MONGOLIAMONGOLIA EXPEDITION 2020 10th -19th JULY 10th -19th JULY OVERVIEW As esoteric as a destination can be, the immensely striking is a litmus test for a true explorer; one that promises to reveal brilliant panoramas that more than amply justify the popular adage used to describe this fascinating country – Land of the Blue Sky. Vast, secluded and thus far untouched by the mores of rampant commercialisation – Mongolia is a landlocked nation located in the midst of China and Russia. With an extremely low density of population, it offers endless vistas that are accompanied by an emptiness that possesses an enduring quality for the soul-searching adventurer. One of the last few places on the planet where the nomadic way of life is still very much prevalent, Mongolia is an absolutely distinctive experience. And we at Adventures Overland are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to live through this experience with a self-drive road trip in a 4x4 SUV. GENGHIS KHAN EQUESTRIAN STATUE Dundgovi Dalanzadgad ROUTE MAP OVERVIEW Flaming Cliffs As esoteric as a destination can be, Khongoryn Els the immensely striking Mongolia is a Kharkhorin litmus test for a true explorer; one that Ulaanbaatar promises to reveal brilliant panoramas that more than amply justify the popular adage used to describe this fascinating country – Land of the Blue Sky. Vast, secluded and thus far untouched by the mores of rampant Ulaanbaatar commercialisation – Mongolia is a landlocked nation located in the midst Kharkhorin of China and Russia. With an extremely Dundgovi low density of population, it offers MONGOLIA endless vistas that are accompanied by an emptiness that possesses an Flaming Cliffs enduring quality for the soul-searching Khongoryn Els adventurer. One of the last few places on the planet Dalanzadgad where the nomadic way of life is still very much prevalent, Mongolia is an absolutely distinctive experience. And we at Adventures Overland are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to live Best time to go Terrain Commute Location Altitude Climate through this experience with a June to September Mountains, Desert, Self-Drive Asia Medium Warm and Cool self-drive road trip in a 4x4 SUV. Gravel DAY 1 You arrive in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to a warm welcome and will be met by a team representative, post which you are transferred to the excellently positioned Novotel Hotel. Ulaanbaatar is located on the banks of the Tuul River and surrounded by mountains covered with lush pine forests in the north and verdant steppes in the south. Sunlit and peaceful, the city of Ulaanbaatar is a city of rapidly shifting contrasts where the urban way of life coexists in perfect harmony with the traditional.

TUUL RIVER DAY 2 This is the day you get to witness the most popular traditional festival celebrated by the Mongols, namely Naadam. Locals partake in three main “manly” competitions; archery, wrestling, and horseback racing as part of festivities which are believed to have originated with the rise of the Great Mongolian Empire, and predominantly served as the crux of Genghis Khan's strategy to ensure his warriors stayed fit and in peak physical condition. The year 2010 saw Naadam being inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This day is yours to take in these and other sights of your choosing in this beautiful and historically rich city.

NAADAM FESTIVAL It’s time to head deep into the DAY 3 wonderfully daunting Gobi Desert. This scintillating morning will see you Heading southwards, we arrive at driving a 4x4 SUV towards the Dalanzadgad town for fuel refills and a incomparable sights of the Gobi delectable lunch after nearly 4 hours Desert – the ancient homeland of the behind the wheel. Continuing ahead for dinosaurs. A good 4 to 5 hours about an hour, we reach the behind the wheel and we arrive at Ikh mesmerizing Yol Valley. This slim, Gazriin Chuluu. steep gorge is huddled in the lap of the Situated in Dundgovi province, Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountain range. approximately 300 km off Having hiked through the valley and the Ulaanbaatar, Ikh Gazriin Chuluu is a gorgeous U-shaped canyon, we drive government-protected region that towards the Gobi Nomad Lodge in the comprises of stunning rocky outcrops afternoon. It’s from here that you will be enclosed by dry grassland and transferred to the nearby Flaming semi-desert steppe. It’s home to a Cliffs, accompanied by a research spectacular variety of flora and expert to the site where dinosaur eggs fauna, including the rare argali wild were first discovered. sheep. We return to the lodge, after covering You get to camp through the night nearly 280 km for a scrumptious dinner here in traditional ger [a felt yurt] and an engrossing lecture by the style tents, with a fabulous dinner eminent researcher about the latest and bonfire planned, to be held in the developments and key findings in the company of the overlooking granite realm of palaeontology within the rock formations. region.

GOBI DESERT DAY 4 It’s time to head deep into the wonderfully daunting Gobi Desert. Heading southwards, we arrive at As the sun rises on the fifth day of your Dalanzadgad town for fuel refills and a journey, you will find yourself heading delectable lunch after nearly 4 hours towards the mighty Khongoryn Els behind the wheel. Continuing ahead for Sand Dunes via the Khaalga Pass. about an hour, we reach the Extending along a distance of mesmerizing Yol Valley. This slim, approximately 965 sq. km, while steep gorge is huddled in the lap of the reaching the maximum height of 300 Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountain range. mts in some places, Khongor Els are Having hiked through the valley and the also known by the title of Duut Mankhan gorgeous U-shaped canyon, we drive or Singing Dunes owing to the towards the Gobi Nomad Lodge in the distinguishing sound they make when afternoon. It’s from here that you will be the sand is moved by the wind. transferred to the nearby Flaming After 3 to 4 hours of driving along these Cliffs, accompanied by a research lofty sand sculptures which change expert to the site where dinosaur eggs colours as the day progresses, we were first discovered. arrive at our ger camp located right We return to the lodge, after covering alongside this wonder of nature for nearly 280 km for a scrumptious dinner some well-deserved nourishment and and an engrossing lecture by the rest. eminent researcher about the latest developments and key findings in the realm of palaeontology within the region.

