The Best of Central Mongolia Tour
Tour date: 10 June – 01 Oct 2018 (except 08-14 July)
MONGOLIA – Located in the landlocked plateau of Central Asia between China and Russia, Mongolia covers a territory larger than that of Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy combined. As the 19th largest country in the world, Mongolia’s considerable size includes a fabulous array of pristine landscapes and a nomadic people whose lives are in many ways unaffected from the days of Genghis Khan and his mighty Mongol Empire.
Itinerary in Detail
DAY 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 30min drive.
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in the afternoon/evening. Meet your tour guide at the airport, and transfer to the hotel and check in (standard check in time 12pm). Rest, free time.
Five Star Hotel***** (3 nights)
DAY 2: Ulaanbaatar city tour. 8hrs excursion. (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your tour guide at 10am to start the Ulaanbaatar city tour: we will visit the most principal sites of Ulaanbaatar including the Gandan monastery – a home to the 26m gilded statue of Megjid Janraisag, and the National Museum of Mongolia. Then walk the Central Square of Ulaanbaatar. Welcome lunch at a Mongolian restaurant.
Visit the Bogd Khan’s Palace Museum and Zaisan Memorial, and see a traditional folklore concert.
Transfer back to the hotel at 7.20pm.
Five Star Hotel*****
DAYS 3: A day excursion to the Giant Genghis Statue & Terelj National Park. 10hr excursion. (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide at 9am and drive for 1hr to the impressive 40m tall Genghis Khan Statue in the sacred Tuul river valley, and admire the scenery of Mongolian countryside. Then transfer to Terelj National Park, and have lunch at a Ger camp.
Visit the Temple of Meditation & the Turtle Rock (walking).
Return to Ulaanbaatar in the evening, and transfer back to the hotel by 7pm.
Five Star Hotel*****
DAY 4: Ulaanbaatar – Bayan Gobi sands. Nomadic family visit & camel ride. ~4hr drive. (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we head westwards to the Central Mongolian steppe, and reach the Bayan Gobi sand dunes. Arrive and transfer to Ger camp, lunch. Check into Gers.
Then visit the Khugnu Khan Mountains to visit a monastery ruins (walking), and a visit to a nomadic family.
In the evening enjoy a 2-hr sunset camel ride at the sand dunes.
Have dinner and stay overnight at the Ger camp.
Ger camp (en-suite)
DAY 5: A day excursion to Karakorum: Erdene Zuu monastery & Karakorum museum. ~2hr drive. (B,L,D)
After breakfast at 8.00am with a great view, we drive to Karakorum (Mongolia’s 13th century capital city) for about 1hr, upon arrival, we visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia founded in 1586. Take part in the morning chants. Then have lunch at a hotel nearby the monastery.
Afterwards, we will visit the Museum of Karakorum, and get some knowledge about the UNESCO world heritage site Orkhon River Valley and the ancient capital Karakorum. Take a walking to the Turtle Monument and the Phallic Stone.
Return to the Ger camp in Bayan Gobi sands by 7.30pm, have dinner and rest.
Ger camp (en-suite)
DAY 6: Bayan Gobi sand dunes – Ulaanbaatar. 4hr drive + 4hr excursion. (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the Ger camp. Today, we’ll reach Ulaanbaatar after some 3–4hrs drive. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to the hotel and check in. Rest a bit.
Visit a cashmere shop/souvenir shop and visit the Choijin Lame Temple Museum and have dinner at a restaurant overlooking the beautiful temple. Transfer back to the hotel by 8.30pm. rest.
Five Star Hotel*****
DAY 7: Departure. 30min drive (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free until transfer to the airport.
– End of Service –
TOUR RATES FOR 2017-2018 (in US$/per person):
|
4 |
5-10 | 11+ | Single supplement |
| 2540 | 2400 | 2150 |
650 |
Included in Service:
- English speaking local guide (Day 1-6)
- Sightseeing and entrance fees according to the itinerary
- Giant Genghis Statue tickets
- Private transportation (comfortable minivan/minibus with AC) + fuel, road taxes
- Airport transfers (saloon car/minivan)
- Twin/double share accommodation throughout the tour: excellent 5* hotel in Ulaanbaatar for 4 nights at5 star deluxe hotel room ; and 2 nights at en-suite Gers
- 2hr sunset camel ride at Bayan Gobi sand dunes
- 1 visit to a nomadic family with activities such as dairy making etc
- Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
- 5 l x 3 bottled water per day/pax
- Visa support invitation letter where applicable
- Exclusive Mongolia tour souvenir!
Not included:
- International Airfare/train ticket
- Travel insurance, health insurances.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc.
- Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
- Optional activities such as manicure/pedicure/massage etc
Best of the Gobi Desert extension 3-nights
Tour date 2017/2018: 15 June – 15 Sept due to flight availability (except 08-14 July)
DAY 1: Ulaanbaatar – the Gobi Desert, Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs. 80min flight +2hr drive (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet in the morning and drive to the airport for a morning flight to the Gobi (flight times: 06:00-07:20am)*. Upon arrival in the Gobi, transfer to the Deluxe camp, where we will stay for 3 nights. After check-in, we drive to Bayanzag also called as the Flaming Cliffs – one of the most known dinosaur remains site in the world. Indeed, it’s where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews made his discovery of dinosaur eggs in the early 1920s during his expedition to Asia. Andrews is believed to be the inspiration of the si-fi character explorer Indiana Jones. Visit the Red Cliffs (Flaming Cliffs) and explore for dinosaur remains, it does take some walking in the badlands and many people find the real thing! Admire the Gobi sunset over the red cliffs and it’s indeed the best time to view and photograph the Flaming Cliffs, people say.
