SATURDAY, Day 1: ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR
Arrival at the new “Genghis” Khan Airport in Ulaanbaatar. Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team. Currency exchange. Transfer to the hotel (52 km/32.3 miles, +2-3 hours of driving, depending on traffic). Rooms will be available from 14:00 on the day of arrival. Please pay for early check-in if tourists wish to enter the rooms early or leave luggage at the hotel reception until 14:00. Rest at the hotel to adapt to local time. Today there are no activities and no meals provided. Accommodation in the selected hotel.
SUNDAY, Day 2: FLIGHT ULAANBAATAR/GOBI DESERT
Breakfast and Dinner Plan
Breakfast at the hotel. Rooms must be vacated before 12:00 on the day of departure. 15:00-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Transfer to the new “Genghis” Khan Airport (52 km/32.3 miles, +4.0 hours of travel, depending on traffic). Flight from Ulaanbaatar/Dalanzadgad (capital of the South Gobi province) at 19:40. Domestic flights may suffer cancellations or modifications without prior notice. Arrival at the local Dalanzadgad airport (capital of the South Gobi province) at 20:45. Transfer. Accommodation at a Gers Tourist Camp in the Gobi Desert.
MONDAY, Day 3: GOBI DESERT: YOLYN AM CANYON OR THE VULTURE GORGE
Full Board Plan
Breakfast. 09:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Departure to “Yolin” Canyon or the Vulture Valley (33 km/21 miles, 2:00 hours) in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. We will explore “Yolin” Canyon or Vulture Gorge on foot (round-trip hikes), navigating a small stream located in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park—established in 1993 with about 27,000 km², it is the largest in Mongolia. Yolyn Am (Mongolian: Ёлын Ам, Lammergeier Valley) is a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains of southern Mongolia. The valley is named after the Lammergeier, which is called Yol in Mongolian. The Lammergeier is an Old World vulture, so the name is often translated as Valley of the Vultures or Valley of the Eagles. The valley is located within Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Yolyn Am is located in the Zuun Saikhanii Nuruu (Eastern Beauty) subrange of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains. The area, as part of the Gobi Desert, sees little precipitation. However, Yolyn Am is notable for a deep ice field. The ice field reaches several meters thick by the end of winter and is several kilometers long. In previous years it remained all year round, but the modern ice field tends to disappear in September. There is a small museum displaying dinosaur eggs, some bones, stuffed birds, and leopards. Here you will have the chance to hike in the Gobi valley with impressive landscapes. Once in “Yolin” Canyon, we will walk through the valley, which narrows until it becomes a gorge at the bottom of which runs a torrent, frozen most of the year until early July, and which constitutes one of the most spectacular spots in the Gobi. If we are lucky, we can observe the lammergeier, other birds, and small rodents. In this place, you can rent horses with local guides to cross the canyon (*extra payment on-site, directly to the locals). Return for lunch (33 km/21 miles, 2:00 hours). Free time at your leisure. Accommodation at a Gers Tourist Camp in the Gobi Desert.
TUESDAY, Day 4: GOBI DESERT: GIANT KHONGOR SINGING SAND DUNES/NOMAD FAMILY/EXCURSION ON BACTRIAN CAMELS
Full Board Plan
Breakfast. 08:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Next, departure towards a tourist camp located near the giant sand dunes known as “Khongor” (180 km/112 miles, +3.0h). The sand dunes known as “Khongor” are giant sand dunes in Mongolia, also known as “singing dunes” due to the sound the wind produces as it passes through them. When the wind blows or the sand slides, they produce a vibrant and spectacular sound, like a song or a roar, although rain can compact the sand and silence it temporarily. They stretch for kilometers, reaching heights of up to 300 meters in some areas, creating an impressive desert landscape. The giant dunes of “Khongor” in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert are the most important sand dunes in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Their area is over 900 square kilometers/559.23 square miles. We will visit a nomadic family with Bactrian camel breeders. A one-hour excursion riding a Bactrian camel. We will walk through the dunes and can climb the highest peak, from where we can observe a wonderful sand dune landscape and enjoy the contrast of the Gobi desert. The climb is a challenge, but the panoramic views from the top at sunrise or sunset are unforgettable, full of peace and beauty. Accommodation at a Gers tourist camp, located near the giant sand dunes known as “Khongor”.
WEDNESDAY, Day 5: GOBI DESERT: BAYANZAG FLAMING CLIFFS
Full Board Plan
Breakfast. 09:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Next, departure for a long day journey to explore the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs (180 km/112 miles, +3.0h). Here Roy Chapman Andrews, an American paleontologist and staff member of the New York Museum of Natural History, first found dinosaur eggs measuring 4 to 6 inches in 1922. Bayanzag is known as the Flaming Cliffs for its incredible colors and shapes. Enjoy the sunset at the legendary “Flaming Cliffs,” which glow intensely at sunrise and sunset. Departure to the tourist camp (60 km/37.3 miles, +2.0 hours of travel). Accommodation at a Gers Tourist Camp.
THURSDAY, Day 6: GOBI DESERT: BEAUTIFUL MOLTSOG SAND DUNES/NOMAD FAMILY/
Full Board Plan
Breakfast. 09:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Next, departure towards the beautiful sand dunes known as “Moltsog” (70 km/43.5 miles, 2.00 hours). Explore, enjoy, and climb the sand dunes. We will visit a nomadic family that breeds camels. We will walk through the dunes and can climb the highest peak, from where we can observe a wonderful sand dune landscape and enjoy the contrast of the Gobi desert. Return for lunch (70 km/43.5 miles, 2.00 hours). Free afternoon at your leisure. Accommodation at a Gers Tourist Camp.
