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Mongolia and the Naadam Festival
$8,095 - 22 Days, Fully Inclusive from selected Australian cities
The great Khans of Mongolia created the largest land empire the world has ever known. The most legendary of all was the famous Genghis Khan, a relentless warrior who forever marked his birthplace on the map. Remote and stunning, Mongolia is still relatively unexplored by modern day travellers and its charm firmly lies in that fact. The country is blessed with endless plains with beautiful backdrops, warm-hearted people with simplistic views on the world and a fascinating history.
One of the special features you will encounter on this tour is experiencing first-hand the annual Naadam Festival, a local celebration of the people and culture of this great land. The origins of this festival can be traced to the Mongol Army with horseracing, wrestling and archery competitions favoured by the locals and visitors alike.
This tour is also available in reverse – please click here for the reverse itinerary.
DAY 1-2: AUSTRALIA TO ULAANBAATAR
Fly overnight with Cathay Pacific and Mongolian Airlines to Ulaanbaatar (via Hong Kong). Upon arrival into Ulaanbaatar, the evening is free at your leisure.
DAY 3-4: ULAANBAATAR
Enjoy a tour around Ulaanbaatar today. Visit Sukhbaatar Square, where a statue stands of Damdin Sughbaatar, who led the Mongolian Revolution and declared its independence from China. Later you will visit the National Museum of Mongolian History, also referred to as the Revolutionary Museum, the Khar Zakh local market and the Gandan Monastery, a Tibetan-style monastery.
DAY 5: ULAANBAATAR TO YOLYN AM
Fly to Dalanzadgad today, from where you begin your 4WD journey heading to Yolyn Am, a gorge in the Gobi National Park. Yolyn Am is famous for its spectacular scenery.
DAY 6: YOLYN AM
Today you will explore the Gurvansaikhan National Park; at approximately 27,000sq km it is the largest national park in Mongolia. Here you can marvel at the scenery of Yolyn Am.
DAY 7: YOLYN AM TO KHONGORYN ELS
Continue your 4WD journey into the Gobi Desert today as you drive to Khongoryn Els, the location of Mongolia’s largest sand dunes, also referred to as the ‘Singing Dunes’.
DAY 8: KHONGORYN ELS TO BAYANZAG
Leave Khongoryn Els this morning and drive to Bayanzag, also known as the ‘Flaming Cliffs’, and visit the Gobi dinosaur’ cemetery and trace the footsteps of Palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews.
DAY 9: BAYANZAG TO ONGII
Today you will head to Ongii, viewing the Ongiin Khiid, two ruined monasteries located alongside the Ongii River.
DAY 10: ONGII TO MT. KHOGNO KHAN
Leave Ongii today and travel to Mt. Khogno Khan. Explore the remains of the Uvgun Khiid at the foot of the mountain.
DAY 11: MT. KHOGNO KHAN TO KHARKHORIN
Today you will continue your journey to the ancient capital of Kharkhorin, situated on the Orkhon River. Later you will visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first Buddhist-built monastery in Mongolia.
DAY 12: KHARKHORIN TO TSENKHER JIGUUR HOT SPRINGS
Travel to Tsenkher Jiguur Hot Springs.
DAY 13: TSENKHER JIGUUR HOT SPRINGS TO GREAT WHITE LAKE
This morning you will drive to the Great White Lake in the Khangai Mountains where you will visit Khorgo Volcano.
DAY 14: GREAT WHITE LAKE TO JARGAL JIGUUR
Today you leave the Great White Lake and travel to Jargal Jiguur.
DAYS 15-16: JARGAL JIGUUR TO LAKE KHOVSGOL
Travel to Lake Khovsgol, Mongolia’s largest freshwater lake by volume. Your time here is free to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery.
DAY 17: LAKE KHOVSGOL TO MÔRON
Continue your journey today as you travel to Môron.
DAY 18: MÔRON TO ULAANBAATAR
Today you fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy a performance of traditional ‘throat singing’ this evening.
DAYS 19-21: ULAANBAATAR
Over the next three days you will join the annual festivities of the Naadam Festival, dating back to the Genghis Khan period. Witness events such as wrestling, horse racing and archery; ‘the three manly games’.
DAY 22: DEPART ULAANBAATAR
This morning you are transferred to Ulaanbaatar airport to board your flight to Hong Kong, where you will connect with your overnight flight to Australia.
DAY 23: ARRIVE AUSTRALIA
Arrive home today.
DAY 1-2: AUSTRALIA TO ULAANBAATAR
Fly overnight with Cathay Pacific and Mongolian Airlines to Ulaanbaatar (via Hong Kong). Upon arrival into Ulaanbaatar early this morning, the day is free at your leisure.
