Mongolia Odyssey: The Ultimate Loop

Upon arrival at the airport, our team will greet you and escort you to your comfortable hotel, conveniently located in the city center. Ulaanbaatar, a rapidly growing modern metropolis with a population of over 1.5 million, is the capital of Mongolia. Depending on your arrival time, we will arrange a city tour for you. The tour includes a visit to the newly constructed Genghis Khan Museum, the largest museum in Mongolia, housing over 8,300 artifacts related to the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire and the country’s history from the Xiongnu period to the 20th century. The museum is spread across nine exhibition halls.
Next, we’ll visit Bogd Khan’s Winter and Summer Palace, a stunning complex where the eighth Living Buddha and the last king once resided. It now serves as a museum with intriguing artifacts, costumes related to the last king, and his collection of stuffed animals.
We will also visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the largest and most significant monastery in Mongolia. Here, we’ll explore various shrines and admire the magnificent 82-foot statue of Migjid Janraisig, draped in gold and silk cloth.
To conclude the city tour, we will ascend Zaisan Hill for a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. The tour will last approximately 5 to 6 hours.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: J Hotel 
Meals Included: Dinner

Your first destination is Baga Gazriin Chuluu, located 250 kilometers south in Mongolia’s stunning sandy plains. This area is known for its large granite formations that rise dramatically from the surrounding landscape.
As you explore the vast plain, you will discover the ruins of Delgeriin Choir Monastery. Upon entering a Ger for the first time, you will be welcomed into a grand 12-walled structure, intricately carved and decorated. Monks use this Ger for chanting during the colder months when the stone monastery becomes too cold.
In the late afternoon, you can drive and hike through the region’s impressive granite hills, which seem to stretch endlessly. As you wander, you’ll come across the remains of a small monastery nestled in a serene, protected valley. Additionally, Baga Gazriin Chuluu is home to a spring believed to have eye-healing properties, where locals collect water for medicinal purposes.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class:  Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

