The term "Mongol" was first used in Chinese writings in the 9th century, describing "people who follow the tails of their horses" as they moved in search of grass for their herds. Mongolia's history as a nation began in 1206, when Temujin, later known as Chingis Khan, came to power and managed to unite previously warring nomadic tribes into one nation, creating one of the largest empires in history, stretching as far as Turkey and Poland.
Today, Mongolia is an enclosed country bordered only by Russia and China. With a very low population density, the country boasts spectacular landscapes with vast steppes, steep mountains, clear lakes, deserts, gorges, and abundant wildlife. Almost one-fifth of the country is covered by protected areas, and the government is working to increase their number.
Nomadic culture is a central part of Mongolian life, with herders known for their generous hospitality, often opening up their traditional yurts to visitors. Guests should be prepared to reciprocate with small gifts for the children.
Beyond the vast and uninhabited areas, incredible images await, such as horses, gazelles, and camels roaming free, Kazakh hunters practicing their ancient technique of hunting with golden eagles, and an explosive starry sky. The country's prehistory is also remarkable, with evidence of human civilization hundreds of thousands of years old and relics of archaic life millions of years old.
This trip offers the opportunity to meet Kazakh hunters and witness the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles, as well as to traverse Mongolia on a 2,600 km route through valleys, steppes, gorges, and deserts. This adventure is ideal for those who are looking to experience one of the last authentic corners of our planet and are not concerned with luxury accommodations.
Meeting at Eleftherios Venizelos airport and taking a flight with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul to Mongolia. The departure time is 15:40.
Upon arrival in the morning at 07:10 at Ulaanbaatar airport, we will be transferred to the Best Western hotel, which is conveniently located near the main square of the city. Accompanied by a guide, we will visit some of the city's major attractions, including the majestic statue of Genghis Khan and the National Museum, which presents the history of Mongolia from early times to modern times. In the afternoon, we will have free time to walk around the city before enjoying an evening welcome dinner with our guide for the upcoming trek.
In the early morning, we will transfer to the airport for a flight to Olgii town in Western Mongolia, the home of the mountainous Muslim Kazakhs. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel and explore this small provincial capital, which is dominated by low clay buildings and occasional mosque roofs.
The hunting with golden eagles is an ancient tradition that has been kept by the Kazakhs in Western Mongolia for centuries. The program includes a visit to the home of a famous hunter where we will learn about his craft and golden eagles. During our visit, we will also experience other Kazakh household chores such as animal care and cooking.
At the end of the day, we will return to Olgii for dinner and an overnight stay.
On this day, we will drive to Tolbo Lake, which is located at an altitude of 2,080 m, and attend the annual Golden Eagle Hunting Festival. The festival features various events held by the lake, including archery and horse riding competitions, as well as Kazakh hunters demonstrating their art.
We will spend the night in large traditional yurt-style tents. The evening can get very cold, with temperatures approaching zero degrees, so it's important to come prepared with appropriate clothing.
The day's route covers a distance of 80 km and takes approximately 1 ½ hours to complete.
With Toyota Land Cruiser cars, we will continue our journey southeast to our day destination, the local capital of Altai, situated in the middle of a mountainous steppe. The paved road runs along the Altai mountain range, which features some spectacular snow-capped peaks. During the journey, we will stop at the Khoid Tsenkher cave, where prehistoric rock paintings dating back 40,000 years can be found.
Upon arrival in Altai, we will check into a hotel for our overnight stay and dinner.
The day trip covers a distance of 590 km and takes 7-8 hours to complete.
Continuing our journey, we head east towards the Khangai mountain range. This area receives occasional rainfall, which supports moderate grasslands, and also feeds several rivers that form lakes without runoff.
We arrive at Bayankhongor, a small town and the capital of the local province, located on the southern foothills of the range. Many of the neighborhoods consist of yurt tents.
We will stay overnight in a hotel.
