Discovering the Land of Nomads
Discovering the Land of Nomads
13 Days
Visiting: Mongolia
From:
$4448
$4247
Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$200
NB: Prices correct on 21-May-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
- Horse ride through the Mongolian steppe
- Stay in a traditional ger
- Hike through Mongolia's wild landscapes
- Witness the rare Przewalski horses
Steeped in the rich legacy of Genghis Khan, Mongolia is one of Asia’s most enigmatic and fascinating destinations.
From the vastness of its rich grasslands, to the parched deserts of the Gobi, it is a land of staggering contrasts. This stunning 13-day adventure takes you from its bustling capital and out into the heart of its vast wilderness.
Staying in a variety of traditional ger camps, over the course of your journey you’ll have opportunities to ride horses amongst the forested mountains of the Terelj National Park, kayak through the stunning scenery of the Orkhon Valley and swim in the clear pools of the Orkhon Khurkhree Waterfall. In the Hustai National Park you’ll find rare wild horses, whilst the dunes of Khogno Khan National Park provide the perfect backdrop for a camel ride.
Beginning in Ulaanbaatar, you’ll travel deep into the heart of the vast steppes of central Mongolia, visiting an array of national parks, World Heritage landscapes and Buddhist temples, as you discover the rich variety of Mongolia’s natural and cultural wonders.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Ulaanbaatar
Gandan Monastery & National Museum
A visit to the Gandan Monastery affords you the opportunity to see one of the most complete temples in Mongolia, whilst a tour around the National Museum provides a good introduction to the historical traditions and geographical make-up of the country.
Traditional Folk Show
This evening you’ll watch a traditional folk show, before dinner in a local restaurant.
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight at Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar
Services
Sightseeing: Gandan Monastery, National Museum, Evening Folk Show
Day 2 - Ulaanbaatar - 13Th Century And Terelj National Park
13th Century Camp
Leaving Ulaanbaatar today, you’ll head east to the steppe and spend the day at the 13th Century Camp, tour around the camp stopping at each area to experience life in 13th Century Mongolia, learn about the blacksmiths, teachers, herders, shamans, and kings amongst others before driving to Terelj National Park and overnighting at a ger camp within the park.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight local hotel or Ger camp
Services
Private vehicle and English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: 13th Century Camp
Travel time and distances
Ulaanbaatar – 13th Century Camp: approx. 2hrs 30 (96km)
Day 3 - Terelj National Park
Exploring Terelj National Park
Another full day in the park offers a chance for a horse ride through the beautiful, forested mountains. The park’s location, some 1,600 metres above sea level, means that the air is cool and the alpine scenery spectacular and you’ll find a number of interesting rock formations dotted across the landscape including Turtle Rock and the Praying Lama Rock. For those who would prefer not to ride, there are options for cycling and kayaking too.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight at a local hotel or Ger camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Horse ride through Terelj National Park
Sightseeing: Turtle Rock, Praying Lama Rock
Day 4 - Terelj National Park - Hustai National Park
Genghis Khan Statue
Leaving the park this morning, you’ll head first for the great Genghis Khan statue on the banks of the Tuul River. Over 40 metres high and visible for miles around, it is possible to climb the statue to enjoy some sweeping views across the countryside.
Hustai National Park
Continue towards the Hustai National Park, home to the rare and endangered wild Przewalski horses, where an early evening drive through the park affords an opportunity to see them in their native
habitat.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight at a local hotel or Ger camp
Services
Private vehicle and English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Genghis Khan, Hustai National Park, evening drive to see Przewalski horses
Travel time and distances
Terelj National Park – Genghis Khan Statue: approx. 50 min (50km)
Genghis Khan Statue – Hustai National Park: approx. 3 hrs (156km)
Day 5 - Hustai National Park - Kharkorin
Horse ride and transfer to Kharkhorin
After an early morning horse ride, you’ll continue onto Kharkhorin today, once the capital of the Mongol Empire. In the 16th century, the remains of Kharkhorin were used to build the monastery of
Erdene Zuu, probably the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery in the country. A visit to the excellent museum will provide a valuable insight into the region’s fascinating history.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight at a local hotel or similar
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Morning horse ride, Kharkhorin
Travel time and distances
Hustai National Park – Kharkorin: approx. 4 hrs (300 km)
Day 6 - Kharkorin - Orkhon Valley
Erdene Zuu Monastery
A morning visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery provides an opportunity to watch the mid-morning ceremony and chanting before you continue into the valleys of central Mongolia.