After breakfast, we will embark on an adventure to the Gobi Desert. The landscape will transition from lush green grasslands to rugged, arid terrain. By afternoon, we will arrive at Tsagaan Suvarga, an awe-inspiring 30-meter-high cliff that stretches 100 meters wide. Shaped by the wind over millennia, this natural formation resembles the ruins of an ancient city from a distance.
The area features ancient petroglyphs depicting scenes of hunters pursuing ibex with longbows, as well as carvings of wild animals and cattle. Some caves in the region contain Turkic inscriptions, seals, and other historical markings. A deep fissure cuts through the steppe, forming strong mud columns that resemble the open jaws of a mythical beast. Some caves even have multiple chambers, with one extending over 70 meters in length.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we drive to Dalanzadgad, the provincial town of South Gobi. The Gobi Desert, stretching across Mongolia and China, spans 1,610 kilometers from southwest to northeast and 800 kilometers from north to south. Covering 1,295,000 square kilometers, it is the fifth-largest desert in the world and Asia’s largest. Unlike typical deserts, most of the Gobi consists of rocky terrain rather than sand.
During winter, the Gobi is a cold desert, with frost and snow covering its dunes. Situated on a high plateau (910 to 1,520 meters above sea level), it experiences extreme temperatures, ranging from –40°C in winter to +50°C in summer. Despite receiving only 194 millimeters of rain annually, the desert benefits from moisture carried by Siberian snowstorms.
Our journey will take us through the majestic Altai Mountain Range and its breathtaking gorges. We will visit Yolyn Am, a deep, green valley in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, carved by ancient rivers. The region is home to diverse wildlife, including Argali sheep, ibex, desert gazelles, and Golden Eagles.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, we will journey 180 kilometers west to Khongoryn Els, home to Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. Towering up to 275 meters in some places, these dunes stretch over 100 kilometers from east to west. Their graceful curves rise into sharp ridges, forming mesmerizing wave-like patterns. Behind the dunes, the striking black rock formations of Sevrey Mountain stand majestically.
The Gobi Desert, the world’s coldest desert, experiences harsh winds sweeping across its vast plains throughout autumn, winter, and spring. With minimal natural shelter, local inhabitants have developed extreme survival techniques to endure the challenging conditions. Gobi nomads, known for their resilience and unwavering work ethic, have thrived here for centuries. During our visit, we will meet families who breed two-humped camels and gain insight into their humble yet remarkable way of life.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we travel to Bayanzag, famously known as the Flaming Cliffs. This breathtaking site is where the renowned paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur fossils, including bones and eggs, in the early 20th century. The landscape is a striking mix of red sandstone cliffs, rugged formations, and patches of greenery.
We will explore the area on foot, wandering along the dramatic cliffs. A visit to the local museum will provide further insights into the groundbreaking paleontological discoveries and historic expeditions that have taken place here.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we travel to Ongiin Monastery, nestled along the Ongi River in northwestern Mongolia. Set against the serene backdrop of the Delger Khangai Mountains, this historic site was once one of Mongolia’s largest monasteries.
The southern complex, built in the 17th century, originally housed administrative buildings and 11 temples. The northern complex, founded in the 18th century, included 17 temples and four Buddhist universities. At its peak, over 1,000 monks lived and studied here. However, the monastery was largely destroyed in 1937 during political purges.
Today, a small monastery has been rebuilt among the ruins, preserving remnants of its former grandeur. The Ger Museum showcases artifacts from the original complex, offering visitors a glimpse into its rich history.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we explore Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongolian Empire in the 13th century. Established in 1220 on the ruins of Turug and Uigur cities in the Orkhon Valley, it was completed 15 years later under Ögedei Khan, becoming a center of multiculturalism. One of its most famous symbols was the silver tree from Möngke Khan’s palace. From 1220 to 1260, Karakorum thrived as a political, trade, and cultural hub. However, in 1260, Kublai Khan moved the capital to Beijing, reducing Karakorum to an administrative center within the Yuan Dynasty. After the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty collapsed in 1368, the government returned to Mongolia, briefly restoring Karakorum’s significance. Unfortunately, in 1388, Ming troops destroyed the city, leaving no trace. In 1580, Abtai Sain Khan and Lord Tumenkhen sought guidance from the 3rd Dalai Lama regarding temple construction, leading to the restoration of the Main Zuu temple in Erdene Zuu Monastery in 1588. Once a vast complex with 100 temples and over 1,000 lamas, Erdene Zuu now consists of three surviving temples—Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha, and Lavrin Temple—within 400m x 400m walls, where visitors can explore the monastery grounds. The Karakorum Archaeological Museum, though small, is well-designed, featuring good lighting and clear English labels. It displays hundreds of artifacts from the 13th and 14th centuries, alongside prehistoric tools, pottery, bronzes, coins, religious sculptures, and stone inscriptions from various archaeological sites. A half-excavated kiln is embedded in the museum floor, next to a scale model of ancient Karakorum from the 1250s, inspired by William of Rubruck’s descriptions. Another chamber houses a Turkic noble tomb with wall paintings, gold objects, and jewels, accompanied by a short video about the burial site. Visitors can also explore Turtle Rock, Phallic Rock, and a small market showcasing the work of local artists.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we will journey west into the Orkhon Valley, where the Orkhon River winds through the landscape. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, the valley is home to ancient artifacts dating back to the early 6th century and even earlier. It also served as the capital of the Great Mongol Empire during the 12th and 13th centuries. The region continues to preserve its nomadic traditions, blending history with the pastoral lifestyle that has endured for centuries. During the Quaternary period, a volcanic eruption near the mouth of the Tsagaan Azarga, or White Stallion River, triggered lava flows into the Orkhon Valley, forming a basaltic rock layer approximately 10 meters thick. Over time, the Orkhon River carved through this basalt twice, creating the striking canyon seen today.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Tovkhon Monastery was founded in the 1650s by Zanabazar, one of Mongolia’s most revered spiritual leaders. Nestled near a hilltop, its wooden structures blend harmoniously with a natural network of caves, offering breathtaking views of the Orkhon Valley and the surrounding pine forests. At the summit of the cliff stands a sacred stone pile known as Ovoo, used to honor the mountain god.
After visiting the monastery, we will journey westward toward the Khangai Mountains. Rising between 2,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level, these mountains are primarily composed of Paleozoic granite, intrusive chert, and sandstone. Stretching approximately 800 kilometers from Zavkhan Province to Tuv Province, they serve as the continental divide for the world’s water system. In the evening, we will arrive at the Tsenkher Hot Spring resort, featuring a spacious open-air pool that continuously receives hot water from the spring, where temperatures exceed 80°C. A sophisticated pipeline system maintains the ideal water temperature, allowing guests to relax for hours in the pool, chat with friends under the stars, and take in the serene night landscape.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

