Land of Genghis Khan
Mongolia Private Journey
Overview
Discover the inspiring landscapes of Mongolia, from the legendary Gobi to the high altitude grasslands from which Genghis Khan created the largest land empire ever. In this heart of Mongolia, visit families in their gers, ride horses, and experience the traditional hospitality of one of the world's last nomadic cultures. Extend your journey with extensions to Mongolia's sacred Lake Hovsgol and western Mongolia's mystical Altai Mountains, home to pastoral-nomadic Kazakhs.
Arrive: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Depart: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Highlights
- Visit Mongolian families in their traditional gers
- Explore Erdene Zuu and Gandan monasteries
- Hike in the vast Hogno Han Mountains
- Experience the Gobi and the legendary Flaming Cliffs
Itinerary
Explore the sites of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, including the thriving Gandan Monastery, home to several hundred monks, and the National History Museum, which offers fascinating insights into Mongolian history with its displays of traditional implements of daily nomadic life.
Head out to the foothills of the Hogno Han Mountains, set at the confluence of steppe, desert, and forest. While here, immerse yourself into the heart of Mongolian culture with an optional half-day of horseback riding with Mongolian horse wranglers, perhaps take a taste of airag (fermented mare's milk), visit with a nomadic horse-breeding family, and participate in a cheese-making class.
Drive across the vast grasslands to the Orkhon Valley, the cradle of Mongolian civilization, and explore Erdene Zuu, site of the 13th century capital of Mongolia. The following day, visit Khustain Nuruu National Park, home to the last remaining species of wild horse, the takhi, known as Przewalski's horse.
Extinct in the wild in the 1970s, this sturdy native is making a comeback here through international conservation efforts. Return to Ulaanbaatar on Day 7.
In the vast Gobi Desert, walk the trails of Yol Valley National Park and visit the renowned site of the “Fighting Dinosaurs,” where fossils of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat were discovered. In the Khavtsgait Valley, you'll see amazing pictographs, ancient rock drawings of ancient life left by early Gobi settlers. A short hike up a steep mountain trail brings you to some of the most precious petroglyphs in the Gobi—ancient and beautiful stone carvings from the Bronze Age, left as they were found, in the open air surrounded by a remarkable wilderness setting. You'll also explore the legendary fossil site of the Flaming Cliffs—stunning when illuminated by the oranges and golds of sunset. Your home base for exploring the Gobi is a family-run ger camp offering great hospitality and comfort. Return to Ulaanbaatar on Day 10 and depart on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 2, Easy to Moderate, due to the light hiking as well as the remote locations of our camps, simple accommodations in ger and tent camps, and rough roads. The trip is an overland journey by 4WD vehicle with some long drives across the historic heart of the country.
Review Trip Level Details
The best months to travel to Mongolia are May through October. Mountain weather is always unpredictable. Come prepared for at least some rain, wind, and some very cold nights and mornings. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 30ºF! A dusting of snow is not uncommon here at this northern latitude, even in the summer. That said, there are also many beautifully clear and sunny days with bright blue skies.
Roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often very 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.
Mongolia is an exciting destination, and while tourism is growing rapidly, the infrastructure remains limited. The country is modernizing quickly from its Soviet-era standards, but they are not yet up to the level of many countries (particularly felt by travelers on the bumpy roads!). Roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often very bumpy and dusty. Travel on these roads will be done in Toyota Land Cruisers or western 4WD jeeps. Essential requirements for travel in Mongolia are flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity, enthusiasm about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Client Testimonials
"A trip of a lifetime—I really enjoyed it."
Steve T.
San Pedro, CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.