day 9 Horse riding in the Orkhon valley
We’ll go horse riding for a day in the area. Spend the night in the same family.
Day 10 Tsenkher Hot spring
We’ll drive to Tsenkher hot spring. We’ll have a relaxed evening taking a hot bath in the natural hot spring water. Stay overnight in the Ger camp there.
Day 11 Great white lake, Terkhiin tsagaan Nuur
We’ll drive to Great White Lake and Khorgo Volcano. Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National park was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of fauna and flora. The area has extinct volcanoes, many beautiful lakes, a great number of animals and birds, and is definitely one of the best natural tourist attractions. Khorgo is a unique natural complex (2240 m), National Park surrounded by the Khangai Mountains, which reach 3000 meters above the sea level. In the craters some of them are very tiny crystal- cleared lakes. The Khorgo crater is situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 and depth of 70 to 80 meters.
Day 12 Hiking to the Khorgo volcano
We’ll go hiking for a full day from the lake to the volcano. Spend the night in a family Ger.
Day 13 Murun province center of northern Mongolia
We’ll drive to Murun the center of Khovsgol province. Murun is one of the biggest province in Mongolia
Day 14 Khuvsgul lake
We’ll drive to Lake Khovsgol which is one of the country's largest and most spectacular protected areas. Lake Khovsgol's 380 cubic km of water makes it the fourteenth largest freshwater lake in the world and second largest in Central Asia by volume, with over 1% of the world's fresh water. At its deepest, the lake dives 262 meters. Ninety-six rivers and brooks stream into the lake, but only the Egiin River exits the lake. The Egiin flows southeast until it joins the Selenge River, which flows through one of Mongolia's most densely populated areas on its way to Lake Baikal. The Lake is 1645 meters above sea level and is generally frozen from January until April or May.
day 15 Hiking in the Khuvsgul lake area
We’ll go hiking around the lake for a day.
Day 16 Amarbaysgalant Monastery
We’ll drive to the Amarbayasgalant monastery. This is one of the most well known and largest monasteries of Mongolia, located in the beautiful Iven Gol River valley on the foot of Burkhan Mountain in Baruunburen sum of Selenge province. Visitors especially enjoy the magnificent art and architectural construction. Spend the night in a family ger.
Day 17 Ulaanbaatar
We’ll drive back to UB and arrive between 5-6pm.

PLEASE NOTE:

The difference between a comfortable tour and budget tour relates primarily to the accommodation type. Within a budget tour all accommodation will be with a nomadic family in their Ger. While a comfortable tour includes accommodation at Ger camps which are similar to a 3-4 star hotel standard. Finally the Mid-Range tour mixes Comfortable and Budget, where you will stay some nights in the traditional Ger with a nomadic family and others in a Ger camp.

All price are per person per day

Tour type/number of people 2 pax 3 pax 4-6 pax 6-8 pax 8-10 pax 10-12 pax
Bugdet $159 $119 $99 $99 $99 $99
Mid-range $191 $161 $141 $141 $141 $141
Comfortable $229 $196 $166 $166 $166 $166
  • Driver + 4WD vehicle + Gas
  • English speaking tour guide/coo
  • National park entrance fee
  • Camel riding for an hour or longer regarding on guest’s request
  • Horseback riding for full day
  • Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinking water
  • All meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Accommodation in UB
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Personal items
  • Tips for the driver and the guide
  • Alcohol and soft drinks