Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar and city tour

Your guide and driver welcome you at the airport or railway station. Depending on arrival time, tour the city. Visit Gandantegchinlen Monastery, known for its religious artifacts, peaceful atmosphere and 26 m gilded statue in the Megjid Janraisig temple. Visit the National Museum of Mongolia, the central square and Zaisan Memorial for panoramic city views.

Day 2: Flight to Dalanzadgad and Vulture Valley hike

Take an early 1.5-hour flight to Dalanzadgad, capital of South Gobi province, where our team meets you. Drive to a ger camp, then after lunch continue to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, meaning Three Beautiful Mountains in the Gobi. This large, distinctive park at the end of the Altai Mountains contains many scenic places. From the designated parking area at Yoliin Am / Vulture Valley, walk into the rocky gorge. Sunlight does not reach its floor, so ice lasts until late June. The green valley is home to golden eagles, wild sheep and ibex. Overnight in a nearby ger camp.

Day 3: Khongor sand dunes

Travel to the great Khongor dunes, walk along the green riverbanks, climb the dunes, visit a nomadic family and ride camels for an hour. Scatter sand northward against the wind from a high dune to discover why locals call them Singing Sands. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 4: Flaming Cliffs

Travel to the Flaming Cliffs, where Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur remains and the first dinosaur eggs known to science. Hike among the cliffs and see the trees at Bayanzag, meaning rich in saxaul trees. Saxaul grows in the Central Asian Gobi. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 5: Across the steppe to Ongi Monastery ruins

Travel through slate mountains and across the Ongi steppe. Ongi was one of Mongolia's seven largest monasteries, with two complexes and over 30 temples on the riverbanks, surrounded by Gobi mountains. Destroyed during the socialist purges of the 1930s, its ruins now cover a large area. Visit the new active temple and ger museum, explore the ruins and climb a nearby mountain for views. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 6: Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu Monastery

Travel through the transition from Gobi Desert to steppe. Kharkhorin, formerly Karakorum, was the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan designated the location of the future capital without seeing the city himself. Nearby are a monument honoring the empire and a museum of historic remains. After the capital moved to Beijing and the empire declined, Karakorum was abandoned and destroyed in 1388. View finds recovered by German researchers, religious objects in the monastery museum and impressive architecture. A Mongolian general is said to have saved the site from destruction during the 1930s, at risk to his life.

Day 7: Tsenkher hot springs

Continue into wooded mountains and a beautiful valley at Tsenkher hot springs. Relax in an outdoor hot bath and hike to the source of the spring. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 8: Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park

Visit the dairy market in Tsetserleg, capital of Arkhangai province, and stop at the Chuluut River, which flows through lava gorges 30–50 m high. The national park protects spectacular mountain scenery and endangered plants and animals. Among its extinct volcanoes, Khorgo is especially impressive and accessible. Clear Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, the Great White Lake, formed when lava blocked the northern and southern Terkh rivers. It is known for fish and birds, including ruddy shelducks and great cormorants. Rare flowers and pine trees grow on black volcanic soil, and old lava flows shelter alpine wildlife. Lunch en route, then arrive in the late afternoon and explore independently or relax after the drive. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 9: Explore Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park

Visit a nomadic yak herding family and climb Khorgo volcano, which became extinct 6,000–8,000 years ago. Caves and shelters around it gave rise to its name, meaning shelter. Khorgo is the youngest and most accessible of the area's extinct volcanoes. Much of the park is covered by thick basalt. Climb via stairs and paths, then walk along the crater rim for views of the countryside, village and lake. In the afternoon, drive to freshwater Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 10: Overnight near Shine Ider

Watch birds while driving and walking beside Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur. Travel through flower-filled mountain valleys, past historical remains and over a high pass. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 11: Deer stones and Murun city tour

Visit deer stones, ancient standing monuments carved with the sun, moon, belts, knives and deer leaping skyward. These monuments are widespread in Central Asia, with 600 recorded in the region, including 500 in Mongolia. The oldest date from the 13th–9th centuries BC, and most belong to the Bronze Age. The stones visited here are well preserved. In the afternoon, visit a local museum to learn about the area's plants, animals and geography. A local market visit is possible. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 12: Lake Khuvsgul

Continue to beautiful Lake Khuvsgul, 136 km long and 38 km wide, at 1,600 m above sea level amid Siberian taiga and steep mountains. This pristine area offers hiking, birdwatching, mountain climbing, flower viewing and relaxation. Motorboating and kayaking are available for an additional charge. Settle into a ger camp on the western shore, have lunch, then drive and hike up a mountain for views of the lake and surroundings. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 13: Reindeer herding family and horse riding at Lake Khuvsgul

Tsaatan reindeer herders live deep in the taiga, relying on small herds for their livelihood. In summer, some families move closer to the lake to supplement their income. After breakfast, visit the herders and photograph the reindeer. Return to the ger camp for lunch and spend the rest of the day riding horses beside the lake. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 14: Drive to Murun and flight to Ulaanbaatar

Drive to Murun and take a 1.5-hour flight to Ulaanbaatar. Check into a hotel and attend a traditional cultural performance in the evening. Overnight in a 3-star hotel.

Day 15: Departure

Transfer to the airport or railway station.

Included

Airport transfers; 2 nights in a 3-star hotel; 12 nights in ger camps; off-road vehicle transfers; full board; German-speaking guide; daily bottled water; horse and camel riding; national park and museum entrance fees; meals as specified in the itinerary, or breakfast and lunch.

Prices per person

1 person: €2,890; 2 people: €2,450; 3–4 people: €2,190; group of more than 4: €2,100. Single room supplement: €100. International flights are excluded.