The Great Crossing of Mongolia

Welcome by your driver at the airport exit. Transfer to your hotel, check-in and rest time to recover from your journey.

Meeting at noon at your hotel with your guide, who accompanies you for lunch at the restaurant of your choice.

Dive into the heart of Mongolian history at the magnificent national history museum. You explore three floors tracing a rich past, sometimes violent, sometimes noble, from prehistory to the Soviet period, not forgetting the creation of the great Mongolian empire by Genghis Khan.

Stroll through the city center of Ulan Bator. You discover the central Genghis Khan square as well as Parliament, at the heart of Mongolian urban life.

Around 6:00 PM, traditional Mongolian show at Tumen Ekh, mixing folk dances, contortion and khoomii, the diphonic singing.

Before leaving Ulan Bator, you visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery. The monks gather there in the morning for prayers and can answer your questions at the Buddhist Centre of Mongolie.

Departure for the splendid rock formations of Khogno Khan. You discover this park with its semi-desert steppes, scattered taiga and striking rock formations. A long sand fracture of 80 km shapes this arid region nicknamed "the mini Gobi".

Horse trekking to the Erdene Khambiin Monastery. The "Monastery of the Monk Erdene", built in the 17th century in the mountains by Zanabazar, pays homage to his teacher, the monk Erdene.

Ride along the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai, where you explore the arid landscapes of the Bayan desert.

Road to Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongols. Founded in 1220 by Genghis Khan, this legendary city was one of the stops on the Silk Road. It was from this city that the Mongol empire was administered before Kublai Khan transferred the capital to Beijing. Today, only a few remains of the capital survive. Visit to the magnificent Erdene Zuu monastery, built in 1586 by a nomadic prince. Its buildings with Chinese and Tibetan inspiration are surrounded by 108 sacred stupas. You will also visit the Karakorum museum.

You definitely leave the road to experience the sensations of the trail. The journey crosses the canyons of the Orkhon and the vast verdant steppe where the herds of nomads in the region graze.

You then arrive at a family of herders who welcome you in the heart of the Orkhon valley, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 2-night stay with a local family. During this immersion, you will discover the lifestyle of nomads and will be able to participate in different activities: animal milking, production of traditional dairy products or gathering herds on horseback.

Those who wish can go on a horseback riding trip along the Orkhon Valley, from the camp to the Orkhon Falls. For others, it is possible to reach the falls on a 6 km hiking trail, or by vehicle.

Visit to the Ulan Tsutgalaan Falls, where a white stream cascades over black stone, sometimes crossed by an ephemeral rainbow when the sun reflects off it. At 16 meters high, they were formed 20,000 years ago, as a result of a combination of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

At the end of the day, you watch the preparation of a Mongolian barbecue, which you then enjoy in the company of your hosts.

In the morning, you set off on an excursion to Tovkhon Monastery. Located at the summit of the Öndör Ulaan hill and accessible only on foot, the Tovkhon hermitage is an emblematic place where Zanabazar, Mongolia's first religious leader, composed the Soyombo alphabet. From its altitude of 2,312 meters, the site offers a wide panorama over the Khangai mountain range. You then enjoy a picnic in an exceptional setting, with the Orkhon Valley at your feet.

You continue your crossing of the Lower Khangai to reach the Tsenkher hot springs. Once there, you enjoy a moment of relaxation in the hot water pools of the camp, in the heart of a peaceful environment.

You venture deep into Arkhangai and discover its vast steppes inhabited by nomadic herders, where yaks and other animals graze. Stop in Tsetserleg, a small town nestled in the larch mountains. Resupply at the local market, then visit the Zayan Gegeen museum.

Drive to Khorgo – Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur natural park, located at 2,060 meters altitude. This lake, nicknamed "the great white lake", as well as the volcanic region surrounding it, constitute an emblematic place in Arkhangai province. You spend two nights in a small family guesthouse, in a ger, on the shores of Terkhiin Tsagaan lake.

Hiking along the shores of the lake. You head southeast to reach the Khorgo volcano, which rises to 2,240 meters.

The climb, easy, offers from its summit a beautiful view of the lake and the surrounding hills. Near the volcano, impressive lava flows compose an original landscape, different from those crossed so far.

You head west towards Zavkhan province. Along the way, you skirt the Solongot hills. Lunch at a local restaurant in Tosontsengel. The atmosphere of towns in western Mongolie evokes that of isolated cities of the American Far West.

You then set up camp in a small peaceful place, between sky and earth, on the banks of the Ider River.

You travel along the Khangai mountains which dominate the track to the east, then cross the Zagastain hills before arriving in Uliastai, capital of Zavkhan province.

You then head to the local market to stock up on supplies.

You depart to discover Mount Otgontenger National Park and explore its main sites: the waterfalls and Badarkhundaga Lake, located at the foot of Mount Otgontenger, which you discover during a hiking trip.

Hiking to visit the artificial waterfalls located on the Bodg river, or free time to peacefully enjoy this bucolic nature.

Journey to Tsagaankhairkhan, in Zavkhan province, where you will set up camp at the confluence of the Shiree and Tomort rivers.

Route to reach the largest dunes in Mongolia, the Mongol Els, which extend from Zavkhan province, north of Gobi-Altai, to the Khovd region in the far west.

Stroll through the dunes. Your steps break the ridge of the dunes, causing fine streams of sand. As they flow, the grains produce a deep and surprising sound, hence the name "singing dunes".

From the summit, remarkable view over Lake Eree Nuur, a vast expanse of water partly marshy which should be approached with caution.

Stop in the village of Chandmani. Several families of khöömii singers (traditional diphonic singing of this region of Mongolia) live there. Stop at a singer's home for a demonstration of this vocal art.

Arrival in the sum of Mankhan, which is home to the Tsenkher rock caves.

In the morning, you take time to visit the rock caves of Khoïd Tsenkher, which house paleolithic petroglyphs dating back 12,000 to 48,000 years. Then you continue your journey westward. Along the way, an excursion on the banks of Khar Us lake, located southeast of the city of Khovd.

Arrival in Khovd. Once an important commercial center located on the northern part of the Silk Road, the city maintained close ties with Russia and China. In 1763, the Manchu administration had the Sagjin Cherem fortress built, whose walls three meters high and two meters wide then surrounded a city covering four hectares. Today, Khovd province is home to 18 Mongol ethnic groups.