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Mongolia during Naadam Festival

July 10-25, 2020

July10Day1ArrivalUlaanbaatar

ArriveinUlaanbaatar,thecapitalcityofMongolia.Yourguidewillmeetyouattheairportandtransfertohotel.Remainderofthedayisindependenttorest.

July11Day2UlaanbaatarFullDayTour:NaadamFestival+Sites(B,L)

UlaanbaataristhecapitalofMongolia.It’sintheTuulRivervalley,borderingtheBogdKhanUulNationalPark.OriginallyanomadicBuddhistcenter,itbecameapermanentsiteinthe18thcentury.Sovietcontrolinthe20thcenturyledtoareligiouspurge.Soviet-erabuildings,museumswithinsurvivingmonasteries,andavibrantconjunctionoftraditionaland21st-centurylifestylestypifythemoderncity.Depart at 8:30 am to visitGanden Monastery in the western part of the city. We want to arrive just before 9am when the monks’ ceremony generallystarts.Mostchapelsareclosedintheafternoon. Aroundthestartofthe19thcenturymorethan100süm(temples)andkhiid(monasteries)servedapopulationofabout50,000inUrga(theformernameofUlaanbaatar).Onlyahandfulofthesebuildingssurvivedthereligiouspurgesof1937.Itwasn’tuntiltheearly1990sthatthepeopleof

MongoliastartedtoopenlypracticeBuddhismagain.ThismonasteryisoneofMongolia’smostimportant,andalsooneofitsbiggesttouristattractions.Thefullname,Gandantegchinlen,translatesroughlyas‘thegreatplaceofcompletejoy.’ Buildingwasstartedin1838bythefourthBogdGegeen,butaswithmostmonasteriesinMongolia,thepurgesof1937fellheavilyonGandan.WhentheUSVicePresidentHenryWallaceaskedtoseeamonasteryduringhisvisittoMongoliain1944,PrimeMinisterChoibalsanguiltilyscrambledtoopenthisonetocoverupthefactthathehadrecentlylaidwastetoMongolia’sreligiousheritage.Gandanremaineda‘showmonastery’forotherforeignvisitorsuntil1990whenfullreligiousceremoniesrecommenced.Todaymorethan600monksbelongtothemonastery.Asyouenterthemainentrancefromthesouth,apathleadstowardstherighttoacourtyardcontainingtwotemples.ThenortheastbuildingisOchidaraTemple(sometimescalledGandanSüm),wherethemostsignificantceremoniesareheld.Asyoufollowthekora(pilgrim)pathclockwisearoundthisbuilding,youseealargestatuebehindglassofTsongkhapa,thefounderoftheGelugpasect.Thetwo-storeyDidan-LavranTempleinthecourtyardwashometothe13thDalaiLamaduringhisstayherein1904(whenhefledLhasaaheadofaBritishinvasionofTibet).AttheendofthemainpathasyouenteristhemagnificentwhiteMigjidJanraisigSüm,themonastery’smainattraction.LiningthewallsofthetemplearehundredsofimagesofAyush,theBuddhaofLongevity,whichstarethroughthegloomtothemagnificentMigjidJanraisigstatue.TheoriginalstatuewascommissionedbytheeighthBogdKhanin1911,inhopesthatitmightrestorehiseyesight–syphilishadblindedhim;however,itwascartedawaybyRussiain1937(itwasallegedlymelteddowntomakebullets).Thenewstatuewasdedicatedin1996andbuiltwithdonationsfromJapanandNepal.Itis26mhighandmadeofcopperwithagiltgoldcovering.Thehollowstatuecontains27tonnesofmedicinalherbs,334Sutras,twomillionbundlesofmantras,plusanentiregerwithfurniture!TotheeastofthetemplearefourcollegesofBuddhistphilosophy,includingtheyellowbuildingdedicatedtoKalachakra,awrathfulBuddhistdeity.TothewestofthetempleistheÖndörGegeenZanabazarBuddhistUniversity,whichwasestablishedin1970.Itisusuallyclosedtoforeigners.Youwilltourthetemplesandobservethemonkschantingduringtheircaptivatingceremony.YoucantakephotosaroundthemonasteryandinMigjidJanraisigSüm,butnotinsidetheothertemples.NextwegotoSukhbaatarSquare:InJuly1921inthecentreofUlaanbaatar,DamdinSükhbaatar(the‘herooftherevolution’)declaredMongolia’sfinalindependencefromChina.Asquarelaterbuiltonthespotnowbearshisnameandfeaturesatitscentreabronzestatueoftherevolutionaryastridehishorse.In2013thecityauthoritieschangedthenameoftheplazatoChinggisKhaanSq,butin2016Sükhbaatar'sdescendantswonacourtbattletorestoretheoriginalname.Wehopetoseethesoldiersonhorsebackgatheringtostarttheprocessiontothestadium.

