Others

Surface transportation - Road taxes - Accommodation as mentioned - River guide - Hardshell Kayak and with accessories - Sightseeing and activities as specified - Entrance fees of National parks and Museums - Meals as specified.

Meals

At ger homestays, meals will be traditional Mongolian home cooking such as Mongolian rice porridge for breakfast and Tsuivan(stir-fry with homemade noodles), or Buuz(steamed dumplings) for lunch and dinner. During your time at ger camps, meals will be a mix of Western Mongolian cuisine, breakfast is a continental buffet style along with cooked options. Dinner is often a three-course set menu of traditional dishes with a Western twist. Generally, the water quality in Mongolia is good. But as a precaution, we advise our guests to drink bottled water that can be purchased in shops, food markets and kiosks in the capital and many of the provincial centres as well as in tourist camps in the countryside. Mineral water is usually not included in our trips as we aim to produce as little plastic waste as possible. But we do provide plenty of warm drinks such as tea and coffee during our trips.

Guide

At Tour Mongolia, we believe that a good guide is essential to the enjoyment of any trip. Knowledge, enthusiasm, good humour, proactivity, language and communication skills need to combine with responsibility and sensitivity to guests’ needs. Your guide will be English-speaking and hand-picked by us to suit your itinerary and requirements. Each guide is personally briefed on all elements of the trip. You will be sent guide details in the confirmation document before your tour.

Accommodation

During your journey, you will be staying at authentic guest gers alongside Nomad families, and depending on the season in a guest ger or in Ger camps. Gers are equipped with beds, linen, stoves, tables and chairs and have electric lighting. Bathrooms and showers are only available at ger camps and hotels or hostels, with homestay facilities being the natural basis. Ger alongside the Nomadic family stays - 5 nights Ger camps stay - 2 nights

Transport

On the dust of the desert and mud of the steppe, high mountains, and rocky trails of the river basin the Russian off-road MPV such as UAZ provides safety for your trip. These 4x4 vehicles are specifically tuned for rough off-roading that is inevitable when travelling in the wilds of Mongolia. They provide ample space and are well maintained while offering good luggage space, seat belts and strong.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurences are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Gandan Monastery - Gurvanbulag - Horse Ride
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Gandan Monastery - Gurvanbulag - Horse Ride

You will be picked up from a pre-arranged Ulaanbaatar location at a time to suits you - We suggest leaving around 8:30 am to make the most of the day. Jump in the vehicle with your guide and stop off at Gandan Monastery - enter the temples, including the Megjid Janraisig with its huge golden Buddha statue. In the old temple complex listen to the chanting ceremonies which happen mid-morning. Afterwards, board the vehicle again and head west to the northern part of Gobi, It’s onto Gurvanbulag, where you will be staying at a community ger camp. After settling into your ger and will have lunch. In the afternoon you will have a chance to do a few hours of horse riding in the surrounding hills and the dunes nearby. Or you can walk if you prefer. In the evening you will attend the lesson of “Shagai”. It’s a game where you use the ankle bones of sheep to play many different types of games. Or experience Mongolian archery and Mongolian Knuckle bone shooting on a target to check your accuracy.

   Travel details: 4hr/290km to Gurvanbulag

   Accommodation: Community ger camp

   Meals included: Lunch; Dinner
Day 2 Karakhorum - Erdene Zuu Monastery - Monument Of 3 Kings
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Karakhorum - Erdene Zuu Monastery - Monument Of 3 Kings

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Karakhorum. First visit Erdene Zuu Monastery in time to hear the monks chanting, which takes place from 10 am. Take a walk around the main temples, and stroll around the grounds. You should arrive at the camp in time for lunch. Afterwards, take a guided tour of the interesting local museum showcasing the Mongolian Past. Visit the local felt workshop and Art Gallery. If you are up for it, you can stroll to the Monument of the 3 Kings overlooking the Orkhon River and the fertility stone on the edge of town.