The total distance covered on this day trip is 290 km, and the duration of the journey is around 4 hours.
Today we continue south along the Tuin River, one of the few desert rivers that flows from the Khangai mountain range to Lake Orog, an undrained lake in the desert.
During the day, we visit Tsagaan Agui (White Cave), which is a site where abundant archaeological evidence of human settlement and tools from the Stone Age dating back 700 thousand years has been found.
In the afternoon, the route ends at the village of Khatansuudal, where we will spend the night in a tourist camp in traditional Mongolian yurt-type tents. Tents of this type have been an integral part of Mongolian culture for thousands of years, and even today, half of Mongolia's population continues to live in such tents. Tourist camps with these types of tents offer relative comforts and, in some areas, are the only accommodation option when the goal is to explore Mongolian nature.
Day trip 310 km, 7-8 hours.
Our journey continues south towards the Gobi Desert, following dirt roads that cross vast desert areas where we may occasionally spot a herd of gazelles disappearing into the mirages on the horizon.
Our first stop is Bichigt, an area with impressive prehistoric rock paintings that depict wild sheep, goats, deer, wolves, and snow leopards. Our second destination is Bugiin Tsav, a series of eroded valleys that contain relics of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. The natural elements of sun, wind, and water have created supernatural landscapes, which we will explore on foot.
Finally, we will visit the Zulganai Oasis, a single expanse of wild vegetation in the midst of huge sand dunes. The plants are fed by an underground spring that also serves as a drinking water source for the wildlife. We will then proceed to the village of Gurvantes, where we will spend the night in traditional yurt or ger tents.
The day trip will cover 180 km and take around 7 hours.
Today we travel to the east, crossing vast expanses of the Gobi Desert towards the Gurvan Saikhan mountain range until we reach the Khongoriin Els Sand dunes.
This remote area is harsh and only accessible with the help of experienced guides and ample supplies of food, water, and fuel.
The sand dunes stretch for almost 100 kilometers, with the tallest one reaching a height of 200 meters. Some locals refer to them as "singing dunes" due to the strange humming sound that is often heard on windy days. The sound is produced as fine sand accumulates on the tops of the dunes and eventually collapses. We will settle into a comfortable ger camp located near the majestic dunes and climb up the highest dune in the area.
Day trip 250 km, 5-6 hours.
Continuing our journey, we will reach the Flaming Red Cliffs, a world-famous dinosaur fossil site where, in the 1920s, a series of expeditions by Americans discovered the first dinosaur egg nests, new species of dinosaurs, and fossils of early mammals that coexisted with early reptiles. After arriving at the cliffs, which stand out against the vast arid plain, we will explore them on foot and continue to an overnight stay at a welcoming ger camp in the middle of the desert.
Day trip: 210 km, 5-6 hours.
On our final day, we will return to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar with several short rest stops along the way. Upon arrival, we will check-in at the hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner together.
The total distance traveled will be approximately 680 km and the journey is expected to take around 9 hours.
We will transfer to the airport in the morning for the return flight via Istanbul-Lis, departing at 08:40 and arriving in Athens at 20:15.
Open dates as semi-guided from July to September
Notes:
To reserve a place, please read the terms of participation mentioned in the Participation Form, and if you accept them, fill in the form at https://forms.gle/JYY58M7Evr3Cwx4c8.
Once you have completed the form, you need to send a deposit of 500 € within 3 days. Payment for the trip must be completed in stages up to 45 days before departure. If our office is responsible for issuing air tickets, they must be prepaid. Please note that any cancellation of air tickets is subject to the terms and restrictions of each airline and is not covered by the cancellation terms of the rest of the package.
The prepayment and payment should be sent to the account of ALPHA BANK with IBAN number: GR1001407960796002002013550, in the name of OUTDOORS TRAINING IKE.
When transferring or depositing money, please write your name and the word "MONGOLIA" in the REASON field.
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