Wild horses gallop across timeless terrain. Pristine rivers cut through dramatic gorges and cascade into crystal clear lakes. A kestrel swoops low across the remote landscape of the Gobi Desert and timeless traditions stretch back beyond the Great Wall. Visit the ‘Land of Blue Sky’ and discover the birthplace of Genghis Khan who changed the course of history. See it all on this very special tour.

• Travelling - 1 to 2
  

  Fly to Beijing arriving the following day. Your Tour Guide will be on hand to ensure you enjoy your short stay in the city. Overnight Beijing.

• City highlights - 3
  

  The colourful city of Ulaanbaatar, rich in history, sits on the banks of the Tuul Gol River. The surrounding mountains hint at the thrilling landscape beyond. After this mornings the flight from Beijing join your local Specialist Guide for a tour. Visit the Museum of Mongolian National History and learn about the lives of Buddhist monks at the Gandan Monastery. Hear heroic tales of Genghis Khan as you stand below his monument in Sukhbaatar Square. Overnight Ulaanbaatar.

• Wild horses - 4
  

  A unique landscape of steppes and river wetlands awaits in Hustai National Park. This is the playground of the Takhi; the world’s only surviving wild horse. These yellow coated creatures epitomise the words ‘wonder horse’; they can easily travel eight hours a day, day after day. Watch an equestrian display as man and beast are united. Join your Tour Guide for a nature trek in the park and look out for red deer and rare lynx. The perfume of wild sage fills the evening air. Overnight Hustai National Park.

• Sand dunes of the Gobi desert / Nomadic tribes - 5
  

  Travel by the ‘ship of the desert’, a trusty camel, or on foot across the Arburd Sands, a massive dune of just over 12 miles. Wary of man, wolves have taken refuge here and sightings are quite common. Giant rock formations, thrusting almost vertically out of the Gobi Steppe, are a natural habitat for the Siberian Ibex; keep an eye out for these rare creatures. Stop at Zorgol Hairhan sacred mountain where sheep horns, small metal cups and blue silk sashes adorn the rocks. The local people leave offerings of milk, cheese and dry curds and pray for rainfall and good vegetation for their livestock.

  This vast expanse of treeless grassland stretches out to the horizon and beyond. Equestrian people lived in yurts and worked on horseback here before the Great Wall of China was constructed. The nomadic culture is still intact and local families lead a traditional way of life with their herds. Spend time with these people and learn about daily life and the constant movement from place to place in search of fertile pastures. Overnight Zorgol.

• A drive through the Steppes - 6
  

  Wake early for sunrise over the steppes. Head for the rocky outcrops which dot the uplands of the hot and dry Ikh Nart Plateau. The wildlife here is unique yet relatively easy to view. Mongolian gazelle roam across the grasslands and even the rarer and more elusive Argali sheep is often sighted. Black cinereous vultures swoop over head menacingly, always looking for their next prey. En route take time to learn some Mongolian; a few phrases of this wonderful sounding language will always be appreciated. Stop at small villages and enjoy an included ‘alfresco’ picnic lunch on the steppe. Overnight Ikh Nart Reserve.

• Walks and wildlife - 7
  

  Pull on your walking boots for a day of exploration in Ikh Nart Reserve. Your guide will tell you about ongoing research projects and help you seek out wildlife. Look for the wily red and corsac foxes, pallas’s cat and lynx. Wolves and lesser kestrel inhabit this landscape as does their prey of gerbils and the rather prickly but seemingly tasty hedgehog. Overnight Ikh Nart Reserve.

• Travelling and tradition - 8
  

  Cross the eastern steppes, through mountainous landscape, fertile wetlands and the sparkling lakes of Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve. The sheer vastness seems to reach the sky. Take time to learn more about local traditions. Ask your Specialist Guide about the typical dress of the Mongol nomads. Conditions of climate exert quite an influence on what is worn and costumes vary from season to season. The ‘Terleg’ coat is the most common clothing for a man and suits daily life whether on horseback or sitting by the fire outside his yurt. Attire for girls differs to that of married women with the latter more decorative and adorned with silver ornaments and jewellery. The clothing of the elderly is, as a rule, modest and plain in comparison to the younger generation. Overnight Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve.

• Hiking and horse riding - 9
  

  Follow trails on foot or horseback. A local expert will identify colourful wild flowers and introduce you to many species of birdlife. Siberian white and hooded crane break the morning silence with their nosy cries. Use the expert eyes of your Specialist Guide to help you spot the rarer black stork and swan goose. To truly experience a place is to meet its people and an afternoon with a nomadic family is the perfect introduction. Visit their ger, also known as a yurt. These are straightforward constructions, easy to erect and dismantle and consist of a wooden frame covered by large pieces of felt. Photographs of your family and home will be greeted with great interest and possibly some amusement. As you chat about local life sip suutei, a salty type of tea, or try airag, made from fermented mare’s milk and certainly not for the faint hearted. Overnight Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve.

• Colourful festivals - 10
  

  Local villagers will join together for a unique display of traditional activities, normally performed at the Naadam Festival. This annual event defines a civilisation that was established over eight centuries ago and celebrates the ‘three manly games’; archery, wrestling and horse riding. Have your camera ready to capture every colourful and exciting moment of this special show. Back a winner in a thrilling horse race, marvel at the strength of scantily clad males, wearing little more than a felt hat, as they wrestle each other to the ground. Watch skilful archers in their long coats and maybe catch a performance of the unique throat singing, known as khoomi. Join travelling companions on the banks of the River Kherlen for a Mongolian barbeque and share stories of adventure as you dine under the stars. Meat, usually mutton, is cooked in the traditional style on hot stones and is the main feature of this ‘Khorkhog’ feast. Overnight Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve.

• Return to the capital - 11
  

  View the giant Genghis Monument Complex. The former Communist government banned any celebration of the military leader but a recent surge of nationalism led to the construction of the world’s largest equestrian statue. See priceless Buddhist art works, musical instruments and a quite extraordinary display of stuffed animals at the Bogd Khaan’s Palace Museum and take time for some last minute shopping in Ulaanbaatar. Look out for caviar at the Merkui Market and handicrafts at Naaran Tuul also known as the Black Market. Local cashmere, felt hats and silver jewellery are all excellent gifts. Join your Specialist Guide and Tour Guide for a farewell dinner and watch a performance of folklore where music and dance reflect the centuries of history and tradition of a great nation. Overnight in Ulaanbaatar.

• Travelling - 12
  

  Transfer to the airport for the flight to Beijing for an overnight stay.

• UK - 13
  

  Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Accommodation

• Qianmen Hotel, Bejing (4-Star) - 1 Night
• Chinggis Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4-Star) - 2 Nights
• Hustai Camp - 1 Night
• Zorgol Camp - 1 Night
• Ikh Nart Camp - 2 Nights
• Steppe Nomads Camp - 3 Nights

• Flights are scheduled services of
• Flights depart at 12:00 am and return at 10:50 am

Includes

Not Included