Sand Dunes and Kharkhorin – Great Mongol Tour

Please enjoy your tailor made trip with our experienced guides .

Under the decree of Genghis Khan, the city of Kharkhorum was chosen as the capital of the Great Mongol Empire in 1220. At that time, it served as a political center, a hub for trade, economy, craftsmanship, religion, and culture, as well as a major junction for international relations.

After many years of searching and research to locate the site of Kharkhorum, it was first identified in 1889 by a research team led by Russian scientist N.M. Yadrintsev. The initial excavation at the ruins of Kharkhorum was conducted by Russian scientist D.D. Bukinich in 1933-1934. In 1948-1949, a large-scale excavation was carried out by a Mongolian-Soviet joint research team led by S.V. Kiselev and K. Perlee, which uncovered a significant amount of evidence indicating that the life of the ancient capital city of Mongolia continued to thrive and develop. From 1976 to 1980, a team studying Kharkhorum, led by N. Ser-Odjav, independently created a detailed map of the city’s layout and analyzed the burial sites, which proved to be crucial in studying the ethnic composition, customs, religious practices, and cultural characteristics of the city’s inhabitants.

From 1995 to 1998, a Mongolian-Japanese research team, under a UNESCO project, conducted topographical mapping of an area of 25 square kilometers at the site of Kharkhorum, at scales of 1:500 and 1:1000. They also performed geophysical studies of the subsurface structures and smaller excavations. Based on this mapping, the Government of Mongolia approved a resolution in 1997 (Resolution No. 241) to establish a protection zone for Kharkhorum covering an area of 9.69 square kilometers.

Abtai Sain Khan, ruler of the Khalkha Mongols and grandfather of Zanabazar, the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, ordered construction of the Erdene Zuu monastery in 1585 after his meeting with the 3rd Dalai Lama and the declaration of Tibetan Buddhism as the state religion of Mongolia. Stones from the nearby ruins of the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum were used in its construction.Planners attempted to create a surrounding wall that resembled a Tibetan Buddhist rosary featuring 108 stupas (108 being a sacred number in Buddhism), but this objective was probably never achieved. The monastery’s temple walls were painted, and the Chinese-style roof covered with green tiles.

The monastery was damaged in 1688 during one of the many wars between Dzungars and Khalkha Mongols. Locals dismantled the wooden fortifications of the abandoned monastery. It was According to tradition, in 1745, a local Buddhist disciple named Bunia made several unsuccessful attempts to fly with a device he invented which was similar to a parachute.

Day 1: Arrival Depending on Flight Time

  • Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and check into a 4-star hotel.
  • Depending on flight time, lunch and dinner will be served at the Altangadas Restaurant.
  • Sightseeing may change according to flight times.

Day 2:

  • Breakfast at the hotel at 08:30.
  • Depart for Sand Dunes at 09:00 (280 km).
  • Arrive and check into a ger camp at 12:00, including lunch.
  • A sightseeing tour in the nature reserve starts at 14:00 via camel ride.
  • Free exploration of the Sand Dunes and Khogno Khan Mountain, including photography and interacting with local communities.
  • Dinner at 18:00, and guests can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the dunes.

Day 3: Journey from the Sand Dunes to the Ancient Capital of Kharkhorin

  • Breakfast at the ger camp at 08:30.
  • Depart for the ancient capital Kharkhorin at 09:00 (80 km).
  • Visit Kharkhorin Museum at 10:30.
  • Lunch at the Kharkhorin Restaurant at 12:30.
  • Check into a Kharkhorin hostel at 14:00 for a short rest.
  • Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery (ancient capital ruins and museum) at 15:00.
  • Dinner at the hostel at 18:00 followed by free time.

Day 4: From Orkhon Waterfall to Tuvkhun Monastery

  • Breakfast at the camp at 08:30.
  • Depart for Tuvkhun Monastery from Orkhon Waterfall at 09:30 (150 km).
  • Check into the ger camp at Tuvkhun Monastery at 13:00.
  • Lunch at the camp at 13:30.
  • Exploration of Tuvkhun Monastery, built by the first Bogd Zanabazar at 14:30 while starting a Buddhist tour.
  • Dinner at the camp at 18:30.
  • Free time at 19:30.

