Special Interest Photography Tour

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. A tour guide and driver welcome you at
the airport and transfer to the hotel in 50 km. We kindly advise you to take a very good rest.

You will have breakfast in the hotel. The guide will pick you up from the hotel in the morning.
Today we start our journey heading to our next destination. On our way, we would have
lunch at a local dining place in a town 75 miles away. Afterwards, we would drive to Elsen
Tasarkhai or Sand Dunes, which is around 80 km/ 50 miles long of sand in Uvurkhangai
province. We visit an old temple called Uvgun – Old Man, which is right before reaching the
sand dunes. By the sand dunes, we build our tents, have dinner and rest in the tent at
night. The sand dunes are located 173 miles away from the capital. You can walk with your
bare foot on the dunes and have leisure time. (Breakfast – hotel, Lunch & Dinner – Elsen
Tasarkhai)

In the morning, our cook prepares breakfast for us. After we disassemble and upload the
tents, we drive to the next destination called Shargalzuut hot and cold spring water
treatment center in Bayankhongor province. On our way, we would have lunch at a dining
place in Arvaikheer town while we would drive through and continue our journey. Our final
destination for today is a hot spring water area 350 km/ 218 miles away from the sand
dunes. We would stay in tents after dinner. Spring water from underground is rich with
hydrocarbonate, mainly salt cake – chemical element, and the temperature is between 43-
95C degree /109-203F. Treatment center requires at least a week stay under the
supervisor’s advice, therefore we would not have the treatment. (Breakfast – tent camp,
Lunch – Arvaikheer city, Dinner – Shargalzuut)

Breakfast in the treatment center and check out rooms. We would meet the guide and
drivers again at the outdoor gate heading to Erdentsogt village 40 km/ 24 miles away to visit
an old Buddhist temple called Khachin Lama and have a chance to talk to lamas.
Afterwards, we would drive 12 km/ 7 miles away from the temple to see an ancient
sightseeing called Shatar Chuluu – Chess Stones, deer stone, rectangular shaped burial
sites aged 3000 BC. Lunch would be served by sightseeing in the wilderness. We would
drive through the same village to get to Mandal village, which is our final destination today in
115 km/ 71 miles. Once we get there, we would build our tents to stay for 3 nights in a
row. Dinner would be served afterwards. (Breakfast – treatment center, Lunch – sightseeing,
Dinner – tent camp)

We would have breakfast in the camp and visit nomad families to watch their daily life
routine, have a chat, make a conversation, even to participate or do some dairy products on
your own with the help of herders’ family members. In the evening, we would watch and
enjoy how nomadic people deal with their livestock such as roping horses, taming horses,

milking cows etc. Lunch (Khorkhog is traditional cuisine of Mongols) and dinner we would
have in the tent camp.

As usual we would be served breakfast in the morning. Today we would go to the ancient
ruins of the temple, where lamas used to sit when they meditated. You would freely walk
around and take your time to meditate. After lunch, we would go to the mountains and hills
to find rock carvings of 21 Gods of Buddhism along the river bank. In the evening, we would
have free time to rest.

In the morning we would prepare for departure, packing up everything to the vans and
leaving after breakfast saying Goodbye to local people. On our way, we would pull over by
the Galuut gorge (the name means Goose Gorge, where people can see a nestle in the
middle of the gorge some years) to have a tea and coffee break. Full board meal would be
served during the day.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner are on the list. We can walk along the bank of the lake and
watch birds listed in the International Red Book such as Dalmatian Pelican (rarer), Swan
Goose, Palla’s fish Eagle, Relict Gull, and Houbara Bustard. Free day. It is an absolutely
convenient environment to meditate and feel the digital cleaning chance for your body.

We would visit nomadic herds mens families with goats, camels and sheep. Orog Lake is a
saltwater lake. Water levels vary, depending on in-flow from the Tuin River, which rises in
the Khangai mountain range. The lake is frozen from November until May. The Tuin River
creates a large wetland on the north side of the lake. To the south, the lake is bordered by

the slopes of Ikh Bogd Mountain, which support desert steppe, and give rise to several
streams with associated wetlands. On the northern side of the lake, there is a wide sand
dune which stretches along the shore. Orog Lake is located within the Valley of Lakes
Ramsar Site.

Early in the morning, we would drive 150 km/ 93 miles after breakfast. We will be located by
the famous mountain, on which petroglyphs (rock carving and painting) are hidden to find
out. Today, anyone can do his or her rituals in the open air by the mountains. Free day.
Full board meals would be served. Tent stay.

In the morning we would have breakfast and upload everything to the vans. We would get
on the paved road heading to the province center, where we would have lunch. Then we
would visit the local museum. In the evening, we may walk a bit around the town. Dinner is
at a local dining place. Stay in the local hotel. (Breakfast – camp, Lunch – Arvaikheer town,
Dinner – local hotel)

After having breakfast at a local hotel, we would head to the next destination called Hustai
National Park, where people watch wild horses Takhi – Przewalski’s horse. It is 180 km/ 111
miles away from the town on the paved road. Kitchen van, our cook and kitchen driver
would say goodbye to us and head to their home today. Lunch and dinner at the national
park in the tourist camp. Overnight in the tourist camp too. The National Park is famous for
its wild horse sanctuary and different species of wildlife. We would watch documentary films
about the NP in the information center. (Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – on the way, Dinner –
tourist camp)

We would check out the rooms after breakfast and drive back to the capital. When we
reach the capital it is lunch time, which is followed by the city tour. It includes a visit to the
Buddhist Monastery of Gandan Tegchenling, which is one of the three biggest monastic
centers in Mongolia. Afterwards we would visit one of the famous cashmere factories
making the tour inside. In the evening, we would watch a cultural performance of ethnic
group ensemble at a small sized theater. Afterwards, we would have farewell dinner at a
restaurant to try traditional food. Overnight at a selected hotel. (Breakfast – tourist camp,
Lunch, Dinner – restaurants)

Tour guide and bus driver would pick you up and transfer you to the airport. Hope you all
have a very nice and memorable trip in Mongolia with the help of us and see you again. It is
a great pleasure to assist you to travel here adding a new page to your life. Have a safe and
joyful trip back to your home.