August 5 Day 1 ~Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Upon arrival at Chinggis Khan International Airport, you are met by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel in the city center. The first stop is Sukhbaatar Square. This central square is named after Damdiny Sukhbaatar, the revolutionary hero of 1921 who declared independence from China. Next is a visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most famous functioning monastery in Mongolia. Here you will see the impressive Golden Buddha Statue of Migjid Janraisig and may even have the opportunity to experience monks in worship. Time permitting; you will visit the Natural History Museum, which is famous for its collection of authentic dinosaur skeletons found throughout Mongolia, and then take in a fantastic view of the entire city from Zaisan memorial hill. End the evening with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in 4* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 6 - Day 2 Naadam Festival

During whole lovely day you enjoy watch Naadam festival or three manly sports such as wrestling, archery and horse racing.
The Danshig Naadam festival will occur from August 6-7th in 2020. This festival is located in Ulaanbaatar, and while it will still hold archery, horse racing and wrestling competitions, it differs from the earlier Naadam festival with its focus on the history and practice of Buddhism in Mongolia. Drawing on the traditional yearly gatherings of the seven Mongol princes of the Khalka province, the Danshig Naadam represents a symbolic demonstration of unity as well as a religious and political event for the Khalka Mongols.
After the People’s Revolution of 1921, the religious elements of this festival were removed and the name was changed from Danshig Naadam to simply ‘Naadam’. The revival of the Danshig Naadam for the first time in 93 years by the administration of Ulaanbaatar city and the Gandantegchinlen Monastery of Mongolia under the auspices of the “Historic, Harmonious and Hospitable” initiative has reintroduced the religious importance of the event by including several performances and events highlighting Buddhism’s influence on the people and culture of Mongolia.
In addition to the horse racing, archery and wrestling competitions, Danshig Naadam celebrates ancient Buddhist traditions such as Tsam Dancing. Tsam came to Mongolia in the early 18th century, and was first performed in the country in 1786. A distinct form of mediation, Tsam dancing is a subtly complex ritual performance which requires significant study and training. Visitors will be transfixed by combination of music, dancing and the intricate and stunning masks, known as tsam masks, worn by the dancers.
In addition to the tsam dancing spectators can enjoy a variety of spectacles and activities not offered at the Naadam festival. These include a variety of Buddhist rituals, several competitions among monks and theoretical debates.
The distinctly Mongolian feel and flair of the Naadam Festival make it a wonderful spectacle, a joyous time, and an intriguing cultural event. Colorful ceremonies and parading soldiers kick off the celebrations. The ancient game of wrestling follows, with men competing in many rounds of competition. Both men and women compete in the archery games, using the traditional Mongolian compound bow that terrorized Europe when Genghis Khan and his Golden Horde moved their empire west. The quintessentially Mongolian art of horse racing follows, where up to 800 horses compete, jockeyed by children so that the skill of the horse, and not the rider, is tested.

Overnight in 4* HOTEL
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 7 - Day 3 Fly to the Gobi Desert (1.2 hours) and then drive to Yol Valley and Gurvansaikhan National Park

This morning we fly over vast steppe to the Gobi, Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Meet your local guide and driver and then transfer by 4WD vehicle to the Yol Valley in Gurvansaikhan National Park, situated in the lap of Altai Mountains. On the way to our lodge, we stop to visit the local Natural History Museum for an insight to the flora and fauna of the area.
The next three days will be well spent exploring the vast Gobi-the habitat of the Bactrian Camels, Argali mountain sheep, Golden Eagles, Jerboas that resembles the Kangaroo rats, Saker Falcons etc. We may also take a scenic hike through the valley to discover the habitat of indigenous vulture-like lammergeyers, Altai snow cocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali mountain sheep.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 8 - Day 4 Yol Valley to Hongoryn Els