Day 5: From Tuvkhun Monastery to Ogii Lake

  • Breakfast at 08:30.
  • Depart for Ogii Lake at 09:30.
  • Check into the camp on Ogii Lake at 13:00.
  • Lunch at the camp at 13:30.
  • Free exploration around Ogii Lake starts at 14:30.
  • Dinner at 18:30.
  • Free time starting at 19:30, including a farewell fire festival.

Day 6: From Ogii Lake to Ulaanbaatar

  • Breakfast at the camp at 08:30.
  • Depart for Ulaanbaatar at 09:30 (350 km).
  • Lunch at a local restaurant around 13:00.
  • Arrival at the hotel in Ulaanbaatar by 17:00.
  • Dinner at VERANDA Restaurant at 18:00, followed by free time to explore Ulaanbaatar at night.

Day 7: Departure from Ulaanbaatar to Chinggis Khaan International Airport

  • Breakfast at the hotel at 08:30.
  • Departure to Chinggis Khaan International Airport, depending on flight time.

Feel free to ask if you need any further assistance or additional information!

2 PAX  2596$

3 PAX 3894$

4 PAX 5192$

5 Pax+ each person 1098$

The tour includes:
  • SEVERAL nights in Hotel
  • SEVERAL nights at ger camps
  • Transfer service
  • English-speaking guide
  • Entry fees to national parks and the museums
  • Daily bottled water
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
  • Arrival and departure transfers

For children of a family trip

One free space for every 8 pax

Low season discount:  5-10% (could be negotiate)

Please contact us for more trip details.

The tour excludes:
  • Items of personal use
  • International travel
  • Alcoholic drinks & beverages
  • Bar bills, laundry, telephone calls
  • Fee for Horse and camel riding
  • Travel & medical insurance
  • Visa fee
  • Optional activities & additional services
  • Single supplements
  • Gratiuty for the guides and drivers
is this tour suitable for you?

ANCIENT CAPITAL OF MONGOL EMPIRE is not include challenging physical or demanding activities. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes and scenic views. Even though, we developed the itinerary with a combination of evenly distributed daily diving and activities. The approximate daily driving is 4.5-5.5 hours. However, the driving time is subject to change due to weather and road conditions when driving on rough roads. You also cross several rivers and streams.

Meals

Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve occasional European but mainly Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. About lunch, it will be packed as a picnic. More information on Mongolia meals

Accommodation

During the trip, you will stay at the ger camp for 1 day and 2 days centrally located hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar. Compared to the other tourism well-developed parts of Mongolia, the ger camp are of a local standard, run by local people. Please get more information about the ger camp.

Guides

Most of our company guides are English speaking. We also have some guides who speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and grown in the countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia, good at horse trekking and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience.

Transportation

The tours were designed with four wheels driving Japanese SUVs driven by experienced, friendly, and good mechanic-drivers. Different car types are available upon request, and you may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation

When is the best time to take the tour?

The most suitable time is between 25 May and 10 September. During this period, the weather is warm and enjoyable. Khentii Mountain Range domains in northeastern Mongolia and is rich in rivers, streams, and wetlands. This part of Mongolia receives a relatively high prescription and tends to be cooler. The mountains have high-growing grasses and flower-carpeted valleys.
The average day temperature in June, July, and the first half of August are +25 to +28°C, and the highest is +35°C in July. Evening and night temperatures may drop by 10-22°C. The temperature could dramatically fall to +7°C if it rains. You may experience occasional chill wind and snowfalls in May, the beginning of June, September, and October. For your pre-departure preparation, please check the discovery tour packing list.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, please checkthe things to do in different part of Mongolia and the attractions in Central Mongolia

Group size

2-4PAX

5-7PAX

8-10PAX

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