AUTHENTIC MONGOLIA FULL ITINERARY Ulaanbaatar - Genghis Khan Great Statue - Terelj National Park - Hustain Nuruu National Park - Karakorum - Orkhon Valley - Turkish Memorials – Authentic Nomadic Families - Karakorum - Khogno Khaan National Reserve - Elsen Tasarkhai Sand dunes - Ulaanbaatar 9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS (3 NIGHTS AT SELECTED HOTEL IN ULAAN BAATAR) INTRODUCTION Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, meet our Team. This journey designed especially for small groups, families, private, and funny travel. Meetng nomadic people, staying in a traditonal tent, seeing grasslands and beautful vistas. 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. Terelj Natonal Park-is one of the most popular natonal parks in Mongolia. Terelj features stunning granite mountains and fowery endless grassy green meadows. This picturesque Natonal Park is a part of Khan Khenti Strictly Protected Area. It is a great place for hiking, trekking, optonal horseback riding or yak riding even you can rock climb here at its natural steep granite walls. We explore Hustain Nuruu Natonal Park (hustai is Mongolian for birch and nuruu means mountains) measures about 57,000 hectares, or including the buferrone 120.000 ha., and is located on about 100kms/62 miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The fagship species for the Hustain Nuruu Natonal Park is the reintroduced Prrewalski horse. Drive towards west to visit and explore Karakorum-the Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's 13th century capital and heart of the mighty Mongolian Empire and Okhon river Valley, cradle of Mongolian civiliraton. Today, the cultural heritage of the valley consttutes a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors, such as Marco Polo, described its ornate building, including a 2500 sq. meters Palace of Worldly Peace. We also explore Khogno Khaan Nature Park 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 partcularly interestng 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 atractons of this area is the small Uvgun monastery which was built in 17th century by Saint Zanabarar who was a great sculptor and the biggest representatve of Buddhism in Mongolia. We visit Elsen Tasarkhai-is a part of the 80kms/50miles long Mongol Els Sand Dunes and is located on about 270kms/135miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The nature in this area is really spectacular and great for relaxing. During the trip, you will also have opportunites to visit a local nomadic family, ride two-humped Bactrian camel, walk on sand dunes, experience staying in a traditonal Mongolian dwelling ger, and walk and relax in beautfully serene nature. We would be pleased to have you join us. DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN ULAAN BAATAR Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB or ULN) New Internatonal Airport (NUBIA)-It is located about 52kms, 2-3 driving hours, depending on the traFci), meet ALLEXPEDITIONS Magic Tours team. Change some money at the airport. Transfer to your selected & confrmed hotel (*by hotels policy check-in tme is afer 14:00). Rest of day at hotel in your own (not food and not actvites are not included). © 20178ALLEXPEDITIONS DAY 2. ULAANBAATAR CITY TOUR Breakfast. 09:30 A.M.-Visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery, that has been restored and revitalired 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 protecton in 1994. Here you will have the opportunity fo atend a Buddhist ceremony at 10:00 A.M. Afer, we visits the National History Museum-where you will see artfacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present and the Main Square-this is the main square in the heart of Ulaanbaatar. Here you will see a large statue of the Genghis or Chinggis 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 Theater and the Palace of Culture. Welcome lunch in local restaurant. Afer lunch, we visit the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan-the palace is the only one lef from originally four residences of the eighth Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who was later proclaimed Bogd Khan, or emperor of Mongolia. Built between 1893 and 1903, the complex includes six temples, each one of them contains Buddhist artwork, including sculpture and thangka. It is one of the few Mongolian historical atractons which have neither been destroyed. On display are many of the Bogd Khan's possessions, such as his throne and bed, his collecton of art and stufed animals, his ornate ceremonial