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TRAVEL TO MONGOLIA-TIBET
FROM THE STEPPES TO THE ROOF OF THE WORLD
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Gateway: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Minimum group: 2
adults or more persons.
Departure: daily (May-Oct.-2008/May-Oct.
2009)
Tour code:
SMT-TM13D
Tour duration: 13 days-for 2
pax-from 1989.00 Euro or $ 3063.00
-for 3-9 pax-from 1866.00 € Euro or $ 2873.00...Book
Now!
An incredible tour in just thirteen (13) days. This is the
most interesting tour. Tibet  is
a land with heart-shaking power for its sky, mountains,
rivers, and people. The sky of Tibet is cloudless and bright
with fascinating azure. Looking up at the sky, I cannot
help humming a popular song, "The sky of the liberated area
is so bright that it is loved by the local people...". The
people of Tibet are ingenuous and extrovert in personality
which is reflected in the way they handle wealth; converting
it into gold, silver, jewelry or agate adornments to wear
on the head, on the chest, or around the waist but in most
cases to inlay in the statues of the Buddha and Maitreya
or in the stupas in honor of the deceased Dalai Lamas.
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This
13 day-tour takes you to all the highlights
of Mongolia and Tibet.
Discover Mongolia, explore the Mongolian steppe, and the
culture of the Mongolian Nomads. Discover the power places
of Tibet. After flying to Lhasa, we will visits Potala and
Norbulinkha palaces, the great monasteries of Jokhang and
Sera. Our journeys in Mongolia and in Tibet always possesses
cultural and expedition character. This hard journey requires
flexibility, tolerance and spirit of adventure of every
journey participant due to the high altitude. Anyhow the
tourism infrastructure has somewhat developed. Mongolia's
and Tibet's arts, cultures, history, and peoples, and often
otherworldly sceneries.
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Mongolia is a land
of the cobolt blues skies, contrats and  enigmas...dominated
by rolling grasslands, desert, high mountains and abundant
wildlife is waiting to be explored by tourists. First of
all, the immediate surrounding of your deserves your attention
in Mongolia: the boundless steppes, gobi desert,. mountains,
vast valleys, lakes, rivers, the nomadic's lifestyle, horses,
camels, yaks, sheep, goats, and gazelle.
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While most Mongols lived a little
changing nomadic lifestyle, the reconversion of Mongolia to
Tibetan Buddhism in the sixteenth century resulted in a new
kind of centralized political structure in Mongolia, and evolving
political relationships with Tibet. Beginning in the seventeenth
century, Mongolia was officially ruled by a lineage of incarnate
Buddhist lamas, the Bogdo Gegens. These high-ranking Buddhist
monks ruled from Urga, the historic capital of Mongolia, modern
Ulan Bator. Like the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, the Bogdo Gegen
were simultaneously the religious and political heads of state.
The first Bogdo Gegen, Zanabazar (1635-1723), was a direct
descendent of Chinggis (Genghis) Khaan and Khublai Khaan.
Perhaps unique among world cultures, Zanabazar, a celebrated
monk and statesman, was also Mongolia's greatest artist.
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Day 1
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Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
Arrive in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia from L.A. or from your country
destination from Seoul, South Korea with Korean Airlines or
from Beijing with Air China or Mongolian Airlines or from
Moscow with Aerofltot or Mongolian Airlines or from Berlin,
Germany with Mongolian airlines. Check-in at hotel 4* or 5*.
Free time at hotel. 18:00-Attend a performance featuring
traditional Mongolian dancers and throat (hoomi) singers.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight
at 4*or 5* hotel.(D)
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Day 2
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Ulaanbaatar city tour
Full
day visit Ulaan Baatar . In the morning, visit Gandantegchinlen
Khiid, largest and most important monastery in Mongolia.
We'll observe the daily Buddhist ceremony and also we'll visit
the magnificent statue of Migjiid Janraising (the lord who
looks in every direction), it is an impressive 25 meter of
gold and bronze. Then drive through downtown Ulaan Baatar
to visits the Sukh-Bataar Central Square, the Genghis
Khan's main monument and the National History
Museum, where you will see artefacts from Mongolia
from the Stone Age to the present, and displays of the development
of Mongolian arts and culture. After, visit the Winter
Palace of Bogd Khaan, home of Mongolia's last king.
Lunch in local restaurant. We will also visits the Museum
of Natural History to see two complete dinosaur skeletons
that were found in the Gobi Desert . Shop for souvenirs.