Attend Naadam FestivalMongoliannationaldayiscelebratedthroughout the country. Naadamfestival is opened officially by thePresident of Mongolia. Soldiers onhorseback, sometimes dressed inChinggis Khan warriors regalia, willget theninewhitehorsetailbannersat the Parliament housewhere theyarenormallydisplayedandwillthenride in procession through the city,latertobeplacedinthecenteroftheNationalStadium,fromwherewewillbeviewingtheOpeningCeremony.

Atthestadium,ahugeprocessionisheldincludinghundredsofadultsandchildrendressedincostumesrepresentingMongolia’snumerousethnicgroups.Theopeningceremonyfeaturesacolorfulshowwithfolkmusicanddance,parachuteshowandmore.The first round of wrestling will start immediately thereafter. Usually 512 wrestlers from all acrossMongoliawillcompeteinthefirstround!Butsometimesmorethan1000!Afterthatyouwillseethearcherycompetitionswherecontestantscanonlyrelyonhiskeeneye,firmhandandexperience,takeaimatatargetoffist-sizedbaskets;andankleboneshootingcompetition.Inthelateafternoon,visittheBogdKhaanWinterPalaceMuseum.Builtbetween1893and1903,thispalaceiswhereMongolia’seighthLivingBuddha,andlastking,JebtzunDambaHutagtVIII(oftencalledtheBogdKhan),livedfor20years.Forreasonsthatareunclear,thepalacewasspareddestructionbytheRussiansandturnedintoamuseum.Thesummerpalace,onthebanksofTuulGol,wascompletelydestroyed.Therearesixtemplesinthegrounds;eachnowcontainsBuddhistartworks,includingsculpturesandthangkas.Justbeforesunset,wedriveatopZaisanMemorialHill,erectedonthe50thanniversaryoftheCommunistRevolution,foragreatview.BuiltbytheRussianstocommemorate'unknownsoldiersandheroes'fromvariouswars,theZaisanMemorialfeaturesstirringsocialistrealismimagerywithSovietmosaicsandreliefs,includingthatofStalinandLenin.Accessedviasteepstairs,themonumentsitsatopthehillsouthofthecitywithwonderfulviewsofUlaanbaatarandthesurroundinghills–althoughthesehavebeenblightedbyrecenthigh-risecommercialdevelopment.Returntoyourhotel.Therearesomanywonderfulrestaurantoptionswithineasywalkfromthehotel,weleavemealsopenforyoutodecideandpaydirect.July12Day3UlaanbaatarExcursion:HorseRacing(B,L)ThismorningwewilltraveltoKhuuDoloonKhudag,thehorseracingfield.Mongolhorseracingispartofalivingculturalheritage,similartotheequestriantraditionthatbroughttheMongolarmiestofarawayplacesduringmedievaltimes.

Therearesevencategoriesofracesdependingontheageofahorse.Twoorthreehundredridersages5-12competeineveryagecategoryinadistanceof15to35km.Thehorseraceisactuallyabitfarfromthebarrierssetupforvisitors,sobringbinoculars!However,thefunofattendingisreallyseeingthelocals.WecanvisitnomadictentedcampsthathavesprungupbehindtheracetrackandexperienceaconcentrationofnomadicMongoliaatonesite!

