Enjoy a stress free airport transfer and hotel check-in with us. Meet after lunch for your half day guided tour. Explore the city by bike, walking or car depending on your preference. In the evening we’ll have a welcome dinner together at our favourite Mongolian restaurant, where you can ask any questions to us in person.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: 3-4* Hotel

With your guide and driver, leave the city behind and have your first taste of the real Mongolia. Enter Khustai National Park to start your ranger led off-road safari to find the Przewalski's Horse. The world’s only remaining truly wild horses, these are thought to be the ancestors of the modern day horse. You are welcome to hike in the area, to explore the diverse environment the National Park has to offer. Spot the steppe eagle, marmot and perhaps even the elusive herds of red deer. In the late afternoon continue driving into the heartland steppe towards Bayangobi. Meaning rich desert, the area is true to its name, with rolling sand dunes bordering marshy freshwater lakes, rich in wildlife. Enjoy the sunset in this truly unique setting. Meet your hosts for the next couple of nights, a well respected herder family we have worked with for many years. Spend the night in a Mongolian Ger, a traditional dwelling made from a wooden structure and felt covering. Once inside you’ll be amazed at how cosy and homely it feels. This is a great place for stargazing.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Explore the 80km long sand dunes and beautiful surrounding area. Round up your host family’s camels and mount up for a camel ride across the sandy and rocky landscape. This afternoon you may like to visit the nearby lake, rich in wildlife, especially migratory birds for some bird spotting. You might see the demoiselle crane or Eurasian black vulture. In the late afternoon take a safari and hike in the juniper covered Batkhan Mountain nature reserve, for a chance to see the Lyre Grouse, the Amur Falcon or the Red Deer. Spend the evening with your host family. Learn how to make a favourite Mongolian food with your guide and hosts, steamed dumplings, and share stories of your lives together. This will give you a wonderful introduction to the lifestyle and ancient culture of nomadic people.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Have a relaxing morning, or help out the family with their chores, before driving towards the site of the ancient capital of Mongolia. Although the grand capital is gone to dust, a thriving provincial town and centre for Buddhism have taken pride of place. Visit the interesting Karakorum Museum to discover the history of the ancient capital and learn about the Mongol Empire. Absorb the peaceful atmosphere of Erdene Zuu, the first Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia. You can explore the monastery to learn about Mongolian Buddhism or hike to the Three Empires Monument for wide vistas of the beautiful UNESCO registered Orkhon valley. If you like, take a short horse ride along the lush green valley.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Today drive through the Orkhon Valley reserve and into the foothills of the Khangai Mountain range. Leave the well travelled road and branch into the wilderness, where herders and their livestock roam freely. Spend the afternoon hiking and exploring this forested mountain region to find the source of the springs. Tsenkher Spring’s naturally warm waters bubble up from the ground all year-round and are hot even in the depths of winter. Stay in a rustic resort tonight. Relax in the outdoor hot spring pools deep in the mountainous valleys, surrounded by pine trees. Chance for hiking in the pine forest in the evening.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Hike to the crater of the extinct Khorgo volcano keeping a watch on the volcanic landscape for caves and large hidden potholes. With your guide, find the famous “cave of the yellow dog” where ice clings to the rock all year round, except during the hottest summers. This area is very wild and remote. It’s possible to see wild boar, ibex and even the elusive “argali” wild sheep. Keep your binoculars to hand. Visit a yak herding family and sample dairy products from these gorgeous fluffy beasts. The smell is a bit ripe, but we can guarantee the cream made from yak milk is divine. See how yak wool can be treated, and made into felt, rope and many other ingenious products. Learn about nomadic life here, so far away from civilization. Discover the joys and challenges of this endangered way of life.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: Nice 'n' Simple Ger Camp

Large stretches of Mongolia are sparsely populated and truly wild. Travel through one such area today, passing through the mountainous region north of the Great White Lake. This is a long day of off-road driving, but today you will see some of the most spectacular views so far on your trip.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: Nice 'n' Simple Ger Camp

Travel to the Delger-Murun river in Khovsgol Province. Meet your horses and ride to the ancient deer stones. These unique Bronze Age granite monuments are engraved with fascinating artistic depictions of deer. They are believed to have been created using sophisticated techniques for the great warriors of the tribes. These are a very good example of deer stones, which can be found in various sites all over Mongolia, Continue by raft, floating on the peaceful river. There is much wildlife to be seen along the banks of the river. Your local river guide will point out the best spots for bird watching. Arrive at your ger camp for the night, a small family run establishment. Relax this evening with a beer in the quirky bar, or perhaps enjoy a campfire.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Enjoy an easy drive along scenic paved roads to the shores of Lake Khovsgol. Lake Khovsgol, the pearl of Mongolia, is world famous for its clear, deep waters, mountain walks and alpine-like tranquil vistas. Take a short speedboat ride to the wild and remote Eastern shore and meet your hosts for the next few nights. This family is so closely linked to their home that they act as rangers, protecting the eastern lake shore from poachers and unscrupulous development projects. Their eco ger camp reflects their love of the land, and is full of quirky finds and interesting books. You can watch the resident marmots on the neighbouring hill, and hares often nest under the raised lodge. Time to relax and explore. Hike and search for tracks in the forest; you might see deer or even wild boar! Time to unwind in the evening.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: Refined Rustic Homestay

Enjoy a gentle hike through the mountains and forest this morning with one of the family members. They will help you identify tracks and telltale signs of the peninsular’s wildlife. After which your horses will be ready. Horse-ride or hike through wildflower meadows and forest to a local sacred spot. This is one of the most scenic places to look out onto the pristine lake. Enjoy a picnic lunch with this beautiful view. In the afternoon fire up the sauna and prepare to take a refreshing dip in the freezing lake waters. Or you can hike and search for more wildlife in the forest; you might see deer or even wild boar! Perhaps you can borrow the camp’s telescope to watch the marmots that live on the cliff overlooking the camp. Move to the lake shore with drinks and nibbles and toast marshmallows over the campfire in the evening.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: Refined Rustic Homestay

Today, venture out with one of the family members to forage for the plentiful fruits, herbs and mushrooms that grow wild in Northern Mongolia (depending on the season). Collect wild onion, strawberries or mushrooms. Make a delicious lunch with your bounty. Spend the afternoon in peace, dozing in the sunshine or head out again to walk the forest and lake shore. An alternative active day can be arranged to hike or horse trek the Khoridal Saridag Mountain Range that borders the western lake shore. As this is your last night here, enjoy a campfire in the open air and try some star-gazing.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Standard Tour Price: Refined Rustic Homestay