THE CLASSIC GOBI JEEP TOUR
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TOUR DATES
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PRICE
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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:
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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.
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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar(UB), a guided city sightseeing
Arrival in UB, the capital of Mongolia and transfer to a 4 star hotel in central UB. Afternoon guided city tour will introduce you
to some of the highlights of the vibrant city: the Gandan Temple - city's main Buddhist center, the central city square with a
grand statue of Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city's edge providing a panoramic view of UB.
A show of traditional music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner. (D).
Day 2: Drive to Khogno Khan Mt.
After breakfast drive (5hr) to Mongol Els sand dunes - a spectacular area of steppes, sand dunes and granite mountains. The going
is easy mostly on tarmac across wide open steppes with rolling hills in the background. After a lunch in a local visitor camp ride
camels in dunes. Then make a short trip the ruins of a Buddhist monastery destroyed during internicine warfare in late 17th century.
Dinner and overnight in traditional felt gers/yurts. Bathroom and shower facilities are in separate building. This afternoon you may
as well visit a herdsman's ger and learn about traditions and chores of nomadic living. (B,L,D).
Day 3: Visit Karakorum and Erdene Zuu monastery, optional trips to other sites
2 hr driving to Karakorum, the medieval capital site of Genghis Khan. Presently there is a small town but the former capital still lies
in ruins after being leveled by Chinese Min dynasty troops in 1380-ies. Today Karakorum is recognized by the massive walls of the Erdene
Zuu monastery. It was built in the 16 century by a Mongol warlord in a hope to unify the nation under the banners of the "yellow" faith.
The monastery has suffered a tremendous destruction during the anti-religion campaigns of 1930-ies with only a dozen temples surviving
to these days. Visit the temples as well as few surviving artifacts of the old capital. You may as well walk the earthen hills that
contain the city of Karakorum just outside of the monasterial walls.
You may as well take an hour return trip to the granite obelisks of so-called Turkic empire that ruled vast lands from the Black sea to Manchuria between 6-8 century AD. The obelisk tells a story of the Turkic empire in 10000 runic characters – a rare case of leaving written history by nomadic people. A 2hr return trip to the ruins of Uighur Empire capital, Khar-Balgas is also an option. Founded in 715 it was destroyed in 840 by nomadic people from Siberia. The huge walled compound of unbaked clay is now covered in earth and grass vaguely reminding of the former glory of Uigurs. Dinner and overnight in a local ger camp. (B,L,D).
Day 4: Head into Gobi desert
Leave the steppe behind and head (5hr) south into the desert area. As you 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”. Dinner and overnight upon arrival to a
ger camp nestled by some weirdly shaped granite formations. (B,L,D).
Day 5: Drive to Khongoriin Els sand dunes
Drive (5hr) further south to the massif of the Arts Bogd range, its summit at 2,477m before arriving to a rock art gallery dated to
the period between about 2000 BCE (Bronze Age) and 1000 BCE (early Iron Age). These are images of animal species, hunting scenes,
humans riding and leading animals etc. Numerous ancient burial mounds are also scattered in the foothills. Accompanied by the guide
take a relaxed climb to see the petroglyphs.
Past the Arts Bogd range the landscape is dominated by distant rugged chains of sun burnt mountains, dry salt pans and sandy depressions. This stretch of the way has the richest spectrum of colors. In early afternoon arrive to the Khongoriin Sand dunes, sometimes called by locals "the singing dunes". Dinner and overnight in a local ger camp. (B,L,D).
Day 6: Free day at Khongoriin Els dunes
The Singing dunes stretch for over 100km and reach 200 meters in height. They run parallel to the dark range of Sevrei Mt. A small
oasis feeds a green meadow at the foothill of the massive dunes. Do the dunes really sing? Yes, they do; on a windy day a distant
propeller hum is distinctly heard from the dunes. Fine sand is pushed up by the dominating NW winds on to the ridges. Gradually
building up on crests it then collapses down the steeper slope producing the tremor of tons of sand rolling down. Today you may
hike and climb the dunes. Riding 2 humped 'bactrian' camels is also an option. Sunsets are particularly beautiful for taking pictures
here. Meals and overnight in the same camp. (B,L,D).
Day 7: Drive to the Flaming Red Cliffs
Back in vehicles and drive across vast arid plains to the Flaming Red Cliffs. The Flaming Red Cliffs is a paleonthology site where the
first ever dinosaur egg nests were discovered by Americans in 1920-ies. Walk the labyrinths of rock hard sand and make your own
discovery. Then you may visit a saxaul forest lying nearby. Saxaul actually is a desert bush that grows to a height of 2 meters
and is a valuable soil supporting agent although the most popular fuel of local herders. Continue to a local ger camp for dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D).
Day 8: Day trip to “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 self-exploration of the city or shopping. Farewell dinner. (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).