Herdsmenhavecomewiththeirhorsesandallprovisionswhichincludeairag(koumiss;fermentedmaresmilk)forthecelebrations.Returntothecityforlunch.AfterlunchvisittheMongolCostumesCentrewhichdesignsandmanufacturesmanyofthefabulousdels(traditionalcoats)thatarewornduringtheNaadamopeningceremonyandatotherstateevents.YoucanseethedifferentvarietiesofdelandevendressupintraditionalMongoliangearforaprofessionalphotoshoot(T10,000).ThehighlightofthecentreisasmallmuseumthatfeaturestraditionalMongoliangarments,aswellasethnographicartefacts,oldchesssets,jewelryandreplica13th-centurybattlegear.ThiseveningenjoyatraditionalculturalperformanceoftheTumenEkhSong&DanceEnsembleattheStateYouth&Children’sTheatrefeaturingtraditionalsingers,dancersandcontortionists.It’sagreatchancetohearkhöömii(throatsinging)andseesomefabulouscostumes.Showslastjustoveranhour.July13Day4UlaanbaatarFullDayTour(B,L)MongolianNationalModernArtGallery,sometimescalledtheFineArtGallery,containsalargeandimpressivedisplayofmodernanduniquelyMongolianpaintingsandsculptures,withnomadiclife,peopleandlandscapesalldepictedinstylesrangingfromimpressionistictonationalistic.TheSovietromanticpaintingsdepictedinthangkastyleareespeciallyinteresting,butthemostfamousworkisOchirTsevegjav’s1958TheFightoftheStallions(akaHorseFighting).TheentranceisinthecourtyardoftheCulturalPalace.Themaingalleryisonthe3rdfloorandtherearetemporaryexhibitsonthe2ndfloor.TheNationalMuseumofMongolianHistory,whichpresentsMongolianhistoryandculturefromthedawnofhumanstothepresentday.ThewonderfulNationalMuseumsweepsvisitorsfromtheNeolithicerarighttothepresentday.It’sUB'sonlygenuineblockbustersight,offeringanunparalleledoverviewofMongolianculture,rangingfromstone-agepetroglyphsandexquisitegoldornamentationto,arguablythehighlight,thefullgamutoftraditionalceremonialcostume–whichunmistakablyinspiredthelookofcharactersfromtheStarWarsprequels.ZanabazarMuseumofFineArts.Themuseumexhibitsafinecollectionofpaintings,carvingsandsculptures,includingmanybythereveredsculptorandartistZanabazar.Italsocontainsrarereligiousitems.

StateOpera&BalletTheatre.BuiltbytheRussiansin1932(lookfortheSovietstarsonthecolumns),theStateOpera&BalletTheatreisthesalmon-pinkishbuildingonthesoutheastcornerofSükhbaatarSq.OnSaturdayandSundayeveningsthroughouttheyear,andsometimesalsoonweekendafternoonsinthesummer,thetheatrestagesstirringballetandMongolian-languageopera.It'sclosedinAugust.MongolianoriginaloperasincludeThreeFatefulHillsbyfamousplaywrightDNatsagdorj,andthemore

