Day 1:To Ulaanbaatar

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. If you arrive by air or train, we will provide transfer to your hotel. In the evening there is a trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Train to East Gobi

In the morning we will board the train to the East Gobi (Dornogobi) province. We will travel on the Trans-Mongolian Railway line towards China. The gradual transformation from tree­less steppe grasslands to the drier Gobi is apparent as we approach the town of Choir. We will disembark at a tiny railway station in the middle of the Gobi steppes and drive the last 40 km to the Ikh Nart plateau and our secluded Red Rock Ger Camp, where we will spend the next two nights.

Day 3: Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

We have the full day for exploration of this dramatic and rocky Gobi landscape. It’s easy to get lost here. An estimated 1000 Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), the world’s largest wild sheep, are using the rocks as shelter, as are some 150 Siberian Ibex (Capra Sibirica). Also wolves and lynx are hiding out here. Our first full day in the Gobi is dedicated to wildlife observation. The Argali Research Center of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences is conducting wildlife research here since 1997, therefore much is known about the Ikh Nart ecosystem. Although there is no guarantee, Argali and Ibex can usually be seen. Sometimes other ungulates such as Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Hemionus or Khulan in Mongolian) and Mongolian Gazelles (Procapra Gutturosa) might be seen. In Ikh Nart you can also see numerous big bird’s nests on cliffs and small trees, which usually are Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius Monachus), the largest vulture of Eurasia. Its size is on par with the Andean Condor.

Day 4: To Gun Galuut

Today we will load up our Russian minivan, and drive north until we reach the Herlen River, making use of one of few tarmac roads in Mongolia. We spend the night near Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, a small, but highly diverse protected area, consisting of high moun­tains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands. In the late afternoon there is a good chance of spotting the rare White-naped Crane (Grus Vipio) and Swan Geese (Anser Cygnoides) at the small lakes and marshlands, getting a foretaste of what birding will be like further east. We set up our Tepee camp on the bank of the Herlen River.

Day 5:  To the Eastern Steppes

We continue our slow drive east on the tarmac road into Khentii province, passing its small capital Öndörkhaan, now renamed to Chinggis City, after Genghis Khan. We follow the Herlen River on its southern bank until we reach the endless grasslands of the Eastern Steppes, and drive on until Sukhbaatar province and Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve.

Day 6:  Eastern Steppes

The first half of the day we will spend exploring Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve in Sukhbaatar province, which has recently been handed over for management to WWF Mongolia. In the afternoon we drive a few hours into Dornod province, Mongolia’s easternmost province. The herding communities become scarcer and more isolated, and the grasses become higher beyond the roads and the riparian zones. We will probably see some stray or small herds of Mongolian Gazelles as well as foxes of various kinds. Crossing Toson Hulstai Nature Re­serve, we reach our selected spot for the next two nights.

Day 7:  Eastern Steppes

The full day can be used for hikes and exploration drives through the heartland of the East­ern Steppes. This is the classical habitat for the Mongolian gazelle. Immense herds are roam­ing the grassland, but are elusive at times. They do not migrate in regular patterns like the big ungulate herds of East Africa, but rather randomly follow precipitation which provides for good grazing. Often none are seen, but herds of tens of thousands can be seen at times. Rarely as much as 80 thousand. In 2007 a mega herd of 250 thousand has been seen. There are also small lakes with possible sightings of White-naped Cranes (Grus Vipio) and the even more rare Siberian Crane (G. Leucogeranus). The morning and late afternoon can be used to relax at our tiny, cozy camp or hike in these great landscapes. It’ll be a thousand stars hotel tonight!

Day 8: To Onon River

We continue our drive north until the Onon River, a tributary of the mighty Amur River, that forms the border between the Russian Far East and Northeastern China. Together the two rivers form the longest free flowing river system in Eurasia. We now re-enter Khentii province and drive north through Norovlin district. Having traversed the undulating, flat grasslands for the past few days, we will now start noticing small ridges of mountains and birch forests, which indicate the proximity of Siberia and what locally is called the Hangai region (as opposed to the Gobi), which consists of mosaic forests of larch and birch. Our camping spot for the next two nights is in the vicinity of Ölziit Hairkhan, a dramatic landscape of rocks, near the riverside.

