mnogolia 2013

The land of Genghis Khan, Mongolia is a sparsely populated country of nomadic peoples who travel with their camel, reindeer, and goat herds. We will be traveling through this varied land of Outer Mongolia (as opposed to Inner Mongolia, a province of China) that borders Siberia in the north and China in the south. We will start our trek in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and then move on to the Gobi Desert with its extraordinary mountain ranges, massive dunes, and wildlife. From there, we will head north to the grassy steppe region and on to the alpine region of the vast Lake Khovsgol on the border of Siberia. We will be staying in fully equipped ger (aka yurt) camps along the way.

DATE	DESTINATION	TOURS & SIGHT-SEEING	MEALS
May 23, 2013	Ulaanbaatar (Mongolian capital)	Arrive Ulaanbaatar and meet guide and driver. Transfer to hotel and check in. Free time in the city until 5pm. Late afternoon visit to Zaisan Memorial for panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at Bayangol Hotel.	D
May 24	Yoliin am Valley	Fly to the South Gobi region over the magnificent open steppe and extraordinary views of the desert. Visit Eagle Valley, known as Yoliin Am, located in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park in the Altai Mountain range. Wild sheep, ibex, and golden eagles are frequently seen in this area. Overnight at the Gobi Discovery 1 ger camp. (Note: "Ger" is the Mongolian word for "yurt".)	BLD
May 25-26	Khongor sand dune	Drive to the Khongor sand dune, known as Singing Dune, via the Dungenee Canyon. Khongor sand dune is one of the largest sand dunes of Mongolia, approximately 100km long and 12km wide. The Khongor River provides an oasis at the northern edge of the sand dunes. We will also visit a local camel herding family. Stay 2 nights at Gobi Discovery 2 ger camp.	BLD
May 27-29	Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), Ongi Temple	Drive to Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), an important site for both archaeological and paleontological findings. American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews (the real Indiana Jones) discovered this area in the early 20th century and made it known throughout the world. Complete dinosaur skeletons and eggs have been excavated from these red cliffs. In the afternoon, take a short hike through a saxaul tree forest. The next day, drive to the Ongi Temple ruins, one of the largest temples in Mongolia, which was built in the 1780s. During Communist repression in the 1930s, this temple was destroyed, and many monks were executed and jailed. Three nights at the Gobi Tour ger camp.	BLD
May 30-31	Karakorum	Drive to Karakorum, the capital of Mongolia at its height of power. Along the way, visit a local family and stop for shooting. Late afternoon arrival in the town of Karakorum on June 2. Early in the morning on June 3, visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery built in 1586 for the daily ritual of chanting. Two nights at Munkhtenger ger camp.	BLD
June 1	Khustain Nuruu National Park	Drive to Khustain Nuruu (Birch Mountains) National Park, where the Takhi wild horse is being reintroduced. On the way, stop at the Bayangobi sand dune for lunch and photo opportunities. Overnight at Khustain ger camp.	BLD
June 2	Khustain Nuruu National Park to Ulaanbaatar	After an early breakfast, drive to the core zone of the national park to see wild horses known as Przewalski horses, the last remaining wild horses in the world. Arrive late afternoon in Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at Bayangol hotel.	BLD
June 3-5	Khuvsgul Lake via Murun	Fly to Khuvsgul Lake via the city of Murun. Lake Khuvsgul, known as the Mongolian Switzerland, is a massive lake surrounded by green forest mountains on the border of Siberia. Visit the Tsaatan people, known as reindeer people, who live approximately 50km from our campsite. We will visit two families - a Tsaatan reindeer herding family and a Shaman family. Our last day at Khuvsgul Lake is free for hiking or horseback riding. Three nights at Baigal uud ger camp.	BLD
June 6	Ulaanbaatar	Fly to Ulaanbaatar. Shopping opportunities for Mongolian cashmere and souvenirs. In the evening, enjoy a Mongolian folk music and dance performance. Overnight at the Bayangol Hotel.	BLD
June 7	Departure	Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for departure.	B

Single supplement: $700 If requested, we will help you find a roommate, but if one is not found, you will be at the single rate. These fees are designed for a credit card charge for the initial deposit and checks for subsequent payments. If you desire to use a credit card for entire trip payment, more fees will be applied.

Deposit $1000 required at registration, $2000 required by November 01, 2012, and balance due March 01, 2013.

Above price is based on a minimum of 8 participants. Less than 8 will result in a price modification with participant's option to withdraw without penalty.