6-day whistle-stop Mongolia tour
Bite-sized yet big in personality, this trip is perfect for those with limited time in Mongolia, as it encompasses iconic sights of the mountainous central Khangai region. Experience tent camping in the Mini Gobi Desert, two nights sleeping in an authentic yurt alongside local nomadic families, and two further nights in a cosy tourist camp. Beautiful attractions you'll behold along the way include the Khogno Khan Reserve, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and Hustai National Park. Ride on the backs of horses and Bactrian camels, hike to hilltop temples, bathe in hot springs, see wild takhi horses from afar, and learn about the local customs and culture on this truly immersive trip.
Services
Included:
- All accommodations, including one night in Ulaanbaatar
- 5x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner
- Airport transfer on last day
- Daily water
- Driver and gasoline
- English-speaking tour guide
- Three horseback riding and camel riding experiences
- Local guides
- Entrance fees to national parks, protected areas and museums as per the itinerary
- Camping table and chairs for meals when necessary
- Sleeping bags when necessary
Excluded:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals in Ulaanbaatar and any other meal not specified in the itinerary
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Any excursion-related costs not listed in the itinerary
Optional:
- Local mobile sim card
- Airport transfer on first day (USD 35)
- Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar (USD 110 per twin room)
Itinerary at a Glance
Chinggis Khaan International Airport - Khogno Khan National Park
The sand dunes of Elsen-Tasarkhai
Tsenkher Hot Springs
Bathe in hot springs
Kharkhorin
Visit Mongolia's former capital
Hustai National Park
Watch wild horses roam free
Ulaanbaatar
Explore the modern-day capital
Chinggis Khaan International Airport
Return to the airport
Detailed Itinerary
Chinggis Khaan International Airport - Khogno Khan National Park
Day 1: The sand dunes of Elsen-Tasarkhai
Welcome into the heart of central Mongolia! Upon your arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, journey to Elsen-Tasarkhai, about 290km away (an optional airport transfer is available to facilitate your travels). Also known as the Mini Gobi Desert, this area presents a unique combination of mountains, forests, and Gobi-like sands all in one location.
You'll have the opportunity to experience an exhilarating Bactrian camel ride across the dunes, trekking to the hilltop Erdene Khamba Monastery, which was carved out of the mountain in the 17th century. Tonight you'll stay in a Mongolian ger yurt, alongside a nomadic family from whom you will learn about the unique Mongolian way of life and culture.
Tsenkher Hot Springs
Day 2: Bathe in hot springs
From Elsen-Tasarkhai, you'll travel on to Tsenkher to experience a wonderfully relaxing session in its hot spring baths, which are said to help treat your nervous system and arthritis. Afterwards, settle down in a cosy ger camp that's more geared towards tourists, for a sound night's sleep under the stars.
Kharkhorin
Day 3: Visit Mongolia's former capital
Today you'll travel to Kharkhorin, a district within the Uvurkhangai province, and known as the former Mongolian capital. Established in 1220, this important site was one of the stops on the Silk Road, and was the heart of the Mongolian Empire up until its capital shifted to Beijing under Kublai Khan. Today, the historic capital's remnants are largely gone, yet you can still soak up its atmosphere and visit Erdene Zuu, built in 1586 and known to be the oldest religious monastery in existence, surrounded by 108 holy stupa burial mounds.
Hustai National Park
Day 4: Watch wild horses roam free
From Kharkhorin, you'll journey about 308km towards Hustai National Park, a breathtaking mountainous expanse that's famous for being the home of Przewalski wild horses (also known as takhi). The last undomesticated horse breed, they are direct descendants of prehistoric horses and are a truly magnificent sight to watch from afar, in their natural habitat.
Ulaanbaatar
Day 5: Explore the modern-day capital
From Hustai National Park, you'll transfer about 100km to Ulaanbaatar, watching the landscape morph from wild plains to city high-rises, still surrounded by a mountainous backdrop. Check into your hotel and enjoy some time to rest, followed by an afternoon at leisure - why not enjoy some museum-hopping, marvel up at the Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex, or head out souvenir-shopping? In the evening, you'll enjoy a traditional Tumen Ekh Ensemble performance, filled with Mongolian music, songs and dance.
Chinggis Khaan International Airport
Day 6: Return to the airport
After breakfast at your hotel, it's time to bid farewell to Mongolia: you'll transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your return flight home.