Day 9:  Onon River

Ölziit Hairkhan is a sacred place, where in recent years shamans have revived ceremonies for the local mountain spirits. We will do some hiking in this beautiful area. Local herders belong to Khalkha and Buryat ethnic groups, nearby Dadal district is almost all Buryat. The Buryats are a Northern Mongolian group, who lead a more settled lifestyle in log cabins. They keep cows and horses, rather than sheep and goats. We may hike in the vicinity or drive to Dadal village, where WWF Mongolia’s work for the conservation of the Onon River is centered. There are claims that Genghis Khan was born here.

Day 10:  To Daurian Steppe Lakes

We drive full day through Bayan-Adraga and Binder districts until Binder Ovoo (155 km), one of the most significant sacred cairns, believed to have been here since Chinggis times.

We set up camp on the edge of the Hurkh Steppe, home to many nomads and famous horse trainers. In the vicinity are the Daurian Steppe Lakes, kept in place by underlying permafrost, They are habitat to several crane species, in fact five of the world’s crane species may be seen here including the rare Siberian Cane.

Day 11:  To Öglögch Wall

Today we drive into the forest steppe zone, bordering the vast Khan Khentii Special Protected Area, a forested wilderness three times the size of Yellowstone. Here stands the mysterious Almsgiver’s Wall (Öglögchiin Herem), believed to date from the 8th century. More than 2 meters wide and up to 3 meters high it skirts through the forests for more than 3 kilometers near Daichin Moun­tain. Recent archaeological digs have identified at least 60 ancient graves within the walls, indicating that it may once have been a royal cemetery. Both American and Japanese joint Mongolian expeditions have searched for the grave of Genghis Khan in the area, but the work was aborted without results. We also visit Rashaant Had, a large rock with numerous types of petroglyphs depicting animals and people, as well as inscriptions in various ancient scripts. It is widely believed to possess special energy, water flowing directly out from the rock face, why it therefore attracts Mongolians from afar, who come for meditation.

Day 12: Baldan Bereeven and Hangal Lake

Today we turn west to visit Baldan Bereeven Monastery, which was founded in 1654 and soon became one of the most significant monasteries of eastern Mongolia with up to 8000 resident lamas. It was destroyed in the Stalinist purges of the late 1930s, but the main temple has undergone some renovation. The monastery grounds are surrounded by scenic and sacred mountains the monastery itself is backed by the steep cliff of Munkh Ulziit mountain where many Buddhist petroglyphs can be found. We drive on through the forest zone and set up camp near Hangal Lake.

Day 13: To Ulaanbaatar

We drive back to Ulaanbaatar and enjoy a picnic lunch on the way. You will be transferred to your hotel before dinner time.

Day 14: Fly Out

Our service ends after breakfast. If you leave Mongolia today, we will supply transfer to the airport or railway station.

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival by air or train to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Your guide will be on stand-by.

Day 2:  To Altan Hökhii Mountain

A three hour flight will take us to one of the regional airports at Khovd or Ulaangom. We drive for half a day to Altan Hökhii Mountain, a free-standing mountain in the central Mongolian Altai range. Altan Hökhii is facing the eternally snowcapped Tsambagarav Mountain National Park in Bayan-Ölgii, though separated from it by the Khovd River. We spend the first night at our private camp, which will be deployed at a considerable altitude, so even in July and August it might be quite cold at night. It is advisable to dress in layers.

Day 3-4:  Altan Hökhii Mountain

The nomads here belong to a small ethnic group called Myangad – who were part of the larger western Mongolian Oirat federation. These are truly traditional herders, who migrate with pack camels between their seasonal pastures located at different elevations in the mountains and on the surrounding arid plains. The Myangad are famous for being good horse trainers, but face severe challenges herding livestock in close vicinity to numerous predators including Snow Leopards at higher altitudes and large numbers of wolves lower down. We will have the opportunity to learn about nomadic life.  Excellent for day hikes. There is a fantastic large Ovoo (ritual cairn) on the top of Altan Hökhii Mountain (though hiking to the very top is reserved for men only, for religious sensitivities).

