Mongolia Expedition: Wilderness of the West
15 days
From
$ 4340
Duration15 days
The ultimate adventure into the nomadic life, traditions, wildlife and stunning landscapes that Western Mongolia has to offer. This journey takes you into the wild west of Mongolia, a place where crystal-clear lakes, snow-capped peaks and giant dunes whisper the legendary stories of nomads and nature. Be mesmerised by khoomii (traditional throat singing), stay with nomadic families, search for wildlife including ibex, argali sheep and the elusive snow leopard, then join Kazakh eagle hunters at a local celebration. Beginning and ending in Ulaanbaatar, this adventure unveils the true spirit of Mongolia's traditional nomads with an unimaginably beautiful backdrop.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 15 daysService level: Standard
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Physical Grading: Demanding
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Ages: 15+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Sain baina uu! Welcome to Mongolia, a vast country known as the Land of the Blue Sky. Your trip officially begins with a group meeting at 6 pm and afterwards you'll have the option to join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant. If you arrive in town earlier and find yourself with some spare time, be sure to get out and explore Ulaanbaatar – UB – a fascinating city where modernity mixes with tradition. The Fine Arts Museum and Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan are well worth visiting.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar
Modern Mongolia is a fiercely independent nation that's trying to hold on to its traditional heritage and wild spirit in the face of immense challenges and change. Learn more about the country's storied history on a tour of Ulaanbaatar, beginning with a visit to Gandan Monastery, one of the largest and most important Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia. Climb Zaisan Hill for a bird's-eye view of the ever expanding city and its ger suburbs, then explore the National Museum of Mongolia and learn about the country's past struggles and glories before finishing up at Sukhbaatar Square. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are for you to do as you please, but we recommend checking out the International Intellectual Museum, an institution dedicated to all things puzzles and games.
Meals: B
Day 3: Uliastai - Ereen Lake
The adventure proper begins today as you depart UB and take an early flight to Uliastai, a trip of approximately three hours. Located in Western Mongolia, Uliastal is the capital of the Zavkhan Province and surrounded by mountains, over one thousand kilometres from Ulaanbaatar. Meet your drivers and hop in a 'furgon', a trusty Russian van and the main form of transport for the rest of the journey. You'll drive approximately three hours to Ereen Lake, which is surrounded by the the biggest sand dunes in Mongolia. Explore the area by camel and listen to the famous singing of the sand dunes, which evoke a unique sound in a strong wind or when the top sand slides across the surface. Tonight you'll enjoy your first 'ger' experience in the Mongolian wilds. Settle in to camp – which has toilet and shower facilities – and enjoy the serenity and getting to know your fellow travellers.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Dörgön Lake
Buckle up for a long drive today (approx. six hours) to Dorgon Lake, stopping en route at the Soljir petroglyphs site to view carvings dating back to the Bronze Age. These carvings depict wild animals including ibex, camels and more, as well as some hunting scenes, and the site has never been fully researched nor studied so it's a little known destination. There's a short hike to reach the site and after lunch you'll continue to Dorgon Lake, which covers an area over 300 square kilometres in size. With an average depth of 14 metres, this salt water lake makes up part of the Khar Us Nuur National Park, a huge region encapsulating lakes, mountains and vast open plains. Once again, tonight's accommodation is a tourist ger camp, so soak up the stillness and majesty of the area with your group.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Chandmani
Travel approximately four hours today to the Chandmani district, the legendary birthplace of 'Khoomii', also known as overtune or throat singing. The origin of this mesmerising style of singing is said to be the sound of water running between rocks in the mythical River Eev, while some theories connect the practice with other natural and supernatural events. Though nobody knows the exact location of the mystical river, the Tuvans, Uriangkai and Western Khalk Mongolians all agree that khoomil is connected to the river's magic. Many Chandmani men are gifted in the practice and tonight you'll stay with a local family in their ger, sharing a meal and learning about this unique practice.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Tsagaan Sair Valley
Farewell your local hosts as you drive approximately three hours to Tsagaan Sair Valley. This valley lies in the Jargalant Khairkhan mountains, an area sacred to the locals because the range determines the local climate and pastures that are of such importance to their lives. Mongolian nomads utilise the area for pasture during winter and spring and it is home to hundreds of ibexes, argali sheep and an estimated two dozen snow leopards, among others. These mountains are also where the first ancient Altai Harp was unearthed, from the tomb of a fully armed young warrior. Take a hike through the beautiful landscape and spend the evening at a guest ger that was set up by some of the local nomads.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Tsaagan Sair Valley
Make the most of another day spent in this incredible landscape as we continue to explore the Tsagaan Sair Valley. The group will take a short drive and begin hiking, looking out for ibex and wild argali sheep among the rocky surroundings. These majestic sheep live in high alpine areas and can weigh a mammoth 180 kilograms when fully grown, and the males have particularly impressive curved horns. They're also a favourite prey of the enigmatic snow leopard, and if you're lucky you may see evidence of the leopard's presence in the area. The length and nature of the hike today will depend on the weather and the group's fitness level, but one thing is certain: this is a spectacular region to explore on foot. Spend the evening back at the guest ger sharing a meal and stories with your group.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Khar Us Lake
Start the day with an approximately two-hour drive to Khoid Tsenkher Cave. Located above the Khoid Tsenkher River, this cave is famous for its rock art paintings, which were discovered in the 1960s and date back to the Paleolithic period (15–20,000 years ago). Entering the cave involves a bit of a scramble, which your leader can help you with, and once inside you'll find images of argali sheep, ibexes and camels, and even lions, elephants and ostriches. After visiting the cave, it's another two hours to Khar Us Lake, one of the largest fresh water lakes in all of Mongolia. It's the upper lake of the Great Lake Depression and of critical importance to the local plant and animal life. With the mountains providing a stunning backdrop, the lake covers an area of 15,800 square kilometres and and the little islands dotting the surface are home to wild ducks, geese, wood grouse, partridges and even rare migratory sea birds. Spend a memorable evening in a tourist ger camp by the lake.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Khar Us Lake - Khovd
The best time for birdwatching is early morning and you may well be rewarded if you manage to drag yourself out of your ger. Enjoy a few more hours at the camp then depart for Khovd after lunch. The journey should take around two hours, and after the last few days of nature and wilderness, the small, multicultural town of Khovd will feel like a thriving metropolis. Established in the 18th century by the Manchus of China's Qing Dynasty, Khovd has long been a trade and business centre in Mongolia's west. It's now home to many different ethnic groups including the Zakchin, Uriankhai and Torguud peoples. Explore the city with your leader then perhaps take some time to shop for supplies or connect with your friends and family back home to share some of the incredible experiences you've had so far. Mix things up in the evening and swap a traditional ger for a local hotel – talk about cosmopolitan!
