VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS
10 days/9 nights for $699 per person, double occupancy, seat-in-coach tour, starting from the northern capital of Hanoi and ending in bustling Saigon
MONGOLIA
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
July 9-20, 2024
12 days, 11 nights including the Naadam Festival, Karakorum, Erdene-Zuu, the Gobi, Desert, and Terejl National Park starting at $3898 per person, double occupancy, land only
Includes:
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3 nights in Ulaanbaatar at the Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar with breakfast daily
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Welcome dinner
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2-day Naadam festival with tickets to the horse-racing competition and opening ceremonies, lunch, and additional sightseeing included
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Flight to the Gobi Desert
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4 nights in local ger camps in the Gobi Desert with full board
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Tour of Bayanzag aka the Flaming Cliffs & dinosaur excavation areas
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Tour of Khongor Sand Dunes with camel ride (optional, at your own risk)
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Tour of Yoliin Am Gorge & Gurvan Saikhan National Park with picnic lunch
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Flight to Ulaanbaatar
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Tour of Hustai National Park & excursion to see Przewalski wild horses aka Takhi horses
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1 night in a ger camp in Hustai National Park, full board
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Tour of Karakorum, Erdene Zuu, and Orkhon River Valley
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Day trip to local nomadic family with cooking class
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Tour of Elsen Tasarkhai dunes, Mt. Khugnu Khan, Uvgun Monastery, & optional horseback or camel riding (at your own risk)
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2 nights at the Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar, breakfast and lunch daily
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Tour of Ulaanbaatar
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Farewell dinner with traditional folkloric concert
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English speaking guide throughout
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Round trip airport transfers throughout
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Entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
PRICING
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$3898 per person, double occupancy
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$4858 per person, single occupancy
ITINERARY
Day One:
Arrive in Ulaan Baatar
Upon arrival, meet with your guide and check in to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day Two
Horse Racing
Drive to Khui Doloon Hudag field for the horse racing competition, one of Mongolia's most popular sports. On the way back to Ulaanbaatar, visit the giant Genghis Khan statue.
Day Three
Naadam Festival
Head to the Central Stadium for the colorful opening ceremonies of the Naadam festival. Watch Mongolian wrestling, archery, and Shagain Harvaa competitions. There will also be processions of monks, athletes, local dress, historical re-enactments, music, and dancing. Complete your day with a city tour, stopping by the Genghis Khan Monument and the newly opened Chinggis
Day Four
Fly to the Gobi
Take a short flight to the South Gobi. Upon arrival, head to Bayanzag - the Flaming Cliffs to enjoy the spectacular rock formations. After lunch at your ger camp, head out to look for dinosaur remains and hike through a desert forest.
Day Five
Khongor Sand Dunes
Head to the Khongor sand dunes, which stretch out over the arid Gobi to form some of the longest sand dunes in the country. Along the way, you'll see lone gers and nomad families still living as they have for hundreds of years. After visiting the sand dunes, visit a camel farm where you will have the chance to take an optional camel ride (at your own risk).
Day Six
Yoliin Am Gorge & Gurvan Saikhan National Park
Drive to the Yoliin Am Gorge in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, where you'll hike and look for wildlife such as pika and many different bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before heading to your next ger camp.
Day Seven
Hustai National Park
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar, then drive to Hustai National Park, a beautiful and well-protected nature reserve. After arriving at the ger camp, head out to look for Takhi wild horses, also know as Przewalski Horses, one of the last remaining wild species of horses in the world.
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In the afternoon you may take an optional horseback ride (at your own risk).
Day Eight
Karakorum
Drive to Mongolia's ancient capital of Karakorum. Once there, visit the legendary Erdene Zuu monastery, the first monastery built in Mongolia that dates back to 1586. Visit the Turtle Rock and Phallic Stone before learning more about Karakorum at the Karakorum Museum. Afterward head to the UNESCO World Hertiage Site of the Orkhon River Valley, known as the place where Central Mongolia's nomadic pastoral traditions began.
Day Nine
Visiting a nomadic family
Take the chance to get to know the nomadic lifestyle that Mongolia is so famous for with a local family. Join them in tending to their livestock, milking, making dairy products, and making a traditional Mongolian lunch.
Day Ten
Elsen Tasarkhai and Mt. Khugnu Khan
Start the day with a visit to Erdenesiin Khuree, a new art gallery focused on traditional Mongolian calligraphy. From there, head to the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes, located in the middle of the steppe. Hike around Mt. Khugnu Khan and visit the ruins of the Uvgun Monastery. An optional horse back or camel riding tour will be available (at your own risk). After lunch, return to Ulaanbatar.
Day Eleven
Ulaanbaatar
Take a city tour of Ulaanbatar and visit the Gandan Monastery and the Bogd Khaan's Palace Museum, which was the residence of the last king of Mongolia, as well as Zaisan Hill Memorial. The afternoon is free to explore Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and traditional folklore concert with the Tumen Ekh ensemble.
Day Twelve
Return to Ulaanbaatar
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
international Airfare available Upon Request
Please Be AWARE That ger accommodations are more basic than hotel accommodations, and MAY have separate bathroom/shower facilities.
INCLUSIONS
Accommodations
Full board
Transportation & flights throughout
Local English-speaking guide
Sightseeing and entry tickets as listed in the itinerary
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EXCLUSIONS
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Gratuities for guides, drivers, waitstaff, bellhops, etc.
Services and activities not listed on the itinerary
International Flights
Small Group Vaccination Requirements
Due to the increased potential for the spread of COVID-19 within a small group,
we require all travelers who sign up for our small group trips to be
fully vaccinated and boosted with the most recent booster.
We recommend getting your booster about one month before departure.