BEYOND THE STEPPES Mongolia Summer Tour 2015 June 30 July 12 (Tues Sun)

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1 BEYOND THE STEPPES Mongolia Summer Tour 2015 June 30 July 12 (Tues Sun) 12 nights 2800 USD Mongolia, a vast and remote land known to many but understood by very few, is truly one of the world s last great wildernesses. The country has a tumultuous history stretching from its unwritten nomadic past, to imperial dominance as the world s largest land empire, to its rejection of Chinese control and existence as the first Soviet satellite state, and finally to its new period of independence. Mongolia is a vast landmass with a tiny population, and has made its mark on history and the world. We offer the chance to come with us to see just what Mongolia today offers to those willing to make the journey to its most amazing areas in order to see and experience the life of the wide-range of people living lives governed by both ancient traditions and the pull of modernity. We have worked closely with our carefully-selected Mongolian partners to bring you a tour which is more than just a simple visit to their country; this will be a trip that is full of excitement, adventure, and unforgettable moments. This journey will be unique, educational, and fun. This exciting tour will be led by our one of our most experienced tour leaders, Rich Beal. Rich has led tours all over the world, and is personally attached to this particular area, as he has over ten years experience in running tours to the region. In Rich s words, Mongolia is an amazing gem and one of my favourite places on earth both for landscape and people. I have always felt, he says, that when I leave this region the sky never seems as blue, the mountains never as beautiful and the people never as interesting. In keeping with the ethos of Koryo Tours, this trip will take you to a little-visited, safe and unique destination in which our staff have a particular interest. This is our second year of running tours to Mongolia. Highlights of the programme Highlights include: Explore the Altai and Bayan Ulgii region of Mongolia Visit Mongolian Kazak, Tuva Nomadic families Enjoy camel trekking and horseback riding Hike the great mountains and swim in hot spring water and lakes Marvel at the skill of local eagle hunters and their companion birds-of-prey Experience Mongolian/ Kazakh Naadam festival

2 Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (the adventure begins) Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, we make our way to our centrally-located hotel, where you will be able to rest and relax before we begin our adventure. We will provide an optional walking orientation tour of the centre of this fascinating city so that you are able to get your bearings. At 6.00PM there will be a pre-tour briefing at our hotel, after which we attend a traditional musical show where we will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the unique Mongolian throat-singing which simply has to be heard to be believed. This will be followed by a welcome dinner. OVERNIGHT: Hotel / Dinner Day 2. City tour and fly to Hovd Province On departure from our hotel we drive to UB s largest Buddhist monastery, Gandan, where we will learn more about the history and importance of Buddhism in Mongolia. We will then explore the city centre, picking up supplies for our onward journey from the State Department Store. We will visit Sukhbataar Square, the National Historical Museum, which showcases Mongolia's history from the early Neolithic period though to its recent communist past, and the Natural History Museum with its unique collection of dinosaur fossils. After lunch we will take the two-hour local flight from Ulaanbaatar to Hovd province. On arrival in Hovd we will pay a visit to a local Uriahaar Shaman family who continue to uphold and follow the mysterious rituals and practices of the local shamanic religion. We will eat dinner with the family, giving us a unique and special opportunity to learn more about their traditional culture and ways. After dinner we will take a one-hour drive to our ger camp for the evening. OVERNIGHT: Ger (yurt) / Breakfast, Dinner Day 3. Driving through Bayan Ulgii After a hearty breakfast we begin our long drive to the center of Bayan Olgii province. We will travel 280km on a long but unforgettable journey through rugged scenery. During the trip, we will visit Tolbo Lake which lies at an altitude of 2080 meters, and is not only famous

3 for its beauty, but is also known as the sight of a crucial battle between the Bolshevik and White Russian forces in We will stop along the way to photograph the spectacular scenery, local nomads and their herds. Overnight in Kazak tourist camp. OVERNIGHT: Ger / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 4. Dayan Lake After breakfast we will continue our journey as we drive onwards to Dayan Lake, near Sagsay village, which lies close to the magnificent Altai Mountains. Bayan-Olgiy province is locally known as the Roof of Mongolia. It is a remote land of high mountains and glaciers where at times travelers may not meet anyone for days. The majority of people living in this area are ethnic Kazakhs, distinct from the Mongolian majority of the rest of the country, and the largest minority in Mongolia. Today we will learn about the lifestyle of Kazakh families, experience their unique hospitality and culture, and see what it is like to live in this Mongolian Muslim frontier region. We will have the opportunity to ride horses and see how eagle hunters work today in this area, just a stone s throw from the mountainous northern Chinese border. For dinner we will eat traditional food with our local hosts and spend the night in tents pitched next to the local nomads, giving us a great way to observe and take part in local life. Day 5. Khurgan and Khoton Lakes Our journey continues in Russian jeeps as we make our way to Khurgan and Khoton Lakes. These are spectacularly beautiful alpine lakes lying at an altitude of 2073m. Our campsite at Khoton Lake is truly an idyllic spot, offering amazing views and the chance to see some fascinating Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings. These form one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in Mongolia, and depict numerous hunting scenes and representations of wild and domesticated animals. We will also see well-preserved ancient burial sites. Our exploration of this area will also give us a chance get to see moraines left by earlier glaciations, with snowcapped mountains surrounding them. In the afternoon you may go swimming in the lake and the hot spring water, explore the surroundings, or relax in the camp. After dinner, we will meet with Kazakh Turged nomadic families and learn more about their life led hidden away in this beautiful part of the world.

