Walking Mongolia - Khangai Mountain
Included In-Country Services
Walking Mongolia is a Wonderful Experience for All Ages!
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Sightseeing and Welcoming Dinner
On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your 4 star hotel. There will be plenty of time for sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar including Gandan Monastery and the Bogd King Palace, which is series of beautiful traditional buildings where the last religious King of Mongolia resided. Also visit the National History Museum. There will be some time for shopping before an evening concert of Mongolian traditional music and dance. Lunch dinner at local restaurant, overnight at a 4 star Hotel.
Before We Start Walking Mongolia, We’ll Drive Overland by Jeep to Ugii Lake
At 8:30 am we pick you up from your hotel. Today we start our journey with a 380 km, 8 hour, drive to Ugii Lake via the Mongol Els sand-dunes. On the way we’ll see spectacular mountain and steppe scenery, nomad families and animals pasturing on the plain. We will have a picnic lunch along the way. The road is smoothly paved, but for the last 90 km we drive on white countryside roads arriving at the lake in the early evening. The lake is a bird paradise and is one of the most fantastic fishing spots in Mongolia. You can see very rare species of birds at this lake, which are no longer found elsewhere in the world, such as Platalea leuucorodia linnaeus and Haliaeetus albicilla lennaeus. In the late evening, you may see an amazing golden sunset on the lake. We will camp, and have dinner at the shore of the Lake Ugii.
Overland by Jeep to Mongolia’s Karakorum and Orkhon Waterfall
After a relaxing morning at the camp we drive to Karakorum, ancient capital of Mongolia at the time of the Mongol Empire, via Ordubaliik. Ordubaliik is also known by the name Khar Balgas, and was the capital of the Uigars in the VIII-IX century, and was not only the state center, but also the center of trade, manufacture, handicraft, culture and religion.
It was destroyed in 840 AD by the Kyrgyz conquerors. Now, all that remains of this once-great capital is ruins, where we’ll stop and view the surrounding area from the top of a tower. We continue our drive to Karakorum. There’s nothing left from this great capital of the world. In 1586, under the rule of the King Avtai Sain, the Erdene-Zuu Monastery was built at the site of the ruins of Karakorum.
The Erdene-Zuu (Hundred Treasures) was destroyed during the Stalinist purges of the 1930’s, but there are still various Buddhist statues, works of art, religious instruments and even Tsam religious dance masks at the monastery. There are 108 amazing stupas surrounding the monastery. After exploring the monastery we will drive 105 km to the Orkhon Waterfall. We will have dinner and camp at Ulaan Ereg, on the bank of the Orkhon River.
Today We’ll Start Walking Mongolia and head towards Boorog Valley
Our 18 km linear hike begins from Ulaan Ereg to Boorog Valley, via Khorgoi Khurem. Today’s hike is easy, and the road to Boorog Valley is smooth and flat. We hike upstream of the Bituut River and see the volcanic lava that is found throughout this valley. On the way we will enjoy the sound of streams and birdsong. At the end of the hike, we meet our supporting vehicles and herdsmen. Dinner and camp overnight in the Boorog Valley.
Today’s Walking Mongolia Program will take us to Shireet Lake
Our exotic hike continues early in the morning after a sumptuous breakfast. Today we will walk 18 km. First, we go through Bodon Pass, a densely forested area where many wild berries grow. There is a clear horse trail leading the way through the forest. Our road takes us to Naiman Nuur (Eight Lakes) valley and the first lake we see is Khuis (Navel) Lake – there is a large rock island in the middle of this lake, from which it takes its name.
After a picnic-lunch at the shore of the lake we continue our hike to Lake Shireet, (a further 8 km), where we will fish and camp for the night. Shireet is the largest, and most picturesque of the 8 lakes. Dinner and camp overnight on the shore of Lake Shireet.
Today We Continue Walking Mongolia towards Mount Bugat & Gyalalzakh for a Hike and then Onwards to Baruun River Camp
Today we continue our hike (17 km) to the Baruun River, on the top of the Gyalalzakh Mountain range. We first climb Mount Bugat, followed by Mount Gyalalzakh, which is 3165 m above sea level. On the way we’ll enjoy stunning views of the volcanic craters and the picturesque 8 lakes from the mountain range. We will have a picnic lunch at the peak of Mount Gyalalzakh. Afterwards, we will continue hiking to our camping spot on the bank of the Baruun River. Dinner and camp on the banks of the Baruun River.
