ONLY 4 BRAVES (#1) 9 days / 8 nights Across the steppe and the Gobi Desert DAY 1 ULAAN BAATAR Arrival at Ulaan Baatar Airport. Meet the guide and the drivers. Transfer to the centre of the Capital and lodge at 5***** hotel. This hotel can be considered, without doubts, the best solution in Ulaanbaatar. Rest time. Then, briefing with the guide to deepen the understanding of each other or to solve some practical need. Lunch free. In the afternoon Ulaanbaatar sightseeing: visit Sukhbaatar Square and the Winter Palace Museum, the VIII Bogd Khaan’s residence. Dinner free. Overnight stay. (BB) DAY 2 ULAANBAATAR - KHARKHORIN After breakfast, we leave the Capital and after few kilometres we’ll plunge in the boundless steppe. Even if the steppe is totally lacking in suitable facilities, it will be easier to handle than the town. We’ll drive to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Chinghis Khaan. Lunch at a local restaurant on the road. In the early afternoon arrival at the ger camp. Rest time. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB) DAY 3 KHARKHORIN - ONGII KHIID Breakfast. The morning is dedicated to Kharkhorin. The ancient capital, known in the past as Kharakhorum, was entirely destroyed by the Chinese in the 14th century, but upon its ashes, in 1586, was built one of the most important monastery of the country: Erdene Zuu with its white walls, its 108 stupas, its temples. Lunch at a local restaurant in Kharkhorin. In the afternoon departure towards Ongii Khiid, passing through green pasturelands where you can meet local families. After the small village of Khuijirt, the green scenery turns into a wild, dry, dusty landscape. It is the Mid-Gobi that foretells of the true desert. In the late afternoon arrival in Ongii Khiid ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB) DAY 4 ONGII KHIID- BAYANZAG Breakfast. Drive to the Gobi desert, the great and wide desert where in summertime temperature can go above 45°C. Arrival at Bayanzag ger camp and lunch at the restaurant. Rest time. In the late afternoon excursion to “Flaming Cliffs” where the American naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews found, in 1922, the first dinosaur fossils of Mongolia and the first dinosaur egg nest in the world. We’ll stay here until sunset to admire the rocks that go redder and redder, as if they were on fire. Return to the camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB) DAY 5 BAYANZAG - ONGII KHIID Breakfast. Late morning drive back to Ongii Khiid. On the road stop at a local family (camels’ breeders) to see how they manage their daily activities. Lunch picnic on the road. In the early afternoon arrival in Ongii Khiid. Possible visit of the ruins of this big monastic complex that hosted more than 2.000 monks and that was destroyed by the Soviets in 1939 or rest time. Lodge at the ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB) DAY 6 ONGII KHIID - ERDENEDALAI - BAYAN ONJUUL Breakfast. Departure to N-E direction. In the morning stop and visit Erdenedalai’s small monastery. Lunch picnic. In the afternoon arrival at Bayan Onjuul, passing through landscapes surrounded by impressive granitic relieves. Lodge at the ger camp. Dinner and overnight stay. (FB)
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DAY 7 BAYAN ONJUUL - ULAAN BAATAR Breakfast. Departure to Ulaan Baatar passing through wild areas where golden eagles nest on the ground. Arrival in the Capital. Lodge at 5***** hotel. Lunch free. In the afternoon rest time or visit a Museum (you’ll agree with the local guide). Dinner free. Overnight stay. (BB) DAY 8 ULAAN BAATAR Breakfast. All day dedicated to the Capital. In the morning visit Gandan Monastery, the most important Buddhist core for the Mongolian people. Here, before the Soviet purges, there were more than 10.000 monks. You’ll visit the Tibetan-style temple which contains a 26 mt. high Avalokitesvara’s golden statue and the Buddhist temples where it is possible to attend lamas’ prayers. After that visit Chojin Lama Museum where you can see a wonderful collection of Tsam Masks, original and used in the past by the monks during ceremonies and sacred performances. Lunch free. Rest of day free for shopping and/or for watching a folk songs & dances show. Dinner free. Overnight stay at hotel. (BB) DAY 9 DEPARTURE Breakfast and transfer to the airport. (BB)
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