recentChinggisKhaan,byBSharav.Otherproductionsincludeanexhilarating(butlong)renditionofCarmen,plusplentyofPucciniandTchaikovsky.AboardoutsidethetheatreliststheshowsforthecurrentmonthinEnglish.Advancepurchaseisworthwhileforpopularshowsbecauseticketsarenumbered(paydirectifyouwishtogo).NationalLibraryofMongolia.Mongolia'sneoclassicalNationalLibraryhousestheworld'slargestcollectionofBuddhisttexts,ofwhichaselectfewareondisplaywithinitsMuseumofRareandValuableBooks.HereyoucanseeUnesco-recognizedBuddhistmanuscriptsandgold-andsilver-leafSutrasfromancientTibet,IndiaandMongolia.Mostofthecollectionwasbuiltfromthemid-1960stothe1980s,severaldecadesaftertheBuddhistpurgedestroyednearlyeverymonasteryinthecountry.ResearchersstartedcollectingtheSutrasfromfamiliesthathadhiddenthemduringthepurge.Aprojecttocataloguethemallusingadigitalarchivebeganin1999withassistancefromNewYork–basednonprofitAsiaClassicInputProject(ACIP).Overonemilliontextshavesofarbeenidentified,includingversesbyNagajuna,a2nd-centuryIndianphilosopher,inscribedonbirchbark.ThestatueoutsideisRinchen,afamedscholarwhospoke27languages.ChoijinLamaTempleMuseum,locatedinthemiddleofdowntownUlaanbaatar,wasthehomeofLuvsanHaidavChoijinLama(‘Choijin’isanhonorarytitlegiventosomemonks),thestateoracleandbrotheroftheBogdKhan.Constructionofthemonasterycommencedin1904andwascompletedfouryearslater.Itwasclosedin1938andprobablywouldhavebeendemolishedhaditnotbeensavedin1942toserveasamuseumdemonstratingthe‘feudal’waysofthepast.July14Day5DayKhustaiNationalPark(B,L,D)Thismorningwe’ll drive 100 kms to Khustai National Park, the habitat of resurrectedwildMongolianhorses,popularlyknownasTakhi(Przewalski’sHorse).Theparkencompassesanareaof50.620hectares.ExploretheparktoseetheTakhihorsesinthewilderness.StayovernightinGercamp.July15Day6TraveltoKharakhorum(B,L,D)We depart at 9 am and travel (280 km/approx 5 hours) to KharaKhorum, the ancient capital of theMongolian empire. We visit Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) Monastery, built on the remains ofKharakhorumcityin1586bytheorderofAbtaiSainKhan,descendantofChinggisKhan.ItwasthefirstBuddhistcenterinMongolia.Surroundingthemonasterythereisawallwith108stupas,ofwhich25areoneachsideand2ateverycornerofthewall.Eachstupawaserectedincommemorationofaparticularevent,relatedintheinscriptiononeachone.ThethreetemplesinsidethewallrepresentthethreestagesoftheBuddha’slife:childhood,adolescence,andadulthood.OvernightinGercamp.July16Day7TraveltoTaikharRock(B,D)We’lldepartat9amandtravel130kms/approx2-2.5hrstoTsetserlegtown,thecenterofArkhangaiprovince.We’llstopforlunchatFairfieldcafe(paydirectsoyoucanorderwhatyoulikefromthemenu).

Afterlunch,wevisitZayanGegeeniiKhuree,alargeoldBuddhistmonastery,remarkablyintact,preservedasamuseum-butwithanactivecommunityofmonks.Thefirsttemplewasopenedin1586,expandedto5templesin1679.Atitspeakitmayhavehad200to1000monks,today70monksareinresidence.ThiscomplexincludedseveralgroupsofTibetanandManchustylehalls.MuchofthemonasterynowhousestheMuseumofArkhangaiprovince.Thecontentsaremagnificent,housingmanytreasures,clothes,gamesandceremonialmasksandmemorabilia.

Thenwecontinueourdrive(25km/30min)toTaikharrock,a25metershighmysterioussteep-sidedpinnacleofgranite.

Afterthis,visitanomadfamilyintheareaandtastetraditionaldairyproductslikeaaruul-driedcurds,Mongoliansaltymilktea-Suuteitsai,Mongolianbiscuit-Boortsogandothertraditionalfoods.Wemayseehownomadsmilktheircowsandmares,producedairyproductsofcheese,sourcream,driedcurdsanddistilltraditionalvodkafromfermentedmilkandobservetheiruniquelifestyle.OvernightinGercamp.B,D

July17Day8LakeTerkhijinTsagaan(GreatWhiteLake)(B,L,D)

