At the heart of Zavkhan - Nomadays

Mongolia

At the heart of Zavkhan

A tour that will lead you to the wild lands of the province of Zavkhan. After visiting the essential sites of the centre of the country, we enter in the wild Mongolia where lakes stand alongside the desert outside the snow-covered peaks of Khangai.

Try a new adventure in the heart of the province of Zavkhan, you won't regret it !

Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

  • Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver. Transfer to your hotel, settling in, and rest.

  • Appointment at 12 o'clock at your hotel with your guide. He will take you to the restaurant of your choice.

  • Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan.

  • Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament.

  • At 18 o' clock, Mongolian traditional show at Tumen Ekh: folkloric dances, contortion, and of course khoomi, the overtone singing.

4h 30m-280km

Day 2We're off, towards Mini-Gobi !

Day 2We're off, towards Mini-Gobi !

Ulan Bator - Khogno Khan

  • Visit of Gandantegchinlen Monastery. In the morning, lamas get together to pray. They will answer your questions at the Mongolian Buddhist Centre.

  • We arrive at the splendid rocky formations of Khogno Khan. Discovery of the park : semidesert steppes, taiga, stunning rocky formations, 80-kilometre (49,71 miles) long sand dunes, are characteristic of this arid area nicknamed "Mini-Gobi".

  • Pony trek until Erdene Khambiin Monastery. "Monk Erdene's Monastery" dates from 17th century and was built in the mountain. Zanabazar built it in honour of his teacher, monk Erdene.

Meal and accommodations
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Eden camp
Accommodation: Eden camp
1h 30m-110km
3h 30m-130km

Day 3-4Among nomads in Orkhon Valley

Day 3-4Among nomads in Orkhon Valley

Khogno Khan - Kharkhorin

  • Journey to Kharkhorin, the former capital of Mongolia. The legendary city of Genghis Khan was founded in 1220 and was one of the stages of the silk road. The Mongolian Empire was governed from this city until Kubilai Khan set up the capital in Beijing. Today, there are only a few vestiges left of the former capital.

  • Visit of Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586 by a nomad prince. The Chinese and Tibetan-inspired buildings are surrounded with 108 sacred stupas. Visit of the Museum of Kharkhorin.

Kharkhorin - Orkhon valley

  • Journey to Orkhon Valley. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the valley is a land of nomadism and many breeders set their summer camp there.

Day 4

  • Those who wish will go pony trekking along Orkhon Valley, from the camp until Orkhon waterfalls.

  • Visit of Ulan Tsutgalaan falls, white flood flowing on the black stone, transformed in rainbow by a short sunray… These 16-metres (52,49 feet) falls are just magic ! They were formed 20.000 years ago, as a result of a unique combination of earthquakes and volcano eruptions.

Also
  • Day 3Day 4

    Stay among breeders in the valley. During your stay, you will discover their way of life and you will be proposed many activities, such as milking, making traditional dairy products, or rounding up the animals with a horse.

    You will also attend the preparation of a Mongolian barbecue that you will enjoy with yours hosts.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Eden camp (3)
Breakfast: Made by your team (4)
Lunch: Picnic from the camp (3)
Lunch: Made by your team (4)
Dinner: made by the family (3)

Day 5Hot bath in the hot springs

Day 5Hot bath in the hot springs

Orkhon valley - Tovkhon monastery

  • Visit of Tovkhon Monastery. Vehicles can't go until the top of Öndör Ulaan Hill and we will walk until there to discover Tovkhon Ermitage, where Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia, created the Soyombo alphabet. The monastery is located 2312 metres (1,44 mile) above the sea level and from that place we'll have a wonderful view of the whole Khangai range. We'll picnic in exceptional surroundings, facing Orkhon Valley.

Tovkhon monastery - Tsenkher hot springs

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Accommodation: Shiveet Mankhan

Day 6-7On the banks of great white lake

Day 6-7On the banks of great white lake

Tsenkher hot springs - Tsetserleg

  • Stop at Tsetserleg, small lovely village nested in mountains of larches. We'll buy fresh supplies at the local market and visit Zayan Gegeen Museum.