Hiking and Walking Mongolia – Suv Valley & Pass
Today we hike 8 km down the Baruun River valley to the Suv River. The Baruun River valley is forested and rocky, and the River flows through canyons in parts. We enter the Suv River valley from the left. After 3 km we hike up Zuslan Valley and walk along the top of the mountains, offering beautiful views of the valleys below. We’ll have lunch at the mouth of Zuslan Valley. We reach our camping spot early today, and our supporting vehicles (which will be with us the rest of the trip) will meet us here.
Hiking and Walking Mongolia – Adgiin Bituun Canyon and Mount Erkhet
This morning we say “goodbye” to our herdsman and continue the hike alone. Today we walk down through the Suv Pass valley to Adgiin Bituut Canyon. The road from Suv Pass to the canyon is easy, flat and smooth. Adgiin Bituut Canyon is 35-45 m high, rocky and forested, with the Khukh River flowing through it. We will enjoy the sound of streams and birdsong.
In the canyon, it is as if you are in Alice’s Wonderland. After lunch we walk through the Arliin Denj, an area of lovely open grassland where we will have the chance to meet and visit nomadic people and families and experience the nomadic lifestyle. Dinner and camp at the holy Mount Erkhet.
Ascending Mount Erkhet
Our ascent of Holy Mt. Erkhet begins early in the morning. The climb takes three and a half hours. We climb up along the ridge to the peak. Holy Mt. Erkhet, which is 3535 m above sea level, is the second-highest peak in the Khangai Mountain range. The mountain is colorful and picturesque, and the views from the peak are spectacular. Picnic lunch at the peak of the Holy Mountain. We will go downhill following the ridge to the Tamch River valley. Dinner and camp on the banks of the Tamch River.
Hiking and Walking Mongolia towards Yol Rock Camp
We continue our hike to Yol Rock which is a walk of about 18 km. We walk through Tamch Valley, with pasturing animals on the plain, and pass through the beautiful Tamch River canyon. We reach our campsite early in the evening. We will camp at Yol Rock, the most beautiful camping spot in the area. We will set up our base camp here. Dinner and tented camp.
Hiking and Walking Mongolia towards Dood Jalga Camp
Today we hike to Uliastai River via the Khorkhoit Mountain range. First we hike up the forested Khorkhoit Mountain range. So many wild berries grow there, that it looks like a carpet to the north. The view is fantastic from the top of the mountains. We go downhill following a horse trail in the forest. Picnic lunch at Baanchig Denj. We continue our hike along a smooth trail to the campsite. Dinner and camp at Dood Jalga, which is on the banks of the Uliastai River.
Hiking and Walking Mongolia towards Ulaan Ereg Camp
Today is our last hiking day. We hike 6 km to the Orkhon River along the Uliastai River, then up the forested mountain, continuing our hike to Ulaan Ereg, which is our first campsite on the bank of the Orkhon River. On the way we will have a picnic lunch at the mouth of Zegstei Valley. Dinner and overnight camp at Ulaan Ereg.
Overland by Jeep towards Mount Khogno Khan & Mongol Els Sand Dunes Camp
After a relaxing morning at the camp we drive to Mount Khogno Khaan via Karakorum. We arrive at our campsite in the early evening. There will be time to relax and to watch the sun set over the sand-dunes. Dinner and overnight camp at the Mongol Els sand-dunes.
Explore the Sand Dunes before Returning to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, you can have great fun running up and down the Mongol Els sand- dunes. We will then depart for Ulaanbaatar, where we will arrive mid-afternoon.
Departure
You will be taken to the airport for your international departure after an ample breakfast.
NTM-002: 2-16 July
NTM-006: 13-27 Aug
Price per person for a group more than 9 people: USD 2,586
Transportation within Mongolia. Single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost. Tented accommodation while on trek, three meals a day, English-speaking guide, transfers, camel or horse hire where specified, support staff, including drivers, horse/camel men, and camp assistants.
International transportation, travel insurance, visas, departure tax, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature.
It is the responsibility of the client to be fully covered with travel and medical insurance while traveling in Mongolia.
Upon request, single supplement in the countryside can be provided at the additional cost. In case single accommodation in ger camps was not provided the amount would be calculated based on the missing nights and reimbursed. Nomads cannot be held responsible for over bookings, as long as the company can prove with sufficient documentation that overbooking has been the error of the third party.
Should circumstances beyond our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, any changes of the domestic flight or train schedules, require a change of itinerary, we will inform your agent and propose an equivalent itinerary. Again, Nomads cannot take over the responsibility for the Airlines or the National Train Company. The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa, and the necessary passport pictures.
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