Tour Duration: 23 day(s)
Group Size: 1 - 25 people
Specialty Categories: Cultural Journey Railway Trips
Season: June - July
Airfare Included: No

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1-2: You will leave the US for your flight to Beijing. The adventure begins. Upon arrival in Beijing, you have a guided transfer to your hotel.

Day 3: Beijing - The day begins with a tour of a Chinese Hutong. This includes a rickshaw ride a short walking tour and a visit with a local family. In the afternoon you will be driven outside of Beijing to a special part of the Great Wall at Jin Shan Ling where you will stay overnight in a Guard Tower! This experience is not generally offered on most tours.

Day 4: Great Wall - You will wake up one of the Wonders of the World! Afterward you will be transferred to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 5: Trans-Mongolian Railway. Early this morning board the Trans-Mongolian railway to UlanBator (UB) (Soft Sleeper Regular 4 berths to a room). This 30-hour train ride passes the Great Wall, ruins in Inner Mongolia, and the Gobi desert. The train will stop at the border in Erdian, if you like, during this time you can shop at the street market.

Day 6: Arrive in UB in mid-afternoon; hotel transfer. On the way enjoy a tour of the city, including Sukh Bator Square and the surrounding buildings.

Day 7: Experience a Local Naadam Festival outside of UB. Along the way see the Mongolian countryside and stop to visit a Nomadic family. Enjoy the area with a picnic lunch. You can hike around the area or take an optional horse ride in the beautiful countryside. Overnight in ger camp.

Day 8: In the morning you will be taken to another Local Naadam Festival. The local festivals are smaller and more intimate then the National. Enjoy the celebration ceremonies, and wrestling, horse-racing and archery competitions. Meet athletes and organizers of the festival. Overnight in countryside.

Day 9: Continue to enjoy the countryside before return to UB. Picnic lunch along the way. If you like you can meet another local family.

Day 10: The day’s touring includes: the Gandan Monastery, Choijin Lama Temple Museum and the National History Museum, which has some wonderful exhibits, especially concerning Chingiis Khan and the tribal costumes. In the evening we will take you to the Tumen Ekh National Performers.

Day 11: Karakhorum and Hustai Reserve Trek. The morning begins with the trek to Karakhorum, the ancient capital of Chinggis Khan. Along the way see the beautiful Mongolian Steppe, Shoestring Gobi patch, visit Nomads and enjoy Nomad hospitality. Arrive at the ger camp. Go to the 9th century stone tortoises.

Day 12: Today you will join a Local Naadam Festival in the Karakhorum area. Enjoy the celebration ceremonies, and wrestling, horse-racing and archery competitions. Meet athletes and organizers of the festival. You will stay another night in the ger camp.

Day 13: Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery where you may possibly view a Buddhist service. Then we drive back east and visit the the Hustai Natural Reserve (“Dutch Horse Ranch” - this area is where the only originally wild breed of horses can be found). Sunset is the best time to catch the horses coming close to where we will be. Overnight at reserve.

Day 14: After breakfast very early morning you will another chance to see the horses. Then we will return you to UB; hotel transfer. Evening Option: Ger restaurant with a private cultural show

Day 15: Go to the wonderful Naadam Festival! This national celebration of independence includes an opening ceremony in Naadam Stadium and a competition of the three national sports- Horse-racing, Archery and Wrestling. You will view the opening ceremonies and some of the competition of each of the three sports.

Day 16-18: Gobi Desert Trek. You will fly to Dalanzadgad. During the Gobi Desert Trek you will stay overnight in a Ger Camp. Your first trek day includes the Yol Am area which features a glacier in the midst of the desert. On your second day enjoy a full day tour of the Flaming Cliffs and Dalanzadgad. The last day of the trek you will have a free morning to enjoy the area before flying back to UB; hotel transfer. (D – July 12/13)

Day 19-21: Lake Huvsgul Trek: You will fly to Lake Huvsgal, one of the most beautiful places on earth. You will stay in the Ger Camp at Hatgal. During the trek enjoy riding horses, nature walks and nature tours, fishing, see native crafts in the city of Hatgal, and possibly visit a Tsaatan Family (whose lives center on reindeer). The last day of the trek you will have a free morning to enjoy the area before flying back to UB; hotel transfer. (D-July 15/16)

Day 22: Today we will take you to the airport for your return flight to Beijing. Upon arriving in Beijing, your guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Day 23: Return flight home with a lifetime of wonderful memories! End Of Tour

Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change. The tour will take place from the 27 of June till 19 of July.

Notes:

Price Includes:

- Domestic Mongolian flights
- Soft Sleeper Regular UB
- Beijing Trans Mongolian train
- Buses
- Jeeps
- Private transportation
- All tours guides
- Drivers
- Transfers
- 4-star hotels (double occupancy) in China
- Hotels in Mongolia
- Meals as listed in itinerary.

Price Excludes:

- International Flights
- Items listed as "optional"
- Airport tax
- Tips.