ger, a pair of ceremonial boots given to the Khan by Russian Tsar Nicholas II, and also jewelled regalia worn by the Bogd Khan's pet elephant. Contnue to visit the Choijin Lama temple-museum-the complex consists of four temples originally occupied by the brother of the ruler Bogd Khan, Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav, who was the state oracle at the tme. The complex was begun in 1904 and completed in 1908. In 1938 the Stalinist government converted the complex into a museum. The main temple features an 18th-century gilt statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a statue of Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav on the Buddha's right and the embalmed corpse of Baldanchoimbolon on his lef. 06:00 P.M.- Mongolian National Performers (concert which includes the Tsam dance, traditonal Mongolian singers, dancers, Tuvan throat singing and contortonists). 07:30 P.M.- Transfer to hotel. Half Board Breakfast + Welcome lunch in local restaurant. Dinner is not included. DAY 3. ULAANBAATAR/GREAT GENGHIS KHAN STATUE/TERELJ NATIONAL PARK Breakfast. 08:30 A.M.-Drive N/E to visit the 40 meter (~133, 3 feet) Statue of Genghis Khan or Chinggis Khaan. Visit small museum underground -has exhibitons relatng to the archaeological cultures in Mongolia, which show everyday utensils, belt buckles, knives, sacred animals, ancient tools, goldsmith subjects. Visitors walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck of the horse, where they can have a panoramic view. Afer drive north further to reach Terelj Natonal Park. Seeing grasslands and beautful vistas. The valley is about 20kms/12miles long at 1600m. This picturesque Natonal Park is a part of Khan Khenti Strictly Protected Area. It is a great place for hiking, trekking, even you can rock climb here at its natural steep granite walls. Explore the Turtle shaped original giant rock - symbol of Terelj Natonal Park. Walking & Hiking to Arryabal Meditaton Temple on the top of the small hill. Accommodaton in Tourist Gers Fixed Camp in Terelj Natonal Park. Full Board © 20178ALLEXPEDITIONS DAY 4. TERELJ NATIONAL PARK/HUSTAIN NURUU NATIONAL PARK Breakfast. 08:30 A.M.-Drive west via Ulaanbaatar to visit & explore Hustain Nuruu Wild Horses Natonal Park (hustai is Mongolian for birch and nuruu means mountains) measures about 57,000 hectares, or including the bufer rone 120.000 ha., and is located on about 100kms /62 miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The fagship species for the Hustain Nuruu Nature Reserve is the reintroduced Prrewalski or takhi horse. Currently the park is home to a hundred ffy specimens. Visit the small local museum of the wild horses. Accommodaton in Tourist Gers Fixed Camp in Moltsog Sand dunes.Full board. DAY 5. HUSTAIN NURUU NATIONAL PARK/KARAKORUM Breakfast. A long drive towards west to visit and explore Karakorum-is located about 390kms/242miles west from the capital Ulaanbaatar in Ovorkhangai province.This is the Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's 13th century capital and heart of the mighty Mongolian Empire and Okhon river Valley-is located along the Orkhon River in Ovorkhangai and Arkhangai Provinces, was the center of the Mongol Empire, the center of the Uighur Empire, and the birthplace of Mongolian Buddhism. Visitors, such as Marco Polo, described its ornate building, including a 2500 sq. meters Palace of Worldly Peace. Free tme and rest. Accommodaton in Tourist Gers Fixed Camp in Karakorum. Full Board. DAY 6. KARAKORUM/ORKHON VALLEY/MEMORIALS/FAMILY/KARAKORUM Breakfast. In the morning, we visits the legendary Erdene ruu monastery, the turtle monument and the Karakorum museum, which is recently opened to show the public, remains unique in Kharakorum found during an excavaton organired by Mongolia and Germany together. In 1792 the Monastery stll had 62 temples and 10,000 lamas. But in 1930 it became a victm 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. Afer lunch, drive to Okhon river Valley. Subsequently the Valley was contnuously occupied throughout the Prehistoric and Bronre ages and in proto- historic and early historic tmes was setled successively by the Huns, Turkic peoples, the Uighurs, the Kidans, and fnally the Mongols. Today, the cultural heritage of the valley consttutes 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 collecton of historical heritage includes stone monuments with runic inscriptons, stone turtles, human statues and other relics. Both monuments were dedicated to Turkish khans who ruled Mongolia between the 6th and 8th centuries.