Western Overland Adventure

Khovd province has diverse and various ethnic group and inhabitants. The Torguud ethnics in Bulgan sum, Zakhchin in Altai sum, Myangad in Myangad sum and Kazakhs in Khovd sum live peacefully together in one province. The main economic activity is livestock breeding although agriculture remains important in the river valleys and lake depressions. Khovd city was founded by Machju in 1718 on the bank of Khovd River. The streets of Khovd city one can experience various colors of races, ethnic dresses and languages.

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. Middle Gobi. After breakfast, we will drive to the Middle Gobi. We will arrive at the Baga Gazriin Chuluu. This 1750m high basalt and granite rock formation is located in the middle Gobi. This rock mountain contains ruins of Buddhist meditation temple that belonged to the 17^th century. We will drive to the Sum Huh Burd, a small island with ruins of ancient temple and overnight in the ger camp.

Day 3. Erdenezuu Monastery. After breakfast, we will drive to Kharkhorin. We will visit interesting inscribed rock of Prince Tsogt Taij which is located on the way. A well-known poet of the 17^th century Prince Tsogt Taij carved his poems on the rock in 1626. This rock gained the name “Duut” because it tinkles like a steel boiler as one hits it. We will arrive in Kharkhorin in the late afternoon. Overnight in the ger camp.  

Day 4. TSenkher hot spring. Today we will explore Kharkhorin; an ancient capital of Great Mongolian Empire and Erdenezuu Monastery. Kharkhorin was established in the valley of Orkhon river in 1220. 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. The monastery is surrounded by beautiful looking white walls with 108 stupas. We will drive to Tsenkher hot spring, a sulphur spring that emerges from the ground at 85 Celsius degree. The facility includes outdoor and indoor baths, showers and accommodations. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 5. Taikhar Rock/Khorgo Volcano. We will drive to the Tsetserleg city, a capital of Arkhangai province. We will visit Taikhar Rock, 16m high boulder is located on the bank of Tamir with 150 inscriptions and engravings of many languages. We will arrive in the Khorgo Volcano in the late afternoon. Khorgo Volcano is located on the east shore of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan. The latter, a lake about 20 km long, was formed when volcanic lava dammed the Suman River, cutting a large gorge through basalt. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 6. Shine Ider/Khuvsgul. After breakfast we will drive to the north to the Khuvsgul lake. We will see Khangai mountain range and its stunning alpine landscape on the way. We wil overnight in the camp.

Day 7. Murun. We will drive to Murun. On the way, we will visit Uishigiin Uvur Valley with many deer stones and rock carvings. Averaging 1-3m in height, these upright stone slabs are characterized by low-relief carvings of deer with flowing antlers. Over 550 have been identified thus far in Mongolia's grassy steppe region, occurring singly and in small groups, often in association with stone burial mounds, called khirigsuur. Overnight in the ger camp.

Day 8. Khuvsgul Lake. We will explore the lake today. The Khuvsgul is the second largest freshwater lake in the Central Asia with over one percent of the world’s freshwater and a maximum depth of 262m. The lake is surrounded by dozens of stunning mountains, thick pine forests and lush meadows with grazing yaks and horses. Overnight in the ger camp near the lake.

Day 9. Tes River. After breakfast, we will drive to the northern edge of Khangai Mountain. We will have an opportunity to see wildlife, many birds and floras. We will drive to the meadow of Tes River and overnight on the bank of Tes River.

Day 10. Telmen Lake. We will drive to the Uliastai, a capiltal of Zavkhan province. It was founded by Manchu in 1733 and served as a base for Manchu soldiers. We will drive to the Telmen lake. The lake lies near the boundary between the forest steppe and steppe ecosystems; surrounded by sand dunes. Overnight in the tent.

Day 11. Otgontenger Mountain. After breakfast, we will drive to the western part of Khangai Mountains. Otgontenger is located a 100km east of Uliastai town. This is a sacred mountain eternally snow capped at 4031m. Above the tree line, tundra, alpine-sedge meadows and highland swamps are attractively present high mountain landscape. The mountain is approached across a stony area, which opens up to a scenic glacial lake called Badar Khundaga. We overnight in a tent camp near the mountain.

Day 12. Gobi Altai. After breakfast we will drive to the Gobi Altai province. This is an area where Gobi steppes join the Altai mountain range for this reason the province is called Gobi Altai. We will pass by a provincial capital Altai city which is located on the dry plain with high snow-capped mountains. Overnight in the tent camp on the steppe.

Day 13. Sharga Gobi. Today, we will explore one of the 33 Gobi of Mongolia - Sharga Gobi. The Shargiin Gobi is also one of the two parts of the Natural Reserve called “Sharga Mankhanii Tal”. The reserve was created in 1994 in order to conserve the habitat of the Mongolian endangered subspecies of the Saiga Antelope, a species listed on the “International Red Data Book” and now widespread only in the Sharga Gobi. Overnight in the tent.

Day 14. Tsetseg Lake. After breakfast, we will drive to the Khovd province. On the way, we will pass through the Tonkhil village that is located in the western corner of the Gobi Altai. Our next stop is Tsetseg Lake, a small lake surrounded by high mountains. Overnight in the tent.

Day 15. Durgun Lake. We will drive to the Durgun Lake. By the afternoon we will reach to Durgun Lake, the lake accommodates many species of water birds and waders. We will see unique combination of mountain, lake and small sand dunes around the lake. Overnight in the tent.

Day 16. Khovd city. We will drive to the direction of Khovd city. On the way, we will see the Khar Us Lake that lies at an altitude of 1157m, with a length of 72km and width of 27 km. This is a fresh water lake and has a low mineral content. We will overnight in the tent.

Day 17. Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast we will drive to Khovd city and will explore the ancient and modern part of the city with many ethnic minorities. Transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight to the capital city Ulaanbaatar. We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 18. Ulaanbaatar. We start our last but unforgettable touring day from the Gandan Monastery a heart of Mongolian yellow head Buddhism. We will experience the sense of Buddhism in Mongolia and see the outstanding and impressive 24m golden plated statue of Buddha; Megjid Janraiseg. This monastery is the largest and most important monastery of Mongolia with 500 monks. Then we head to the Central Market to see how locals shop and bargain the goods. There is a section reserved for antiques and coin sellers which is the best reason to visit the market. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 19. Ulaanbaatar. We will explore Ulaanbaatar city and to do souviner shopping. We will see traditional performance of folk songs, throat singing, beautiful melody of horse-headed fiddle, ethnic dances and arty contortion. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 20. Departure. We will transfer to the “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport with professional Blue Gobi Tour Team.