Western Mongolia Tour and Wilderness journey

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar in the morning and customs formalities. Meeting with the local guide and transfer to the hotel. Beginning of sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital and only major city in the country: it starts with the Buddhist Monastery of Gandantegchenling, 1838, the largest of Mongolia, encompassing beautiful temples, including the Janraisig Migjed, 1911, housing the statue of the Bodhisattva of compassion, covered with gold and 26 m high; the National History Museum, which contains exhibits from all of Mongolia and Central Asia ranging from the Stone Age to the present day; the great Sukhbaatar Square entitled to the ''hero of the revolution "of 1921 that declared independence from China, an amazing mixture of buildings of different styles, in the heart of the capital.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Free afternoon. In the evening dinner with folkloric show. Overnight in the hotel. Note: Depending on the arrival of the flight in Ulaanbaatar, the visits of this day could be distributed in the following days.
 

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and flight to Khovd, the capital of the province bearing the same name: the flight takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes and could pass through the city of Moron. Khovd is considered the main administrative and commercial center of western Mongolia, a status that was gained under the Ming Dynasty, when the troops of Manchuria set their outpost here. However Khovd is known because several ethnic groups such as Kazakhs, Khoton, Oold, Durvud and Uriankhai live here. Upon arrival transfer to Mungun Uul tourist camp, or similar: lunch, dinner and overnight in typical gers.
 

Breakfast. Day dedicated to an excursion that will take you to the caves of Tsenkheriin Agui, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, among the largest found in all of Mongolia, the main cavity measuring about 85 meters in height. The complex is known for its cave paintings from the Paleolithic (20,000 to 15,000 years BC) , made ​​with pink, red and ocher pigments, depicting hunting scenes and animals such as deer, camels but also mammoths and ostriches. Packed lunch during the excursion. Return to the tourist camp travelling along a route that allows you to visit Lake Har -us. Dinner and overnight.
 

After breakfast departure to Ulgii. The long journey of 250 km runs through the region of Mount Tsambagarav (4193 m) , the perennially snow-capped peaks thus nicknamed "the Sacred White", and the great Tolbo salt lake, 18 km long and 185 sq km wide, located to a height of 2080 m. Stops are planned to explore the areas on the way. Packed lunch. In the late afternoon you'll reach the tourist camp near the city of Ulgii: accommodation in typical gers, dinner and overnight.
 

Full board. Day of exploration and discovery. Visit a nomadic family of Kazakh ethnic group to get an insight on their customs and folk traditions. The Kazakhs settled in Mongolia during the nineteenth century, coming from northern China, leading a nomadic life that led them to spend their summers on the Mongolian territory and to return to the plains of China in the winter. It will be possible to observe the typical artisan production methods such as the construction of the gers, which are elegantly decorated with felt carpets and tapestries here, but you will also have the chance to come in contact with nomads' customs and traditions such as the breeding of cattle and sheep and of course horses, the most used means of transport.

In the afternoon you will visit a family who still practices eagle hunting, learning the main techniques of this noble activity. Return to tourist camp for dinner and overnight.
 

Breakfast. Departure to Lake Uureg, along the road that connects Ulgii to Ulaangom. The lake is located  at 1426 m in a superb setting for the beauty of nature, surrounded by the high peaks of the Altai Mountains. Stop along the way with the possibility of exploring the region on foot and visit to a Durvud family to learn their customs and traditions and to taste their homemade dairy products. Packed lunch during the excursion. In the afternoon arrival at the tourist camp located about 25 km from Lake Uureg: accommodation in traditional gers, dinner and overnight.
 

Breakfast. Today's route will make you discover the largest lake in Mongolia, Lake Uvs. The basin of Uvs Lake (Uvs Nuur) is 1,068,853 hectares and the northernmost of the enclosed basins of Central Asia. This great salt lake, not very deep, is the natural protected habitat of migratory birds, waterfowl and seabirds. Lake Uvs was chosen as one of 10 areas of study for the International Geosphere and Biosphere Program , for the understanding of climate change and modifications of biological, geological and hydrological systems of the Earth. Packed lunch during the excursion. Continue to Ulaangom (27 km), the capital of Uvs province: on arrival city tour including the Provincial Museum. Dinner and overnight in a tourist class hotel.
 

Full board. Transfer to the airport and flight back to Ulaan Baatar. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day available for relax or individual visits.
 

Breakfast. Morning departure to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia founded by Genghis Khan in 1220. During the trip visit the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai- Mongol Els, covering an area of ​​2,800 square kilometers and  located south of Khogno Khan mountain: a landscape characterized by streams, willows and bushes. In the same valley you will visit Ovgon Monastery. Packed lunched during the excursion. Visit to a horse farm where you can watch the preparation of the "airag", the typical local drink made from fermented milk. Continue to Karakorum: accommodation in a ger at the camp, dinner and overnight.
 

Breakfast. In the morning visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, whose construction began in 1586 using the ruins of Karakorum, surrounded by high walls,and it also functioned as a fortress. It's the oldest monastery in the country and also the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The temple has a valuable collection of works of art, with works by important artists of Buddhism. Afterwards you can admire the symbolic ruins of Karakorum  (today little is left) with large granite turtles, a symbol of eternity, which indicated the entrance to the various buildings in the capital and served to protect the city.

Return to camp for lunch. In the afternoon departure to Ulaan Baatar by visiting Hustaii Nuuru National Park: with its wooded steppe environment the park is the habitat of the wild horses of Mongolia, the Takhi Prewalsky, progenitors of all the horses, and other animals like manul cats and wild deer. Late arrival in the capital: dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure to Terelj National Park, located about 60 km northeast of the capital, very popular because of the beauty of the landscape and for its winter ski resort. The area has been declared a National Park in 1993. On the way stop to admire a rock formation in the shape of a turtle, an animal with a symbolic meaning, and visit to Aryabal Monastery, embellished with colorful carved wooden structures. Lunch in a tourist camp. In the afternoon visit a family of horse breeders. Dinner and overnight in gers at the tourist camp.
 

Full board. Early morning departure to Ulaan Baatar: enroute stop in Tsonjin Boldog to visit the impressive equestrian statue complex erected in honor of Genghis Khan. The imposing statue shows the leader with a golden whip in his right hand and look beyond the horizon to contemplate his empire. The statue rests on 36 pillars representing the 36 Mongolian Khanates . Upon arrival in Ulaan Baatar visit Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, which houses a magnificent collection of paintings, engravings and sculptures, including works by the same Zanabazar (1635-1723), Buddhist monk and sculptor, recognized in 1640 by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama as a living Buddha. In the evening farewell dinner with folklore show. Overnight in the hotel.
 

Morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight.