Ikhnart Rocks Wilderness Ger Camp

Brief Outline Itinerary

Nomadic Journeys operates a small seasonal ger (yurt) camp at Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. You can travel there southeasterly on the Trans-Mongolian railway line towards Beijing by a slow train  from Ulaanbaatar. Disembark at Shivee Gobi or Tsomog, a small stations following after Choir town. Then drive 40 km to the Ikh Nart Wilderness Ger Camp. Ikh Nart Wilderness Ger Camp is located on its own at the nature reserve.

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve was established in 1996 as a wildlife reserve as it has intact populations of Gobi Desert fauna. There are plenty of opportunities for wildlife, walks and drives. There may be camels for rent as local East Gobi Desert nomadic communities still roam the reserve. The return journey to Ulaanbaatar would be by a night train but you may order a private day time transfer to Ulaanbaatar.

Day 1: To Ikh Nart

Depart from Ulaanbaatar at 17h15 with domestic night train to Tsomog, a train platform seemingly in the middle of nowhere, When you arrive at Tsomog at 23h20 in the evening, you will be met and transferred to IkhNart Rocks Ger Camp for another 30 minutes.

Day 2-3: Ikh Nart

For two days you may explore the Ikh Nart upland on foot, trekking through interesting rocky areas and hoping to view different kinds of wildlife. There are Argali Sheep (Ovis Ammon), which are the most likely to be seen, but there is also Siberian Ibex (Capra Sibirica) and a variety of bird life. Three parallel research projects are being carried out on an on-going basis by Mongolian and foreign scientists. One study is concerned with Argali Sheep and Siberian Ibex. A second is gathering data on small carnivores such as Corsac Fox (Vulpes Corsac), Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes), Badger (Meles Meles) and Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus Manul), along with Lynx (Lynx Lynx) and Wolves (Canis Lupus) when possible. Learning about prey species such as Gerbils, Jerboas and Hedgehogs is also part of this project. For avifauna there is a third on – going research study of Cinereous Vultures and Lesser Kestrels (Falco Naumanni). Botanists are also regular visitors to the reserve. Herders come and go in the Ikh Nart area, as they rely on pastures and sufficient precipitation. Being Gobi herders, they migrate often to find food for their animals and are interesting, hospitable and hardy people.

Day 4: To Dalanjargalan

A.m. Our camp vehicle or local driver will transfer you 40 km to Dalanjargalan village after an evening early dinner. In time for the night train departure to Ulaanbaatar. We may also suit transfers to the international trains to China departing Choir, 86 km away.

Day 1: To Ikh Nart

Depart from Ulaanbaatar at 17h15 with domestic night train to Tsomog, a train platform seemingly in the middle of nowhere, When you arrive at Tsomog at 23h20 in the evening, you will be met and transferred to IkhNart Rocks Ger Camp for another 30 minutes.

Day 2-3: Ikh Nart

For two days you may explore the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve upland on foot, trekking through interesting rocky areas and hoping to view different kinds of wildlife. There are Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), which are the most likely to be seen and also there is Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica)  and  a  variety  of  bird  life. Three parallel research projects are being carried out on an on-going basis by Mongolian and foreign scientists. One study is concerned with Argali Sheep and Siberian Ibex.  A second is gathering data on small carnivores such as Corsac Fox (Vulpes corsac), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Badger (Meles meles) and Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus manul), along with Lynx (Lynx lynx) and Wolves (Canis lupus) when possible. Learning about prey species such as Gerbils, Jerboas and Hedgehogs is also part of this project. For avifauna there is a third  ongoing  research  study  of  Cinereous  Vultures and Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni). Botanists are also regular visitors to the reserve. Herders come and go in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve area, as they rely on pastures and sufficient precipitation. Being the Gobi herders, they migrate often to find food for their animals and they are interesting, hospitable and hardy people.

Day 4: To Dalanjargalan

A.m. Our camp vehicle or local driver will transfer you 40km to Dalanjargalan village after an evening early dinner, in time for the night train departure to Ulaanbaatar. We may also suit transfers to the international trains to China departing from Choir, 86km away.

PRICE 2023 ex Ulaanbaatar:

2d/2n: USD 380 per person

3d/3n: USD 570 per person

4d/4n:  USD 760 per person

Single supplement: USD 80 per night

Additional night:  USD 190 per night

Private transfer: USD 250 per vehicle

Children: 0-2 years free. 3-12 years 25-50%

Practicalities:

Transfers:

Operates daily as shared transfer on fixed times. Departs 17h15 by  train from UB and arrive to camp 00h00 in the evening. Returns 20h00 from camp to Dalanjargalan connecting to local night train to UB. (arrive next morning 7h15 to UB) Please note that there will be 1 night in domestic night train.

To/from China:

You may arrive or depart also by international trains to/from Beijing.

Staff:

Camp has an English speaker camp manager to assist you for activities around camp.

Meals:

The meals will be provided 3 times a day in the Restaurant ger, or as picnics on request.

Overnights:

The gers have 2 beds in each and family gers with 1 double and 2 single beds.

Includes:

All meals at camp. All overnights in double occupancy ger. Transfer to and out of camp on scheduled times.

Excludes:

Beverages. Transfers and accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Air or train tickets in and out Mongolia. Activities at camp.

Reminder:

Please note that there will be 1 night in domestic night train.