YOL VALLEY We continue our tour of the remarkable Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes via the DAY 5 Uujim Passage to finally arrive at the As the sun rises on the fifth day of your ger camp. In the afternoon, you will journey, you will find yourself heading drive from the camp towards the towards the mighty Khongoryn Els nearest located sand dune and get to Sand Dunes via the Khaalga Pass. explore it and its surrounding regions Extending along a distance of on foot. approximately 965 sq. km, while Here you will also be presented with the reaching the maximum height of 300 opportunity to familiarise yourself with mts in some places, Khongor Els are local customs and experience also known by the title of Duut Mankhan first-hand the famed warmth and or Singing Dunes owing to the hospitality of resident Mongolians, by distinguishing sound they make when meeting and spending some time with a the sand is moved by the wind. camel herdsman’s family. After 3 to 4 hours of driving along these Also make sure you avail the lofty sand sculptures which change once-in-a-lifetime chance of riding a colours as the day progresses, we double-humped Bactrian camel through arrive at our ger camp located right the striking sandscape, before alongside this wonder of nature for returning to the camp later in the some well-deserved nourishment and afternoon for dinner and some rest. much-needed rest.

KHONGORYN ELS SAND DUNES DAY 6 We continue our tour of the remarkable Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes via the Uujim Passage to finally arrive at the ger camp. In the afternoon, you will drive from the camp towards the nearest located sand dune and get to explore it and its surrounding regions on foot. Here you will also be presented with the opportunity to familiarise yourself with local customs and experience first-hand the famed warmth and hospitality of resident Mongolians, by meeting and spending some time with a camel herdsman’s family. Also make sure you avail the once-in-a-lifetime chance of riding a double-humped Bactrian camel through the striking sandscape, before returning to the camp later in the afternoon for dinner and some much-needed rest.

LOCAL CUSTOMS DAY 7 On the seventh day of our road trip, we drive northwards across the mountains to cross over onto the plains, with a stop at Bulgan Sum for refuelling before heading to the nearby Flaming Cliffs. This time you get to scout this spellbinding prehistoric site with a researcher from the Mongolian Academy of Science, whose expertise is sure to answer all your questions regarding the past and the ongoing digs in the region. Post lunch, we continue our drive towards the Ongiin Monastery. The curve in the Ongiin River here marks the remains of two ruined monasteries, which together accommodated about 28 temples in their heyday before being destroyed in the communist surge of the 1930s. The vast complex, with one small temple erected later in the day, is today referred to as Ongiin Khiid.

GER-STYLE YURTS DAY 8 This glorious morning arrives with the promise of a splendid day full of adventure, as we continue northwards to the legendary city of Kharkhorin via a dirt road (this entails nearly 5 to 6 hours behind the wheel). Upon reaching the ger camp, a local scientist joins our troupe for a gripping lecture on the Erdene-zuu Monastery, which is widely accepted to be the earliest surviving Buddhist hermitage in Mongolia, and the archaeological survey of ancient ruins of the Kharkhorin city. Genghis Khan founded this antique city in 1220 in the upper valley of the which is presently a part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site Cultural Landscape. It also served as the capital of Mongolia in the 13th century under his son, Ogedei Khan.

ORKHON RIVER DAY 9 The morning of your penultimate day in Mongolia is for you to explore the stunning Erdene-zuu Monastery. Fenced by the ruins of erstwhile Kharkhorin’s epic walls with 108 stupas, Erdene-zuu was built in the latter half of 1500s. On our drive back to Ulaanbaatar from the monastery, we make a stop at the Hustai National Park, which was designated a Specially Protected Area by the country’s government in the year 1993. This will be your last day of driving on Mongolian roads, as you reach the private ger camp which will host you overnight. Specially curated cultural acts await you in the evening; these will comprise performances by Mongolian throat singers, folk dances, an opportunity to capture a likeness of the imposing Saker Falcon, along with a thrilling wrestling match.

ERDENE-ZUU MONASTERY DAY 10 You are back in buzzing Ulaanbaatar for a hearty breakfast [your last meal in Mongolia!], and transfer to the airport for final departure.

Rugged, enormous and historic; Mongolia will surprise you in the most wonderful of ways. It may seem like an acquired taste at first, but a visit to this country – full of some of the warmest people you will ever meet – will ensure you come back with some truly exceptional memories.

FLAMING CLIFFS “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

ORKHON VALLEY PARTICIPATION FEES: INR 3,50,000 per person INCLUSIONSINCLUSIONS EXCLUSIONSEXCLUSIONS • Airport Transfers • International/Domestic Air Tickets • Accommodation In Hotels And Camps On • Lunch On Day 01 And Day 10 Twin Sharing Basis • Alcoholic Drinks • Self-Drive 4x4 Full Size SUV (04 People In • Personal Costs 01 Vehicle) • Tips • Fuel And Parking • Insurance And Documentation Costs Such As • Support Vehicle With All The Necessary Equipment Travel Insurance, International Driving • English Speaking Guide And Mechanic Permit, Etc. • Sightseeing And Entrance Fee As Per The Itinerary • Any Cost Arising Out Of Unforeseen • Road Toll Circumstances Like Ill Health, Vehicle Breakdown, Land Blocks, Bad Weather, Etc. • Meals (Starting From Day 01 Dinner Until Day • GST 10 Breakfast) • Vehicle Insurance • Visa Assistance • Visa Fee

YOL VALLEY 1023, Tower B4, 10th Floor, Spaze i-Tech Park Sohna Road, Gurugram - 122018 Haryana (INDIA) +91 8799424284, +91 9999981128 +91 124 - 4046316, 4707331/32 [email protected] www.AdventuresOverland.com