Transfer to Orkhon Valley
Passing herds of grazing goats, sheep and horses, your destination today is the sacred landscapes of the Orkhon Valley, once the seat of imperial power on the steppes.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
3 nights Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Orkhon Valley
Travel time and distances
Kharkorin – Orkhon Valley: approx. 3 hrs (100km)
Day 7 - Orkhon Valley
Kayaking the Orkhon River
Fed by the waters of the Orkhon River, this beautiful river valley was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the country’s most important cultural landscapes. Armed with a picnic lunch today you will take to the waters of the river in kayaks, to paddle your way down a series of small canyons and through the tranquillity of the serene countryside.
Meals
Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Orkhon River and kayaking
Day 8 - Orkhon Valley
Orkhon Khurkhree Waterfall
A drive this morning brings you to the beautiful Orkhon Khurkhree Waterfall. After heavy rains this is one of the most spectacular sights in the country, especially around late July, and August. Just downstream from the falls, a short walk will bring you to a 22-metre-deep gorge and the surrounding countryside is a perfect spot for horse riding. After a stop for a swim in the natural pools, you’ll then head back to your ger camp in time for dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Orkhon Khurkhree Waterfall and swimming
Day 9 - Orkhon Valley - Khogno Khan
Tovkhon Khiid
Heading to Tovkhon Khiid first thing this morning, you’ll enjoy an hour’s walk through the pine forests to a tiny monastery with spectacular views.
Khogno Khan National Park
Driving on through the valleys and over high mountain passes, you’ll then reach the magnificent setting of the Khogno Khan National Park, home to a rich mix of historical sites, wildlife, and
spectacular scenery. Overnight at a traditional ger camp overlooking the vast Mongolian steppe.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Tovkhon Khiid, Khogno Kahn National Park
Travel time and distances
Orkhon Valley – Tovkhon Khiid: approx. 2hrs (50km)
Tovkhon Khiid – Khogno Khan: approx. 4-5 hrs (180km)
Day 10 - Khogno Khan
Covering some 47,000 hectares, the national park is a haven for all sorts of flora and fauna, with ibex, red deer and even wolves being a regular sight amongst the desert steppes. Over the next couple of two days, you’ll have opportunities to enjoy a walk in the rocky hills, take in the vast stretches of sand dunes, visit local nomadic herders, and even experience a camel ride through the dunes.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Khogno Khan National Park
Day 11 - Khogno Khan
Another day exploring the national park
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Ger Camp
Services
Private vehicle and English-speaking guide
Day 12 - Khogno Khan - Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar at leisure
The drive back to the capital will take most of the morning, but the afternoon is free to spend a little more time exploring Ulaanbaatar at your own pace. Take in more of its monasteries and museums or enjoy some last-minute shopping before dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar
Services
Private Vehicle with English-speaking guide
Sightseeing: Ulaanbaatar city tour
Travel time and distances
Khogno Khan – Ulaanbaatar: approx. 4.5hrs (260km
Day 13 - Departure
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Meals
Breakfast
Services
Private Airport Transfer
What's Included
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Return airport transfers
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12 nights accommodation
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12 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 12 dinners
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Private guided sightseeing
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Private driver and 4WD mini bus
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Sightseeing as per the itinerary including all entrance fees
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2 nights hotel and 10 nights in Ger Camp’s
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Sightseeing as per the itinerary including all entrance fees
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Private guided transfers to and from all airports
What's Not Included
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All international airfares
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All domestic airfares
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Meals other than those mentioned
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Other services than those mentioned
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Gratuities, personal expenses, drinks, and other items
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Early and late check out
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Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
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Tips for local guides
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Travel insurance
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Visa for Mongolia
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Camera/video entrance fees
Check out our Q&As
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes. Focusing on providing authentic experiences where ever you are in the world, Crooked Compass has access to a vast array of accommodation styles. From boutique properties in larger cities to local guest houses and home stays within small villages. Crooked Compass ensures that local authenticity flows through your accommodation throughout your tour without compromising standard.
