Steppe Expedition

Amarbayasgalant Monastery is the place of a bright spirits, religious intelligence and admiration of local architectures. Officially, Amarbayasgalant monastery was the retreat place of the “Dalai Lamas” of the Mongols, the Bogd Khaan Javtsundamba. It is located in the valley of Iven River on the foot of Burenkhan Mountain in Selenge province. The monastery was established by order of Manju Emperor Enkh-Amgalan to cherish and give a respect to Mongol’s first Bogd Khaan Undur Gegeen Zanabazar. The architecture is traditional with Tibetan style of temple building, curved roofs, mystical gargoyles, mandarin inscriptions and imperial colors. 3730 kg of silver from the state were used to build this monastery for Buddha practicing.The monastery was being restored by UNESCO from 1975 until it reopened in 1990.   

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar Arrival in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to hotel in the city centre. After lunch, we will start the city tour including Gandan Monastery, Chinggis Khaan square and surroundings including Parliament House, National Opera Theatre, Cultural Palace and House of City Council. Then we will drive to Zaisan Hill, which provides wide view of the Ulaanbaatar then we will visit Museum of National history with an excellent exhibitions such as Stone and Bronze Age, Turkic and Mongol Empire, rise of Buddhism and communist regime. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. Amarbayasgalant Monastery. After breakfast, we will to the Amarbayasgalant Monastery. On the way we will drive by Darkhan town, the second largest town of Mongolia and lunch there. Amarbayasgalant Monastery-the Monastery of Tranquil Felicity, was one of the three largest Buddhist centers in Mongolia, is located near the Selenge River. Unlike other monasteries Amarbayasgalant shows class of style. The overall design is Chinese despite some Mongolian and Tibetan influence. The monastery has 2 storey building that covers an area of 87 hectares. In the early 1900s, the 8000 monks were practiced Buddhist philosophy, astrology and medicine. In 1937, all high ranked monks and religious leaders and intellectuals were executed and holy monastery Amarbayasgalant was abandoned for 50 years. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 3. Bulgan province. In the morning, we will drive to Bulgan province. Bulgan province is famous for its horsemanship and taste of Mongolian traditional drink airag – fermented mare’s milk. We will visit horse breeders and experience everyday life of family and taste the airag. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 4. Ugii Lake. After breakfast, we will drive Ugii Lake, which is located in the Ugiinuur soum of Arkhangai province. This lake has 27km sq with average depth 7m. Shores, sands and waves offer fantastic opportunity for bird watching, boating, swimming, fishing and sunbathing. There are 150 species of rare migrated birds and 14 species of fish belonged to North Atlantic Ocean. Overnight in the ger camp near the lake.

Day 5. Erdenezuu Monastery. After breakfast, we will drive to the Turkish monument of Khushuu Tsaidam. Khushuu Tsaidam is four memorial complexes including stele for honor of Bilge Khan, a famous leader of Turkic Empire (d.734) and Kul Tegin, a general of Turkish army (d. 731). These memorials are the well known archeological remains of the Turkic Empire which extend across Central Asia in the 6-8 centuries AD. Then we will drive to the Shankh Monastery, the oldest monastery in Mongolia, founded in 1647 by Zanabazar, a revered sculptor, politician, religious teacher, diplomat and living Buddha, who became Mongolia’s first Bogd Khaan. In 1937, the monastery was closed, its temples burned and monks were executed or sent to labor camps in Siberia. Overnight in the ger camp in Kharkhorin.

Day 6. Kharkhorin/Tsenkher hot spring. After breakfast, we will visit Erdenezuu Monastery. Kharkhorin was established in the valley of Orkhon river in 1220. It was one of the stop points of legendary Silk Road for 140 years. Kharkhorin played significant role in Mongolian history and was a capital city of Mongolian Great Empire until Khubilai Khaan, a grandson of Chinggis Khaan moved the capital to Beijing of Yuan Dynasty. Erdenezuu Monastery – the first Buddhist monastery was founded by Avtai Sain Khaan, descendant of Chinggis Khaan, on the ruins of Kharkhorin in 1586. For centuries it was a spiritual and intellectual centre of Mongolia which has extraordinary collection of Buddhist paintings, and religious objects. On the late afternoon, we will drive to Tsenkher hot spring, a sulphur spring that emerges from the ground at 85 Celsius degree, were outfitted for visitors. The facility includes outdoor and indoor baths, showers and accommodations. Overnight in the ger.

Day 7. Orkhon Waterfall. We will drive to Orkhon river and will visit the Orkhon waterfall which is situated in the Orkhon river, that flows an 1120km; the longest river in Mongolia. The local name of the waterfall is Ulaan Tsutgalan and the height is 24m, waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20 000 years ago. The water level of the waterfall depends on the rainfall. We will have hiking opportunities to the bottom of the gorge. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 8. Ruins of the Ongi Monastery. After breakfast, we will drive to Khujirt resort which is situated on the bank of Khujirt river at 1758m above the sea level. The Khujirt resort is famous for its therapeutics for kidneys, joints and various traumas among Mongolians. The temperature varies from +40 to 55 degrees Celsius. In the afternoon, we will drive to the direction of the ruins of Ongiin Khiid Monastery. We will visit the ruins of Ongi Monastery. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 9. Flaming Cliffs. After breakfast, we will drive to the Bayanzag, known as Flaming Cliff to the world. We will have picnic lunch on the way. In the afternoon, we will arrive in the ancient red rock creation, Bayanzag formed 60-70 million years ago, famous as Flaming Cliffs named by Roy Andrew Chapman, an American explorer who visited Mongolia in 1920s. The red Bayanzag cliffs have dinosaur fossils, eggs and bones all over the place and neighbored by bushy Saxual tree forests. We will trek around the cliffs and overnight in the ger camp.

Day 10. Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes. We will drive to the Khongoriin Els dunes that stretch for 180 kms, sometimes as wide as 7-20km. The dunes lie on the northern part of the mountain range Servei and Zuulun. The sound of masses of wind-blown sand can be heard from the long distance. This sound is so melodic so 200m high sand dunes called as “Singing Dunes”. We will have an opportunity to ride two humped Bacterian camel visit camel breeder’s and experience every day of life. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 11. Yol Valley. After breakfast, we will drive to the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park where we will enjoy “Yol Valley”. The valley is the narrow canyon of a river that flows through the Zuun Saikhan Mountain. The sheer rock walls stand 200m and the canyon has green grasses with thick glacier layer that is deeply set between the walls. We will trek along the canyon and may have an opportunity to glimpse rarely found wild sheep Argali, mountain goat Ibex and Yol Lammergeier. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 12. South Gobi/Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast, we will transfer to airport to catch our flight to Ulaanbaatar; a capital city of the nation. We will transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit Choijin Lama Museum. This monastery was built in 1908 for the Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav, the state oracle and younger brother of the eighth Bogd Gegeen. The temple is now a museum preserving the elaborately decorated interiors and containing a rich collection of other Mongolian Buddhist sculpture and painting. It has several gilded bronze statues, impressive sculptures of the major Mongolian and Tibetan incarnations of the Buddhist deities, and a striking array of papier-mache masks used for the Tsam dance ceremonies. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13. Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast, we will have some free time to do some shopping for souvenirs and cashmeres in Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, we will see Mongolian traditional dance and music performance and enjoy farewell dinner. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 14. Departure. We will transfer to the “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport with professional Blue Gobi Tour Team.