Dinner and rest at en-suite Ger camp (3 nights).
Deluxe Ger camp (en-suite).
DAY 2: The Khongor sand dunes excursion. ~3hr drive one way. (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the Ger camp. Morning for for free around the Flaming Cliffs. After breakfast, we’ll then drive to the Khongor sand dunes – the biggest and most beautiful sand dunes in Mongolia. Arrive at the sand dunes in the early afternoon, visit the beautiful sand dunes and take some walking and climbing! Lunch at a tourist Ger camp nearby the sand dunes. Visit a nomadic camel breeder’s family and see their lifestyle. In the evening, return to the deluxe Ger camp.
Deluxe Ger camp (en-suite).
DAYS 3: Day excursion to the Yoliin Am Gorge, Gurvan Saikhan National Park. 2-3hr drive. (B,L,D)
Morning for leisure. After breakfast, drive to the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, and on arrival we will visit the glacial Yoliin Am Gorge (ice may melt away by late July). The beautiful narrow gorge is named for the Lammergeyer vultures – huge soaring birds in the mountains. This deep, shaded canyon offers visitors a glimpse of the Gobi’s many wild flowers, raptors, Ibex, and even a glacier – like ice field in the canyon bottom. Take some hiking & photography in the gorge. In the late afternoon, return to the deluxe Ger camp.
Deluxe Ger camp (en-suite).
DAYS 4: Yoliin Am Gorge, Gobi – Ulaanbaatar. 80min flight (B)
Morning flight to Ulaanbaatar (08:00-09:30hrs)*. On arrival transfer to hotel (check-in time 12pm). Free time for leisure until departure to the airport.
Five Star Hotel*****
|
3Nights Gobi Desert Extension Rates for 2017/2018 in US$/per person |
||||||
| 2 pax | 3 pax | 5 pax | 9 pax + | Single supplement | ||
| 2050 | 2000 | 1900 | 1800 |
350 |
||
*Flight times for summer 2018 to be confirmed in early April 2018
Included services:
- Full-time services of your English speaking local guide in the Gobi
- National park entrance fees
- Private transportation (4×4 vehicle with AC) in the countryside + fuel, road taxes
- Airport transfers in Ulaanbaatar (minivan with AC)
- Twin share accommodation: 5* hotel in Ulaanbaatar for 1 night; en-suite Gers for 3 nights.
- Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
- Ulaanbaatar – Gobi RT flight + Tax (10+5kg free luggage; 2-3$ per excess kilo)
- 5 l x 3 bottled water per day/pax
MONGOLIA INFORMATION
Mongolia is located in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zone. Situated at an average altitude of 1500 m above the sea level separated from the oceans, surrounded by high mountain chains that are blocking the wet winds, Mongolia has an extreme continental climate. The winter continues long with cold temperature but summer is hot and not so long. Winter lasts from November to late April, Spring May through June. Summer continued from July through to September. The average summer temperature is +20c (+65F). Winter is -20c (-13F). The wind is 1.5-4.5m/s. The average rainfall is 200-220 mm. In Mongolia there are 250 sunny days a year, often with clear cloudless skies. Therefore Mongolia is known to the world as a country of “Blue Sky”.
Mongolia is a landlocked country in Central Asia with the area of 1,565,000km². Total length of the border is 8,158km and out of that Mongolia shares 3,485km border with the Russian Federation to the north and 4,673km with the People’s Republic of China to the south. From western most to eastern most point is 2,392km and from northern most point to southern most point is 1,259km.The capital city Ulaanbaatar is the biggest city in the country; about 50% of the population lives in Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia is elevated on average about 1,580m above the sea level. In the north and west lie Altai, Khangai and Khentii mountain ranges. Gobi and desert regions spread throughout the east and south of the country. Much of the country consists of steppe. The highest point in Mongolia is the Khuiten Peak in the Tavan Bogd mountain range in the far west at 4,374m above the sea level. From the north to the south the country is divided into 4 major regions differing in natural and geographical features Khangai and Khentii, Altain mointains, Dornod plains and Gobi regions. Further, Mongolia is divided into six natural zones high mountain zone, taiga (forest) zone, forest steppe zone, steppe zone, desert steppe zone and desert zone. Mongolia is the 19th largest but the most sparsely populated independent country in the world.
Territory: 1.564.100 sq km, 19th and the most sparsely populated independent largest country in the world
Population: 2.754.314 people with density of 1.8 person/sq km
Geographic position: Mongolia lies in Central Asia and borders with Russia and China.
Average altitude: 1.580 m above sea level
Landscapes: Semi-desert and plains, mountains in the west and southwest, Gobi desert in the south and southeast, taiga forests and lakes in the north.
Visa: Philippine Citizens – No visa required. Maximum stay: 21days
US Citizens – No visa required. Maximum stay: 90 days
Passport: Valid passport required.
How to get there: Korean Airlines from Incheon, MIAT Mongolian Airlines from Hongkong, Incheon, Osaka, Tokyo, Beijing, Air China from Beijing
Currency: The tögrög or tugrik (code: MNT) is the official currency of Mongolia. It was historically subdivided into 100 möngö . Currently, the lowest denomination in regular use is the 10-tögrög note and the highest is the 20,000-tögrög note.
Official exchange rates: 11/21/2014
1 USD = MNT 1,900