Departat8:30amandtravel(180kms/5-6hrs)toLakeTerkhiinTsagaan,anastonishinglybeautifullakewithcrystalclearfreshwater.Ontheway,wewillseeRiverChuluut,flowingthroughasheerbasaltcanyonwhichextends100kilometersfromthemouthoftheTeelRivertotheAtsat.KnowninEnglishastheGreatWhiteLake,thisfreshwaterlakeiscertainlythehighlightofArkhangai,andoneofthebestinacountryfullofbeautifullakes.Thelakewasformedbylavaflowsfromvolcaniceruptionsmanymillenniaago thatblocked thenorthandsouthTerkhRiver, thus forming thedammed lakeatanaltitudeof2060metersabovesealevel.Itisexcellentforswimming,thoughabitcold-trythelateafternoon,afterthesunhaswarmedit.Ourgercampisrightonthelake!OvernightinGercamp.BLDJuly18Day9KhorgoVolcano&TravelbacktoTsetserleg(B,L)KhorgoMountainisdeadvolcanowhichlieseastofthelakeTerkhiinTsagaan.Thevolcaniccraterofthemountainis200meterswideand100metersdeep.ThenorthernslopeiscoveredwithSiberianlarchforest.Thismorning,ifinterested,departat8amwithourguideandtrek(2hrs/5milesoneway)toKhorgoVolcano.Thetrekisthruthebeautifulhillsandlavacoveredarea.

Ifyoudonotwanttodothetrek,departat9:30amanddriveapprox30minutestothevolcano.

By11amwe’llbegintravelingbacktoTsetserlegtown(180km/approx4-5hrs).OnthewaywewillseeRiverChuluut,asitrisesinEgiinDavaaoftheKhangaiMountainRangeandflowsfor415kilometersnorthtojointheIderRiver,thusformingtheSelengeRiver.

Apicniclunchwillbeprovidedtoday.Wehopetoarrivebetween4-5pm.Therestdayisfreetoexploreintown.Visitlocalshopsandasmallfactorywhereyoucanseelocalpeoplemakingfeltgoods.Tsetserlegisafunsmalltownandeasytowalkabout.DinneratFairfieldCafé,(paydirect)Thecafeofferstastyhealthywesternfoodandfantasticcoffeedrinks.

OvernightatFairfieldHotel.Thisisahostel-likeaccommodation;thebestoneintown.Westernprivatebathrooms,cleanrooms;nofrills.Dinnerpaydirect.July19Day10TraveltoKhognokhaanMountainNaturalReserve(B,L,D)We’lldepartat8amforthedrivetoKhognokhaanMountainNaturalReserve,asacredmountainthatwasveneratedbytheOrkhonTurks.Theareahasbeenprotectedsince1997.Itcovers46,900hectaresofKhognokhaanMountain,madeofgranitesfromthePaleozoicage.HereyoucanenjoytheuniquecombinationofMongolianmountains,forestsandGobitypelandscapesallinonelocation.

Thetotaldrivingdistancewillbe230km/4-5hrsonapavedroad.

Lunchonarrival.Afterlunch,wevisitErdenekhamba,alocalBuddhisttemple20kmfromthegercamp.Thereare4-5monkslivinghere.

Intheevening,we’llvisitanomadfamilywhereyouwillenjoyseeinghowskilledhorsemancatchuntamedhorsesandtrainahorseinthenomadway.

OvernightintouristGercamp.July20Day11ReturntoUlaanbaatar(B,L)Drivingdistanceis280kms/5hrsbypavedroad.

We’lldepartat9am.Apicniclunchwillbeprovided.Onarrival,restofdayisindependent.Youmayliketobrowseshopsorartgalleries,orobservetheactivityaroundthemainsquare.

TheGobiDesert

July22Day12FlighttoSouthGobi&KhongorSandDunes(B,L,D)

Thismorningtransfertoairportandtakea1.5hrflighttoSouthGobi.

Onarrivalwedrive180km/4-5hrstoKhongorSandDunes.KnownasSingingsanddunes,theKhongordunesareupto300mshigh,15kmswide,and180kmslong.

Thisafternoonwewillwalkthroughthegoldensanddunes.Optionalcamelrideavailable(paydirect).Theviewisincrediblefromtopofthedunes.

OvernightinErdeneGerCamp,nearKhongorynels(singingsanddunes).