Overnight at 4*, or at 5* hotel.(B)(L)
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Day
3
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Bodg
Khaan N.P.-Manzshir temple-Sacred Nomad's Tuul river Valley
Breakfast. Drive to visit to Manzshir Temple ruins
/60km/ in Bogd Khan strictly protected area.
On the way picnic lunch in open air. Explore ruins
of temple, which was damaged badly in 1930-s. Visit
to local natural museum, big Buddha paintings
and carvings on rocks in green hills. Trekking in
lovely wildflower carpeted hills. After, drive
to "Chinggis" Tourist Ger Camp in
the Sacred Tuul river Nomad's Valley. In route,
we will to stop, observe and to take some amazing photos
to the 40 meter (~133,3 feet) Statue of "Genghis
or Chinggis" Khaan on a big horse on Tsonjin Boldog
Hill is located just ~3kms (~1,5miles) to "Chinggis" Tourist
Traditional Ger Camp. Visit to local horse breeder's
family-Ger, explore nomadic lifestyle and family's
daily activities, try diary products made by hands in the
traditional method, try national drink-fermented mare's
milk. 2 hours of Horseback riding in the smooth
hills in the "Sacred Tuul river Nomad's Valley".
This is a beautiful valley of streams. There are national
gers in beautiful natural locations, so it's easy to meet
with locals and see their daily lives, interact with them,
explore, take water adventures, go trekking, swimming in
the Tuul river. Welcome dinner with traditional
Mongolian meal (khorkhog), which is mutton cooked
with hot rock and with vegetables, water, potatoes, and
onion. Overnight in "Chinggis" Tourist Camp. "Chinggis"
Tourist Traditional Camp is Highly recommended by "Lonely
Planet Mongolia-2005", by the author Michael Kohn on pages
70 and 101. Full board. (B)(L)(D)
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Day
4
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Terelj National Park-Arryabal Temple-Mongolian Archery
Breakfast. Drive to Terelj National Park
/50 km/. The valley is about 20km long at 1600m. This park
comprises splendid mountain ranges, pristine water river and
caves and wonderful green meadow with edelweiss. Explore
ovoo-pile of stones for nature worshipping, cave, small mining
research hole, and the Turtle shaped original giant rock.
Hiking to the "Arryabal" Buddhist monastery on the top of
the mountain. Picnic lunch in open air. After, drive
back to "Chinggis" Tourist Camp for dinner and overnight.
Free time to practice Mongolian Archery.
Full board. (B)(L)(D)
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Day 5
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Karakorum
This
morning we will continuous drive through the grassland toward
"Karakorum" /435km, +8 hours driving/ was
founded in 1220 at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It
was the capital of the Mongol Empire until
Kublai Khan moved it to Beijing. Visitors, such as
Marco Polo, described its ornate building, including a 2500
sq. meters Palace of Worldly Peace. After the collapse of
the Mongol Empire it was abandoned and vandalized by Manchurian
invading hordes. Most of the remains were used to re-build
the first Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia--Erdene Zuu, built-in
1586. 400 meter long with 108 Stupas still surrounds Erdene
Zuu Monastery which was built in 1586. It was restored in
1760. In 1792 the Monastery still had 62 temples and 10,000
lamas. But in 1930 it became a victim of the Stalin's purges.
All but three of the Temples were destroyed and most of the
monks were either killed or sent to Siberia. Today the restoration
of the Monastery is the government's top priority. Erdene
Zuu retains much of its ancient glory and is well worth visiting.
We will visit Erdene Zuu. The monastery grounds and several
chapels depicts excellent examples of Buddhist iconography
dating from the sixteenth century. Overnight in a comfortable
Gers tourist camp. Full board. (B)(L)(D)
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Day 6
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Erdene zuu monastery-Bayangobi desert
This
morning , we visits "Erdene Zuu", the Tortoise rock
and the men's rock. The monastery grounds and several
chapels depicts excellent examples of Buddhist iconography
dating from the sixteenth century. In the afternoon, we
will drive to Bayangobi desert .
Visit the site of the "singing sand". Here is where the
impassable Gobi begins. Overnight in a comfortable
Gers tourist camp. Full board. (B)(L)(D).
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Day 7
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Ulaanbaatar
Breakfast. Return drive to Ulaan Baatar /270km
+ 4 hours driving /. Transfer to hotel. City tour of Ulaanbataar,
highlights include the "Zanabazar" Fine Art museum
and the "Choijim" Lama monastery-museum. Lunch
in local restaurant. Time for some shopping. Overnight
at 4* or 5* hotel . Half board. (B)(L)
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Day 8
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Beijing
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer you to the airport to take your
flight to Beijing by Mongolian Airlines (OM) or by
Air China (CA). Transfer to the hotel. Free time.
