Mongolia holidays
| country: | Mongolia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | 2009: 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun |
| price: | From £710 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. Nadaam Festival departures (28 Jun 2008 and 10 Jul 2008) from £775. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Travel through the raw beauty of remote Mongolia.
Strikingly harsh landscapes, true nomads roaming the vast grasslands with precious livestock, camels crossing the desert and streams flowing among sprawling valleys.
See all this on a journey through a seemingly forgotten land.
Strikingly harsh landscapes, true nomads roaming the vast grasslands with precious livestock, camels crossing the desert and streams flowing among sprawling valleys.
See all this on a journey through a seemingly forgotten land.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Ulaan Baatar. Nomads on horseback, classic Soviet architecture and a wealth of museums, palaces and monasteries provide a perfect introduction to Mongolia. |
| Day 2: | Amarbayasgalant Monastery. Drive through vast open grasslands to the tranquil and remote Palace for God's Meditation. Enjoy your first night in a ger camp in the Iven Gol River Valley by the foot of the Burenkhan Mountains. |
| Day 3-4: | Selenge River. Immerse yourself in the beautiful surrounds of the picturesque Selenge River. There is plenty to keep nature lovers occupied, a highlight being the hike to the 13th century volcanic crater at Pot Mountain where you may be able to spot the elusive marmot. |
| Day 5-6: | Lake Khovsgol. Possibly Mongolia's most beautiful destination, Lake Khovsgol is surrounded by rolling grasslands, fir forests and meadows teeming with wildflowers. Join the locals for a horse ride or visit the reindeer herders of the north. |
| Day 7-9: | Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake/Khorgo. Climb the dormant volcanic peaks for spectacular views of the surreal landscape and relax in the evening with a traditional Mongolian barbecue. |
| Day 10-11: | Tsenher Hot Springs. Enjoy the remote, untouched beauty of the region and soak up the steamy joy of the Tsenher Hot Springs. |
| Day 12: | Karakorum. Mongolia's warrior hero, Genghis Khan, built Karakorum as his capital. Explore the ruins of this ancient city and visit the impressive Erdenezuu Monastery, birthplace of Mongolian Buddhism. |
| Day 13: | Khogno Khan. The rugged Khogno Khan mountains rise from the vast steppes littered with ger camps and wandering livestock. Hike the hills or revel in the nomadic atmosphere on a camel ride. |
| Day 14-15: | Ulaan Baatar. Return to the capital via roadside shrines and ger communes. There is time to stock up on souvenirs or do some last minute exploring before saying our farewells. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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During our trip, our group leader and local guide take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants. Combined with the local drivers, they are also always eager to share information about their country and culture, and help you break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
En route to and from Khovsgol Lake you will be welcomed into the lives and homes of local nomads for the night. You can help the families to prepare an authentic Mongolian barbeque before resting for the night in a traditional ‘ger’. Small gifts of tea towels, pens, sewing kits and the like are greatly appreciated. Outside of Ulaan Bataar is the Lotus Children’s Home which provides housing and schooling for orphans from the city. Travellers may have the option to visit – one of the most worthwhile experiences of your whole trip and donations of children’s clothing, school supplies and medicines will be appropriately distributed. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |