Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to Gurvanbulag
You'll get picked up from Ulaanbaatar at 8:30 am and head west toward the northern Gobi. On the way, there's a stop at Khar Bukhiin Balgas, a 10th-century nomadic fort where you can walk around and get a sense of the ancient structures. From there, it's on to Gurvanbulag where you'll stay in a guest ger with a nomadic family. Expect to try homemade milk tea and dairy products, and you'll have the option to go horseback riding or take walks through the surrounding hills to get a feel for the landscape and how people live here.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Mongolian meal)
Included Activities
- Visit Khar Bukhiin Balgas ancient fort
- Experience traditional nomadic hospitality and way of life
- Help make and drink milk tea
- Try homemade yoghurt and milk mare products
- Horseback riding in surrounding hills and dunes (approximately 1 hour)
- Walking in surrounding hills and dunes
Landmarks/POIs Khar Bukhiin Balgas - Day 2
Gurvanbulag to Tsenkher
This day involves driving east on one of Mongolia's more challenging remote routes, though the scenery makes it worthwhile. You'll stop partway up a hillside for a picnic lunch with views overlooking the Orkhon River Valley, which gives you a chance to rest and take in the landscape. Later, you'll reach Tsenkher ger camp where the natural hot springs and thermal pools become your main activity for the evening. After the long drive, soaking in the warm water is a nice way to end the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on the way to a hill overlooking the Orkhon River Valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Picnic lunch with views of Orkhon River Valley
- Use of hot springs and thermal pools
Landmarks/POIs Orkhon River Valley - Day 3
Tsenkher to Orkhon Valley
The day takes you to the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley, which holds significance as Mongolia's ancestral nomadic homeland, and the views throughout the area are quite nice. After lunch with a yak-herding family near the river, you'll hike up to see the Orkhon Waterfall, a 20-meter high and 10-meter wide cascade that drops into the valley. While you're there, you can pitch in with family activities like yak milking and watch the process of making curds and yogurts, giving you a real sense of daily nomadic work.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Yak Herder Family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley
- Lunch at Yak Herder Family
- Hiking to Orkhon Waterfall
- Help with milking yaks
- Watch nomads making curds and yoghurts
- Participate in yak-herding family activities
Landmarks/POIs Orkhon Valley Orkhon Waterfall - Day 4
Orkhon Valley to Kharakhorum
You'll drive to Kharakhorum, Mongolia's ancient capital founded by Chinggis Khaan in 1220, which feels historically significant when you arrive. The local museum covers Mongolian history and provides context before you explore Erdenezuu Monastery, the first Buddhist temple complex in Mongolia, built on what remained of 16th-century Kharakhorum. After that, there's a hands-on workshop at a local cooperative where you can learn felt-making from people who do this work regularly, or if you prefer, check out an art gallery instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit local museum showcasing Mongolian history
- Visit Erdenezuu Monastery
- Workshop for making felt items by hand at local cooperative
- Visit art gallery
Landmarks/POIs Kharakhorum Erdenezuu Monastery - Day 5
Kharakhorum to Elsen Tasarkhai
You're heading to Khogno Khan nature reserve where you'll start by exploring Uvgun Temple's lower complex with its reconstructed temples, prayer wheels, and ruins. A recommended 45-minute hike takes you up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills, and depending on the season, you might come across wildflowers along with the great views. Later you'll reach Elsen Tasarkhai dunes and stay with a camel-herding family. They'll arrange a one-hour Bactrian camel ride across the dunes, after which you'll have a home-cooked dinner together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Home-cooked dinner)
Included Activities
- Explore Uvgun Temple lower complex with reconstructed temples and prayer wheel
- View temple ruins
- 45-minute hike to older ruined temple complex in hills
- Bactrian camel ride across dunes (approximately 1 hour)
- Home-cooked dinner
Landmarks/POIs Khogno Khan nature reserve Uvgun Temple Elsen Tasarkhai - Day 6
Elsen Tasarkhai to Hustai National Park
After breakfast at a relaxed pace, you'll drive back east to Hustai National Park and arrive in time for lunch and a rest at camp. As dusk approaches, you'll head into the park by vehicle hoping to spot Takhi, the wild horses that inhabit the area, and you're more likely to see them when the light softens. If you want more activity, there's the option to do a longer walk in the park, though many people just enjoy the drive. You'll return to camp for dinner and spend your final night in a ger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hustai National Park
- Dusk drive to see Takhi (wild horses)
- Long walk in the park (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Hustai National Park - Day 7
Hustai National Park to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, you'll head to the Chinggis Khaan Statue complex, a large and striking site dedicated to the historical figure. Climbing inside the statue gets you to an exterior staircase that runs up the horse's mane, leading to a viewpoint where you can see the Tuul River, Terelj, and the Khan Khentii hills spread out below. There's also a museum of horse culture within the complex that's worth spending time in. Later you'll have lunch at the nearby resort's restaurant before heading back to Ulaanbaatar for drop-off at a location that works for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at resort restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Chinggis Khaan Statue complex
- Climb inside statue to exterior staircase viewpoint
- View overlooking Tuul River, Terelj and Khan Khentii hills
- Visit museum of horse culture
- Lunch at resort restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Chinggis Khaan Statue