After breakfast, take in the stunning scenery of the Gobi-Altai Mountain range as you transfer to the towering sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, home to the ‘Singing Sands’. These spectacular dunes got their name from the noise made by the shifting sand in the wind. Feel the breeze in your hair as you ride a camel across the dunes before returning to the ger camp. Isolated from the rest of the country, the Singing Sands are the best kept secret for thousand years in the history of Mongolia.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 9 - Day 5 Khongor sand dunes

Today we will have a full day exploring the sand dunes and rest after the long drive. The dunes seem to stretch on forever like a soft ribbon of sand draped over the desert. The shifting sand blown by the wind or someone makes sound so it is called Singing Sand Dunes. There is a beautiful green oasis known as Seruun bulag near the Khongor River. Return to the camp for lunch and enjoy feeling silence and a peaceful in the beautiful surroundings Gobi Deserts.

Overnight in Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 10 - Day 6 Khongor Sand Dune to the Flaming Cliffs

Following breakfast, we drive to Bayanzag. After lunch and some rest, we drive to Bayan Zag, popularly called as “The Flaming Cliffs” for its glowing orange rock. It was here, in 1922, that Dr. This area got international name as Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs here. The area is haven for the natural history scientists as the area is rich in dinosaur fossils.

Overnight in Ger Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 11 - Day 7 Day trip to Khavtsgait Petroglyphs

In the morning we drive to the site of the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs. The Khavtsgait Petroglyphs from the Bronze Age (4000-3000 BC) are beautifully carved on many rocks on the top of a sacred mountain. It is easy to find the rock paintings there because they are spread on rocks all around. The area is very rocky and can be slippery to climb, but by carefully following a path up the mountain, you can reach the top to see these beautiful rock paintings.
The petroglyphs were carved and painted with motifs consisting of animals, hunting scenes and weapons. They depict various animals related to everyday life of ancient people including deer, bears, wolves and hunters, and wolves with livestock. Other paintings depict more domestic scenes of yaks pulling carts, the wheels and horses flattened sideways like hieroglyphs, and herders on horseback. The engravings vary in size, ranging from two-centimeters to the real life size of horses.

Overnight in ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 12 - Day 8 Return to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we return to Muron for our afternoon flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel in the city and rest of the day is open for you to pursue your own interest.

Overnight in 4* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 13 - Day 9 to Lake Khovsgul in the North.

1.2 hours flight to Muron and 3 hrs drive to the Lake Khovsgul

Following breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for flight to Muron in the north. Muron is the headquarter of the Khovsgul Province. We meet our local guide at the airport and then we drive by 4WD vehicle through the vast Mongolian steppe into the forested mountains and finally we arrive at the Lake Khuvsgul-Mongolia's largest lake. The lake, also known as the "Dark Blue Pearl" of Mongolia is situated amidst the pristine nature with beautiful forests, mountains and meadows and abundant with bird species and orchids.

Overnight in Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 14 - Day 10 Discover Khuvsgul National park

During whole lovely day, you will have an opportunity to ride reindeer and observe them. We spend the next two days in walking, hiking, horseback riding in the environs of the lake and the nearby mountains and visiting the local nomadic families. Optional boating trip is available on request.
Khuvsgul Lake is reckoned among the purest fresh water lakes in the world. Its surroundings right out of a fairytale. Khuvsgul Lake is the second deepest lake in Central Asia and contains 60% as much water as Lake Baikal. Depth of Khuvsgul Lake is 262 meters and 136 kilometers long. Walking and hiking in the lake shores, Horse riding trek near the lake, visiting yak breeding family and experience their unique lifestyle

Overnight in Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 15 - Day 11 Back to Ulaanbaatar

Following breakfast, transfer back to the airport and fly to Ulaanbaatar. Once in the city, you will have the chance to stop and shop for authentic Mongolian cashmere at the factory store. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, a residence of Bodg Jabzan Damba Hutagt VIII who was Mongolia's last theocrat. In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner and attend the local folklore dance show.

Overnight in 4* hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

August 16 - Day 12 Depart Mongolia

Transfer to the airport for flight to next destination