Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Drive to the Amarbayasgalant Monastery, the most intact architectural complex in Mongolia. It was built between 1727 and 1736 by Manchurian King Enkh-Amgalan and is dedicated to Saint Zanabazar, Mongolia’s first Buddhist saint. Amarbayasgalant was one of the greatest Buddhist pilgrimage centers where between the 17th and 19th Centuries about one thousand lamas lived, chanted and studied. There were 27 large and small temples. The communists destroyed 10 of the 37 temples and some statues in the late 1930s. The monastery was extensively restored several times with the help of UNESCO. These days, about 50 monks live in the monastery, compared to over 2000 monks in 1930s. Amarbayasgalant has been protected since 1943 and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Murun

Drive to Murun where is center of Khuvsgul province. We will get permission from Border army for next days

Drive to Tsagaan Nuur. We will stay in a valley surrounded by mountains, the fields dotted with sheep, yak, horses, and local families that will invite you into their homes, engage in conversation with us, and allow us to take photos of them as they live as they did for generations.

After breakfast meet horse guides and start horse riding to Darkhadyn Khotgor depression towards the Baruun taiga forest, home of the Tsaatan, crossing many rivers flowing down the Khoridol Saridag Mountains

After breakfast ride horse to Mountain Pass and reach the Tsaatan Tribes. We will visit the Tsaatan - Reindeer Herders, Shaman. One of the 20 ethnic groups in Mongolia is the Darkhad people or Tsaatan know as Reindeer Herders. They live in tepees near Khuvsgul Lake and in the taiga forest of the remote northern area of Khuvsgul Province. They herd reindeer for their existence and use reindeer for many purposes: transport, meat, milk, skins for clothes, blood-horns for traditional medicine and other uses. People in Khuvsgul most commonly practice shamanism and some of the most powerful shaman live in this area.

Spend this day with local Tsaatan families and learn more their traditional nomadic lifestyle. There are over 300 tsaatan in total, living in the northern Mongolia taiga landscape. Tsaatan people practice shamanism.

This morning, we will leave the Tsaatan families and dense northern territory and back to Tsagaan Nuur Village

Drive to Lake Khusvgul. It is 136 kilometers long and 36 kilometers wide, 265 m deep and at 1.645 meters above sea level. It is the second-most voluminous freshwater lake in Asia, and holds almost 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water and 0.4% of all the fresh water in the world. Well known as the Blue pearl of Mongolia because of its crystal clear water, 99 springs and rivers flow into the lake and just one river flows out of the Khuvsgul which is Eg river. Also the lake surrounded by alpine mountains, which are covered with thick taiga.

Have rest, hiking to mountain, reach to top of mountain, have great view of nature.

Drive to Shine Ider. We will pass two high mountains

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park

Early morning drive to Khorgo Terkhiin tsagaan nuur National Park. On the way we will see Chuluut gorge. Extinct volcanic craters, pine-clad lava fields and the occasional herd of grazing yaks, the Great White Lake, as it’s known in English, is the natural highlight of Arkhangai province. There is an opportunity to hiking and fishing.

Tsenkher Hot Spring

After breakfast drive to Tsenkher hot spring. It is one of the biggest Mongolia’s hot springs, has a temperature of 86 degree with flow rate and high alkalinity and relatively high amounts of fluoride. The hot spring is mostly used for relaxing and resorting your health.

Kharkhorin

Drive to Kharakhorum, site of the 13th century capital of Mongol Empire, visit the impressive monastery, named “Erdene Zuu” by Mongolian and local museum where see the Great Mongol Empire, Stone Age, Bronze Age. The monastery was erected from the ruins of the legendary city of Kharakhorum. Visit small history museum

Elsen Tasarkhai

Drive to Elsen tasarkhai /Khugnu Khan Nature Reserve Area/ which is mountains, forests, steppes, Gobi Desert and mineral water sources all in one location represents three different natural zones. Around area is nice place to hiking, climbing. You will visit to older family to explore the nomadic lifestyle and to have talking with nomads about their life and tradition. We will ride a camel to sand dunes, horse to mountain. After dinner you have a chance to play Mongolian traditional game by ankle bones with nomads.

Hustai National Park

Day 16. Khustai National Park-Ulaanbaatar Today we will drive to Khustai National Park. Khustai was established in 2003. Unique wild horse – Takhi reintroduction project at Khustai National Park started in 1992.

Ulaanbaatar

Drive to Ulaanbaatar.