ARRIVE AT ULAN BATOR |
BY JEEP TO KHOGNO KHAN |
Drive out of Ulan Bator and then across the open steppe to Khogno Khan mountain where you can spend the night at a camp at the base of the granite mountain. If time permits, you can hike around to the other side of the mountain where a small temple has been built beside the ruins of an old monastery (approx 6km walk). |
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JEEP TO KHARKHORIN, THEN TO TSENKHER |
Take a jeep to Kharkhorin, the valley where Genghis Khan established his capital.You can visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, the original centre of Buddhism in Mongolia . In the afternoon you can drive to Tsenkher village. You can camp overnight beside the Tamir river. ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY was the original centre of Buddhism in Mongolia . It was founded in the sixteenth century on the site where Genghis Khan had his capital nearly 400 years earlier. The monastery is surrounded by a massive wall composed of 108 white stupas. Many of the temples within were destroyed during the Communist era, but the monastery is again active and one can spend several hours wandering around the temples and appreciating the atmosphere.
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TREK TO TSENKHER MINERAL SPRINGS. (approximately 26km) |
Trek across a wide valley and up into the meadows to reach Tsenkher mineral springs where you can spend the evening relaxing in the outdoor hot baths. Camp overnight. |
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DRIVE TO IKH TAMIR |
Drive to Ikh Tamir. Overnight ger camp.
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CHOLOOT RIVER GORGE. (approx 6km) |
You can take the jeep to the spectacular Choloot River gorge. Climb down into the gorge, carrying all the equipment where you can set up camp beside the river. In the afternoon you can take a walk to see the revered 'tree with a hundred branches'. Camp overnight.
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JEEP TO KHORGO VOLCANO AND WHITE LAKE NATIONAL PARK (approx 10km) |
It is a short drive to Tariat village and then you cross an interesting wooden bridge to get into the Khorgo Volcano and White Lake National Park . You may trek from here. The landscape changes immediately with the black volcanic soil supporting quite different plant life, including rare species of flowers. Where the lava flow finished, the lush green meadows are grazed by yaks and sheep. You have to take a rough track and climb over a small pass to get your first view of the lake, beside which camp will be set up.
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TREK TO ALONG LAKE SHORE . (approx 20km) |
The trek continues further along the sandy shores of the White Lake , past "Grandfather Rock", to set up camp in a delightful spot for fishing on the northern shore. Camp Overnight .
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TREK TO COUNTRY LAKE . VISIT NOMADIC FAMILY. (approx 14km) |
Continue hiking to the far end of the lake, then across to the small saltwater Country Lake . Tents are set up near a local family and you spend the afternoon with them observing their nomadic lifestyle. If their yaks are nearby they may hook them up to their carts to give everyone a ride across the steppe to see the nearby ancient sculptures of stone men. Camp overnight.
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DRIVE TO KHORGO VOLCANO, THEN TO IKH TAMIR. (approx2hrs walking) |
A jeep will take you to the foot of the Khorgo volcano from where you climb up a narrow path to the top of the volcano (9,737ft/2,968m) and around the rim of the crater for wonderful views of the lake and the full extent of the volcano's effects on the surrounding countryside. Drive to Ikh Tamir. Overnight ger camp.
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JEEP TO ELSEN TASARKHAI |
Drive to Elsen Tarkhai, or "Little Gobi", an area of big sand dunes that lies in the central Mongolian steppe. Here people herd camels as well as cashmere goats and the vegetation is similar to that in the Gobi . The evening can be spent exploring the surrounding area. Camp overnight.
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JEEP TO ULAN BATOR (approx 6 hrs drive) |
Drive back to Ulan Bator .
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