DAY 1. ARRIVE IN ULAANBAATAR

• Dinner

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital city. At the airport, meet the local guide and head to the city center. The drive from the airport passes through a shanty town inhabited by those who were once nomads but have neglected their traditional lifestyle in the hope of finding a little fortune in the city, which not too long ago has seen some rapid development. The urban landscape quickly changes into expansive shopping malls and brand-new residential complexes, shifting again to the scenes of the city center, where modern high-rises are quickly built amid soviet-era buildings. Arrive in the hotel, and check-in to recuperate from the long flight to Mongolia (note: check-in at 14:00. Early check-in is subject to room availability or supplemental fees). If time permits, depending on the time of arrival in the city, take an orientation tour around town, beginning with Sukhbaatar Square, the city’s main square. Right at the heart of the square, see the figure of D. Sukhbaatar, one of the heroes of the communist revolution of 1920’s, boldly raising his arm towards the statue of Chinggis Khan, whose name wasn’t allowed to be mentioned during the 70-year communist reign. Then visit the National History Museum, which holds a permanent exhibition on the different civilizations that have inhabited the territory of Mongolia from prehistoric times to the present. This exhibition includes a significant display of objects from the era of the Great Mongol Empire. After a welcome dinner, walk back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

DAY 2. ULAANBAATAR – FLY TO DALANZADGAD – BAYAN ZAG

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Early in the morning, leave the hotel and drive back to the airport for the short domestic flight down to the Gobi Desert. Land in Dalanzadgad, the administrative centre for the South Gobi Province. Once a remote desert town, it today serves as the centre of logistics for the developing mining industry. Over the last decade, massive exploration operations have revealed in the Gobi Desert an abundance of precious metals and minerals. Thus, the once peaceful desert is being trampled by excavators, monster trucks, and massive drills, all in the hope of making a quick fortune. Luckily, most of these mines are far from the eye. Still, their environmental impact can be seen and felt throughout the massive desert. Upon landing in Dalanzadgad, meet the driver and embark on a two and a half hours’ drive to the place known to westerners as the Flaming Cliffs. Bayan Zag (Rich with Saxaul) is famed for its red sandstone cliffs, which take on beautiful red and orange hues during sunset. The area is also recognized as one of the world’s largest dinosaurs’ graveyards. In 1921, the American adventurer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered here some of the most critical Paleontological findings of the last century, ending an ages’ long debate on whether dinosaurs have been reptiles or mammals. Arrive at the site around lunchtime and spend the afternoon exploring the cliffs on foot while waiting for the sunset to set the cliffs ‘aflame’, if weather permitting, of course. After sunset, drive to the camp for a first night in the cozy yet simple Mongolian version of a lodge, consisting of traditional felt-made dwellings the nomads of Central Asia often refer to as yurt, and the Mongolians call- ger.

DAY 3. THE MIGHTY SAND DUNE

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

This morning, embark on the five hours’ drive through the Gobi’s typical cold desert landscape - so-called because the Gobi receives its moisture in the form of snow - to the mighty Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes. Upon arrival, take a ride through the massive sea of sand atop a two-humped Bactrian Camel. This formidable beast has become the best-known icon of the Silk Road that once connected East and West. Able to carry as much as three times the load carried by its smaller cousin, the Middle Eastern one-humped camel, the Bactrian Camel, has been the backbone for the exchange of goods, technologies, ideas, and ideologies amid Asia and Europe for centuries. If the breeze is blowing just right, one might hear the dunes beautifully sing. The rugged desert plants at the edges of the sands are beautiful in their own sculptural way, and the small creek running along its northern face creates fantastic photographic opportunities. Take some time to relax at the camp before reverting to the dune late in the afternoon for a walk while enjoying the sight of shadows playing along the dune’s curves during sunset.

