Accommodation

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS: Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. Tourist Ger Camp (10 nights), Family Ger Camp (2 nights), Hotel (2 nights)

Others

Amarbayasgalant - Monastery Selenge - Uran Togoo hike Uushig Valley - Bronze Age Deer Stone Monuments Family Ger Camp - Home-cooked Mongolian BBQ Dinner Tsetserleg - Museum Tsenkher Hot Springs Tsenkher - Archery lesson Karakorum - Erdenezuu Monastery Khogno Khan - Camel ride Khogno Khan - Hike to local monastery Ulaanbaatar - Cultural Performance

Meals

14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 12 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

This is a trip that includes extensive travelling in some remote terrain away from modern facilities and conveniences. As we spend a lot of time on the road each day, it is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey, travelling through amazing landscapes and staying in some stunning locations. As we travel by private transport for the duration of the trip we spend a lot of time together with our group members. If you are looking for an active or independent trip with lots of choice for physical and cultural activities daily then you might want to consider whether this trip is the right one for you. However, if you are keen to explore a fascinating country "road trip" style, take in the scenery as you go and are willing to sit back and enjoy the ride (however long it takes to get there!) then this will definitely add to your experience of Mongolia. Private vehicle (Furgon van)

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included.

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Others

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Sainbainuu! Welcome to Mongolia. You can arrive at any time before your group meeting at 6 pm. Please have your passport, insurance and next of kin information ready to give to your leader at this meeting. Afterwards you’ll have the option to join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant. If you arrive in town earlier and have time, be sure to get out and explore ’UB’, a fascinating town where elderly Mongolians in traditional dress mingle with the nation’s young business elite. A great place to start is Gandan Khiid, Mongolia’s largest and most important monastery. The Fine Arts Museum, Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan and Intellectual Museum are also well worth visiting.
Day 2 Day 2: Amarbayasgalant Monastery
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Today your adventure begins as you drive out through the beautiful Mongolian countryside. Most of the drive today is on paved roads, but be prepared for some bumps after the final turnoff to the the remote Amarbayasgalant Khiid. Your leader and drivers will be glad to teach you some basic Mongolian words on the way – a great way to prepare for interactions with the locals, few of whom speak English. Your final destination today is Mongolia’s second most important place of worship (after Gandan Monastery in UB), situated in the beautiful Iven Gol River valley, at the foot of Burengiin Mountain, in the Selenge province. After seeing the monastery, you will get your first taste of life in a ger at the first camp of the trip. This is the way that the majority of Mongolia’s population has always lived – away from the city and in the wide open spaces of seemingly endless countryside. It’s the quintessential Mongolian experience. Although such camps are set up for visitors, this type of housing is still used around the country, even in the capital where you will have seen many ’ger suburbs’ surrounding the city centre. Our drivers and leader also often double as our cooks in those places where we prepare meals ourselves. You are always welcome to lend a hand too! We share our meals together in the dining quarters. Vegetarians can be catered for although choices may be limited - please let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements at time of booking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided each day until our return to Ulaanbaatar. Some food will be traditional Mongolian style but as the traditional diet consists solely of meat and dairy products, most meals are less challenging and based more on Russian or Western meals which are now also common in the Mongolian diet.
Day 3 Day 3: Erdenet - Selenge River - Unit
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Erdenet - Selenge River - Unit

Continue to the lovely Selenge River via the copper mining town of Erdenet (approximately 7 hours including stops). There may be opportunities to spot some interesting wildlife along the way, such as marmots and many different species of birds. You will arrive at your ger camp in the settlement of Unit in the afternoon. Stretch your legs on arrival and take a walk up to the Togoo Uul (Pot Mountain) – an extinct volcano looming over the surrounding steppe. The hike to the top rewards you with views of the crater’s lush interior. From this vantage, you can only imagine what this incredible landscape must have looked like millions of years ago.
Day 4 Day 4: Ikh Uul Family Ger Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Ikh Uul Family Ger Camp

Today your journey (approximately 7 hours including stops) brings you to the mountainous outskirts of Ikh Uul for your first stay with a local nomad family. This is a rare opportunity to see how modern Mongolian nomads are preserving an ancient way of life while embracing some elements of modernity. You will be welcomed into the family ger and shown traditional Mongolian hospitality, starting with a bowl of salty milk tea and perhaps some aaruul (dried curds). This evening you will help your hosts prepare dinner – maybe some buuz (steamed dumplings) or barbecue. Many nomad families keep animals, so don’t be surprised if there is some interaction with goats, dogs, horses and sheep. The location is remote, with no nearby settlements or light pollution. The night sky is incredible in clear weather, so be sure to do some stargazing before retiring for the evening.
Day 5 Day 5: Khovsgol Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Khovsgol Lake

