ZAVKHAN - 14 days 13 nights
Getting from one province to another involves days of driving over some of the roughest terrain on the planet, often across vast stretches of empty space. Sometimes, the only company you will have on the road is the herds of horses, yaks and sheep found grazing on the plains. Other times, its vultures seen circling above. While the landlocked country is mostly covered by steppes, you also get to see marvels such as lakes, canyons, sand dunes, and cliffs along the way.
Day 1. Baga Gazryn Chuluu
Around the mountain pass and the valley, one can see considerable number of ancient graves, monuments besides many gushing springs. There are many sights to explore such as a rocky ravine of poplar called Sudutyn Am, Jargalant Cave, spring of eyesight.
Day 2. White Stupa
Tsagaan suvarga /White Stupa/, 90 degrees of vertically risen hills, consists of many colors of clay deposits. This is 65 km south west of Ulziit sum, Dundgovi province. Tsagaan suvarga is a big escarpment with 200 m of height and 400 m long.
Day 3. Yolyn Am
It is an excellent spot to observe vultures, wild Argali sheep and golden eagles. It was first established to conserve the regional bird population but eventually became a popular site to visit for the deep ice field that forms in winter and remains well into summer (although it had melted by the time we got there in August).
Day 4. Khongoryn Els
This is one of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Rising as high as 200 m, the dunes are 7-8 km wide and about 180 km long. Climbing the dunes is breathtaking, not only for the view at the top, but the singing sound it makes when there is a wind, which you can experience during your climb.
Day 5. Bayanzag-Flaming Cliffs
It has a unique 5 km wide texture, approximately 8 km long. American paleontologist first found dinosaur bones and eggs in the area while he was on an expedition to trace the ancient people with his crew in 1922.
Day 6. Ongi Monastery
It is located in Saihan-Ovoo soum of Dundgovi province. One of the biggest monasteries in Mongolia, Ongi was founded in 1660 and it is consisted of two temple complexes on the North and South banks of the river Ongi.
Day 7. Kharkhorin - Ancient capital city of Mongolia
The historians know much about Kharkhorin city, a destination that situated on the Silk Road. In 1206, Chinggis Khaan established the Mongolian Great Empire and built the capital city of Kharkhorin.
Day 8. Tsenkher Hot Spring
This spring lies south of Tsetserleg town in Arkhangai province and the pressure comes out from far deep part of the ground and its water is not mixed with soil waters because it is hot. Also, the spring is kept in high pressure under the ground and the flow rate is high as 10 liters per second.
★Note★
Pack the essentials for the hot springs—swimsuit and beachwear.
Day 9. Terkh White Lake and Khorgo Volcano
Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is an astonishingly beautiful lake with a relatively pure fresh water. Torrents of lava flowed from the Khorgo volcano blocked the north and south Terkh Rivers, forming the lake of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake at an altitude of 2060 meters above the sea level. The lake is 16 km long, 4-10 meters wide, 20 m deep with and its deepest point is at 28 meters and over 20 kilometers in surface evaluation.
Day 10. Shine-ider
This large lake is the scenic highlight of Khuvsgul's far south. There is an excellent camping all around, or you can choose stay in the Ger to experience the nomadic day to day life.
Day 11, 12. Khuvsgul Lake
Over 46 streams pour into Khuvsgul Lake. There are 12 species of fish, 4 large islands, and the 70 percent of the lake is more than 100 m deep, and the clear water reaches 24 m. By the end of November, water freezes completely to form 1 m thick ice. Surrounded by 3000-3200 m high mountains, Khuvsgul Lake has a legend about the lifted "sea". There is a legend that says Khuvsgul was once an ocean.
Day 13. Uran Togoo - Volcanic Mountain
Uran is an extinct volcano in the western side of Uran-Togoo Natural Monument in Bulgan province, 80 km west of Bulgan town. Uran means "Artistic", Mongols gave this name because its ridge of the crater is one of many examples of circles that arise in nature, resembling a nice creation of a craftsman.
Day 14. Back to Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia. It's in the Tuul River valley, bordering the Bogd Khan Uul National Park.