DAY 3-5: ULAANBAATAR
Over the next three days you will join the annual festivities of the Naadam Festival, dating back to the Genghis Khan period. Witness events such as wrestling, horse racing and archery; ‘the three manly games’.
DAY 6: ULAANBAATAR TO MÔRON
Fly to Môron where you will visit the Local History Museum, Central Square and a local Buddhist temple.
DAY 7-8: MÔRON TO LAKE KHOVSGOL
Travel to Lake Khovsgol, Mongolia’s largest freshwater lake by volume. Your time here is free to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery.
DAY 9: LAKE KHOVSGOL TO JARGAL JIGUUR
Today you will travel to Jargal Jiguur.
DAY 10: JARGAL JIGUUR TO GREAT WHITE LAKE
Drive to the Great White Lake in the Khangai Mountains where you will visit Khorgo Volcano.
DAY 11: GREAT WHITE LAKE TO TSENKHER JIGUUR HOT SPRINGS
Travel to Tsenkher Jiguur Hot Springs.
DAY 12: TSENKHER JIGUUR HOT SPRINGS TO KHARKHORIN
Today you will continue your journey to the ancient capital of Kharkhorin, situated on the Orkhon River. Later you will visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first Buddhist-built monastery in Mongolia.
DAY 13: KHARKHORIN TO MT. KHOGNO KHAN
Travel to Mt. Khogno Khan. Explore the remains of the Uvgun Khiid at the foot of the mountain.
DAY 14: MT. KHOGNO KHAN TO ONGII
Today you will head to Ongii, viewing the Ongiin Khiid, two ruined monasteries located alongside the Ongii River.
DAY 15: ONGII TO BAYANZAG
Drive by 4WD to Bayanzag, also known as the ‘Flaming Cliffs’, and visit the Gobi dinosaur’ cemetery and trace the footsteps of Palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews.
DAY 16: BAYANZAG TO KHONGORYN ELS
Continue your 4WD journey into the Gobi Desert today as you drive to Khongoryn Els, the location of Mongolia’s largest sand dunes, also referred to as the ‘Singing Dunes’.
DAY 17-18: KHONGORYN ELS TO YOLYN AM
Continue your 4WD journey heading to Yolyn Am, a gorge in the Gobi National Park. Yolyn Am is famous for its spectacular scenery. Explore the Gurvansaikhan National Park. At approximately 27,000sq km it is the largest national park in Mongolia. Here you can marvel at the scenery of Yolyn Am.
DAY 19: YOLYN AM TO ULAANBAATAR
Today you drive to Dalanzadgad for your flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy a performance of traditional ‘throat singing’ this evening.
DAY 20: ULAANBAATAR
Enjoy a tour around Ulaanbaatar today. Visit Sukhbaatar Square, where a statue stands of Damdin Sughbaatar, who led the Mongolian Revolution and declared its independence from China. Later you will visit the National Museum of Mongolian History, also referred to as the Revolutionary Museum, the Khar Zakh local market and the Gandan Monastery, a Tibetan-style monastery.
DAY 21: DEPART ULAANBAATAR
Early this morning, you are transferred to Ulaanbaatar airport to board your flight to Hong Kong, where you will connect with your overnight flight to Australia.
DAY 22: ARRIVE AUSTRALIA
Arrive home today.
Wendy Wu Tours Review:
"Donna our guide kept it running smoothly and efficiently as well as being a lovely young lady. Our 6 drivers knew their job and their vehicles and drove us safely over 2000km of tracks, most of which required total concentration. They all did a mighty job as well as being such nice people. Vehicles well maintained and kept very clean, were very comfortable.
Enjoyed the gers; these were comfortable and clean and the stoves much appreciated. The tour was fast paced and as active as one wanted to make it. The scenery was outstanding, the food was good and more than required. The Naadam Festival was an amazing experience. The colour in the opening ceremony with children, horsemen, warriors, archers, musicians, bands and people from each district marching in their costumes was so memorable. The following day we attended horse racing in the country side. To be part of this picnic of thousands of people spread over a huge area of grasslands; just to watch the finish of a 30k horserace, the riders under 10 years old, this race, plus serious wrestling and archery in the stadiums in Ulaanbaatar is the tradition of the Naadam Festival.
Bill and I want to thank Wendy Wu Tours for having these destinations made so easy for us to experience and to meet fellow travellers who also want an adventure holiday such as we have had. With the excellent agents in these countries we leave home knowing we will be well looked after."
Mr and Mrs W Howland, Queensland June 2011
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