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What sort of transportation is used for your tours?
Transportation utilised on a Crooked Compass escorted small group tour is a combination of a private air conditioned vehicle and local transport where appropriate. This may include a local bus ride, use of the cities metro system, a domestic flight to another city or overnight train ride.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Crooked Compass strives to be a leader in sustainable tourism. Crooked Compass is firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel. Our comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Practices policy summarises our commitments and actions. Although the very basis of our ground operations lends itself to the ethos of sustainable tourism, this policy re-iterates our commitment to: Use locally owned hotels Use locally owned ground agents Use local guides and drivers Promote community tourism projects from homestays to craft shops Support charities that work within the destinations that we travel to Carbon offset our travels
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Who runs your tours and are they experts in their fields?
Crooked Compass works with the worlds best operators who are specialists in their country, region and cities providing you with in depth local knowledge. We use local guides who live and breathe the areas they work in, making sure you experience their region, their way. We believe it is far better to have a local guide who knows a lot about a little than a text book trained Western tour guide who knows a little about a lot. Using local guides also ensures that money stays within local communities and supports the regions we visit.
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What can I expect from a Crooked Compass tour that I wouldn't get from travelling with an alternative company?
Crooked Compass provides a sensory way to understand the world – we help you live like a local, eat like a local, do what the locals do and seek the faces behind the places whilst discovering untouched lands and natural beauty. Crooked Compass tours delve deep into the heart and soul of a destination ensuring you get out of your journey all you intended and much, much more. Our intriguing itineraries have been created by travellers for travellers. Steering travellers to follow a different path, Crooked Compass’ itineraries allow you to experience the world’s most fascinating destinations in ways you never dreamed possible. It brings to life those ‘bucket list’ experiences you have yearned to do and separates the travellers from the tourists. Crooked Compass tours are culturally rich, reward travellers with unexpected encounters and uncommon rendezvous, creating truly unique, authentic travel experiences.
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Who do your tours cater for?
Crooked Compass escorted small group tours cater for those who are well travelled seeking the what’s next and what’s new. Our travellers are curious minded soft adventurers who want to uncover something more than the mainstream tourist trail. Crooked Compass tours draw travellers with an interest in sustainable tourism and conservation for the areas they visit. A Crooked Compass traveller is someone who is seeking something fresh and unique, who has a yearning for authenticity and discovery, with an appreciation for cultures, tradition and the natural world. We call them Cultural Purists.
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I am concerned about my impact on travelling through untouched regions. Can I offset?
Yes. All travellers on Crooked Compass tours have the option to offset their part of their tour’s carbon footprint by donating $4AUD (tax-deductible) at time of booking. 100% of these funds are donated to Greenfleet, an environmental non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting our climate by restoring our forests. By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our carbon offset program provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits. Your offset donation funds plant trees and restore permanent native forests in Australia and New Zealand. As they grow, these forests provide many community and environmental benefits by absorbing carbon emissions, protecting our unique biodiversity, restoring habitat for native wildlife, preventing soil salinity and erosion, improving water quality and much more. If you’d like to find out more and offset the rest of your carbon emissions, visit www.greenfleet.org.au
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Low Deposit
Crooked Compass requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of crooked compass charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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