Day 5:  To Khom

We drive full day southeast into Zavkhan province and the Khom plains, a semi-arid grassland with rather few nomads, surrounded by lakes, rivers and large sand dunes. Our camp will be set up next to a nomadic host family, that migrates between Baga Lake and the Seer Hills. The exact location is therefore dependent on the season. The French Takhi Association, a partner of WWF Mongolia, has been working on the reintroduction of Przewalski’s Horse (Equus Ferus Przewalski) between the Seer Hills and the Zavkhan River since 2004. Now the project has recently been transferred to a local NGO. Called takhi in Mongolian, the Przewalski’s horse is the last remaining species of wild horses. The story of its reintroduction is quite amazing. Made up from individuals gathered from zoo parks across Europe, the herds have been consolidated in France and brought to Mongolia in a spectacular airlift. We will meet with the team of Mongolian Takhi rangers.

Day 6:  To Seer

Explore the plains, and the strictly protected reserve with the Takhi close to Zavkhan River. Visit the Seer Hills escarpment, and do some birding along the nearby Zavkhan River. At Seer we are likely to come across Mongolian Gazelles (Procapra Gutturosa), Black-tailed Gazelles (Gazella Subgutturosa) and have a reasonable chance to see Siberian Ibex (Capra Sibirica). Viewing of Takhi here is a fully private experience, as this is a truly remote corner of Mongolia.

Day 7-8:  Mongol Sands and Lake

Explorations of the area from our private camp. If not already there we drive to the saltwater lake of Baga Nuur (Small Lake), immensely rich in bird life, spectacular even for non-birders. Large congregations of tens of thousands of Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes Paradoxus) sometimes descend at this lake to drink and enjoy the water, as well as large numbers of Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna Ferruginea). Adjacent to Baga Nuur are the biggest and longest sand dunes of Mongolia, Mongol Sands. They are more spectacular than the widely known Hongor Sands in South Gobi, as here the sands contrasts with rivers and lakes! The lakes expand in spring and shrink again at the end of summer, thus creating a variety of wetland habitats in otherwise arid surroundings. The Khom channel also marks the northernmost extension of Saxaul, a small, extremely salt-tolerant Gobi tree. We can expect to see many bird species restricted to the Eurasian steppes and desert biomes. Drive to nearby Dörgön Lake for birding. We can expect to see Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucoryphus), White-tailed Eagle (H. Albicilla), Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus Semipalmatus), White Spoonbill (Platalea Leucorodia), and Lesser Kestrel (Falco Naumanni). With some luck we will also identify the rare Relict Gull (Ichthyaetus Relictus). The lake harbors fish species such as the Altai Osman (Oreoleuciscus sp.) and the Mongolian Grayling, the largest species of Grayling (Thymallus Revirostris) in the world. Two thirds of the fish species are endemic. We will visit local nomads and their gers and livestock on foot or on camel back, to learn more about their livelihoods.

Day 9:  Camel Ride across Mongol Sands

Today we will saddle up and traverse the giant sand dunes by camel (or on foot), enjoying majestic views over Dörgön Lake. We now enter Gobi Altai province, following the lake shore, which here forms a wonderful beach, something of a Mongolian River if you like. There is a spectacular ovoo here, named Janjin Ovoo, a ritual cairn, sacred to the locals. We are met by our vehicles mid day and drive back across the Chandmani plains. This is Saiga Antelope habitat where WWF Mongolia is working with local herding communities to protect this rare antelope. In prehistoric times millions of Saiga roamed the Eurasian plains with mammoths, wooly rhinos and bisons. Up until the 1800s this rather bizarre looking antelope with its characteristic bulbous nose, could still be found from the Carpathian Mountains to Mongolia and Dzungaria. Today only about 50,000 remain in Russia and Kazakhstan, with only a very small population in Mongolia. They are very skittish and hard to see, as they tend to run if they hear a vehicle within a distance of 2 or 3 kilometers. WWF is working here to motivate herders to act as Saiga rangers and protectors. We now re-enter the Khar Us Nuur National Park crossing the Dörgön Steppe westerly towards the village of Chandmani, famous for its claims of being the place of origin of throat singing (hömii). We continue toward Jargalant Hairkhan Mountain, which is usually snow-capped until July. Small stands of birch grow on its lower slopes. We drive around to the western side of the elongated mountain and set up our camp in one of the valleys, in an elevated place, facing Khar Us Lake. In mosquito free times, early and late in the season, we usually pitch camp at the lake itself. Many nomads will then have settled there.

