| Great Gobi Adventure |

Our Vast Siberian Steppes Adventure takes you to the most scenic part of Mongolia, Khuvskul Province, northwest of the capital, with its capital, Murun. We ride the desert, the steppes, and the forests of Mongolia. We stay with local families, see the local way of life, overnight in yurts – a real Asian outback adventure. And all the time our local team are there to help you get the very best from you holiday.

Highlights

• The ride....no other offered in our extensive line up can compare to the freedom of riding across the open steppes and Mongolian grasslands.
• Accommodations will delight as you will live like the nomadic Mongols, overnighting in yurts, dining from camp fire prepared meals and hosted by Mongolian families.
• The Nadaam Festival, which involves competitive games linked with the ancient Mongolian culture: horsemanship, archery, wrestling, music, food and drink...bring lots of film!
• Local culture – the descendants of Ghengis Khan have kept their identity over the centuries.

Itinerary

DAY 1 DEPART UK.

DAY 2 ARRIVE ULAAN BAATAR. We will greet you upon arrival and drive you to our hotel. Rest and relaxation is the order today after your long international flight. After lunch we visit the Buddhist Ganden Monastery and the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan. This evening we are entertained in traditional Mongolian style – folk music on traditional instruments, throat singing, acrobats and contortionists – during our welcome dinner at the famous Avtai Sain Khan restaurant. Undruul or Bayangol hotel.

DAY 3 ULAAN BAATAR. This morning we attend the opening ceremonies of the Genghis Khan Nadaam Festival in the National Stadium. This includes the traditional opening

procession, archery, and wrestling. In the afternoon we drive out to the finish of the 35 km horse race. Quite an experience! This evening we’ll have dinner in another traditional restaurant.

DAY 4 ULAAN BAATAR – KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK (120 km). We meet our local motorcycle tour support team, and pick up our motorcycles. We ride (carefully!) out of the busy traffic of the capital, and onto the country roads of the Steppes. We set the standards for the next two weeks with a picnic lunch. Khustai is famous for its herd of Przewalski’s horses, reintroduced successfully in the 1990s. Enjoy the spectacular nature and hers at the water holes at sunset. And tonight is our first experience of the nomadic Mongolian lifestyle, in a Ger camp.

DAY 5 KHUSTAI - KHOGNO KHAN (200 km). An unusual day as we can visit local nomadic families and an old Ovgon monastery, with a hot picnic lunch. And we’ll take a ride around the mountain and through the sand dunes on the edge of the Gobi desert. The riding is through forests and along rocky mountain trails with a chance to see local wildlife. Ger camp.

DAY 6 KHOGNO KHAN – TSENKHER (220 km). After breakfast we ride through the hills and river valleys to Khar Khorin on the edge of the Gobia to visit the ancient capital of the Khans, and Erdene Zuu with its famous lamasery. The temple Lavrin dates back to the 17^th century and was built in the Tibetan tradition. After a sightseeing tour we move on for our picnic lunch at the lush Anar ger camp. Our afternoon ride takes us to the hot spa at Tsenkher and our ger camp. There’s time for a dip in the hot springs before dinner.

DAY 7 TSENKHER – TERKHIIN TSAGAAN (230 km). This morning’s ride takes us towards Tsetserleg, capital of Arkhangai sum (province). We then continue to the fantastic rock formations at Taikhar Rock and we will stop here and further on at Chuluut Canyon. We then ride to the picturesque lake at Terkhiin Tsagaan, the ‘white lake’. Ger camp.

DAY 8 TERKHIIN TSAGAAN – JARGAL (130 km). We start the day with a ride over the longest high pass in Mongolia, Orookh, and continue to Jargal Jiguur for lunch. The ride is through the vast grasslands and steppes with fantastic rock outcrops, herds of camel and horses. Jargal is another hot spa, so time for another dip. Ger camp.

DAY 9 JARGAL – MURUN (200 km). We head away from Jargal through the beautiful green hills and forests of Khuvsgul. Lots of photo oportunitesand a chance to talk to the locals. Murun is the sum capital with a huge outdoor market. Ger camp.

DAY 10 MURUN – KHUVSGUL LAKE (145 km). A short morning’s ride takes us to the lovely Khuvsgul Lake, close to the Siberian border, and now there’s time to relax.The next day and a half are a chance to get to understand the Mongol way of life and just absorb and reflect on your surroundings. Khuvsgul is the second largest freshwater lake in the World, so be prepared to be impressed. Reindeeer steak dinner tonight. Toilogt ger camp.

DAY 11 KHUVSGUL LAKE (free day). We can ride along the lakeshore, explore the lifestyle of the local tribal shaman people who live in teepees and breed reindeer. Khuvsgul is the only lake in Mongolia with any serious boat traffic, so we can take a leisurely boat ride. Toilogt ger camp.

DAY 12 KHUVSGUL – ERDENE BULGAN (200 km). This is really the start of our return journey as we ride through amazing natural scenery of forests, flowers and probably the most vivid green hills on Earth. Ger camp.

DAY 13 ERDENE BULGAN – URAN TOGOO (220 km). Uran Togoo is an extinct volcano with spectacular red rock formations. Lake Uran Togoo is surrounded by pine forests and wild flowers, and a lovely spot to spend the night. Ger camp.

DAY 14 URAN TOGOO – AMARBAYASGALANT (200 km). Our day’s ride takes us through forests and across vast steppes with wild flower meadows to the 300-year old monastery at Amarbayasgalant, one of the three largest monasteries in Mongolia, and quite Chinese in appearance. Ger camp..

DAY 15 AMARBAYASGALANT - ULAAN BAATAR (320 km). This morning we ride to Sogoot through beautiful scenery, hills and forests. Our final ride then takes us back to Ulaan Baatar on paved roads. This evening we’ll say our farewells to our Mongolian support team at our Farewell Dinner. Again, we’ve chosen carefully and the entertainment is live Mongolian fusion music. Undruul Hotel (3*).

DAY 16 DEPART ULAAN BAATAR. After breakfast this morning our tour ends, and we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Most flights will get you back in the UK the same day.

Total distance   c. 2250 km

Ready to book? Please click here

Price includes: 12 days motorcycle hire; oil and maintenance / spares; 4WD support vehicle; tour guide with medical kit/training; mechanic; local guide(s); 12 nts ger camp accommodation, 3 nts hotel accommodation; airport transfers; entrance fees to monuments / parks / reserves; hotel accommodation; all meals; soft drinks/bottled mineral water.

Price excludes: Security/damage deposit US$500 to pay locally in cash; visas; fuel; alcoholic beverages; laundry service; tips; travel insurance £63.73 and flights (typically about £1000), available from H-C Travel.

Any questions? Please click here

| Great Gobi Adventure |

090603