Monasteries and Nomads
Arrive Ulaan Baatar where you will be met and transferred to your homestay for one night. After you have time to refresh you will be taken on a two hour orientation walking tour of UB. In the evening you will be taken to a folk show. This will last about one and a half hours. Afterwards you will be taken to a Guanz (local restaurant) where you can try some famous Mongolian mutton food called Buuz (drinks at own expense). You will then be driven back to your homestay.
Depart UB after breakfast and drive north on a good sealed road. Just before Darkhan, and only about 80km from the Russian border, you turn east and drive to Amarbayasgalant Khiid (Monastery). The last 30km is off-road through some beautiful scenery and past some nomadic Gers. After checking in at the Tourist Ger Camp you will be given a tour of the Khiid.
After breakfast it is time to drive to Erdenet and on to Bulgan through more beautiful countryside. Tonight you will camp next to a river near the village of Erdenemandal.
You will wake up this morning after a very relaxed sleep. After breaking camp you will drive to the town of Tsetserleg. Here you will have lunch and visit the Zayain Gegeenii Sum Monastery with its fine museum. You will also have time to visit the local market. After lunch you will drive through the Tamir River Valley and camp next to the Tamir River near a Nomadic Ger.
Morning drive to Kharkhorin where you visit Erdenzuu Monastery. After lunch you drive east toward Ulaan Baatar. However about half way there you come across the sand dunes of Mongol Els. After a drive through the dunes you will be taken to a Tourist Ger Camp.
After a leisurely breakfast you will drive back to Ulaan Baatar and your homestay. There will be time in the afternoon to do any last minute shopping.
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport or railway station.
Price includes
All accommodation according to your itinerary
Transfers as specified in the itinerary
Four wheel drive vehicle in the countryside
Breakfast in Ulaan Baatar and all meals in the country
Bottle of top notch vodka upon arrival (why not)
All camping equipment including sleeping bags
Two hour orientation tour in UB upon arrival
Entrance to the Folk Show (May to September)
Buuz at a local Guanz in UB
Mountain bike if booked
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How to get to Ulaan Baatar
Train #23 arrives in
Ulaan Baatar at approx 1400 after departing Beijing at 0740 the previous
day. This train operates twice a week. There is also a daily train from Irkutsk arriving UB at 0553 two days
later. There are daily flights from Beijing and regular flights from Seoul,
Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo and Irkutsk.
Departing Ulaan Baatar
Train #263 departs daily
to Irkutsk departing at 2110 and train #24 departs to Beijing twice a week.
There
are daily flights to Beijing and regular flights to Seoul, Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo
and Irkutsk.
Accommodation
This package is based
upon using homestays in UB with Tourist Gers and tents as per the itineraries.
However, should you prefer hotel accommodation in UB please ask. This will cost
more and the price will depend on what standard of hotel you wish and what room
types are available.
Visa
Australia/UK/New Zealand
passport holders require a visa for Mongolia. US passport holders do not require
a visa and all other nationalities should check with Passport Travel, their
travel agent or the nearest Mongolian Consulate.
NB All trips visit a Nomadic Ger for some local hospitality and/or camp next to a Nomadic Ger. However vegetarians and those who are lacto intolerant beware