Tour Scope: Western Mongolia Tour Route: UB-Olgii-Altai Tavan Bogd N/P-Olgii-UB
Highlights: Tavan Bogd National Park, Olgii town, Kazakh Ethnic group
Tour Season: 15 May- 15 September Tour Level: Extreme
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar
Day 2. Flight to Olgii town
Day 3. Oigoryn River -Tavan Bogd Mountain
Day 4-8. Hiking -Tavan Bogd Mountain-Potanin glacier
Day 9. Return to Oigoryn River
Day 10. Olgii town
Day 11. Flight to Ulaanbaatar
Day 12. Departure
Accommodations: 2 nights in hotel in UB, 2 nights in local hotel in Olgii and 7 nights in tent Meals: Inclusive meals are indicated in itinerary (B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Transport: 4WD Japanese Minivan or 4WD Japanese Jeep Optional activities: Camel riding, Horse riding
Staffs: Visit Mongolia Team (Tour guide and driver)
DAY 1 ULAANBAATAR
Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khan International Airport in Mongolia, you will meet Visit Mongolia crew and transfer to the hotel, conveniently located in downtown Ulaanbaatar. After freshening up from your flight, we start our first day around Ulaanbaatar at Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. From here we will go to the National History Museum which tells the rich history of Mongolia. The heart of Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square, is just a short walk away. Here we will see the Parliament House, National Opera and City Hall. Afterwards, we will visit Zaisan Hill, which offers great views of the city. In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing). Overnight in hotel. (L,D)
DAY 2 OLGII TOWN
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Olgii, center of Bayan-Olgii province, the only muslim province in Mongolia. About 90% of its population are kazakhs. The flight takes 3 hours. Our local team will meet you at the Olgii airport. We visit the local museum of Olgii town with comprehensive information of flora and fauna of Bayan-Olgii province as well as its colorful traditional costumes. Overnight in local hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 TAVAN BOGD NATIONAL PARK
Today we drive for 200 km.to the entrance of Tavan Bogd National Park. We will set up camp on the way near the Oigoryn river, which lies near the foothills of Tavan Bogd Mountain. This is border area of three countries – Mongolia, China and Russia. Our vehicles will be staying at this camp for the next five days while we continue on foot towards the peak. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 4-8 HIKING-TAVAN BOGD MOUNTAIN
We will begin hiking Tavan Bogd Mountain. Tavan Bogd means “The Holy Five” referring to the peaks of Huiten (4,374m and the highest), Tavan Bogd, Malchin, Burget and Nairamdal. It is a stunning setting with the awe inspiring mass of high snow capped peaks.
Our base camp will be at an altitude of 2,900 m on the edge of the Potaniin’s Glacier, at the foot of Malchin Peak. Our hike to this base camp will take one day. Our entire luggage, food and supplies will be carried either on horse or camel back. Over the following four days we will climb at least two of the peaks. To reach the peaks we have to pass over a large “Potaniin” Glacier, which lies between base camp and the mountain. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 9 RETURN TO OIROGYN RIVER
This is last day of our trekking. We will trek back to our original base camp, where our drivers are waiting for us. Overnight in tent. (B, L, D)
DAY 10 OLGII TOWN
Today we will drive towards Olgii, taking the opportunity to stop off en route for a
tea with nomadic Kazakh herders at their camps. Arriving in Olgii we check into the group hotel.
Overnight in local hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 11 ULAANBAATAR
Flight to Ulaanbaatar. The flight takes 3 hours. Transfer to the hotel upon arrival in UB. The remainder of the day is free for shopping or independent touring. Overnight in hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 12 DEPARTURE
After our long adventure together ends, you transfer to the airport or train station for your departure. (B)
Visit Mongolia’s policy is to provide top quality service to our customers at reasonable prices. We will pleased to provide detailed price quotes for those interested in specific tours.
In Ulaanbaatar:
Hotels are available in different ranges of quality and service. The package cost includes all services except accommodations in Ulaanbaatar (UB). We do give “choices” for our clients to pick their appropriate accommodations in Ulaanbaatar. However we encourage group travelers to pick the same property. We will provide hotel rates for Visit Mongolia customers for your selection. Please select hotel and room type and let us know.
In the Countryside:
– Ger Camps
While touring in the countryside, the most common accommodations outside cities on our tours are called ger camps. A ger is the traditional felt tent of nomadic herders. Accommodation in the ger camps is based on two people sharing one ger. Each ger is heated by a wood stove and has two wood-framed beds.
The camp restaurant and western-style toilet/shower facilities are located in the middle of the camp or close by. All camps supply towels. The ger camps provide all bedding and clients will not be expected to bring their own sleeping bags if they stay overnight in the ger camps. Staying in a ger is a memorable experience of Mongolian culture.
– Tented camping
We use tented camps on our adventure journeys to more remote areas. The tents are either 2 or 3 person tents. A sleeping mat will be provided to each person staying in a tent but clients are asked to bring their own sleeping bags. Our expedition staff sets up camps and prepares meals and takes care of all your needs. Tented camps allow you to interact more with the nature and visit the remotest areas of the country.
We use different types of vehicles depending on the nature of tours, destination and final number of travellers.
– For jeep overland adventure tours we use Japanese 4WD vans and SUV’s (Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan), which is the best available for its type
– A bus or mini-bus serves group tourists within Ulaanbaatar
– In some remote areas where we have to fly, we arrange local vehicles most of which are Russian 4WD jeeps or minivans. Daily driving distance will be appr. 200-250km.
– For sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar we use deluxe coaches, vans and sedans.
All Visit Mongolia drivers have many years of experience. They know their way around the Mongolian countryside including many places where they are no marked roads. They are all skilled mechanics which is crucial in remote places. Technical inspections on the vehicles are made regularly.
An English speaking Mongolian guide will accompany the entire time of your trip. The most of our guides have a wonderful and outstanding reputation among our clients. They have an in depth knowledge of Mongolian history, nomadic civilization, customs, traditions, and nature memories. After every tour we get feedbacks and emails about our guides.
Meals are included in the cost. Visit Mongolia provides the selection of the best available local restaurants on cities and popular destinations.
When you are in Ulaanbaatar, you can eat out in number of restaurants as serving Indian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, English, French, German, Russian, Latin American and of course Mongolian cuisines. FYI, basic foodstuffs for Mongolians are beef, mutton and noodles.
When you stay in tourist Ger camps, the most camps provide meals as western cuisine. During excursions to remote areas we provide services of professional chefs who normally accompany the group. Arrangements can be made for vegetarians and those with special dietary needs with advance notice.
Mongolia’s climate is continental and extreme. With more than two hundred days of full sun per year it has been given the nickname of ‘the’ Country of Blue Skies’.
The tourist season in Mongolia is between the months of May and September. The weather during this time varies considerably from region to region. The highest rainfall period is in July and August, however, there are still days of glorious sunshine during this time. The Gobi usually has the hottest temperatures. Summer evenings in the Gobi can be cool because of Mongolia’s high altitude. The best time to visit the Gobi is June and September. The spring is a time of strong winds, especially difficult in the sandy areas of the Gobi.
Most travelers come to Mongolia in mid-July for the annual National Naadam Festival.