Trekking and Gobi

Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver. Transfer to your hotel, settling in, and rest.

Appointment at 12 o'clock at your hotel with your guide. He will take you to the restaurant of your choice.

Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan.

Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament.

At 18 o' clock, Mongolian traditional show at Tumen Ekh: folkloric dances, contortion, and of course khoomi, the overtone singing.

Visit of Gandantegchinlen Monastery. In the morning, lamas get together to pray. They will answer your questions at the Mongolian Buddhist Centre.

We arrive at the splendid rocky formations of Khogno Khan. Discovery of the park : semidesert steppes, taiga, stunning rocky formations, 80-kilometre (49,71 miles) long sand dunes, are characteristic of this arid area nicknamed "Mini-Gobi".

Walk until Erdene Khambiin Monastery. "Monk Erdene's Monastery" dates from 17th century and was built in the mountain. Zanabazar built it in honour of his teacher, monk Erdene.

Visit of the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai.

Journey to Kharkhorin, the former capital of Mongolia. The legendary city of Genghis Khan was founded in 1220 and was one of the stages of the silk road. The Mongolian Empire was governed from this city until Kubilai Khan set up the capital in Beijing. Today, there are only a few vestiges left of the former capital.

Visit of Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586 by a nomad prince. The Chinese and Tibetan-inspired buildings are surrounded with 108 sacred stupas. Visit of the Museum of Kharkhorin.

Arrival at Tsenkher hot springs, where you can lounge in the hot springs of the camp.

We start our 9-days hike. First, we'll walk from Tsenkher hot springs until Orkhon Valley, then until Naiman Nuur National Park. We'll have the logistics vehicle during the first five days of the hike. During the last four days, the hike will be a self-sufficient hike and we'll have only pack yaks to carry the equipment.

Since Tsenkher hot springs, we walk across a plain to climb a first pass on a tree-filled trail. Then we walk on a path through a forest of larches in this particularly pleasant, slightly hilly area. We reach the Tsenkher River, where we have lunch.

We go on walking on the Western bank of the river, before turning on our left. We climb a second pass, where we'll have a break near an ovoo.

We walk down towards the Tsetserleg River and we make a long lunch break along its banks. Swimming is possible, especially in June, July and August. After our break, we leave for 3-hour walking along the river. We turn to our left and go over a pass, before walking down towards a lush valley, where we set up our camp.

We find again the valley crossed the day before and go back several kilometers before turning on the left and finding a tree-filled area. Many breeders live in the area and we met many herds of yaks and nomadic settlements. Slight difference in height in the late morning, before crossing a vast plain where we have lunch.

We go on walking in the valley, then cross the river and pass a small hill, near which we camp.

Visit of Tovkhon Monastery. Vehicles can't go until the top of Öndör Ulaan Hill and we will walk until there to discover Tovkhon Ermitage, where Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia, created the Soyombo alphabet. The monastery is located 2312 metres (1,44 mile) above the sea level and from that place we'll have a wonderful view on the whole Khangai range. We'll picnic in exceptional surroundings, facing Orkhon Valley.

After this visit, we come back down and have lunch nearby the nomads' winter camps. We can see in the surroundings some petroglyphs dating back from the Age of Bronze.

In the afternoon, after passing the last hill, we come back down towards the green Orkhon Valley and the place called Ongoistiin Guur, where we will cross the canyons of Orkhon. We will drive, by jeep, until our local guide's camp.

Stay at herders' from the valley. During your stay, you will discover their way of life and you will be proposed many activities, such as milking, making traditional dairy products, or rounding up the animals with a horse.

You will also attend the preparation of a Mongolian barbecue that you will enjoy with yours hosts.

Visit of Ulan Tsutgalaan falls, white flood flowing on the black stone, transformed in rainbow by a short sunray… These 16-metres (52,49 feet) falls are just magic ! They were formed 20.000 years ago, as a result of a unique combination of earthquakes and volcano eruptions.

We go on walking in Orkhon Valley. We reach the Baga falls, near which we have lunch. Then we walk through the areas of Uuragt, Unit and Khöshigt, where we set up our camp.

We start the self-sufficient part of our hike. We hike in a valley surrounded by the Khangai chains. We reach the small Lake Tsagaan Azarga, where we camp tonight.

Visit of the several lakes of the area : Lakes Bugat, Khaya, Doroo, Khaliut, Khuis, and then Lake Shireet where we set up our camp.

We hike on Shireet Hill and visit Shurangiin Tsokhoi stone. Then we join a nomads family and rest.

Stay with a nomads family living in this mountainous area, with whom we'll share moments of their daily life.

Day of transition between two ecosystems. We leave the green mountains of Khangai to go towards Gobi. We drive across the green steppe and reach Arvaikheer, the capital of province, where we stop to get fresh supplies at the local market.

We arrive in the sum of Saikhan Ovoo. West Saikhan Ovoo, some mountains located along the Ongii River, are the perfect place to rest between Northwest of Mongolia and Gobi Desert. In the bends of the river, we can see the ruins of two monasteries, Barlim Monastery on the Northern bank, Khutagt Monastery on the Southern bank.

Let's discover this site, best known as Ong lamasery, and the museum. In 1937, the Soviets almost completely destroyed the homes and monasteries where one thousand lamas were living. In 2002, some lamas came back and began to rebuild the monastery, with few resources but much enthusiasm.

Last day of track before reaching Great Gobi and its "Three Beauties", the three highest peaks of this part of the Gobi-Altai range : Baruun Saïhan, "the Western Beauty" ; Dund Saïhan, "the Middle Beauty" ; Züün Saïhan, "the Eastern Beauty", the highest (2846 metres, 1,77 miles).

Visit of the cliffs of Bayanzag, today are best known as "flaming cliffs", owing to their ochre red colour, where is located the "cemetery of dragons". The cliffs and the saxaul forests that surround them are the evidence of the time when Earth was still inhabited by huge creatures: dinosaurs. Palaeontologist Roy Andrews Chapman was the first man to discover in 1922 some bones and eggs of dinosaurs that we can see today in the Natural History Museum of Ulan Bator and in other museums in the world.

We wake up early today to hike on the Khavtsgait mountain. After some time on the jeep, we will start our trek. The ascent is quite sportive, but will provide a truly amazing view over the desert. From there it is possible to see numerous petroglyphs representing wild mountain sheep, horses, camels and men in the process of hunting.

We ride towards the west of the park to reach Khongor sand dunes, "light bay sand". These dunes extend at the foot of the "Three Beauties".

Visit of the dunes of Khongor. These dunes are the most spectacular ones of Mongolia, they extend on more than 180 kilometres (111,85 miles) long and 20 kilometres (12,43 miles) wide, and have an average height of 80 metres (262,47 feet), the highest one being 120 metres (393,70 feet) high. From the top, the view on the desert is quite amazing. From this place, it's also possible to hear the moving masses of sand, hence the name of "singing dunes". Beyond the dunes, the steppe extends for as far as the eye can see.

We'll stay with a Bactrian camels' breeder for two nights. It's a unique chance to discover their authentic way of life and their legendary hospitality.

Camelback hike. Camelback hiking in the Gobi Desert is an unforgettable experience. The nonchalant animal will take us with its peaceful gait along the dunes and the Khongor River, "light bay", that flows alternately on the surface and under the ground. We'll go until a small oasis at the foot of the dunes, where some bushes grow, such as saxaul. Camels are very fond of saxaul and Mongolians think it's the most precious wood.

We will walk until the top of a dune and will have a wonderful view of the desert. Far away, we will see the peaks of the Three Beautiful and, if we listen carefully, we might hear the song of the dunes.

Journey on the track towards the east of "the Three Beauties" to reach the area of canyons. Stop at Dungenee Canyon. We leave the vehicle to start our first magic hike along the river that flows between huge canyons.

Hiking in the canyon of Yol, the bearded vultures canyon. We will walk in the bottom of the canyon that is covered with perpetual snow. The canyon is so steep-sided, that sunrays make the ice melt only in August. The rest of the year there's ice everywhere in the canyon.

Visit of Mountains Baga Gazriin Chuluu, where we'll observe stunning granite rocky formations eroded by the violent elements of this area. In the 19th century, two respected lamas lived here, and we still can see their inscriptions in the rock. According to the legend, Genghis Khan too is supposed to have lived in this wonderful area where it's pleasant to walk.

Back to Ulan-Bator. Last herds of wild horses crossing the road outside our dumbfounded eyes, last yurts smoking far away, the steppe will be with us until the last moment.

Arrival in town and settling in at your hotel, where you can rest a few moments.

Rest of the day free. With our guide, you can go shopping in the centre of the city.