Mongolia with the Naadam Festival

MONGOLIA WITH THE NAADAM FESTIVAL

July 1 – 12, 2021 | 12 Days | Overland Adventure Expedition Highlights

GORKHI TERELJ Ulaanbaatar NATIONAL PARK • Discover Mongolia’s unique culture and MONGOLIA breathtaking landscapes on the new HUSTAI and improved itinerary. NATIONAL PARK • Attend the annual state and local Naadam Festivals to witness the traditional Mongolian sports of Yol Valley GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN wrestling, archery, and horseback NATIONAL PARK riding.

Dalanzadgad • Stay in peaceful ger camps, supremely situated in areas of great natural beauty, and meet with traditional MAP NOT TO SCALE nomadic herding families to learn about their ancient customs and daily life. ARCHER GOBI DESERT • Explore the Gobi Desert by camel- back and visit the Flaming Cliffs, a hauntingly beautiful landscape where sandstone canyons have yielded an amazing collection of dinosaur fossils.

• Itinerary...... page 2 > • Flight Information ...... page 3 > • Meet Your Travel Director ...... page 4 > • Rates...... page 4 > • Know Before You Go...... page 4 > GANDAN MONASTERY

FLAMING CLIFFS NOMADIC FAMILY

the Gobi Desert—Asia’s largest desert—which covers some Itinerary 500,000 square miles of southern Mongolia and north/ northwest China. After landing in Dalanzadgad, travel over- Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing land to the Gobi Oasis Ger Camp, arriving in time for a late enhancements to this itinerary. breakfast. Then drive to Moltsog Els, one of the few regions of the Gobi that is covered with sand dune, to visit with a family Thursday, July 1 that breeds camels. Here, you have the opportunity to ride DEPART USA on a bactrian camel (Mongolian two-humped camel) through Board your independent flight to Mongolia. the massive dunes, giving you an exceptional insight into a way of life that has endured in Central Asia for centuries. The Friday, July 2 hardy camels offer a comfortable ride as they gently saunter ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA through this timeless scene. After lunch at the camp, drive to Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the Shangri-La Hotel with the Flaming Cliffs site, a hauntingly beautiful landscape of red the rest of the day at leisure. Gather at the hotel this evening sandstone canyons, eroded by wind and time. In 1922, the for a welcome cocktail party and dinner. American Museum of Natural History expedition, led by the famous explorer Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews, first put this area on the map as the site of several significant dinosaur excava- Saturday, July 3 tions. It was here that Andrews first proved dinosaurs came ULAANBAATAR from eggs and excavated the first complete dinosaur skeleton. After a morning at leisure, embark on a tour Ulaanbaatar, Check in to the Three Camel Lodge, one of the top 50 eco Mongolia’s energetic capital. The country’s political, economic, lodges in the world, for dinner and overnight. and social hub, this city of more than one million people is home to nearly half of the Mongolian population. Originally a nomadic Buddhist center when founded in the 17th century, Monday, July 5 Ulaanbaatar ceremonially changed locations 28 times before GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN NATIONAL PARK settling permanently at its present site in 1778. The city also This morning, visit Havtsgait Valley, site of ancient rock changed names multiple times until it was officially dubbed drawings left by early Gobi settlers more than 15,000 years “Red Hero” (Ulaanbaatar) in 1924, upon becoming the capital ago. Not only will you be rewarded with amazing views after of the new Mongolian People’s Republic. Highlights today hiking up the hill, you will also be able to view hundreds include the 19th-century Gandan Monastery, one of the few of petroglyphs that shed light on the everyday lives of the Buddhist structures that survived destruction by the Communist people who lived in the Gobi thousands of years ago. After government in the 1930s. The bejeweled 20-ton Migjid lunch at the lodge, take a drive to Togrogiin Shiree, where Janraisig statue, a replica of the original copper statue erected paleontologists discovered a famous find known as “Fighting in 1911, stands as the monastery’s prime attraction. Then visit Dinosaurs” in the 1970s. the National History Museum before lunch at a local restau- rant. In the afternoon, visit the Zanabazar Fine Art Museum, Tuesday, July 6 followed by a performance of Mongolian song and dance. GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN NATIONAL PARK / YOL VALLEY Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. This morning, travel into the park to scenic Yol Valley, a rare swath of green in the middle of the desert. Explore the valley Sunday, July 4 on foot to search for resident wildlife; the area is especially rich ULAANBAATAR / DALANZADGAD / in raptors and you are likely to see impressive bearded vultures GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN NATIONAL PARK soaring overhead. Wild sheep and goats graze on the high Transfer to the airport early this morning for our short flight to cliff walls while along the lower slopes, watch for long-tailed

