Arrival in UB and city tour

Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, our local staffs (drivers and guide) will pick you up at the international airport of Chinggis khan. You will be transferred to a centrally located three-star hotel.
At noon, you will be escorted for a guided city tour that highlights the city’s most notable attractions, impressive National History Museum, Sukhbaatar Square and the Parliament building.
As the evening approaches, at 6:00 PM, experience a traditional Mongolian show at Tumen Ekh ensemble, featuring folk dances, contortion, and khoomii, the unique throat singing, followed by a welcome dinner.

Drive to Khogno tarna natural reserve (Bayan Gobi)

Early in the morning, we will visit Gandan Monastery, the religious center of Mongolia, before leaving the city. There, we will have the chance to watch the peaceful morning prayers of the Buddhist lamas.
After this, we will travel to Khogno Khan Reserve, where we can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Mongolia. This area features green grasslands, surprising sand dunes, and impressive rock formations at Khogno Khan. In the evening, we will arrive at the welcoming home of a local family, where we will spend the night and experience their hospitality.

Drive to Tsenkher hot springs

This morning, after a delighful breakfast with our guest family, Here, we wil do a camel ride for about 1-2 hours in the beautifull dunes. After thanking our hosts, we continue our journey northward. We cross the high, wooded mountains of the Khangai range and enter the territory of Arkhangai Province (Northern Khangai), whose beauty is often praised in Mongolian songs and poems. Here, we discover the hot springs of Tsenkher, which can reach temperatures of up to 86.5 °C.
Containing hydrogen sulfide, this water is renowned for its numerous healing properties. We fully enjoy the various pools to relax.

Start of the 4-Day Trek in the Khangai Mountains

During our trek, our drivers will be with us to carry our belongings and camping gear. Today, we start our journey in the Khangai Mountains, known for its open grasslands and wooded hillsides. This region in western and central Mongolia stretches about 700 kilometers and features alpine meadows, mountain steppes, and forests of larch and pine.
We will hike through a vast plain before climbing our first pass on a wooded trail. After a gentle descent, we’ll reach the Tsenkher River around lunchtime. In the afternoon, we will climb a second pass and set up camp by a small stream, spending the night in tents.

Hiking the Lush Valleys and Rivers of the Khangai Mountains

We keep hiking southwest toward the Tsetserleg River, walking through green valleys. After a nice picnic by the river, we’ll follow it through open grasslands until late afternoon. As the day ends, we’ll climb one last hill and set up our camp at a beautiful spot.

Hiking toward Orkhon valley

Today we hike in the heart of nomadic land, surrounded by numerous yurts and herds, moving at the pace of our encounters. Overnight in tents near Shireet Ulaan Mountain, the entrance to the Ovorkhangai region.

Hiking to Tuvkhun Monastery in Shireet Ulaan Mountain

Morning hike through the forests of Shireet Ulaan to Tuvkhun Monastery, located 2100 meters above sea level. This 5-kilometer climb leads to breathtaking views from a plateau surrounded by trees and rocky formations. In 1648, the young Bogd Zanabazar was inspired by this beautiful area and built a small stone cave for meditation in 1651, called ‘dubhan,’ now known as ‘Tuvkhun.’
After the hike, we’ll have a picnic at the foothills before driving to the famous Orkhon Valley, a cradle of nomadic life with lush pastures along the Orkhon River. This landscape is home to many nomadic families who depend on livestock for their living.
At noon, we’ll visit a local nomadic family in their Gers. In the evening, enjoy delicious homemade meals prepared by our hosts. During your stay, you’ll get to experience local life by milking animals, making dairy products, and helping with herding.

Exploring Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfalls: A Day with the Boorog’s Family

In the morning, we will spend time with the family and enjoy lunch together with our hosts before heading to the Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfalls. This waterfall, approximately 21 meters high, was formed by various earthquakes and repeated volcanic eruptions, which created basalt canyons and a long gorge.
For those interested in horseback riding, local guides will be available to take you on a ride. After visiting the waterfalls, we will drive through the valley, surrounded by impressive basalt rocks, to reach Boorog, where we will stay at the home of a yak herder, who will also be our trek guide. This location will serve as the starting point for our second trek.

Trek Through Boorog Hill Pass to Khuis Lake

Today starts our exciting three-day hiking adventure in the Eight lakes natural park with pack yaks and local guides. We’ll travel through lush larch forests, vast marshlands, and serene lakes. This morning, we say farewell to our drivers, whom we will meet again at Shuranga’s family ger. We will prepare our gear and pack the yaks with our supplies for the trek.
We hike over Boorog hill and enter the Naiman Nuur Nature Park, a region formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago. Located at over 2,400 meters above sea level, it spans an area of 11,500 hectares. The lakes here are named Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Shanaa, Doroo, and Bayan-Uul, although some of the smaller lakes have completely dried up. This mountainous area features subalpine meadows, Siberian pine forests, flat valleys covered with lava rock fields, and several lakes.
We will hike to Khuis lake and set up our camp on its shores.

Hiking around Bugat, Khaliut and Shireet lake

We continue our hike through stunning nature and reach Shireet, the largest and most beautiful lake in the area. Our path to Shireet passes by Bugat and Khaliut Lakes, nestled in V-shaped mountains, and these are hidden gems. After setting up camp in the afternoon, participants will have free time to relax, which includes options to swim in the lake or take a short walk for a scenic view.

End of the trek and Arrival at Shuranga’s nomadic family

Slowly ascending in a zigzag pattern up Shireet Pass, the trek continues into a vast valley. From the top of the pass, the view of the lake is stunning.
Upon arrival at a nomadic family that spends the summer on the banks of the Shuranga River, we will meet our driver. We will bid farewell to our local yak guides and thank them for their assistance.
The afternoon is free for resting and exploring nomadic life. Overnight in a Ger.

To Kharkhorin: ancient capital of Mongol empire

We will start our day early with a four-hour drive, covering a distance of 200 km to Kharkhorin, the ancient imperial city of the Mongol Empire from the 13th century until its destruction by Chinese Ming Dynasty troops in the late 14th century. Upon arrival, we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Kharkhorin Museum, where we can learn about the rich history of the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first significant Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, founded by Abtai Khan in the 16th century. This monastery, surrounded by Buddhist stupas, was partially destroyed during the communist era. We will take time to explore its stunning architecture and tranquil grounds.

(Upon clients’ request, you can stay here for one more additional day to relax and enjoy other activities, such as the calligraphy center and felt workshop. An extension fee will apply.)

Back to Ulaanbaatar

Return to Ulaanbaatar, traveling 360 km through the stunning Mongolian steppe, where you’ll see traditional gers and grazing livestock. Once you arrive, check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. In the evening, we will come together for a farewell dinner.

Departure: See you next time 🙂

Transfer to International Airport for your journey back home. You can choose your return transfer time based on your flight.