Nomadic Mongolia
Experience Overview
Long after the reign of Genghis Khan, nomadism remains a way of life in modern Mongolia. But with so much to see and do here, it’s only natural that people would want to move about and explore. This adventure taps into the nomadic lifestyle embraced by almost 40% of the local population, travelling through ruggedly beautiful gorges and sandstone mountains in search of golden eagles, desert gazelles, and the Mongolian horse. And when you’re not moving, you’ll experience local customs up close, exploring rural villages and sleeping in traditional ger tents.
Highlights
- Contemplate the Soviet architecture and influence in Ulaanbaatar
- Explore the ruins of remote monasteries
- Share a ger with a nomadic family
- Visit Mongolia's ancient capital
- See the wild horses in Khustai National Park
Trip Details
Product Code: 1545
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Private van, 4x4 vehicle, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AMNA
Starts: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Finishes: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Cafe No Limits Visit, Ulaanbaatar Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Choir Monastery Visit
- Yolyn Am National Park stay and nature Museum visit
- Gobi Desert stay
- Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes and Flaming Cliffs Visit
- Ongiin Khiid Monastery entrance
- Mongolian Grasslands nomad camp stay
- Karakorum monument entrance
- Khustai National Park entrance
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (3 nts), ger camps (8 nts, shared facilities), family stay or tent camping (2 nts, multi-share, no facilities).
- 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners
Transport
- Private van, 4x4 vehicle, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,599 ($257 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar
Enjoy a free day exploring the city. Opt to take a morning city tour including visits to Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.
Spend a free day exploring this fascinating capital city.
Enjoy the sights of UB and opt to visit to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill.
Day 3: Ulaanbaatar/Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu
Drive to the Dungobi Aimag region – Middle Gobi – stopping at the Choir Monastery on the way. Spend the night at the first Mongolian ger camp.
Leave the capital and head south through the steppe to the Middle Gobi.
Visit the Choir Monastery before continuing on to a small ger camp not far from Mandalgovi, the regional centre.
Day 4: Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu/Yolyn Am
Arrive at Yolyn Am — a narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikan mountains. It's an amazing place for hiking. Bring stable shoes and warm clothes, as some places are covered in thick ice year round.
Day 5: Yolyn Am/Khongoryn Els
Drive to Khongoryn Els. En route, stop by a local natural history museum. Enjoy the unique activities the Gobi Desert has to offer.
Day 6: Khongoryn Els
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Gobi Desert. This morning, visit the biggest sand dunes in the western Gobi, then meet a nomadic camel-herding family. Opt to hike along other nearby sand dunes, and try riding a camel.
Day 7: Khongoryn Els/Bayanzag
Explore the Flaming Cliffs - a world renowned archaeological site for the vast amount of dinosaur bones and eggs found here.
Made of red sandstone, these cliffs and canyons offer visitors a scene of breathtaking beauty. Take some time to explore.
Day 8: Bayanzag/Ongiin Hiid
Drive through western parts of the Gobi Desert. In the surrounding mountains, visit the ruins of the Hoshuu and Ongiin Khiid monasteries.
Drive to the Delger Khangai Mountains area. Explore the ruins of the monasteries in the area.
Day 9: Ongiin Hiid/Nomad Camp
Leave the Gobi Desert and drive through the Mongolian grasslands. Spend the next two nights with a local nomadic family, observing how they live. Enjoy a traditional meal with them.
Enjoy a long drive northwest, leaving the Gobi desert area and heading into the Mongolian steppe.
The nomads here live simple lives and move their cattle along the same routes their great-grandparents travelled hundreds of years ago.
In the evening, have dinner together with your hosts. One of the best things to try is the famous Mongolian barbecue.
Day 10: Nomad Camp
Learn more about nomadic life in the steppes. Get to know your hosts and opt to participate in traditional activities such as milking a yak and preparing fresh dairy products. Discover what it takes to handle a Mongolian horse, and if the season is right, try airag (fermented mare's milk) - long important to cultures across Central Asia.
Day 11: Nomad Camp/Kharkhorin
Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. En route to tonight's ger camp, stop by the Karakorum Museum.
Journey to Kharkhorin, stopping at the beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery. Destroyed during the Communist era, this monastery is slowly being rebuilt.
Day 12: Kharkhorin/Khustai National Park
Stay in Khustai National Park—home of Mongolian wild horses. Here, look for Takhi horses in their natural habitat.
Day 13: Khustai National Park/Ulaanbaatar
Drive back to the capital for last minute sightseeing. Opt to see a local cultural show, an excellent display of dancing and Mongolian throat singing.
Day 14: Ulaanbaatar
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Judith J - Traveled, September 2023
This was my 2nd G Adventures and the trips were just great. I already have recommended G Adventures to my friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Gian-Luca V - Traveled, September 2023
Our guide ?Gana? together with his team made our experience in this amazing country even better. I loved that we could just focus on enjoying and experiencing without having to think about organisational stuff. They took care of everything and made us feel very well cared for.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Ward T - Traveled, September 2023
I had a wonderful experience and amazing memories, but a tour group is not for everyone and personally I feel I would prefer to travel as an individual with flexibility to tailor the experience to my own interests and not have to accommodate the different dynamics, personalities etc.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Edurne G - Traveled, September 2023
The CEOs are always amazing
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Stephanie K - Traveled, August 2023
This was my fourth trip with G and I always had a great time. That's why I always tell friends and family about G Adventures.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Ritesh B - Traveled, August 2023
Always have a great experience with G Adventures. Hence the reason why we are repeat travellers. Your CEOs are fantastic and really make the experience special
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Medea K - Traveled, August 2023
It was my fisrt G Adventures trip so I would recommend this one, it was perfect.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Tina L - Traveled, August 2023
This was an amazing and authenic experience with Ugi and I highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Dorothy Q - Traveled, August 2023
Great itinerary. Excellent leadership in CEO Uuganaa
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Daniel Q - Traveled, August 2023
Great nomadic experience under the great leadership and guidance of the CEO Uuganaa (Ugi)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Tina L - Traveled, August 2023
This was an amazing and authenic experience with Ugi and I highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Janice V9 - Traveled, August 2023
Great experience, safe and reliable
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Vaishali R - Traveled, August 2023
Great experience overall
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Aaron B - Traveled, August 2023
Good tour. Not sure many of my friends would enjoy all the driving
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Patrick G - Traveled, July 2023
G Adventures provides very good intineries to get to know a certain region in the world having lot',s of like-minded people from various countries on their trips.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Wayne W - Traveled, July 2023
I thought the tour was exceptional value for the price. We covered many miles and saw so much of the beautiful country of Mongolia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2023
Lynda S - Traveled, September 2023
I love the actual style of travel and the guides and drivers tend to be absolutely fabulous ? although the pre-travel service from G seems to have deteriorated greatly over recent years and I would caution family/friends in that regard while giving my recommendations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
Paula K - Traveled, August 2023
The tour was great, guide was excellent and was well planned
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
Laura C - Traveled, July 2023
Excellent guide. Accommodation and food far out met my expectations. Good tour route
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
Tina J - Traveled, July 2023
Preis- LeistungsverhŠltnis absolut super. Guido aus der Region.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
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