Overnight at Presidential Plaza Hotel, 5* or Grand
Mercure Hotel , 5*. (B)
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Day 9
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Chengdu
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer you to the airport to take your
flight to Chengdu. meet and transfer to the
hotel. Overnight at Jinjiang Hotel, 5*.(B)
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Day 10
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Tibet: Lhasa.
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport and flight
by CA4447 09:20/11:10 to Tibet.
Welcome to Lhasa, capital del Tibet
! Upon arrival you will be met and assisted with your hotel
transfer, the remainder of the day is free to relax after
your flight. Overnight at Brahmaputra Grand Hotel,
5* (B).
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Day 11
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Tibet: Lhasa
Breakfast at
the hotel. Full day sightseeing of Lhasa:
In the morning, the highlight today is the Magnificent
Potala-the winter palace of the Dalai Lama; the
place where the former great Dalai Lama's stupas are being
kept; once the seat of the Tibetan government. With a history
of over 1,300 years, the Potala Palace is the treasure of
Tibetan religion and culture, storing plenty of figures
of the Buddha, murals, sutras etc. Lunch in local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit one of the three largest
monasteries of Gelugpa, the Sera Monastery-the Dalai
Lama's summer palace. Overnight at Brahmaputra
Grand Hotel, 5*. Half board. (B)(L).
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Day 12
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Tibet: Lhasa
In the morning,
you will visit the spiritual center of Tibet, the Jokhang
Temple, where you might meet many pilgrims, who
even prostrate by full length to the threshold of the temple.
You will visit the sacred pilgrim path, the oldest
street in Lhasa, the Barkhor Street, which is the
place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts
assemble. Lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon, we
will visit Norbulinka Palace-the Summer
residence of Dali Lama. Overnight at Brahmaputra
Grand Hotel, 5*. (B)(L)
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Day 13
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Departure or Post tour
Breakfast (B) at the hotel, transfer
to the airport and check in your flight out. Post
tour to Katmandhu, Nepal or back to Beijing
or to Shanghai (* the
flight out rates on request).
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WHAT
IS
INCLUDED
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Specified
deluxe 4* stars and 5* stars hotels in Twin room with daily
breakfast in Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, Chengdu,
and Lhasa.
Expert English Guide during all trip,
Meals as listed: (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner) with one
glass of free drink.
Specified nights of accommodation in comfortable Ger tourist
camps in the couthryside of Mongolia (double occupancy) with
shower, toilets, and restaurant separate.
All private transfers as listed.
Entrance fees as listed.
The cost of the airfares Beijing-Chegdu-Lhasa,
in tourist class+tax.
The cost of the international airfares from Beijing-Ulaan
Baatar.
Tibet travel permit.
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| Group |
Tour Costs
per person in Twin room-2008 |
| 2 pax |
1989.00
€ Euro or $ 3063.00-(please, check the USD exchange
rate by XE.com ) |
| 3-9 pax |
1866.00
€ Euro or $ 2873.00-(please, check the USD exchange
rate by XE.com ) |
| +10 pax |
1876.00
€ Euro or $ 2813.00-(please, check the USD exchange
rate by XE.com ) |
| Individual Supplement |
526.00
€ Euro or $ 809.00-(please, check the USD exchange
rate by XE.com ) |
...Book
Now!
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WHAT'S
NOT INCLUDED
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Not specified International flight tickets.
Personal cost.
Tips to the guides and the drivers.
Visas (Chinese-two entries).
Airport taxes.
Medical insurance.
Transfers to and from airports for participant making own
arrangements; optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled
tour; personal expenses such as excess or overweight baggage
charges, laundry, telephone/cable/fax/email charges, liquor
or soft drinks, room service; gratuities for personal services;
top
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WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO
? :
Tibet and Mongolia are vasts! Generally,
it is recommended to pay your visit from May to July, and
September to October (Tibet). Lhasa, Tibet is suitable for
tourism year round. The harsh coldness makes it unadvisable
to visit the Tibet's areas from October to next April. During
the winter, roads might be blocked by heavy snow in east
Tibet while in August huge rainfall makes travel in those
areas very difficult.
Departures in AUG-08 correspond with the
Beijing Olympics-will be extra payment in Beijing.
DO YOU KNOW WHETHER
WE CAN FLY FREELY TO LHASA WITHOUT TIBET PERMIT ?:
The Tibet Permit must be
obtained beforehand so that you can be allowed to enter
Lhasa. We will handle it for your group in time. Tibet Permit
can be issued eight or twelve weeks prior to your entry
Lhasa....Book Now!
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