Enjoy breakfast with our host family and bid them farewell. It’s another long day of driving today, across some rough terrain, to Khovsgol Lake (approximately 7 hours including stops). Some say this is Mongolia’s most beautiful destination, a pristine wilderness area that’s home to many ethnic minorities. It boasts spectacular scenery with stunning fir forests, lush green grasslands and meadows peppered with wildflowers. Since it is a popular destination for both foreign tourists and local holiday makers, you will likely come across other travellers here, especially in the peak travel months of June and July. On the way, stop at Uushig Valley and check out the unique Deer Stones that are representative of Bronze Age religion, culture and society significance. Tonight, you’ll stay in a tourist ger camp just near the lake. Settle in for the night and sleep well, because there are plenty of optional activities to choose from tomorrow.
Day 6 Day 6: Khovsgol Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Khovsgol Lake

Today you might like to hike up to one of the nearby peaks or perhaps take a boat trip out on the lake. Explore on foot and relax on one of our few days not on the road. All of these are great ways to experience this gorgeous region. Overnight in the tourist ger camp again tonight.
Day 7 Day 7: Murun - Shine Ider Family Ger Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Murun - Shine Ider Family Ger Camp

Today we will set off early to drive back through the town of Murun, and on to Shine Ider (approximately 8 hours on dirt road, including stops). Here you will enjoy the second family stay of your trip. Now that you know what to expect from a Mongolian homestay, you should feel more comfortable the second time around. Get to know your hosts as you help them prepare for an exciting Mongolian style BBQ dinner and get to know all the importance of meat in their diet and how Mongolian characters are intertwined with their food and cooking. You might even have the chance to watch as the family’s livestock are milked and herded.
Day 8 Day 8-9: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8-9: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

After breakfast with the family, we’ll drive to the surreal Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, aka the Great White Lake (approximately 9 hours on dirt road). This natural volcanic lake, surrounded by mountains, is a surreal and memorable sight. Depending on where you’ll be for tonight, you might drive up to one of the volcanic craters and hike to the top for spectacular views. There are plenty of nice trails to walk during your two-night stay here, so make the most of this relaxing break from the road.
Day 9 Day 10: Tsetserleg - Tsenkher
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Tsetserleg - Tsenkher

Travel to the Tsenkher Hot Springs (approximately 6 hours). These are situated in the valley of the Delger River. On the way, you’ll stop at Tsetserleg, a provincial town with a local market and a unique little museum housed in a former temple, which you’ll visit with a local guide. At this stop, there’s the chance to wander around the town for a glimpse at what provincial Mongolian life is like. Perhaps stock up on some snacks and drinks for the travels ahead. From here it’s about another hour to the hot springs, where you’ll check into the tourist ger camp on arrival.
Day 10 Day 11: Tsenkher
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Tsenkher

Enjoy a Mongolian archery lesson today and then have the rest day free to relax, explore, or simply laze about in the thermal waters of these invigorating natural hot springs. Be sure to pack your swimwear so you can take part in this activity. Surrounded by the remote beauty of the landscape, this location is perfect for slowing down to a more meditative pace and taking it easy. There are also optional hikes and activities on offer if you’d prefer something more active.
Day 11 Day 12: Karakorum - Khogno Khan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Karakorum - Khogno Khan

Continue to Karakorum (approximately 4 hours), a town built by the legendary Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Ask your leader and drivers to tell you some stories about this great man on the way – after all, he’s the nation’s hero. In Karakorum you will visit the first Buddhist centre of Mongolia, the immense Erdene Zuu Monastery. This impressive walled compound retains much of its former glory, and within it you can inspect the three temples, each one dedicated to a different stage of a Buddha’s life – child, adolescent and adult stages. Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Khogno Khan, the location of your tourist ger camp tonight.
Day 12 Day 13: Khogno Khan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Khogno Khan

Just nearby Karakorum is a sudden strip of sand dunes – a striking contrast to the landscape you have just travelled through. Here you will enjoy a camel trek along the dunes – an ideal way to experience this eye-popping landscape. The follow your leader on a short hike to the ruins of an old local monastery. The afternoon is yours to spend as you please.
Day 13 Day 14: Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Ulaanbaatar

Travel back across the rolling grasslands to Ulaanbaatar (approximately 8 hours). The route will take you past ’ovoos’ (roadside shrines) and ger suburbs. Arriving in the metropolis, you’ll check back into your hotel. Depending on the arrival time, there might be the chance to shop for some local handicrafts such as cashmere and felt products, or check out some more of the city’s sights and museums. Tonight you can celebrate your journey around Mongolia by witnessing a special cultural performance featuring throat singing and traditional dancing. There will be an optional final dinner at a local restaurant recommended by your leader.
Day 14 Day 15: Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Ulaanbaatar

Say ’bayartai’ to your group as your adventure draws to a close. There are no activities planned for the day, and you’re free to depart the hotel at any time before 12 noon. If you’d like to stay longer in UB, it’s recommended that you book additional accommodation well in advance.

+11

15 days tour

Wild Mongolia

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Wild Mongolia

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Day 2: Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Day 3: Erdenet - Selenge River - Unit

Day 4: Ikh Uul Family Ger Camp

Day 5: Khovsgol Lake

Day 6: Khovsgol Lake

Day 7: Murun - Shine Ider Family Ger Camp

Day 8-9: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

Day 10: Tsetserleg - Tsenkher

Day 11: Tsenkher

Day 12: Karakorum - Khogno Khan

Day 13: Khogno Khan

Day 14: Ulaanbaatar

Day 15: Ulaanbaatar

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania