THE CLASSIC GOBI JEEP TOUR
 |
||||
TOUR
DATES FOR 2008: |
||||
|
|
|||
 |
||||
|
||
PRICE
PER PERSON: |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|||||
| DIFFICULTY RATING: |  |
||||
|
|||||
TOUR DESCRIPTION:
11 days jeep tour. Starting off from the capital of Genghis Khan
traverse the legendary Gobi desert. Visit its rich dinosaur fossils sites and
natural contrasts. Vast open spaces with dancing mirages and herds of camels,
green meadows beneath towering dunes, glacier covered canyon – all these
contrasts await you. Horseback and camel riding, hiking are the main activities.
Overnights in traditional yurts, comfortable, rich cultural experience.
PRICE INCLUDES:
All accommodation (twin shared), internal transportation, the internal flight,
arrival & departure transfers, meals as indicated (B-breakfast, L-lunch,
D-dinner), sightseeing & environmental fees, activity fees - kayaking,
horseback riding etc.
PRICE EXCLUDES:
Travel insurance, departure taxes, items of personal nature, excess luggage
fees on domestic flight, meals not indicated, gratuities.
TOUR GALLERY:
 |
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
)
)
)
TOUR INTRUDUCTION:
The Gobi is one of the vastest deserts on earth. But it is not a desert
in a usual sense: Mongolians distinguish 33 types of desert to soil composition,
vegetation and color. Although it accounts for the 3rd of Mongolia’s
territory, sandy deserts make up 3% of the entire Gobi desert. it is a land
of wide variety of landscapes, rich animal and plant life. Moreover, about
a quarter of the countries population live in the Gobi desert.
Back in 1920-es Gobi unveiled richest ever deposits of dinosaur remains to an American expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews. Visiting Mongolia at one of its most turbulent moments Andrews made the greatest paleontology discoveries of the 20th century.
Our route lies across this wealth of history and pristine nature. People living in Gobi are extremely tough and hospitable. They tend their animals changing their location several times a year – real nomads. We will come across some of them en route and there will be your chance to ride ‘desert ships’, two humped Bactrian camels.
Before entering Gobi visit the site of the capital of the Great Mongolian Empire created by legendary Genghis Khan in 13th century. There is now an impressive Buddhist monastery built in 16th century.
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
)
)
)
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, city tour
On arrival to Ulaanbaatar you will be transferred to a cozy hotel in central
Ulaanbaatar. After a short briefing we explore the vibrant city of Ulaanbaatar,
the Palace of the Last Mongolian Buddhist King followed by an hour long concert
of Folk Dance and Song. (L,D).
Day 2: Drive (6 hours) to the granite rocks of Khogno Khan
After early breakfast we climb into our jeeps and head west of Ulaanbaatar.
We mostly drive on a tarmac road which runs through wide open steppe with
rolling hills in the background. It is one of the main transport veins in
the country, therefore busy with cars and trucks loaded with wool, cashmere,
meat and other produce to be sold in Ulaanbaatar. Hundreds of horses, cows,
sheep and goats graze alongside. Soon there appear a stretch of sand dunes
like a silken scarf laid across vast green steppes.
In the early afternoon we arrive to our camp located amidst sand dunes and
mountains dotted with granite rocks. (B,L,D).
Day 3: Visit Karakorum and the Erdene Zuu monastery
Today we will drive on to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. There
is a small local township there now. This is 2 hours drive from the previous
camp. This is where Chinggis Khan built his capital in 1227. An ambassador
of the French King came to visit Ugudei Khan, Chinggis’ third son in
1240-ies. Then he described Ugudei’s majestic palace. Every summer
since 1999 extensive archaeological digs are conducted by Mongolian and German
experts revealing a wealth of knowledge about the city. With some luck we
will visit the actual excavation site.
Present day town of Karakorum is recognized by the massive walled compound of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. It was built in 1586, by a Mongolian warlord as part of his efforts to re-unite Mongols under the banners of Buddhism. Later in 1930-ies during anti-religion campaign under communists the monastery suffered almost a complete destruction of its temples. Today it is being lovingly restored by believers. We overnight in a yurt with facilities near by the town. (B,L,D).
Day 4: Heading into Gobi desert (6 hours drive)
Today we enter the Gobi. As we move south the steppe turns saline and semi-arid,
vegetation gradually thins out and less people come across our way. We may
not encounter a human being for hundreds of miles, only endless bushy plains,
camels and mirages. This is exactly where travelers say: “This is middle
of nowhere”. Arriving to a visitor camp nestled in a tiny rugged mountain
range amidst desert we explore the moonscape of Ongi Monastery ruins. (B,L,D).
Day 5: Drive (6 hours) to Singing Dunes
We drive through vast sun baked plains with floors of rock and sand. Distant
mountain ranges remind of a surface of the Moon. In the afternoon the southernmost
ridges of the Altai Mountain range appear out of haze and mirages.
In the evening we check into a visitor camp by the “singing dunes”. Do they really sing? Yes, they do sing. On a windy day you clearly hear a distinct sound similar to that of a distant propeller. Tons of sand blown down over the dunes ridge rub against the slope and produce the tremor. These massive sand dunes stretching for more than 100 km and rising to a height of 200m lie parallel to some dramatic mountain ranges and green meadows. (B,L,D).
Day 6: Day of leisure, camel riding in the sand
dunes
After a lazy morning we explore this massive dunes by camel. It is a rare chance
to ride a two-humped camel since the specie exists only in a few countries
in the world. A local camel herder will teach you some techniques of riding.
You may as well hike the dunes or just watch the amazing sunset. (B,L,D).
Day 7: Dinosaur hunters’ footprints
Back in our jeeps we drive along the Altai mountains to visit the Flaming Red
Cliffs. In 1923 the American expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews discovered
the first ever dinosaur nests and eggs as well as hundreds of specimen including
dozens of new dinosaur species. We will walk through the sun baked cliffs
of red sand and try to make our own discovery. In the evening we will arrive
to a camp where a documentary on Andrews’ expeditions will be presented.
(B,L,D).
Day 8: “Eagle mouth” canyon
A day trip to another of the Gobi highlights, the “Eagle mouth” or
Lammergeyer Gorge. Nestled between the beautiful peaks of the Three Beauties
Mountains the gorge shelters a small "glacier" which remains frozen
even on summer's hottest days. Wild Goats roam the steep cliffs. If very early
spotting of the Wild Goats is guaranteed. At the entrance of the gorge is a
small museum displaying samples of the area’s animal world. Back in the
camp we relax and prepare for a return flight to UB next morning. (B,L,D).
Day 9: Return flight to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we will take one and half hour flight to Ulaanbaatar. The remainder
of the day is at leisure to explore this vibrant city, renowned as a city
of contrasts. We will meet for a dinner in one of local multinational restaurants.
(B,D).
Day 10: Leisure day in Ulaanbaatar
A spare day for shopping and self-exploration around the city. You may refer
to recommendations of our team in order to make most out of it. (B).
Day 11: Departure
Transfer airport for your return flight home. (B).