FRIDAY, Day 7: FLIGHT FROM THE GOBI DESERT/ULAANBAATAR/GENGHIS KHAN STATUE COMPLEX/GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and Lunch Plan
Breakfast box. 05:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle, transfer to the local Dalanzadgad airport (37km/23 miles, 2 hours of driving), capital of the South Gobi province. Included flight Dalanzadgad (Gobi Desert)/Ulaanbaatar at 08:35 AM. Domestic flights may suffer cancellations or modifications without prior notice. Arrival at the new “Genghis” Khan airport at 09:40 AM. Meeting with Samar Magic Tours at the new “Genghis” Khan airport. Direct departure for an excursion heading N/E to the Giant Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue (55 km / 34.2 miles, +2.0 hours of travel, depending on traffic at the exit), part of the Genghis Khan sculpture complex, it is a 40-meter tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback on the banks of the Tuul River. The statue symbolically points east, toward his birthplace. At the base of the sculpture complex is a visitor center, 10 meters high, with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. It was designed by sculptor D. Erdenebileg and architect J. Enkhjargal, and was inaugurated in 2008. Visitors can reach the horse’s head through its chest and neck, where they have a panoramic view. We will visit a museum integrated into the complex, showing exhibitions related to the Bronze Age and the Xiongnu archaeological cultures of Mongolia, highlighting utensils they used daily, belt buckles, knives, sacred animals, etc.; and a second exhibition on the Great Khan period of the 13th and 14th centuries exhibiting ancient tools, goldsmithing, and some Nestorian crosses and rosaries. In this place, you can rent horses and camels with local guides, and you can also take photos with golden eagles and Kazakhs (*extra payment on-site, directly to the locals). Next, departure towards Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (50 km / 31.1 miles, 1hr), located in the N/E at 1600 m above sea level, with high Mesozoic granite rocks, mountains, steppes, alpine forests, and large rock formations of curious Mesozoic shapes such as Turtle Rock, etc. It is located at the foot of the Khentii Mountains, the region where Genghis Khan was born. It was declared a National Park in 1993 and covers an area of 300,000 hectares. Traditional Mongolian Lunch included on the route. Next, departure to the Giant Turtle Rock. Stop to take photos, do some souvenir shopping, and hike to the Giant Rock shaped like a Turtle, the symbol of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Gentle hike to the Aryabal Meditation Temple, located on a hill. Transfer. Accommodation in a Luxury Resort with toilet and shower inside. Dinner not included, on your own.
SATURDAY, Day 8: GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK/ULAANBAATAR
Breakfast and Lunch Plan
Breakfast. Free time at your leisure. 10:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Next, return to Ulaanbaatar (70 km/44 miles, +2 hours of travel, depending on traffic at the entrance). Lunch included at a local restaurant. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected and confirmed hotel. Dinner not included, on your own.
SUNDAY, Day 9: ULAANBAATAR/AUTHENTIC MONGOL NOMADIC SHOW/ULAANBAATAR
Breakfast and Lunch Plan
07:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Next, departure heading West to attend an Authentic Mongol Nomadic Show (35 km/22 miles, +2.00 hours of travel, depending on traffic in Ulaanbaatar), from 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM. The Authentic Mongol Nomadic Show demonstrates the traditional way of life of Mongolian nomads, the breeding and use of five types of livestock while moving from one place to another using ox carts, yaks, camels, and horses. Traditional Mongolian Lunch included on-site. Return to Ulaanbaatar (35 km/22 miles, +2.00 hours of travel, depending on traffic in Ulaanbaatar). Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected hotel. Dinner not included, on your own.
MONDAY, Day 10: GRAND TOUR IN ULAANBAATAR/LAST SHOPPING
Breakfast and Lunch Plan
Breakfast. Free time at your leisure. 10:00 AM-Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team and the vehicle. Next, return to Ulaanbaatar (70 km/44 miles, +2 hours of travel, depending on traffic at the entrance). Next, we will visit the new “Genghis” Khan (“Chinggis” Khaan) Museum, which finally opened its doors on October 11, 2022. The museum is designed to show the history of the Mongolian kings from the reign of King Hunnu Modun Shanyu to the abdication of the Eighth Jebtsundamba. The Genghis (Chinggis) Khaan National Museum has been named one of the 20 must-visit museums by National Geographic. Lunch included at a local restaurant. Next, we will visit the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan, which was one of the imperial palaces of Bogd Khan (1869-1924), located in southern Ulaanbaatar, on the road to Zaisan. It is now a museum. The palace is the only one remaining of the four original residences of the eighth reincarnation of Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who was later proclaimed Bogd Khan of Mongolia. The complex includes six temples. On display are many of the Bogd Khan’s possessions, such as his throne and bed, his collection of art and stuffed animals, his ornate ceremonial Ger, and a pair of ceremonial boots given to the Khan by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Some shopping for pure Mongolian cashmere at a cashmere factory. Next, we will visit the Zaisan Memorial, a monument south of the capital Ulaanbaatar. Next, we will visit the Buddha statue located at the base of the Zaisan Memorial, 75 feet high (23 meters high). Last shopping for Mongolian souvenirs at the main department store (State Department Store). Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected hotel. Dinner not included, on your own.
TUESDAY, Day 11: DEPARTURE FROM MONGOLIA
Breakfast Plan
Breakfast. Rooms must be vacated before 12:00 on the day of departure. At the corresponding time, meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Transfer to the new “Genghis” Khan airport (52 km/32.3 miles, 5 hours of travel, depending on traffic). Departure from Mongolia or Extension to Lake Khuvsgul National Park (please inquire). END OF THE GREAT JOURNEY.