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Ölgii
Today you'll travel approximately five hours to the town of Olgii, the capital of Mongolia's Bayan-Olgii Province. Stop for lunch en route with views of Tsambagarav, a permanently snow-capped mountain that attracts alpinists from both Mongolian and international alpinists. Its peak sits at just over 4000 metres and the surrounding national park, replete with glaciers and lakes, is also inhabited by snow leopards. Stretch your legs after lunch on a short hike to an impressive viewpoint where you can really get a feel for the scale of the landscape. Continue to Olgii, which sits among the Altai Mountains and was first established by Kazakhs fleeing the Russian empire during the 1840s. It's a similar size to Khovd – around 30,000 people – and hosts the Golden Eagle Festival every year to showcase the ancient form of hunting. A documentary about the festival, The Eagle Huntress, was released in 2016 and tells the story of a 13-year-old girl who became the first woman to ever win. Other Kazakh traditions are also being revived in the town following a period of power struggle between China and the USSR that led to the suppression of traditional Kazakh culture. Stay overnight in a tourist ger camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Sagsai
Travel to Sagsai this morning (approx. one hour) for the opening ceremony of a local festival. Though it's not the famous Golden Eagle Festival, this smaller event is a celebration in honour of the opening of the local eagle hunting and falconry season. It's organised by a close network of friends and attended by about 40 'berkutchi', or eagle hunters. Though the event is traditionally male only, a few female hunters have also attended in recent years. The eagles are considered sacred by the Kazakh people, who treat them with reverence and respect and the understanding that you can never truly tame the natural world. The celebrations include competitions and events, including prizes for the best-looking eagle, best-dressed berkutchi and best-decorated horse. Other contests include 'tenge ilu', where horsemen grab coins from the ground at full gallop to determine the most skilled, and a competition to see whose eagle catches a dummy rabbit or fox in the shortest time. Spend the night in a ger managed by some local friends.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Sagsai - Ölgii
Visit a recently opened falconry school and meet the eagle hunters to learn more about their training and traditions. The school plays an important role not only in educating eager young Kazakhs about traditional hunting, but also in preventing eagle hunting from becoming commercialised or exploitative and protecting the wild eagle population. The hunters will share some fascinating insights into how they catch eaglets, communicate and feed the birds, train them to hunt, and how and when they release them back into the wild. Spend some time discussing these things with both the hunters and students on a walk, during which you'll learn more about the local landscape and wildlife from those that know it best. Return to Olgii (approximately one hour) in the afternoon and enjoy a Kazakh folk concert in the evening before retiring to the hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Ölgii - Ulaanbaatar
Say goodbye to Western Mongolia and its mountains and eagles and pristine landscapes. Today you'll take a flight back to Ulaanbaatar (approx. three hours), where you'll have free time to continue exploring the city and, in the evening, dine either by yourself or with the rest of the group.
Meals: B
Day 14: Ulaanbaatar
Enjoy a free final day in Ulaanbaatar. There's plenty to do, whether you're keen to shop for souvenirs or just soak up the city's vibe. If you didn't find time for the Fine Arts or Intellectual Museum earlier in the journey, be sure to check them out before gathering your group together for a farewell dinner to celebrate and toast your adventure through this vast, eclectic land.
Meals: B
Day 15: Ulaanbaatar
Your journey through Mongolia comes to an end after breakfast. There are no activities planned today and you're free to depart any time.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Ulaanbaatar - Gandan Khiid Monastery
- Ulaanbaatar - Zaisan Hill Memorial
- Ulaanbaatar - National Museum
- Ereen Lake - Camel ride
- Dörgön Lake - Hiking & petroglyph site visit
- Chandmani - Khöömii (throat singing)
- Tsagaan Sair Valley - Hiking
- Khar Us Lake - Khoit Tsenkher Cave
- Khar Us Lake - Bird watching
- Tsamgarav Mountain - Hiking
- Sagsai - Berkutchi festival
- Ölgii - Falconry school visit
- Ölgii - Kazakh folklore performance
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Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Furgon (Russian van) -
Accommodation
Tourist Ger Camp (4 nights), Family/Guest Ger Camp (4 nights), Hotel (6 nights)