Heart of Mongolia

Make your way to Ulaanbaatar airport or railway station (enquire to arrive on the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Beijing). Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Early check-in is not included. Time permitting, enjoy a light walking tour of the Central Square and National Museum to learn about Mongolia's history and culture.

After breakfast, visit Gandan Monastery, Mongolia’s largest Buddhist centre. Then travel to Terelj National Park, stopping en route to admire the 46-metre-tall Genghis Khan Statue, one of the country’s most striking modern monuments. Continue to your Ger camp for dinner and a peaceful night in your cosy, heated Ger with private ensuite. Make use of the shared sauna and spa facilities.

Explore Turtle Rock and the Temple of Meditation in Terelj before driving to Khustai National Park, home to the rare and resilient Przewalski horse (Takhi) and the regal red deer. Learn about conservation efforts and enjoy a walk into the hills for panoramic views to spot the incredible wildlife. Dinner and overnight at a Ger camp with private ensuite.

Journey west towards Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. En route, stop at the Bayan Gobi sand dunes, a striking pocket of desert framed by mountains and steppe. Later, explore the Karakorum Museum, home to fascinating artefacts from the city’s imperial past and the Orkhon Valley UNESCO site, before continuing to Turtle Stone Hill, where ancient stone carvings mark the site of the former capital. Overnight in Karakorum for the next two-nights at a Ger camp with private ensuite.

Begin your morning at Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia’s oldest Buddhist monastery, where you may witness the monks’ serene morning chanting rituals. Afterwards, visit a local nomadic family, learning about daily herder life and get hands-on as you help prepare a traditional Mongolian meal to enjoy for lunch. Enjoy some time to relax back at your camp before dinner.

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping at the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, the former residence of Mongolia’s last theocratic ruler, filled with lavish artefacts and religious treasures. Continue to Zaisan Memorial Hill for panoramic views across the city. This evening, celebrate your journey with an atmospheric Mongolian folklore concert, followed by a farewell dinner. Overnight in a hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Late checkout is not included.