Mongolia-Kyrgyzstan Great Tour-Lands of Authentic Nomads
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Mongolia-Kyrgyzstan Great Tour-Lands of Authentic Nomads Key Information: Trip Length: 18 days/17 nights. Trip Type: Easy to Moderate. Tour Code: SMT-MKGT-18D Specialty Categories: Adventure Mongolia Tour, Cultural Journey, Nomadic Lifestyle. Meeting Point: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (excluding flight). Departure Point: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (excluding flight). Small Groups: 6-16 travelers-guaranteed! Valid Season: June-September. Tour Customizable: Yes. Tour Highlights: This is a unique way to discover Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan-The Lands of the Authentic Nomads. This Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan Great Tour will give you plenty of opportunities in Mongolia to ride camels on the sand dunes, meeting nomadic people, staying in a traditional tent, seeing grasslands and beautiful vistas which are great options for families, couples, small group of friends and in Kyrgyzstan to visits Archa National Natural Park located in a picturesque gorge of Ala Archa, Burana Tower, Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site, Djety Oguz Gorge, Issyk Kul Lake, Kochkor village, and Son Kul Lake. Incredible journey in just sixteen days. This journey designed especially for families, private trip, small group, and funny travel. We would be pleased to have you join us! The Best Time to Travel to Mongolia: The travel season begins in June to September. The Best Time to Travel to Kyrgyzstan: The travel season in middle of June to September. Brief Itinerary: Day 1-Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, meet Samar Magic Tours team. (L) Day 2-Ulaanbaatar-Great Statue of Genghis Khan-Terelj National Park. (B)(L)(D) Day 3-Terelj National Park-Ulaanbaatar. (B)(L) Day 4-Ulaanbaatar-Hustain Nuruu National Park-Karakorum. (B)(L)(D) Day 5-Karakorum-Orkhon Valley-Nomadic Family-Turkish monuments-Karakorum. (B)(L)(D) Day 6-Taikhar rock-Tsetserleg-Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake National Park. (B)(L)(D) Day 7-Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake National Park/Khorgo Extinctic volcano. (B)(L)(D) Day 8-Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake National Park-Tsenkher Hot Spa. (B)(L)(D) Day 9-Khogno Khan National Reserve-Uvgun temple-Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. (B)(L)(D) Day 10-Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes-Ulaanbaatar. (B)(L) Day 11-Take your flight Ulaanbaatar/Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with TK343 (Turkish Airlines) at 11:05 A.M (including the departure international flight). Arrive in Bishkek at Manas International airport at 01:35 P.M. Lunch in Bishkek. Drive to Archa National Park. (B)(L)(D) Day 12-Bishkek-Issyk Kul Lake via Burana Tower. (B)(L)(D) Day 13-Cholpon Ata town-Karakol town. (B)(L)(D) Day 14-Karakol town-Djety Oguz gorge. (B)(L)(D) Day 15-Djety Oguz gorge-Kochkor. (B)(L)(D) Day 16-Kochkor village-Son Kul Lake. (B)(L)(D) Day 17-Lake Son Kul-Bishkek. (B)(L)(D) Day 18-Departure Kyrgyzstan or extension tour to Uzbekistan (excluding the departure flight). (B) Day-by-day Itinerary: Day 1-Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, meet Samar Magic Tours team. Change some money in the airport. Transfer to your selected hotel (the check-in time at hotel is after 02:00PM). Welcome lunch in local restaurant. City tour: visits the dinosaur’s fossil museum, the National History Museum-where you will see artefacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present and the Sukh Baatar square-this is the main square in the heart of Ulaanbaatar. Here you will see a large statue of the Genghis Khaan-inaugurated in 2006 on the occasion of 800th Anniversary of the Great Mongolian Empire of Genghis Khan (1206-2006), the Sukh Baatar Hero along with The Parliament House, Stock Exchange, the Drama Theatre and the Palace of Culture. 06:00PM-Enjoy the National Performers (concert which includes the Tsam dance, traditional Mongolian singers, dancers, Tuvan throat singing and contortionists) 07:30PM-Transfer to hotel. Overnight at Blue Sky & Tower hotel, 5*. (L) Day 2-Breakfast. 09:00AM-Visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery that has been restored and revitalized since 1990. The Tibetan name translates to the "Great Place of Complete Joy". It currently has over 150 monks in residence. It features a 26.5-meter-high statue of Avalokitesvara. It came under state protection in 1994. Afterward, drive towards N/E to visit the 40-meter (~133,3 feet) Statue of Genghis or Chinggis Khaan. Visitors walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck of the horse, where they can have a panoramic view. Continue north further to Terelj National Park. The valley is about 20kms/12miles long at 1600m. This picturesque National Park is a part of Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. It is a great place for hiking, trekking, even you can rock climb here at its natural steep granite walls. On the way, we explore the 100 Lamas cave, where Lamas hide from the soviets repression. Explore on foot the Turtle shaped original giant rock. Overnight in tourist Gers camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 3 -Breakfast.09:30AM-Meet Samar Magic Tours team. Hiking and walking to Arryabal Meditation temple, on the top of mountain. During the trip, you will also have opportunities to visit a local nomadic family. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel (*the check-in time at hotel is after 02:00PM). Overnight at Blue Sky & Tower hotel, 5*. (B)(L) Day 4 -Breakfast.09:30AM-Meet Samar Magic Tours team. A long drive towards to Karakorum-the Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's 13th century capital and heart of the mighty Mongolian Empire and Okhon river Valley, cradle of Mongolian civilization. Stop in route, to visit Hustain Nuruu Wild Horses Reserve (hustai is Mongolian for birch and nuruu means mountains) measures about 57,000 hectares, or including the buffer zone 120.000 ha., and is located on about 120kms/75miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The flagship species for the Hustain Nuruu Nature Reserve is the reintroduced Przewalski horse. Drive towards to Karakorum. Overnight in Tourist Gers Camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 5 - Breakfast. In the morning, we visit the legendary Erdene zuu monastery, the turtle monument and the Karakorum museum, which is recently opened to show the public, remains unique in Kharakorum found during an excavation organized by Mongolia and Germany together. Visitors, such as Marco Polo, described its ornate building, including a 2500 sq. meters Palace of Worldly Peace. In 1792 the Monastery still had 62 temples and 10,000 lamas. But in 1930 it became a victim of the Stalin's purges. All but three of the Temples were destroyed and most of the monks were either killed or sent to Siberia. Drive to Okhon river Valley. Subsequently the Valley was continuously occupied throughout the Prehistoric and Bronze ages and in proto-historic and early historic times was settled successively by the Huns, Turkic peoples, the Uighurs, the Kidans, and finally the Mongols. Today, the cultural heritage of the valley constitutes a UNESCO World Heritage. We visit the Turkish memorial sites of the 6th-7th centuries. Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments to Bilge Khaan and Kul-Tegin, dated 732 AD, were found 47 km to the northwest of Karakorum, part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO world heritage site. This collection of historical heritage includes stone monuments with runic inscriptions, stone turtles, human statues and other relics. Both monuments were dedicated to Turkish khans who ruled Mongolia between the 6th and 8th centuries. During the trip, you will also have opportunities to visit a local nomadic family on the way and experience the traditional customs and lifestyle of local residents. Great opportunities for nature lovers to hike and optional horse ride on the steppes. Overnight in tourist Gers camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 6-Breakfast. A long drive towards via Tsetserleg city to Khorgo a dormant volcano and Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park. On the way, stop to visit Taikhar rock-is situated at the south bank of Tamir River. Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur-this is a freshwater lake with volcanic area around it is certainly the highlight of Arkhangai province. Overnight in tourist Gers camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 7-Breakfast. Free day and relaxation in Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park. Explore the area on foot. As you hike up the volcano, the dramatic scenery of the beautiful alpine lake to the west and volcanic lava flows to the east will open in front of you. Overnight in tourist Gers camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 8-Breakfast. A long drive towards to reach Tsenkher hot spa. Relaxing and enjoy baths at Tsenkher Hot Springs (89C/192.2F). Visit a Yak breeder’s family and experience the traditional customs and lifestyle of local residents. Overnight in tourist Gers camp. (B)(L)(D) Day 9-Breakfast.Drive to visit and explore Khogno Khaan Mountain Nature Park-it is located about 270kms/135miles west of Ulaanbaatar. Covering an area of 47000 hectares, this park contains many historical monuments, forests of silver birches and poplar trees, and sources. The ecosystem of this park is particularly interesting because the steppe and the taiga meet here. Created in 1997 as a natural reserve, it became in 2003 a natural park. One of the main attractions of this area is the small Uvgun monastery which was built in 17th century by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. Continuous drive further to visit Elsen Tasarkhai (also known as Bayangobi desert)- is a part of the 80kms/50 miles long Mongol Els Sand Dunes and is located on about 270kms/167miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The nature in this area is really spectacular and great for relaxing. During the trip, you will also have opportunities to ride two- humped Bactrian camel, walk on sand dunes, experience staying in a traditional Mongolian dwelling, the ger, and walk and relax in beautifully serene nature.