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | MONGOLIA WITH THE NAADAM FESTIVAL < 2 > HORSE RACE PRZEWALSKI’S HORSES

ground squirrels and the intriguing Daurian pika. Check in to Saturday, July 10 the Gobi Nomad Lodge for dinner and overnight. HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK Spend a full day in the park, searching for steppe gazelles, Wednesday, July 7 marmots, and other plains species, including Przewalski’s GOBI GURVANSAIKHAN NATIONAL PARK / ULAANBAATAR / horses. A highly acclaimed captive breeding program saved GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK these unique horses from certain extinction, and has success- After breakfast, return to the airport for our flight to fully reintroduced them into the wild. You will also visit the Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, depart overland for Terelji National Ungut Monument, where you will find numerous tombs and Park, making stops for photography and wildlife viewing along stone sculptures dating from the 6th to 8th centuries. the way. The park offers some of Mongolia’s most beautiful scenery, with rocky peaks and verdant valleys dotted with pine Sunday, July 11 forests, flower-filled meadows, and winding rivers. Visit Turtle HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK / ULAANBAATAR Rock, the park’s most interesting rock formation, and continue (NATIONAL NAADAM FESTIVAL) to the serene Ariyabal Meditation Temple. Check in to the After an early breakfast, return to Ulaanbaatar. Today is dedi- Terelj Hotel & Spa for dinner and overnight. cated to the splendid, national Naadam Festival. Attend the opening ceremony at the Mongolian State Academic Theatre Thursday, July 8 featuring fantastic performances by dancers, athletes, horse GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK riders, and musicians. The largest and most widely watched After breakfast, take a short drive to snap fantastic panoramic traditional festival among Mongols, Naadam commemorates photos from Genghis Khan Statue, currently the tallest the 1921 revolution when Mongolia formally declared its equestrian statue in the world. After this, visit a village that independence from China. In 2010, the festival was inscribed recreates Mongolian life during the 13th century. Learn about on the representative list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural various traditional crafts and how to construct tools, worship Heritage of Humanity. After the ceremony, watch Mongolia’s with a shaman, try on a colorful costume, and take a ride on a top athletes compete at the “three games of men.” Check camel or a horse for a closer look at the nomads’ lifestyle. in to the Shangri-La Hotel for a special farewell dinner and overnight.

Friday, July 9 GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK / HUSTAI NATIONAL PARK Monday, July 12 (LOCAL NAADAM FESTIVAL) ULAANBAATAR / USA After a leisurely breakfast, depart overland to Hustai After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis National Park where you will attend a local Naadam Khaan International Airport and board your independent Festival. Known as “the three games of men,” the homeward flight. festival consists of wrestling, horse racing, and archery tournaments. Horse races are organized according to age groups (for both horses and riders) and distances of Flight Information 6 to 16 miles. Highlights of the day include the chance to sample traditional foods and beverages, mingle with locals, You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/Ulaanbaatar and amazing photographic opportunities. Check in to the and Ulaanbaatar/home city. Domestic air transportation within Mongolia is included in the price of the expedition. Please contact remote HS Khaan Hotel & Resort, your base for two days of our in-house Air Department for fare quotes, reservations, or other exploration. air-related questions.

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | MONGOLIA WITH THE NAADAM FESTIVAL < 3 > Meet Your Travel Director

JAN WHEATLEY - Jan was born in Logan, Utah, and grew up in Newport Beach, California, where he studied political science and design. His travel career began in 1977, escorting groups for the National Retired Teachers Association of America. Jan’s career advanced as he became associated with People-to-People leading political delegations around the world. Expanding his travel options in 1982, Jan moved and opened up a clothing design studio in Bali, Indonesia. Jan very much enjoys the many new interesting personalities he has a chance to meet on every journey.

Rates

$14,990 per person, double occupancy $18,990 per person, single occupancy | Limited to 12 expedition members.

INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Air transportation within Mongolia • Airfare from your home city/Ulaanbaatar and Ulaanbaatar/ • All excursions in the company of a world-class expedition home city leader and local guides • Excess baggage charges • All gratuities • Airport arrival and departure taxes • All accommodations • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures • All group meals, including selected beverages with • Passport and/or visa fees lunch and dinner • Travel insurance • All entrance fees • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages • Arrival and departure transfers on group dates (other than listed at left), and other incidentals • Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear • Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges • Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance

A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at www.zegrahm.com/terms, or call our office for a printed copy.

Know Before You Go Away from its capital, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is primitive and little affected by the modern world. Mongolia’s landscapes, therefore, lack power lines, paved roads, and often even permanent buildings of any kind. It is a place where native people live as nomadic herdsmen, their daily routine unchanged over thousands of years. To travel in Mongolia requires a true spirit of adventure, flexibility, and sense of humor. Mongolia’s infrastructure is still in its infancy, roads can be in poor condition, and delays and changes to this published itinerary are likely and should be expected. Accommodations are comfortable and clean and range from first-class hotels in the capital to traditional nomadic gers—dome-shaped tents covered by felt and canvas, known perhaps more widely by their Russian name, yurts. These well-managed ger camps offer an authentic experience of Mongolian culture, and provide the unique opportunity to visit areas that otherwise lack tourist accommodations. Please be advised that in Mongolia it is possible to accommodate vegetarians diet, and though there may not be much variety, yogurt, cheese, and fermented milk will be available. Meals are hearty and simple; however, fresh vegetables and fruits are naturally in short supply. Temperatures will range from the mid-50s°F to the low-80°F during the day, with temperatures dropping into the low-40s°F at night. To best enjoy your experiences in Mongolia, you should be in good physical condition and able to participate on nature hikes of one or two miles over rough or uneven trails.

To reserve, visit www.zegrahm.com/mongolia or contact your travel consultant. < 4