DAY 4. THE VULTURES VALLEY

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Check-out the camp and drive to the ‘Three Beauties of the Gobi’ National Park. En route, pause by Khavtsgait, an ancient place of worship marked by tremendous petroglyphs. This is also a magnificent viewpoint over the desert’s expansive plains. Once at the national park, head to the ‘Vulture’s Valley’- a beautiful oasis at the foot of the ‘Three Beauties’ Mountain range. As the sun’s rays do not reach the small stream at the creek’s basin, it is kept frozen during the beginning of summer (until early July usually). Hence, the place is commonly dubbed ‘The Gobi Glacier.’ Take a leisurely hike along the beautiful stream. If lucky, get to see some of the wildlife inhabiting the park. In the afternoon, set in the camp at the mid of the vast desert plains.

DAY 5. THE WAYS OF ANCIENT NOMADS

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Early morning drive to Dalanzadgad for the flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Land at the airport and drive to the Mongol Nomadic Heritage Center for a journey through time to a place that recreates the lives of Mongolians as they were by the beginning of the 20th century. This was when Mongolia gained its independence from the Qing Dynasty and established itself as a reemerging nation under a living god-king. See here a demonstration of how the nomads lived their lives during this era and learn about this nomadic-based culture that retains its old traditions to these days. In the evening, set in the ger camp at the heritage center.

DAY 6. TO THE FAR NORTH

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Another very early morning wake up call to drive back to the airport for the flight to Murun, the administrative center for Khuvsgul Aimag (province). Stroll through the local market, stop for lunch, and then continue driving north to Erkhil Lake. This is where a wide variety of waterfowl stop on their long journey from the Siberian tundra to the warm countries of southern Europe and Africa. Take a walk to watch the birds, and submerge in the serenity of this little-visited lake. From here, take a short drive to an ancient burial site of a civilization that inhabited these plains back in the Bronze Age. The unique tombs they have left behind are beautifully carved with reindeer motifs and other ceremonial artifacts the dead would take with them on their journey to their next life. Board the vehicle and continue the ride to Lake Khuvsgul, arriving at the camp by the lake's shores in the afternoon.

DAY 7. BIRD’S EYE VIEW OVER LAKE KHUVSGUL

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

From the camp on the lake, drive to the end of the motor road for a beautiful (and rather challenging) three hours' hike to the top of Khyasaa. At the end of the one-and-a-half hours' steep climb, arrive at Khyasaa (Mongolian for "steep cliff") for an unparalleled view over the lake. The trail passes through a pine forest, grasslands, and beautiful carpets of flowers. At the trek's end, back by the lakeside, enjoy a picnic lunch before driving back to the camp for an afternoon in leisure.

DAY 8. RIDE HORSES BY THE LAKE

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

After breakfast, meet the local horsemen, and embark on a half-day horse riding trip through the slopes of the mighty mountain range surrounding the lake. There is no better way to see Mongolia then from the saddle atop a horse, the way the Mongols see the world. Revert to the camp for lunch before embarking on a light enchanting hike through the forest surrounding the camp. From time to time, enjoy the view of the vast lake seen through the thick forest. In the evening return to the camp for a third and last night by the lake.

DAY 9. BACK TO THE BIG CITY

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Early in the morning leave the camp and take the approximately three hours’ drive back to Murun, to board the flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon landing, drive to the city centre. Head directly to Gandan Monastery, Mongolia’s largest religious institute and one of the few in the country to survive the anti-religious purges of the 1930s. Right at the heart of the massive religious complex stand tall the 26-meters high Janaraysag Statue. In the afternoon, visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum. This museum holds some of the best-known Mongolian works of art, including the well-known ‘One Day in Mongolia’ painting, painted by B. Sharav, considered to date as a true masterpiece. The museum also holds unique religious and other historical artifacts. From here take a short walk to the drama theater to attend an impressive folk concert, featuring some traditional Mongolian art forms. From here, revert to the hotel for the last night in Mongolia.

DAY 10. DEPARTURE FROM ULAANBAATAR

• Breakfast

After breakfast, drive to Chinggis Khan Airport to wrap up the Mongolia Classic Tour, and for the international flight out of Mongolia.