In the morning, we will arrive in Tsetserleg town to explore a local museum dedicated to Mongolian traditions and Buddhism from the early 1800s. Originally a prominent Buddhist temple, the museum was dismantled by the Mongolian government during the Soviet era. After visiting the town’s monastery-museum, we will continue our journey to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake.
This stunning lake, one of the most beautiful in Mongolia, was formed by lava flows from an ancient volcanic eruption and is surrounded by extinct crater volcanoes. The landscape is dotted with black volcanic rocks, remnants of past eruptions. Stretching approximately 15 kilometers in length with a maximum depth of 20 meters, the lake is encircled by rolling hills covered in steppe and woodland steppe vegetation, creating a truly picturesque setting.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is the perfect place to unwind today. In the morning, we will embark on an excursion to the summit of Khorgo Uul Volcano, located approximately 4 kilometers from the lake. As part of a volcanic field, Khorgo Peak features a crater that spans 200 meters in width and 100 meters in depth, beautifully framed by trees along its rim and surrounding slopes. To the south of Khorgo Mountain, you’ll find unique basalt formations known as “Gers,” created by the cooling lava. Some of these structures even have gates and upper openings, standing over 1.7 meters tall.
We will also explore the Single Man Cave, which may seem small from the outside but is surprisingly spacious within. The afternoon offers free time for optional activities such as trekking through the valley, boating on the lake, swimming, horseback riding, or visiting a local family to experience Mongolia’s rich nomadic culture.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

We will embark on a two-day journey heading north to Khovsgol Lake. Our route will take us through expansive central grasslands, where you’ll encounter large herds of horses, cows, and yaks. Along the way, you’ll cross numerous rivers, both small and large, all teeming with fish.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Our first destination will be the Uushig Deer Stone complex, a remarkable site featuring a collection of prehistoric deer stones and burial mounds. These ancient carvings serve as evidence of early artistic expression and cultural practices. After exploring the complex, we will continue our journey north to Khovsgol Lake.
Often referred to as Mongolia’s “Blue Pearl,” Khovsgol Lake spans an impressive 2,760 square kilometers, stretching 130 kilometers in length and 40 kilometers in width. Surrounded by towering mountain ranges rising over 2,000 meters, the lake is nestled among dense pine forests and lush meadows where yaks and horses graze. Fed by the crystal-clear waters of more than 100 small rivers and streams, Khovsgol Lake has only one outlet, the Egiin River, which eventually flows into Lake Baikal.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

We will dedicate an entire day to discovering the lakeshore and the surrounding mountains. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in activities such as horseback riding, visiting reindeer families, hiking, and canoeing (weather permitting), among others. We’ll meet the Tsaatan or Dukha, one of the last remaining groups of reindeer herders in the world. Their distinct lifestyle is centered around reindeer and is guided by Shamanism and ancestral traditions, a spiritual practice based on nature worship.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Located approximately 60 kilometers west of Bulgan city, the extinct volcano Uran Uul, along with the nearby Togoo Uul, is part of the 1,600-hectare Uran-Togoo Tulga Uul Natural Reserve in the Khutag-Ondor district.
Trails leading to the summit of this modest volcano begin on the western side, where there are also several scenic camping spots. At the peak, you will find a crater measuring between 500 and 600 meters in width and 50 meters in depth, with a small “crater lake” approximately 20 meters in diameter.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today, we will arrive at Amarbayasgalant Monastery, which is beautifully nestled in a stunning valley embraced by mountains. Following Erdene Zuu Monastery, Amarbayasgalant is recognized as the second most significant monastery and the most well-preserved architectural complex in Mongolia. Constructed in the 18th century by the Manchu emperor Yongzheng, it is dedicated to the revered Mongolian Buddhist, Zanabazar.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

The time has come to depart and journey back to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Upon arrival, you will have the afternoon free to spend as you wish. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a captivating cultural performance, featuring talented contortionists and the vibrant, rhythmic dances of Mongolia

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: J Hotel 
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Transfer to the airport

Meals Included: Breakfast