In the Land of Genghis Khan

This fantastic journey brings us across Mongolia and into its cultural heartland as we explore ancient capitals and restored monasteries, visit nomad families, and link some of the most spectacular regions of a realm known for its wild landscapes and natural beauty. The haunting ruins of Kharakorum, the wild horses of Hustain Nuruu National Park, impossibly beautiful Lake Hovsgol—it’s all on this cultural adventure in a far away land where thousands of square miles remain unfenced and age-old traditions of nomadism are cherished. Our July departure witnesses the annual Naadam Festival, with its spirited archery, Mongolian-style wrestling, and thundering horse races across the open grasslands. Our ger camps keep us comfy as we discover this welcoming land where the rest of the world seems a million miles away.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

In Ulaanbaatar, our explorations include the Natural History Museum, with its impressive dinosaur skeletons, and Ganden Monastery, the capital’s spiritual heart, where lamas in saffron and crimson robes chant in immense prayer halls.

Days 3-5
Hustain Nuruu / Erdene Zuu Monastery / Kharakhorum

Traveling across the vast grasslands, we reach Hustai Nuruu National Park, where we search for wild horses at sunset. This reserve is home of the takhi, the world’s last genuine wild horse. In the Orkhon Valley, we visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, built on the haunting ruins of Kharakhorum, Genghis Khan’s 13th century capital, once the main metropolis of one of the largest empires the world has known. From our comfortable ger camp nestled between a peaceful river and a birch forest, we can head up to a vista point above Erdene Zuu for a bird’s-eye view, perhaps conjuring a vision of the great warrior-horseman Genghis Khan galloping across the steppes.

Days 6-9
Tsetserleg / Great White Lake

Heading to Tsetserleg in the forested Khangay Mountains, we stroll the market, stretch our legs on a hike, and visit Zayayn Gegeenii Sum monastery, built in 1586. Great White Lake is a finger-shaped lake that fills a volcanic crater 10 miles long. Here we meet yak-raising families who share a pastoral way of life little changed in a thousand years. The lake, its birdlife, and the surrounding mountains are now protected as Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park. Our ger camps give us wonderful access to Mongolia’s remotest reaches.

Days 10-16
Lake Hovsgol

Our grand finale is stunning Lake Hovsgol, a 1,065-square-mile oasis of translucent waters whose colors range from brilliant sapphire to cerulean. At 5,000 feet, the air at the lake is as crystalline as the water, and the profusion of wildflowers—irises, arctic lilies, poppies, and edelweiss—is a botanist’s delight. Enjoy optional hiking and kayaking from our lakeside ger camp, visits to nomad camps, and on our July departure, the colorful Naadam Festival. Fly back to the capital on Day 14 and depart on Day 16 or join our Gobi Desert Extension.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 3, Moderate. Although there is only minimal hiking, this trip involves rugged travel conditions in remote locations, simple accommodations in gers (yurts), and rough roads. Roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often bumpy and dusty. In most cases, travel on these roads will be done in Russian four-wheel drive vans, which are not up to western SUV standards but are reasonably comfortable. In Ulaanbaatar, our overnights are in a well-located hotel with modern amenities. Our ger camps are simple two-person yurt-style tents with beds, sheets and blankets, and small stoves for heat. Toilet and shower facilities are separate from the gers and shared by all participants. The weather can be unpredictable. We’ll have many beautifully clear and sunny days with bright blue skies, but come prepared for at least some rain, wind, and some very cold nights and mornings. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 30F! A dusting of snow is not uncommon here at this northern latitude, even in the summer.

Explanation of Trip Levels