July23Day13TraveltoFlamingRedCliffsandYolValley(akaYolynAm)(B,L,D)

Departingat8am,wewilldrive180kmwithwideopendesertscenerytowardsYolynValley(alsoknownasEagleValley&Lammergeier’sGorge),locatedinsideGobiGurvansaikhanNationalPark.Lammergeierisanoldwordforvulture,hencethenameoftentranslatesasValleyoftheVulturesorValleyoftheEagles.ItisapicturesquedeepandslendergorgenestledbetweenthebeautifulpeaksoftheGurvanSaikhanMountainandsheltersrichwildlife.Afteraboutanhour,westopatBayanzag,anareaofredcliffs(calledthe“flamingcliffs”),whichwereformedfromerosionofsandandrockovermanythousandsofyears.ItisalsothesiteofseveralsuccessfulexcavationswheredinosaureggswerefoundbytheexpeditionsofRoyChapmanAndrewsin1922.HereyouwillseethesaksaulforestintheGobidesertandredflamingcliffs,whichformedbytheerosionofthesandandrockovermanythousandsofyears.Thisistheplacewheredinosaurslived70millionyearsago.Itisinternationallyknownforitsdinosaurremainsofcompleteskeletons,eggsandhatchlingsoftheCretaceousPeriod.

Continuing,wetransfertotheGobiNomadLodgeforlunch.

EnjoyanexhilaratingwalkthroughEagleValley.Thevalleyisaabout10kmslongandiscompletelyshadedfromthesuninsomepartsduetothehighcliffwalls.Thewalkiseasy(noinclines)andoffersbirdingandotherwildlifesightingsaswellaspartiallymeltedicefields.

Afterwards,visitsmallGobiMuseumnearby.

OvernightDreamGobiLodge,deluxegerwithen-suitebathroomwithshower.July24Day14FlightbacktoUlaanbaatar(B,D)Transfer45kmtoGurvanSaikhanlocalairportforflightdep6amtoUlaanbaatar(sorrynootheroptions).

Transfertoyourhotel.Therestofthemorningisindependenttorestandhavelunchonyourown.

ThisafternoonwevisittheCentralMuseumofMongolianDinosaurs.Dinosaursofallshapes,sizesandappetitesonceroamedtheGobiDesert.TheirfossilizedbonesandeggswerefirstuncoveredbyAmericanexplorerRoyChapmanAndrewsinthe1920s.Todayyoucancomeface-to-skullwithsomeofthebestexamplesofMongoliandinosaurfossilsinthismuseum.ThecentrepieceofthemuseumistheUV-lit4m-tall,3-tonne,flesh-eatingTarbosaurusbataar(acousinoftheTyrannosaurusrex)andthesmallerSaurolophus,withitsdistinctivecranialcrest.TheTarbosaurusbataarmadeinternationalheadlinesin2012whenitsoldforoverUS$1millionatanauctioninTexas.TheMongoliangovernmentprotestedthatthefossilhadbeenillegallysmuggledoutofMongoliaanddemandeditsreturn.ThelegalbattleendedwhenaUSjudgeruledinfavorofMongolia.ThemuseumalsoincludesVelociraptorandProtoceratopsexamples,andanestofOviraptoreggs.It'shousedinsidetheformerLeninMuseum,constructedin1974.Whilethereareplanstoexpanditintoaworld-classinstitution,fornowit'sstillabitlimitedinspecimens.FarewelldinnerattraditionalMongolianRestaurant.July25Day15DepartureTransfertoairportfordeparture.

Price:$3865perpersonbasedonmin4people.Singleroomsupplement:$750allhotels&gersIncludes:Accommodations:6nightsinUlaanbaataratBayangolhotel,4*orsimilarhttps://bayangolhotel.mn1nightinFairfieldguesthouse,Tsetserlinghttp://www.fairfield.mn/7nightsinGercampsinGobi:YolValleyDreamGobiLodge,https://uniquetravel.mn/dream-gobi-lodge/ErdeneGerCamp,nearKhongorynels(singingsanddunes)privatebathroomhttps://www.discovery-tours.com/Supplier/MN-MN1GECAccompanyingEnglishspeakingguideAllactivitiesdescribedintheitineraryEntrancefeestoProtectedAreasandsitesmentioned,FestivalFeeRoundtripflightticketsULN-Gobi-ULNAlltransfersby4WDJapaneseminivaninthecityandcountryside.Mealsasmentionedperdayitinerary.Mineral(bottled)water,2litresperdayperpersonNotIncluded:Internationalair,travelinsurance,alcoholicdrinks,tipsandgratuities,laundryanditemsofapersonalnature.