Tsetserleg - Terkhiin Tsagaan national park

  • Road to Khorgo – Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Natural Park that is located 2060 metres (1,28 mile) above sea level. This lake, called "the great white lake", and its whole volcanic surroundings, are the emblematic area of the province of Arkhangai. The waters of the lake are full of fish and it's possible to fish if you wish.

Day 7

  • Hiking along the banks of the lake. We go towards Southeast where Khorgo Volcano reaches its highest point at 2240 metres (1,39 mile). (Easy) ascent of the volcano. From the top, we enjoy a splendid view of the lake and the surrounding hills. Nearby the volcano, stunning lava flows form an original landscape never seen up to now.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Shiveet Mankhan (6)
Breakfast: Maikhan Tolgoi (7)
Lunch: Local restaurant (6)
Lunch: Picnic from the camp (7)
Accommodation: Maikhan Tolgoi
6h-190km
Ider river

Day 8Deeper in wild Mongolia

Day 8Deeper in wild Mongolia

Terkhiin Tsagaan national park - Ider river

  • We take the road towards West and the province of Zavkhan. We drive along the Solongotiin Hills. Lunch in a local restaurant in Tosontsengel. The atmosphere of the cities in the Western Mongolia makes inevitably think about the one of the lost cities in the American Far West. We set up our camp in a small corner of paradise between sky and land, on the banks of the Ider River.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Maikhan Tolgoi
Lunch: Local restaurant
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Ider river
6h 30m-260km

Day 9-11The lake among the dunes

Day 9-11The lake among the dunes

Ider river - Khar lake

  • We drive across the province of Zavkhan. We can admire at East the high summits of Khangai and a forest zone, and at West the desert. Although this tour is very far from the classic touristic tours, it shows many natural wonders, such as Otgontenger Mount, landscapes of dunes and turquoise lakes.

  • We arrive in a semi desertic zone until Lake Khar, splendid lake in the middle of the dunes.

Day 10

  • This day is dedicated to a hike all around Lake Khar. We discover breathtakingly landscapes typical of Gobi, surrounding a turquoise lake.

Day 11

  • Short hiking (a few kilometres) in the Erdene Khairkhan mountains, until the site of Senjit Khad, a rocky formation that reminds the ones of the American Far West.

  • Visit of Mukhartiin River's source. An exceptional site where the river literally rises from the sand dunes.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team (9)
Breakfast: Khar lake camp (10, 11)
Lunch: Picnic from the camp
Dinner: Khar lake camp
Accommodation: Khar lake camp
4h 30m-150km
30m-15km
Bogd river

Day 12On the bank of the Bogd river

Day 12On the bank of the Bogd river

Khar lake - Uliastai

  • We drive along the Khangai mounts that overlook the track at East, then pass through the Zagastai hills, and finally arrive at Uliastai, capital of the province of Zavkhan ; we go to the local market to buy fresh supplies.

  • We will drive again for 10 kilometers before reaching the bank of the Bogd river where we will pitch our camp.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Khar lake camp
Lunch: Picnic from the camp
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Bogd river
4h 30m-175km

Day 13Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

Day 13Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

Bogd river - Otgontenger mountain

  • Visit of Otgontenger National Park : waterfalls and Lake Badagakhundaga.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping

Day 14Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

Day 14Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

Otgontenger mountain - Uliastai

  • Hiking until the artificial waterfalls on the Bodg River, or free time to peacefully enjoy the bucolic nature.

  • Return road to Uliastai where we'll settle in and rest in a small provincial hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Local restaurant
Accommodation: Uliastai hotel

Day 15Flight to Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital

Day 15Flight to Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital

Uliastai - Ulan Bator

  • Transfer to Uliastai airport and return flight to Ulan Bator.

  • Arrival in town and transfer to your hotel where you can rest a few moments.

  • Rest of the day free. With our guide, you can go and shop in the centre of the city.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Uliastai hotel
Lunch: Local restaurant
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel
Flight back

Day 16Have a nice journey and see you soon !

Day 16Have a nice journey and see you soon !

  • Breakfast at the hotel. We go with you to the international airport of Ulan Bator. The transfer can be organized at the time you want, according to the schedule of your flight.