Mongolia: Land of the Blue Sky

Depart home city on an overnight flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Shangri-La Hotel, Deluxe Room

Strolling past the Sukhbaatar Square, arrive at the Chinggis Khan Museum, Mongolia's newest and largest museum. The nine-story museum showcases over 10,000 cultural exhibits revealing 2000 years of history linked to Mongolia’s Great Khans, nobles, nomads, and their statehood from the Xiongnu Empire to the end of the 20th century. 

Time permitting, visit the National History Museum for an excellent overview of Mongolia’s history and culture. 

In the late afternoon, meet with a U.S Embassy official for a brief introduction to Mongolia’s current political affairs and U.S-Mongolia relations.

In the evening, enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and khoomi throat singers followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Shangri-La Hotel, Deluxe Room

Meals: B, L, D

This morning drive to Hustain Nuruu National Park (2 hours), home to the last remaining species of wild horse, the takhi—commonly known as Przewalski’s horse. Twenty-five years after becoming extinct in the wild, the takhi was reintroduced to the Mongolian steppe in the 1990s. 

Learn about current conservation efforts and the status of the herds found within the reserve at the visitor’s center before trying to spot the horses in their natural habitat. 

After lunch at a local camp continue to Kharakhorum (4 hours), a site of the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. Chinggis Khan’s son, Ogodei, created the city of Kharakhorum to serve as the empire’s capital, but abandoned it 40 years later and moved the capital to Khanbalik, in what is now Beijing. 

Overnight: Silk Road Ger Camp, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Begin the morning with a visit to Kharakhorum museum. Founded to showcase the research findings from the ancient capital of Mongolia by the Mongolian and German joint archaeological expedition, the newly established museum offers insight into what was once the center of arts, politics, trades, and religions of the world. 

Next, visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Kharakhorum was destroyed in 1388, but traces of this once-magnificent city still exist at Erdene Zuu, Mongolia’s largest monastery, which was reputedly built from its ruins in the 16th century. Surrounded by 108 stupas, Erdene Zuu has been a place of Buddhist activity for centuries. Explore the monastery grounds and observe the monks as they perform their daily prayers and rituals in temples decorated with spectacular Buddhist art.

Return to your camp for lunch and spend the late afternoon walking through the grasslands of the Orkhon Valley, considered to be the cradle of Mongolian civilization.

Overnight: Silk Road Ger Camp, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Begin the day with a visit to Khoshoo Tsaidam to see the monuments of Turkik King Bilge and his brother General Kultegen (AD 685–731). After lunch, at the ger camp, drive across the Orkhon River towards the Khar Balgas ruins, a part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Overnight: Silk Road Ger Camp, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Drive to Ongiin Hiid (4 hours). On arrival, settle into your tent camp. After lunch, explore the ruins of this 17th-century temple. Still known as the “Pearl of the Great Desert,” Ongiin Hiid was one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia until its destruction during the communist purges in 1939. 

Overnight: Tent Camp

Please note: The region between Kharakhorum and the Gobi Desert is one of Mongolia’s least developed, and available accommodations reflect the remote and authentic nature of the journey. We break up the long and beautiful overland drive with an overnight stay at a basic tented camp near Ongiin Hiid—a simple but memorable opportunity to experience Mongolia’s solitude and starry skies. While comfort standards are lower here, this provides welcome respite from a full day on the road and allows for a longer visit to this historic site. Travelers should be comfortable with basic facilities and the spirit of adventure that the region inspires.

Meals: B, L, D

Continue your drive to Nomadic Expeditions’ Three Camel Lodge in South Gobi (approximately 4 hours). Located at Bulagtai Mountain on the edge of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, the lodge offers a wide variety of activities to travelers such as horseback riding, archery, nature walks and such as biking, horseback riding, archery, nature walks or a cooking class. The lodge also has a library with an interesting collection of books on Mongolia, or watch a documentary about nomadic culture, learn traditional Mongolian games, or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Arshaan Spa.

In the evening, enjoy a relaxing walk around the Bulagtai hillside, located behind the lodge. Here you will see 8,000-year-old petroglyphs and learn more about the unique lodge.

Overnight: Three Camel Lodge, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Drive to Yol Valley National Park today (1.5 hour). A hike through the valley allows you to discover the habitat of indigenous vulture-like lammergeiers, Altai snowcocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali Mountain sheep.

Later, visit the local natural history museum for an overview of the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.

In the late afternoon visit a local nomadic family and photograph their daily life including making of dairy products, daily chores of tending animals, and work around the ger.

After dinner at the lodge, enjoy stargazing under the vast Gobi skies with your guide.

Overnight: Three Camel Lodge, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Your day begins with a 45-minute drive to Moltsog Els – one of the few regions of the Gobi covered by the sand dunes. On site visit the local camel herder family. The sand dunes extend to about 55 square miles with dunes peaking up to 50 feet.  Moltsog Els lies on the south side of the Yamaat Mountain and as the northern wind pick up heading south, sand is blown down to its direction creating peaks around the area. Explore the dunes on foot or on back of a Bactrian camel.

In the late afternoon, visit the legendary Flaming Cliffs where, in 1922, Roy Chapman Andrews found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen.

Overnight: Three Camel Lodge, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Drive to the Local Naadam site. Spend today enjoying the especially arranged Naadam Festival where local nomadic children will compete in the “three manly sports” including wrestling, archery, and horseracing competitions.  These three sports traditionally measured the courage, strength, and pride of nomads and warriors, although men, women, boys, and girls all take part in contemporary Naadam games.

In the evening, drive to the Havtsgait Valley, site of ancient rock drawings left by early Gobi settlers. 

Overnight: Three Camel Lodge, Deluxe Ger

Meals: B, L, D

Fly to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, enjoy a farewell dinner with a well-known Mongolian politician offering valuable insights into the country’s current economic situation.

Overnight: Shangri-La Hotel, Deluxe Room

Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for return flights. 

 Meals: B