    Travel details: 2hr/150km to Karakhorum; short drives in town

    Accommodation: Ger camp

    Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 3 Orkhon Valley - Yak Herder Family
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Orkhon Valley - Yak Herder Family

Today’s drive will take you away into the rolling steppes and pastureland of the Orkhon Valley. In the afternoon you will arrive in Orkhon Valley, which is a UNESCO-listed heritage site and the ancestral nomadic heartland of Mongolians. Arrive at a local yak herder family where you will be staying tonight in an authentic guest ger a just mile from the Orkhon Waterfall. Enter the gers and experience the nomadic hospitality – you will have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional Mongolian cooking, learn how to prepare Buuz (steamed dumplings) or Huushuur (fried meat-filled pastry) and socialize with your hosts over mare’s milk and milk tea in the evening.

    Travel details : 5-6h/100km to Orkhon Valley

    Accommodation: Guest ger next to a local family

    Meals included : Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 4 Kayaking Through Upper Orkhon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kayaking Through Upper Orkhon

After a homecooked traditional breakfast, board the vehicle and head to the put-in point of the upper Orkhon River. Unloading kayaks and other river gear then will launch down Mongolia’s longest river into its remote canyon. Isolated by high lava cliff walls, you can spot unsuspecting wildlife while paddling on the calm side of the river. But when reach the rapids brace yourself for a wave of adrenaline! We will have lunch near the riverside located upstream of the gorge and white water. In the evening experience the hospitality and traditional nomadic way of life - you can help to yak milking and make homemade products such as yoghurt and dried curds or distilling vodka from milk.

Travel details: 1h/30km to Put-In and Take-Out; kayaking

Accommodation: Guest ger next to a local family

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 5 Khogno Khan - Uvgun Temple - Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes - Camel Ride
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Khogno Khan - Uvgun Temple - Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes - Camel Ride

Today you head to the natural reserve of Khogno Khan, where you can explore the lower temple complex of Uvgun Temple, see the reconstructed temples, and prayer wheel, and look around the ruins. Then we recommend taking the 45-minute hike up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills - the scenery is fantastic, and depending on the time of year, wildflowers may be in abundance. Head back down to the valley floor, and onto the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai, a 30-minute drive away. Tonight you will stay alongside a family of camel herders - settle into your gers and head off on a Bactrian ride across the dunes for an hour, then enjoy a home-cooked dinner.

    Travel details: 3-4hrs/180km Khogno Khan; 45min/30km to Elsen Tasarkhai

    Accommodation: Guest ger next to a nomadic family

    Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day 6 Hustai National Park - Wild Takhi Horses - Hiking - Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hustai National Park - Wild Takhi Horses - Hiking - Ulaanbaatar

After a leisurely breakfast, board the vehicle for the journey back east to Hustai. On arrival visit the park’s information centre where you will learn about the plethora of wildlife roaming the National Park. Have lunch in ger camp located at the park’s entrance, then venture into the park to see the wild Takhi horses. Your guide will be in contact with the park rangers who will relay the animal’s location – so you have a high chance of seeing them close. You can also venture deeper into the park on foot if you wish, perhaps to track wild deer or foxes – Hustai offers wonderful wilderness hiking opportunities. In the late afternoon return to the vehicle and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, where you will be dropped at a location of your choice.

Travel details: 3hr/270km drive to Hustai National Park; 1-2hrs/110km drive to Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation: -

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch;

8 days tour

Kayaking In Upper Orkhon River

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Kayaking In Upper Orkhon River

Gandan Monastery - Gurvanbulag - Horse Ride

Karakhorum - Erdene Zuu Monastery - Monument Of 3 Kings

Orkhon Valley - Yak Herder Family

Kayaking Through Upper Orkhon

Khogno Khan - Uvgun Temple - Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes - Camel Ride

Hustai National Park - Wild Takhi Horses - Hiking - Ulaanbaatar

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