Mongolia with "Calypso Ukraine": the legends of the Gobi and the Orkhon Valley

Mongolia with "Calypso Ukraine": the legends of the Gobi and the Orkhon Valley

Tour duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Tour dates: July 26 - August 5, 2024

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Central Mongolia: Here is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site - Cultural Landscape of the Orkhon Valley: Archaeological discoveries indicate that the Orkhon Valley has been continuously inhabited for the past 100,000 years. The Orkhon Valley is considered the cradle of Central Asian nomadic civilizations. Various peoples of antiquity, including the Huns, Uighurs and Turks, founded their settlements here since the 3rd century BC. e. Large urban centers were founded in the Orkhon Valley, serving as the military, commercial and administrative bases of the respective empires. The most important of these was Karakoram, the capital and center of the vast Mongol empire of the 13th and 14th centuries, founded in 1220 under the reign of Genghis Khan. It was from Karakorum that the entire empire was ruled at that time, and the trade route of the Silk Road between Europe and Asia was controlled here.

The Orkhon Valley is also the site of numerous archaeological, historical and cultural sites documenting the origin and development of urban development in Central Asia, especially in Mongolia.

Basic moments:
● Exploring the nature of Central Mongolia
● Visit to the Orkhon Valley National Park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
● Acquaintance with the Gobi Desert and its beauties
● Visit to the ancient capital of the Great Mongol Empire "Kharkhorin"
● Experience the nomadic lifestyle
● Accommodation in local ger-camps and guest houses.

Tour price: 3450 USD per person based on double occupancy

The program includes three meals a day throughout the tour, starting from the dinner of the first day and ending with a gala dinner on the penultimate day. A small part of the cuisine, of course, will be traditional Mongolian, which will help us to immerse ourselves even more deeply in the local life and feel the real Mongolia.  

TOUR PROGRAM

Day 1. July 26, 2024. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar.

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar in the morning. We are going to rest in the hotel. After lunch we walk around Ulaanbaatar, the capital of all Mongols. In the evening, a joint welcome dinner. 

Day 2. July 27, 2024. Ulaanbaatar - Terelj national park (120 km)

In the morning we leave Ulaanbaatar and move towards the majestic huge statue of Genghis Khan, after which our way to Terelj national park, where we will visit the Aryabala Temple and the Turtle Stone. And of course, we will be able to fully breathe in the mountain air of Mongolia.  

Day 3. July 28, 2024. Dalanzadgade - Yolyn Am gorge. 150 km

In the morning we will have a rest in our lodge and a little bit we will return to the airport of Ulaanbaatar. Today we start our expedition into the interior of the country! We will make evening flight to the South Gobi region (600 km).
After landing at Dalanzadgade, we will go by jeeps to a tourist camp with all amenities near Yolyn Am Gorge (Yol Valley National Park) to accommodate. 

Day 4. July 29, 2024. Yolyn Am gorge - Khongoryn Els sand dunes. 260 km 

Today we will drive through the vast expanses of the Gobi Desert to our next destination - Khongor Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in Mongolia. These dunes are 20 km wide and 100 km long. The Hongoriin River flows along the dunes and creates oases. The color of the dunes changes every hour during the day, from yellow to silver, and red at dawn. The dunes make a sound reminiscent of the sound of an airplane engine on a windy day, which is why they are called "Singing Dunes". The largest and most impressive sand dunes, the Khongor Dunes are also known as the "Singing Dunes".

In the South Gobi region, we will learn what hospitality is and what the real nomadic life of shepherds looks like, consisting of such traditional activities as eating, milking goats or camels, preparing dairy products, riding a camel, and we will also observe how to set up a yurt how to make a thread from camel hair and other activities. 

Day 5. July 30, 2024. Sand dunes Khongoryn Els - Bayanzag - Ongi Monastery. 300-400 km

After breakfast we will move to Bayanzag is the area of the Red Rocks, where for the first time in the history of mankind a dinosaur egg laying was found.

