B–BREAKFAST, L–LUNCH, D–DINNER
JULY 2, Day 1: Arrival at Ulaanbaatar’s New “Genghis” Khan Airport. Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and transfer to the hotel (52 km / 32.3 miles, about +2-3 hours’ drive, depending on traffic). Rooms will be available from 2:00 PM. Early check-in must be paid if tourists wish to enter their rooms early or leave luggage at the hotel reception until 2:00 PM. Transfer to the hotel. No activities or meals included today. Rest at the hotel to adjust to the local time. Accommodation at the selected hotel.
JULY 3, Day 2: Breakfast. 9:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Purchase mineral water and other items at the State Department Store (Main Store). Departure westward toward the legendary Karakorum (approx. 395 km / 245.44 miles, about 7 hours’ drive), located in Central Mongolia. 1:00 PM – Lunch included in route in LUN. Arrival and transfer. Free time after a long journey. Accommodation at a Tourist Gers Camp in Karakorum. (B+L+D)
JULY 4, Day 3: Breakfast. 9:00 AM – Meet with the Samar Magic Tours team. Visit the Monument to the Mongolian States located on a hill overlooking the city of Karakorum (Kharkhorin), on the banks of the Orkhon River. Then visit Erdene Zuu Monastery (Hundred Treasures), the Turtle Monument, and the Karakorum Museum to see relics from the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. The Buddhist Monastery Erdene Zuu, with its 108 stupas and the first Buddhist Lamasery (16th century), was the most important religious center. Only three of its more than a hundred temples have survived to this day, remaining Mongolia’s most prominent cultural heritage site. 1:00 PM – Mongolian lunch in front of Erdene Zuu Monastery. Continue by paved road (46.4 km / 29 miles, financed by the Turkish Government) to the Khushuu Tsaidam Memorial Museum in the Orkhon River Valley, erected in honor of early 8th-century Turkic princes Bilge Khan and Kul Tigin, whose Orkhon inscriptions are considered the most impressive monuments of the Göktürk nomads. Continue on a dirt road to Ugii Lake (33 km / 21 miles, about 1 hour) – a suitable area for migratory birds arriving from late April, May, and throughout the summer, over a 25 km / 16-mile-long valley where herds of yaks, sheep, horses, and cattle graze. Visit a small local flora and fauna museum. Birdwatching opportunities available. Return to Karakorum (80 km / 50 miles, about 2 hours). Accommodation at Tourist Gers Camp in Karakorum. (B+L+D)
JULY 5, Day 4: Breakfast. 9:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team. Departure to the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes (known as Bayangobi Desert, approx. 115 km / 72 miles, about 2 hours’ drive). These desert sand dunes stretch over 80 km / 50 miles in a beautiful valley. Opportunity for hiking, walking on the dunes, and landscape photography. Included excursion to ride Bactrian camels across the dunes. Return to Ulaanbaatar (approx. 280 km / 174 miles, about 5 hours, depending on traffic). 1:00 PM – Lunch included in the LUN. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the selected and confirmed hotel. Dinner not included. (B+L)
JULY 6, Day 5: Breakfast. 9:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Join the Naadam Festival Group. Grand City Tour of Ulaanbaatar. 1:00 PM – Welcome Lunch in a traditional local restaurant. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 7, Day 6: 7:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Depart west to attend an Authentic Mongolian Nomadic Show (35 km / 22 miles, about 2 hours’ drive, depending on Ulaanbaatar traffic), from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Authentic Mongolian Nomadic Show demonstrates the traditional lifestyle of Mongolia’s nomads, breeding and using five types of livestock while moving from place to place using ox carts, yaks, camels, and horses. Mongolian lunch included at the camp. Return to Ulaanbaatar (35 km / 22 miles, about 2 hours’ drive, depending on traffic). Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 8, Day 7: 9:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Ulaanbaatar – Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue – Ulaanbaatar. Lunch included in a local restaurant. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 9, Day 8: 9:00–10:00 AM – Attend the Traditional Costume Parade (DEEL MONGOL) in Sukhbaatar Central Square (a pre-Naadam Festival activity). The “Deel Mongol” Parade, known as “Deeltei Mongol,” is an annual event in Ulaanbaatar celebrating traditional Mongolian attire. Held in Sukhbaatar Square, it is an important part of the Naadam Festival. The event promotes Mongolian cultural heritage, encourages younger generations to wear the deel, and attracts tourists. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 10, Day 9: 7:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Depart west (35 km / 22 miles, about 2–4 hours’ drive, depending on traffic). Ulaanbaatar – Naadam Festival Horse Races – Ulaanbaatar (35 km / 22 miles, about 2–4 hours’ drive, depending on traffic). Picnic-style lunch included on site. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 11, Day 10: 8:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. Departure to the Central Stadium. 11:00 AM – Opening of the Grand Naadam Festival. Competitions begin. 1:00 PM – Lunch included at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 12, Day 11: 9:00 AM – Meet the Samar Magic Tours team in the hotel lobby. City Tour. 1:00 PM – Lunch included at a local restaurant. Departure to the Central Stadium. Naadam Festival competitions continue. Closing Ceremony of the Grand Naadam Festival. Last shopping opportunities. Accommodation at the selected hotel. (B+L)
JULY 13, Day 12: Rooms must be vacated before 12:00 PM on the day of departure. Meet with Samar Magic Tours in the hotel lobby. Transfer to Ulaanbaatar’s New “Genghis Khan” Airport (52 km / 32.3 miles, about +4-5 hours’ drive, depending on traffic). Departure from Mongolia. END OF THE GRAND TOUR. (B)
