Mad About Mongolia

DAY 1 Touchdown in Ulaanbataar

Upon arrival into the capital Ulaanbaatar you will be met and privately transferred to your centrally located hotel, the journey time should take around fifty minutes. Depending on your arrival time you will have the rest of the day to relax at your leisure.

DAY 2 Explore Kharakhorum

After breakfast, its time to visit the Erdene Zuu, Mongolia's largest monastery, and reputedly constructed from the ruins of Kharakhorum in the 16th century. Surrounded by 108 stupas, Erdene Zuu has been a place of Buddhist reverence for more than 500 years. Explore the monastery grounds with your guide and observe the monks as they perform their prayers and rituals. Today is a day of monastic visits as you then discover your second religious dwelling of the day: Shankh Hiid. This monastery is only a short distance from Erdene Zuu and Kharakhorum, and was once frequented by Zanabazar, the renowned Buddhist artist and religious leader.

Your next stop is the Kharakhorum Museum, which was founded to showcase the research findings from the ancient capital of Mongolia by a joint Mongolian and German archaeological expedition.

The legendary Chinggis Khan and his son created Kharakhorum to serve as the heart of this monolithic empire. At the time, Kharakhorum was one of the largest junctions of the Silk Road, connecting the Oriental world with the West. Unfortunately, this bustling capital was abandoned by Khublai Khan and later fell into disrepair.

The rest of the day is yours to explore the Orkhon River Valley at your leisure or return to your private ger camp to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

DAY 3 To Kultegin Monument and Back to Ulaanbataar

After breakfast, you might fancy another short hike in the gorgeous Orkhon River Valley to stretch your legs before the six-hour drive to Ulaanbataar. En route, you will stop at the Kultegin Monument, erected during the time of the Turkic Empire in the 8th century. Built in honour of a prince, this magnificent statue has been the subject of research by archaeologists from around the world, and many roof tiles that were found in the area, along with other significant artefacts, are exhibited at the newly established museum, funded by the Turkish government.

Continue your travels to Ulaanbaatar and on arrival, check into your centrally located hotel for a relaxed evening.

DAY 4 Tugregiin Shiree, Bulgan Soum and the Flaming Cliffs

After breakfast, it's time to drive to Tugregiin Shiree, which takes one-and-a-half hours. The area was first explored by Polish expeditions in the late 60s and early 70s, and is best known for the famous 'Fighting Dinosaurs', the fossil remnants of a protoceratops and velociraptor found locked in combat. This afternoon, it's time to visit Bulgan, a small town near a natural spring. Bulgan has one of the only farms in the Gobi Desert, which supplies local ger camps with fruit and vegetables. It's a wonderful example of local businesses being supported by ecotourism.

As the afternoon draws on, your next stop is the legendary Flaming Cliffs - named for the way the rocks glow orange in the light of the setting sun. It was here in 1923 that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the world's first nest of dinosaur eggs. Although not obvious to the untrained eye, the red sandstone of the Flaming Cliffs is rich with dinosaur fossils, and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site. Watch how the cliffs earned their name as the sun sinks and sets them ablaze with an orange-glow.

As the evening draws in, it's time to return to the lodge for dinner and your final night.

DAY 5 Back to Ulaanbataar and the Chinggis Khan Statue

It's an early start this morning as you depart from the lodge and transfer to the local airport for your flight back to Ulaanbaatar, which takes around an hour-and-a-half. On arrival into Ulaanbaatar, visit the Bogd Khan Palace, which was the home of Mongolia's last theocratic leader, Bogd Jabtzan Damba Hutagt VIII. Elaborate ceremonial robes and other personal effects of Mongolia's '8th Living Buddha', who ruled from 1911 to 1924, are on display.

Next up today is a visit to the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue. The massive statue, constructed from 250 tons of gleaming stainless steel, is an astonishing feat of engineering. The statue is located at the historic site of the Tsonjin Boldog, where legend has it Chinggis Khan found a horsewhip - a sign for him to unite the numerous nations of the world under heaven. This story is inscribed in the Secret History of Mongolia, which is the oldest historical book in the country. Visitors to this complex who climb up inside the mane of the horse statue will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

After your climb, it's time to return to Ulaanbaatar for a farewell dinner.