We continue our journey to Bayanzag, the bottom of the Ancient Sea that existed 60-70 million years ago, where many paleontological finds were discovered. The place is known as the "Flaming Cliffs", so named by the American explorer Roy Andrew Chapman, who visited Mongolia in 1920. For 2 years he searched for dinosaur fossils in the Mongolian Gobi and found them in Bayanzag and Nemekhta. He brought his paleontological findings on 70 camels. Chapman donated one large skeletal find to Mongolia, now on display at the Ulaanbaatar Museum of Natural History. He found 10 species of dinosaurs, of which 8 were found in Mongolia. After visiting Bayanzag, we move on to our next destination, across the Ongi River to Saikhan Ovoo, in the Dundgovi region, in southern Central Mongolia. Ongi Monastery, formerly one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, was founded in 1660 and consisted of two temple complexes on the northern and southern banks of the Onga River. However, in the 1930s the monastery was completely destroyed and more than 200 monks were killed by the communists. After the introduction of democracy in Mongolia in 1990, the monks returned to Ongi Monastery, where they began their Buddhist education as a child 60 years ago. These monks began laying new foundations on the old ruins with the vision of restoring the Ongi Monastery and reviving Buddhism in Mongolia.

Day 6. July 31, 2024. Ongi Monastery - Talbiun Lodge. 300 km

After breakfast we will go to the guest house "Talbiun Lodge". It is located in the picturesque place of Khaalgan Denj, Khujirt sum, Uvurkhangai province, the heart of the ancient nomads. We will settle in our dwelling - here, where we will enjoy lunch. 

Day 7. August 1, 2024. Guest house "Talbiun Lodge" - Orkhon Waterfall - Tuvkhun Monastery - Guest house "Talbiun Lodge"

Today we will visit Tuvkhun Monastery and Orkhon Waterfallby making stops along the way Uurtin Tohoi and Temeen Chuluu. Tuvkhun Monastery was built in 1654 by Saint Zanabazar, one of the largest representatives of Buddhism in Mongolia. He chose this special place to build one of the most beautiful monasteries when he was 14 years old. The monastery is located on a wooded rocky mountain on the border of the provinces of Uvurkhangai and Arkhangai. The monastery was destroyed once in 1688 and rebuilt in 1773.

Urtin Tohoi. So named because of its steep rock that forms a right angle at the bend Orkhon river. Located at an altitude of 1630 meters above sea level and originally called Khuurtin Tokhoy, this cliff offers a magnificent view of the Orkhon Valley.

Gravestones of Temeen Chuluu: The burial place of Temeen Chuluu is located around the guest house "Talbiun". The surrounding area contains many graves and burial mounds dating back to the Bronze Age.

Orkhon waterfall. The remarkable waterfall is located in the significant Orkhon Valley and was formed about 20,000 years ago due to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Orkhon is the longest river in Mongolia, and the Ulaan Tsutgalan is the largest waterfall at 26 meters high.

Day 8. August 2, 2024. “Talbiun Lodge” - Kharkhorum. 80 km

Let's go to Kharkhorum - the capital of the ancient Great Mongol Empire. The city was founded in 1220. Kharkhorum was the capital of Mongolia for 140 years and the capital of the Mongol Empire for 32 years. Erdenezuu Monastery and the ruins of Kharkhorin were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Major tourist attractions include Erdenezuu Monastery, newly built Museum of Kharkhorum, outdoor museum and mosaic map of Genghis Khan.

Day 9. August 3, 2024. Mongol Nomadik. 310 km

We set off towards Ulaanbaatar, but on the way we will stop at the Ger Camp Mongol Nomadik. Our last touch to the Gobi Desert and the incredible beauty of the dune landscapes before returning to the capital. We are waiting for the Mongolian nomadic show at Nomadik camp.  

Day 10. August 4, 2024. Ulaanbaatar. 50 km 

We return to the capital, have a rest and in the evening we go to a farewell dinner with local traditional music at a local restaurant. 

Day 11. August 5, 2024. Shopping and departure. 

Tour cost: 3450 USD per person based on double occupancy.

Supplement for single occupancy - $550 

Included in cost:

• accommodation in hotels and ger houses in double rooms;
• interior flight from Ulaanbaatar to the heart of the Gobi Desert;
• nutrition: breakfast, lunch (snacks), dinner;
• services of a local guide;
• transport services along the entire route;
• escort from Kyiv along the entire route.

The price does not include:

• international flights;
• entrance tickets according to the program;
• medical insurance;
• additional drinks;
• tips for the guide and driver;
• souvenirs, shopping, and other personal expenses.

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