4 Day 6. Drive to Tsagaan gol (river) and Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain After breakfast we will drive to Tsagaan Gol. Along the way we will be able to view the summit and lower north slopes of the stunning Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain. From here there is an extraordinary view of the Tavanbogd area. Known as Friendship Peak, it rises to 4374m above sea level and borders three countries. Shiveet Mountain is sacred to the indigenous Tuvan minority people of the region. At times you may be able to see ibex around its slopes. Each year the Tuvan people climb to the summit of the mountain to take part in an offering ceremony for the local ghosts. This shamanistic ritual is performed in order to allow them to pay their respects to past ancestors. Continuing our theme of spending time with locals we will have the opportunity to meet with the nomadic Tuvan people near the Tsagaan Gol River, and will be able to talk to them about their life and beliefs. There will also be an opportunity to help with cooking some local dishes. Day 7. Base camp of Altai Tavan Bogd Today we are accompanied by a local Tuvan guide and leave our vehicles behind. We will load our luggage on to camels and undertake a trek of approximately 15 kilometres to our base camp, located on the edge of the Potanin Glacier at the foot of Malchin Peak. This hike will take us through lush alpine tundra and past herds of camels, and will provide fantastic views across the glacier to the peaks which will mark the end of our journey. We will arrive at our base camp on the edge of the glacier, which offers panoramic views of the mountains and is a convenient base for our climbs and exploration of the surrounding region. This is great trekking country and the chance to explore a unique corner of the world is a rare and unique one! We will also have another chance to further speak to and learn about the nomadic Tuvan people. The Camels will also be available for some basic riding and trekking. Day 8. Adjusting to surrounding areas Today there will be an opportunity to relax and soak up the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding area and environment. Alternatively you can explore the area at your leisure. Those feeling energetic and adventurous can take the opportunity to do some extra hiking with our local guides, exploring neighbouring mountains and glacier fields, including the impressive Potonin Glacier River. Day 9. Return trek to White River

5 Today we will trek behind our camels back to our camp in the White River valley. This is a gentle downhill walk which will afford us the chance to explore the numerous valleys of the Tavan Bogd massif and to observe how the glacier melt develops into the torrents of the White River. Upon arrival at our camp we celebrate our adventure so far with a traditional feast; you will be served one of the delicacies of Kazakh cuisine, besbarmak. Literally meaning "five fingers", this is a delicious assortment of stewed meat, vegetables and flour eaten with your hands. Day 10. Bayan Ulgii Today we bid farewell to our Tuvan friends and take a relaxing drive to Ulgii, where we will spend the night in a Kazakh tourist camp. We will stop en route for photo opportunities and have the chance to meet nomads we come across along the way. OVERNIGHT: Ger / B, L, D Day 11. Kazak Naadam Today is our chance to see the Kazakh Nadaam festival which contains the Mongolian traditional games of wrestling, horse racing and archery. This event takes place annually and is the major festival of the year in this part of the world. Nadaam is traditionally a time when families and tribes get together across the region to share news, attend parties and events together, and celebrate the year that has passed and the one to come. In recent years as Nadaam has become more well known the main event in Ulaanbataar has become a

6 much more commercial festival tailored to visitors, but the event we will be involved in here is a truly local affair, and you will experience it as it has been done for generations. Tonight is your chance to sleep in a Kazakh yurt, but a hot shower and cold beers will be on offer, bringing a touch of the modern to the traditional experience. OVERNIGHT: Ger / B, L, D Day12. Fly to Ulaanbataar Today we will fly to Ulaanbataar. This is a free day which you can spend shopping, resting, or undertaking independent exploration. You may wish to pay a visit to the city s market, once known as the black as it sold many hard-to-come-by goods during the Soviet period. Many interesting souvenirs can still be found here, and if you re lucky you may pick up a Russian relic or a Shamanistic trinket. Alternatively you may just prefer to relax in the downtown shopping area with a coffee watching local life go by and appreciating how much Mongolia has changed in recent decades. You may wish to stop by the winter palace of the Bogd Khan, the former ruler and religious leader of the Mongolian people, which houses rare statues of Buddhist deities and personal items which belonged to this last theocratic ruler of Mongolia. OVERNIGHT: Local Hotel Day 13. Departure The tour ends in the morning with transfers to the airport for departure. If you plan further adventures we wish you a fond farewell and safe onward travels! TOUR COST:2800 USD TOUR FEE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: English speaking guide Western tour leader All meals outside Ulaanbaatar Camels for luggage Internal flights Horse riding All included sight seeing All taxes and entrance fees to protected areas All camping equipment (not sleeping bags.) NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR FEE: Sleeping bags

7 International flights Any alcoholic beverages Meals where specified Medical insurance (can be arranged.) Visas if needed Items of personal nature Please_note: This tour has been specifically arranged to visit these areas it may have elements of an expedition about it due to the nature and ruggedness of the terrain. As such any change in itinerary at the time cannot be helped. We will keep to the advertised itinerary as closely as possible, although please be aware that things are subject to change, especially if we encounter any extreme weather conditions. Along the way all tour decisions will rest with Rich (tour manager) and an (Expedition leader). We will also be taking advice from local people on the ground whose expertise will far exceed our own. No visa needed for Mongolia! Citizens of the following countries do not need a Mongolian visa for this tour: all EU citizens; Canada; China; Singapore; UK; USA - and many others - if you are not sure about your visa status for Mongolia, please contact our office. Expert guides will help you get the most out of this trip: Koryo Tours will be represented by Rich Beal, who has been travelling to Mongolia since 2006; domestic guides will provide an insider's view and help you best engage with the local culture. All this for just 2800 USD! PLEASE enquiries@guidepost-travel.com FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR PLACE ON THIS SPECIAL ADVENTURE.