HIGHLIGHTS OF MONGOLIA & NAADAM FESTIVAL 2023

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by Amicus driver in the arrivals hall at the international airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, free at leisure and have a good rest to recover from the jet lag. If you feel like going for a walk and checking out places nearby, feel free to ask the hotel receptionist for recommendations.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: None

Genghis Khan’s Statue Complex – Terelj National Park trip

In the morning at 8.30am, we will drive to see Genghis Khan Statue Complex, which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. There is a recreation area, restaurants, and souvenir shops occupy the base structure. From here, we use an elevator or walk to the head of the horse through chest and back neck of the horse, where we can have farseeing and good panorama view over the complex area.
We will drive continue to Terelj National Park, this is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia. You can see the extraordinary formation of rocks and stones; some of them look quite similar to turtles.
After lunch at Ger camp, take short drive to see Turtle Rock – interesting rock formation looking like a turtle and visit Ariyabal meditation temple – surrounded by scenic mountains with massive rock formations and sits at top of the mountain. The distance between the gate and the actual temple is about 1 km and it is only accessible by walking. To get to the top, you would cross the suspension bridge and climb up on 108 stairs, according to Buddhist prayer beads. This small hike is seen as a ritual to cleanse one’s sins. From the top, you can enjoy the breathtaking view overlooking the Terelj National Park.
Also, we will visit local nomadic family to experience firsthand how people live the country side, a lifestyle which has not changed for centuries. Here you can help the herders with their daily tasks to get an idea of how nomadic people alongside of their livestock.
Drive back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L.

Naadam festival opening ceremony – half day city tour

Today, we will be attending the opening ceremony of the Festival of naadam in Ulaanbaatar national stadium. It’s Mongolia’s biggest, most colorful and most important annual cultural event, focusing on three sports: horse racing, Mongolian-style wrestling, and archery. It’s no coincidence that all three skills derive from the capabilities of Genghis Khan’s legendary military – a force that conquered and controlled the largest empire the world has ever known.

• At 8am picked up from the hotel lobby, join in naadam group and visit central naadam stadium.
• First visit is stadium of ankle-bone shooting competition.
• Next, visit the archery field. The field will be filled with men and women archers in colorful ethnic national costumes who shooting arrows from their bows.
• We will wander around outside of the Naadam stadium to watch locals who dressed their national costumes, food and trade corners etc.
• Afterwards, we will enter into main stadium for the opening ceremony of Naadam Festival.
• Once finish the opening ceremony, we will watch the beginning of 1st part of Mongolian national wrestling. In the usual 512 wrestler tournament, there will be nine elimination rounds of wrestling over two days.
• After lunch, we will start guided city tour and visit “Gandan” Monastery, Mongolia’s largest functioning Buddhist monastery. Listen to the horns calling lamas and monks to temple, and capture the monks’ daily rituals while visiting the adjoining Megjid Janraisig and Temples. The temple houses feature a 26-meter-high majestic gilded statue of Migjid Janraisig.
• Next, we will visit Bogd Khaan Palace Museum – The complex was built between 1893 and 1903 dedicated to the 8th Bogd Javzandamba, the head of Mongolian religion. The palace museum consists of seven Summer Prayer temples and the winter palace.
• Afterwards, visit Zaisan Memorial Hill is located in the south side of Ulaanbaatar City, right beside the Bogd Khan Mountain having a best view of the city and surrounding hills. Transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L.

Naadam, horse racing at Hui doloon khudag –Hugnu Khan Mt. National Park

• Early this morning at 07.30am, we will drive out of the city for a hour to Hui Doloon hudag (horse racing field of Naadam festival) for witness the Naadam horse races, featuring children riding bareback across the steppe. All of these racers from each corners of Mongolia.
• You will experience the brilliant madness of the horse race field and the unsurpassed cultural opportunity to watch the horse racing competition included around 150-200 horses. Also, there are you will have a great opportunity to take photography local horse trainers, peoples with traditional garments and so more contrast.

After exploring the Hui doloon khudag, drive to Hugnu Khan National Park – It is a picturesque area of Rocky Mountains, semi desert, Gobi sand dunes and steppes all in one location represents three different natural zones. There is ideal for hiking, wild life observation and photography. There we will visit the Uvgun Monastery in the national park through the semi-desert and interesting Rocky Mountains in beautiful Mountain View.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Karakorum & Erdenezuu Buddhist Monastery

After relaxing breakfast, head to Kharkhorin, a small village, and one of the country’s major tourist destinations. Historically known as Karakorum, which was an ancient capital of Mongolia Empire founded by Genghis Khan in 1220. Also, Karakorum was one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road.
In the afternoon, we will visit the museum of Karakorum and learn more about the beautiful ancient Karakorum city and Genghis Khan.
Continue to visit the magnificent and the oldest Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu, built in the 16th century, with 108 buddhist stupas. Here you can see interesting listen to monk chanting Buddhist sutras.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Ongi River valley, Middle Gobi

