Winter Festivals Mongolia tour

Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by your ZENDMEN TRAVEL’ guide and transferred to a centrally located hotel. A day to get acclimatized to Mongolia’s continental climate. Today you will visit Gandan Monastery, the largest functioning Buddhist monastery in the country followed by a welcome dinner.

(Hotel****; L, D)

Day 2. Fly to Murun & drive to Khuvsgul lake

Today we will fly to Murun and drive to Khuvsgul lake. Known as the deepest lake (262m) in Central Asia, Khuvsgul Lake spans 136 km in length and 36 km in width. Make yourself at home in a ger at the bank of Khuvsgul lake, or Blue Pearl as locals call it. Rest of the day, enjoy the tranquil setting in rural Mongolia.

(Ger camp; B, L, D)

Day 3-4. Attend Ice Festival
The annual Ice Festival gives you an exclusive opportunity to get a taste of the culture of mountain nomads. Winter games such as knuckle bone shooting on ice, tug of war, ice archery, and horse racing are just a few of the eye-opening contests you can explore in Mongolia. Also, there are so much more you can witness during this festival, such as folk concert and tribal parade where colorfully dressed locals show off their winter outfits. After the festival, you will drive to Murun town to catch a flight to Ulaanbaatar.

(Ger camp, local hotel; B, L, D)

Day 5. Fly to Ulaanbaatar & Sightseeing

After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will have an easy day visiting the National history museum or the newly built Chinggis Khaan museum, which both have a wide range of exhibitions where you can learn about Mongolia’s rich history and culture.

(Hotel****; B, L, D)

Day 6-7. Fly to Dalanzadgad & Attend Thousand Camel Festival

You will take a flight to Dalanzadgad in the morning and drive to Bulgan soum, where the Thousand Camel Festival will take place. Organized by a local NGO, the festival aims to preserve the Bactrian camel population and its associated culture. Attending the festival, you will have first-hand experience with camel herders’ lifestyles and culture. Highlights of the festival include a camel parade, camel race, nomad costume competitions and many more. Also, you will visit Bayanzag, known as the Flaming Cliffs, where the Gobi’s paleontological significance is highlighted.

(Ger camp; B, L, D)

Day 8. Hiking in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park

You will spend the day hiking in Yol Am. Known as Vulture Valley, Yolyn Am is one of the beautiful gorges of Gurvan Saikhan mountain. Gurvan Saikhan mountain has rich fauna and flora, and this particular valley was named after Lammergeier as this giant raptor domain in the area. Big mammals such as ibex and big horned sheep, or argali sheep, are occasionally encountered in Gurvan Saikhan mountain. But diurnal birds of prey and other small creatures including the Mongolian pika are more likely to be spotted in the Vulture Valley.

(Local Hotel; B, L, D)

Day 9. Fly to Ulaanbaatar & Sightseeing

You will take a flight from Dalanzadgad to Ulaanbaatar. Depending on the arrival time, you can decide what to do for the rest of the day or simply unwind at the hotel and reflect on your previous days.

(Hotel****; B, L, D)

Day 10. Wildlife watching in Hustai NP & Visit a nomadic family

You will drive to Hustai National Park, 110 km to the west of Ulaanbaatar. Wildlife exploration in Hustai National Park will be one of the highlights of the day where you will encounter the Takhi, the only wild species of horse in the world. Takhi has been reintroduced since the 1990s and this is one of the few places where you can see this beautiful animal in the wild. Visit a nomadic family in the evening. Enjoy sparkling stars in a pitch-dark sky in a peaceful rural setting.

(Ger camp; B, L, D)

Day 11. Visit Terelj NP & dog sledding

Dog sledding on the frozen river Terelj is a fun way to explore Terelj National Park. Eight dogs pull the sleigh while a driver stands behind, and you sit inside. Hauling and barking, Siberian Huskies take you 5 miles roundtrip over snow and a frozen river. Popular sites in Terelj National Park include Turtle Rock, Ariyapala meditation temple, and Chinggis Khaan’s equestrian statue.

(Ger camp; B, L, D)

Day 12. Attend Eagle Festival

You will witness the Golden Eagle festival near Ulaanbaatar, a mini version compared to the one organized in Bayan-Ulgii province. Competitions begin with each Kazak displaying his hunting outfit and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful adornments receive the highest marks. Later, the Golden Eagles are evaluated for their speed and agility.

(Hotel****; B, L, D)

Day 13. Departure

Transportation to the airport will be provided at a convenient time.

(B)