The Mongolian steppe during the Naadam Festival

Sample journey with 11 nights on the ground.
2 nights in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar and 9 nights camping at the heart of the Mongolian steppe.

Suggested itinerary:

ULAANBAATAR
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar.
Welcome by our team at Chinggis Khaan International Airport.
Tour of the city of Ulaanbaatar.
Night at the hotel.

PRZEWALSKI’S WILD HORSE NATURE RESERVE
It is in this striking region of mountains, rivers, sands and steppe that Przewalski’s horses were reintroduced into Mongolia.
These prehistoric horses roam free here, offering a rare opportunity to approach them.
Horseback or walking excursion to track the wild horses.
Night under canvas.

BATKHAN NATURE RESERVE
Arrival at the Batkhan Nature Reserve, where mountains populated by deer contrast with sand dunes and lush green steppe.
You will be at the heart of grandiose landscapes, perhaps among the most beautiful in Mongolia.
With a bit of luck, you may spot deer undisturbed by the surrounding wilderness.
Night under canvas.

KARAKORUM – ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY
Following a beautiful river bordered alternately by sand dunes and green meadows, this leg crosses a striking landscape on the way to Bayan Gobi.
Stop and walk among the dunes to take in the surrounding scenery, with the imposing blue-tinged mountains of the Khangai massif in the distance.
Continuation toward Karakorum, the former capital of the Mongol Empire, located at the heart of the Orkhon Valley.
108 majestic white stupas surround Mongolia’s most important Buddhist site – Erdene Zuu Monastery (Monastery of the Jewel).
It was here, in the cradle of the Mongol Empire, that this first monastery in Mongolia was built in 1586. You can, for a moment, step into the world of Tibetan Buddhism, attend a religious ceremony, and meet pilgrims who have travelled from across the country.
Night under canvas.

ORKHON VALLEY AND ORKHON WATERFALL
The track continues into the heart of the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Arrival at Mongolia’s largest waterfall (30 metres high). Plunging into a deep canyon, it is believed to have been formed by the eruption of a now-extinct volcano.
After crossing a few fords to visit a 4th-century human-head stele (Turkic period), arrival at an idyllic setting where the green carpet of the valley meets the gentle curves of the deep-blue river.
Camp set up on the riverbank, with views over this spectacular landscape so typical of Mongolia.

BROWN STEPPE RIVER
The itinerary heads into the heart of the Northern Khangai massif, the country’s richest region, where large forested mountains border lush valleys.
Cool rivers wind through the landscape, to the delight of horse herds that wade in to bathe.
Following the winding river of the brown steppe, we reach camp, a place of striking beauty.
Night under canvas.

TAMIR RIVER
After a stop in Tsetserleg, capital of the Northern Khangai region and one of the most beautiful towns of the steppe, the itinerary continues northward.
Arrival at the legendary Tamir River.
Night under canvas.

BULGAN VALLEY
From valley to valley, you reach the Bulgan region, amid wild and unspoiled landscapes.
Night under canvas.

NAADAM FESTIVAL AND A HERDING FAMILY (DEPENDING ON YOUR TRAVEL DATES)
You will attend the Naadam Festival, Mongolia’s most important national celebration, during which men compete in the three manly games (an ancestral tradition inherited from the time of Genghis Khan): Mongolian wrestling, archery, and horse races ridden by jockeys aged between 5 and 11.
Festive atmosphere and encounters with Mongolians mounted on their horses, dressed in their finest traditional costumes.
Camp set up near a herding family, an opportunity to witness mare milking and other activities, such as rodeo, that mark the rhythm of nomadic life.

AROUND SAIKHAN
Following the Orkhon River and taking in striking panoramas, you travel through wild steppe. Night under canvas.

ERDENET – AMARBAYASGALANT MONASTERY: THE MONASTERY OF TRANQUIL FELICITY
Passage through Erdenet, Mongolia’s third-largest city. With its distinctly Soviet feel, tall buildings and wide avenue, the city contrasts sharply with the wild steppe surrounding it.
Then arrival at Amarbayasgalant, the Monastery of Tranquil Felicity, built in honour of Zanabazar, the first living Buddha, or spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia.
With its grandiose architecture and excellent state of preservation, this monastery is one of the few religious buildings to have escaped the Soviet purges of the 1930s.
Built on a mountainside at the far end of a long valley, Amarbayasgalant stands majestically over the steppe, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Possibility of attending a rehearsal of the annual Tsam dance held at the monastery (depending on your travel dates).
Night under canvas facing this legendary monastery.

AROUND JARGALANT
Arrival in the central Tuv region. Wild steppe and encounters with nomadic families.

RETURN TO ULAANBAATAR
Free time, shopping.
Traditional Mongolian song and dance performance.
Dinner with the Mongolian team, then night at the hotel before your return flight to Europe.