Following breakfast, we will travel through the rolling hills and pastureland and heading to the Gobi.
In the late afternoon, we reach at Tourist camp, which is near to the ruined monastery of Ongi Temple along the Ongi River makes a good resting place to break a trip between the two major destinations.
Ongi temple was established in 1660 and once composed of 30 temples, 4 big Buddhism universities. It was destroyed by the communist purges of the 1930s and is being restored by a number of monks.
Nowadays that one temple serves as a small museum. We will explore around and ruins of the monastery.
If you want, you can have pleasant massage and sauna at the camp.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Ongi steppe – Bayanzag (Flaming cliffs), Gobi

On this day, we will pass the huge open landscape called Ongi steppe, which is over 80km wide steppe in the Gobi zone and arrive in the midday at the Bayanzag (Flaming cliffs). This area is a famous for containing exceptional dinosaur fossils in the heart of the Gobi Desert. Also, this area is well known for red tall hillocks formed as a result of wind and water erosion, which look like fire in the middle of the desert from a distance.
Roy Chapman Andrews and American expedition discovered the first nests of dinosaur eggs from Bayanzag in the 1923. Their findings proved to the world that dinosaurs laid eggs
We will explore around significant area, including the saxual trees and wander on the red hillocks. Occasionally the pieces of fossilized bones and eggs are still found by visitors. If you found something, don’t touch it, because of removing fossils without a permit is illegal.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Khongor sand dunes, the biggest sand dunes in Gobi

Today, we will drive through the wilderness of the Gobi to the extraordinary of Khongor, which is one of the most scenic areas of the Gobi Desert. This impressive white sand dunes stretch more than 180km and highest point is around 300m known as Duut Mankhan.
Upon arrival at the tourist camp near to the sand dunes, we will have lunch and time for relaxing at cozy Ger camp until Gobi hot temperature decrease.
In the late afternoon, we will visit local camel herder family in their gear, and explore their unique nomadic lifestyle.
Then, we will ride a camel and explore the area from the camel back. Around the area is the perfect place for camel riding. Mongolia is home to 2/3 of the two-humped Bactrian camels in the world. It is a gentle, calm and extraordinary patient animal.
Afterwards, we will make a little excursion to a beautiful green oasis of Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River and sand dunes. Then, take a little drive to the highest point of sand dunes known as Singing Dune and climb up to the Duut Mankhan.
When it is windy some of the dunes give a strange sound like the engines of an aero plane. From the top of the sand dunes, the view of the desert is awesome and a breathtaking view. If you want, we can see the amazing sunshine panorama of sand dunes from the top.
Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Yol Valley, Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park.

After breakfast, we will go ahead to the Yol valley (also called Yolyn Am & Eagle valley) situated in the “Three beauties of Gobi” Mt. National Park. This green valley is one of the main highlights in the Gobi Desert and sheltered by high cliff walls and covered with wild flowers and Gobi plants.
In winter season, a narrow stream in the valley creates ice on the bottom of the valley that even lasts during the summer months.
The walk through the valley is a lot of fun, about an hour walking there and an hour of walking back by walking the same route, where you climb over rocks and must jump over the small river. If this walking seems challenging, you can just walk to the middle of the way or horseback through the valley.
The high cliffs that flank the valley are very impressive. You may be lucky enough to spot wild sheep and goat, grazing high on the cliff walls.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Tsagaan suvarga (White Stupa)

In the morning, we will drive towards to Tsagaan Suvarga. We will drive through endless steppes and wildlife of the Middle Gobi province.
Upon arrival at the Ger camp just beside the Tsagaan Suvarga, we will check-in and have a lunch. Tsagaan Suvarga is big escarpment with 200m height and 400m. The eerie, eroded landscape was once beneath the sea and is rich in marine fossils and clam shells. Over 10 million years the wind has created this amazing structure. This area is an excellent site for hiking and taking photography of the beautiful panoramic views.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Baga gazar National Park

After breakfast, our trip to Baga Gazriin Chuluu which is a beautiful landscape with amazing rock formations.
Check-in and lunch at tourist Ger camp. It is a kind of hotel that serves guests with Ger (yurt) instead of a hotel room and always located at the best viewing spot.
In the afternoon, explore the surrounding area. The area is a home for many species of wild animals and birds, such as gazelles, ibex, vultures, hawks and eagles.
Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D.

Ulaanbaatar & half day city tour

This morning we will take 4hrs drive back to Ulaanbaatar. After lunch in the city, transfer to the hotel for rest and refreshment. If you want to go shopping for souvenirs and local products, your guide will be ready to serve you for that.
At 4.30pm, picked up from the hotel and visit Genghis Khan’s square & Parliament House. Then we will visit for a famous cultural show in the city, which is featuring traditional performances by singers, dancers and contortionists. It’s a great chance to hear Khoomii (throat singing) and see some fabulous costumes.
After dinner, transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*. Meals: B, L, D.

Departure

You will be free at leisure in your hotel or wander around on your own until being escorted to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your departure flight home. End of service. Meal: Breakfast