Mongolia - South Gobi (5 days, 4 nights)

Ulaanbaatar — South Gobi — Ulaanbaatar
Our adventure unfolds as we explore the capital of Mongolia — the city
of Ulaanbatar with a festive welcome dinner in a nuge Mongolian ger and a Mongolian entertainment. Then we traverse the gobi desert, natural
habitak of gazellas, Bactrian camels and eagles. We expirience
traditional ger living in a nomadic shepherd's home as we roam this
formidable wasteland. In conclusion of our jorney, we return to Ulaanbatar, and celebrate our trip with a perfomance of Mongolian
throat singing.
Tour
South Gobi
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Day
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Program
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In pleasurable anticipation of the events
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Day 1
*A perfect addition to the tour:
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Meeting at the airport in Ulaanbaatar* with guide&driver
Transfer to the Ulaanbaatar Hotel, a comfortable, centrally located hotel within walking distance of various museums and shops.
Lunch independent
In the afternoon, drive to Zaisan Memorial**
After a few hours to rest or stretch your legs, enjoy a welcome dinner at a large ger, like one once owned by Chinggis Khan.
Overnight at the Ulaanbaatar Hotel
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The contrast between ancient traditions and the dawning of a 21st
century democracy is most visible in Ulaanbaatar where traditional gers
and Buddhist monasteries coexist with modern high-rises.
**
A monument built by the Russians to commemorate unknown soldiers from
various wars. Situated on one of the hills surrounding Ulaanbaatar, the area provides excellent views of the capital and surrounding
countryside.
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Day 2
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Breakfast in hotel / at homestay
In the morning, fly to the Gobi, Mongolia's southernmost province of semi-arid desert*
Lunch en route
Upon arrival, visit a local camel breeder family and Moltsog Els, one of the few regions of the Gobi covered by sand dunes.
Dinner, overnight in gers
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*
Of all the world's arid lands, the Gobi (which means simply desert_)
has about it the greatest air of mystery, perhaps because it lies at the heart of Asia's remotest hinterland between the Siberian wilderness
to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. Contrary to the sterile sameness that the word _desert_ suggests, the Gobi holds
manyfascinations including sites of some of the most important
paleontological discoveries of this century. For the next days, explore
the stunning landscape of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali
mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, golden eagles, saker falcons, jerboas
— similar to kangaroo rats — and many endemic reptiles. The Gobi is also home to some of the northern hemisphere's rarest and most elusive
mammals such as the dhole, snow leopard and Gobi Bear
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Day 3
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Wake early in the morning to the sight of the sun rising over the vast Gobi landscape.
After breakfast, drive to Yol Valley National Park
Enjoy
a picnic lunch including a traditional Mongolian barbecue (horhog)
before visiting the local natural history museum for an overview of the flora and fauna of the area
In the afternoon travel to the legendary Flaming Cliffs**
Return to the ger camp in time for dinner and overnight.
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The park is «cradled» between the foothills of the Altai Mountains.An
ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley. Now, its remnant
streams create ice formations at the base of the valley that sometimes
persist as late as July. A hikethrough the valley allows you to discover habitat for indigenous vulture-like lammergeiers, Altai
snowcocks, ibex, yaks and Argali mountain sheep.
It is named for its glowing orange rock. It was here, in 1922, that Dr.
Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum
of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. Although not obvious to the untrained eye, the red sandstone
cliffs of the Flaming Cliffs are rich with dinosaur fossils and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site. You will have the opportunity to imagine how Roy Chapman
Andrews felt as you discover the terrain of the area by Bactrian
(two-humped) camel.
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Day 4
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Breakfast at the ger camp
Morning flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, a visit to the dinosaur halls of the Natural History Museum
Next, visit a cashmere factory store for the opportunity to purchase their exquisite goods.
Lunch in the city
In the afternoon, visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum**
Enjoy a farewell dinner at Hazara restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
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*
The museum showcases the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi desert.
On display are fierce Tarbosaurous fossils (closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex), dinosaur eggs, large Hadrosaur fossils (duck-billed
dinosaurs), and many others, all of which illustrate the richness and importance of the paleontological sites in the Gobi desert.
**
Named in honor of Zanabazar, the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia and renowned sculptor, artist and politician from the 17th century, the museum contains one of the best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts in the world, including many of Zanabazar's original works.
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Day 5
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After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.
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27.05.2008
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Our address
670000, Ulan-Ude, Profsoysnaya Street, 31
Tel/Fax Ulan-Ude: 8 (3012) 216-177
664025, Irkutsk, Rossiyskaya Street, 6. Office 2
Tel/Fax Irkutsk: 8 (3952) 342-043
ICQ: 616-858-802
Skype: russianmir
e-mail: russian-mir@yandex.ru
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