Day 10-11:  Jargalant Hairkhan Mountain

We hike into the Rashaant Valley of Jargalant Hairkhan Mountain. It is a unique valley which hosts a sacred spring, famous for its healing properties. Locals come here for eight types of traditional treatments. Poplars grow directly out of the rock, which is a wash out. The ravine is covered by ice and snow for most parts of the summer, and we will hike up to the end of it, where there are three small waterfalls, coming off the snow and glacial melt, producing a waterfall being 22 meters in a single drop.

With some luck we will see Siberian Ibex and Argali Sheep, the prey species of the Snow Leopard. This rare leopard finds excellent habitat here and WWF has placed remote sensor cameras to monitor the population. Our local hosts are partners in conservation programs of the area, with both WWF and the Snow Leopard Trust. Birds include Lammergeier (Gypaetus Barbatus), Chukar Partridge (Alectoris Chukar), Altai Snowcock (Tetraogallus Altaicus) and Wallcreeper (Tichodroma Muraria).

Day 12:  To Tsambagarav Mountain National Park

We drive for half a day to reach the provincial capital Khovd, a small multi-ethnic town, inhabited by several Mongolian ethnic minorities, as well as by Kazakhs. We visit the museum on the main square and in the afternoon continue the drive to Tsambagarav Mountain. The options for our camp locations are dictated by the seasons here. Only in the summer months, do we set up camp at high elevations. Early and late in season we will camp at lower elevations such as Khar Khatuu Valley or at the foot of snow-capped Sair Mountain with its peak at 3990 meters above sea level.

Day 13-14:  Tsambagarav Mountain National Park

Two days for explorations of this little traveled part of Bayan-Ölgii. We now are hosted by Kazakh nomads. The Kazakhs are a Turkic people who adhere to the Sunni Muslim faith. Their gers are distinct and more elaborate than Mongolian ones. They are actually called yurts, just as in Turkish, Russian, English and most other languages. Here locals speak Kazakh as a mother tongue although Mongolian is widespread. Ask anyone in Kazakhstan proper where the most cultural intact part of their country is located and they will point to this area, outside their country, in Mongolia. Learn more about Kazakh traditions and you will notice a big difference with the Mongol nomads. There are also Khalkha Mongol people as well as Uriankhai. Many local families here specialize in eagle hunting. Golden Eagles are captured and trained to hunt foxes from horseback in the winter months. During the summer, you may see the eagles perched and tied around the family yurts. We will explore the surrounding mountain area.

Day 15:  To Ulaanbaatar

We drive a few hours to the provincial capital Ölgii (or Khovd) in time for the flight to Ulaanbaatar. If there is time, we will visit local shops for handicraft. In Ölgii and Khovd you will see mosques rather than Buddhist temples and the market is called bazaar. In Hovd both cultures exist side-by-side. Fly to Ulaanbaatar (3-4 hours). We will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel.

Day 16:  Ulaanbaatar

We depart mid-morning for a visit to Gandan Monastery, which is a Yellow Hat (Gelug-pa) lamasery. It has survived a fair bit of the purges in the 1930s and was already reopened during socialist times, to portray religious freedom for visiting tourists from Cuba, Hungary, and the USSR. At the time tourists were invited to take photos. Today, photos are restricted at this, at times very lively, praying site. We continue to Sukhbaatar Square and visit the National Museum of Mongolia.

Day 17:  Departure

Transfer to the airport or railway station and depart homewards or to your next destination.