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WESTERN MONGOLIA - SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR
July 29-August 12, 2008

29 Jul Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to hotel. After refreshing at the hotel we will go to bank for currency exchange. Then will have lunch at a local restaurant. We will also visit National History museum and Zaisan Memorial hill where you will be able to get panoramic view of whole Ulaanbaatar city from the top. In the evening you will enjoy folk concert and welcome dinner at Mongolian Ger restaurant. Stay overnight in the hotel. LD
30 Jul Day 2 We will transfer you to the airport for a morning flight to Ulgii, which is the capital of Bayan-Ulgii province by domestic flight. Bayan-Ulgii located in the far west of Mongolia. It is a remote and unique geographical area with a population of nomadic people equally as interesting and diverse as the land they inhabit. The landscape includes high glacial mountain peaks, large lake basins, steppe grassland and desert sand dunes. One of the main minority groups in this area is the Kazakh minority who is as well largest in Mongolia, inhabiting the province of Bayan-Ulgii since the mid-1800s. Still maintaining their traditional customs and traditions, they live in large felt Gers and hunt with huge, Golden eagles in the winter months to supply themselves with fur of the prey. After lunch we will visit local museum. Stay overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

31 Jul Day 3 Travel to Sagsai Soum, 1.5 hours drive. After arrival we will walk around the area and check out which place is better to see the Solar Eclipse. Evening we will visit Kazakh eagle hunters living in the area. Their gers are slightly larger than Mongolian gers, and are decorated with brightly colored rugs. Overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

01 Aug Day 4 Today we will prepare for observation of eclipse and can go trekking around the area. We will glance at the Solar Eclipse between 17.00 and 19.00pm (18.58pm-peak time) at the place we chose the day before. We will enjoy the shadowy sky falling over the fabulous landscape around. The total cover of the sun by the moon will last around 2 minutes. We will spend those minutes in a dark ambiance which gives the place all its magic. After solar eclipse travel back to tourist Ger camp for overnight. BLD

02 Aug Day 5 Morning travel back to Ulgii town by car about 1.5 hour. We will take a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel and time at leisure. Stay overnight in the hotel. BLD

03 Aug Day 6 In the morning visit Gandan Monastery, the largest monastery and temple complex in use in Mongolia. It contains one of the biggest standing Buddha's in Asia (26m high). Drive to Khustai National Park (2hours drive), the area 50.620 hectare reserve protects the Takhi (Przewalski‚s Horse), and its steppe and forestˆsteppe environment. After lunch drive through the park to see wild horses. On the way we will see Ungut, ancient grave site. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

04 Aug Day 7 Continue driving to Khognokhaan Natural Reserve, the unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forest and Gobi-type in one location. Drive will take about 4 hours. After having lunch we will walk to local Buddhist temple Erdenekhamba. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

05 Aug Day 8 Today we will trek for 2-3hours through small sand dunes and Gobi type landscape about 8-10km. Continue travel to Kharakhorum about 1.5hours drive. After having lunch visit the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex of Erdene Zuu and visit local market. Evening go up to the hill where you can see whole view of Kharakhorum. Optional horse riding thought Otkhon river. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

06 Aug Day 9 Travel to Ongi temple ruin. Today we will already be feeling Gobi Desert-scarce vegetations, dry and hot air, horizon, stretched so far. In the evening walk to the ruin of old temple. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

07 Aug Day 10 Travel to Bayanzag, the red Flaming Cliffs, about 3-3.5 hours/130km. Walk around the flaming cliffs and saxaul forest for 3hours. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

08 Aug Day 11 Travel to Khongoriin Els sand dunes about 5 hours/ 170km. Known as singing sand dunes, Khongor Sand dunes are up to 300 m high, 15 km wide, and 180 km long. The view is indescribable from the top of the dunes. overnight in tent. BLD

09 Aug Day 12 Trek through the golden sand dunes about 3-3.5hours/ 10-12km. Visit nomad family. Optional camel riding around the sand dunes. Drive back to Ger camp about an hour . Afternoon relax. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

10 Aug Day 13 Morning we will drive to Yoliin Am (Lammergeier's Gorge), a picturesque place where you can see ice even in the hot summer. We will wander through the area surrounded by sheer rocky walls, incredible canyons of Yoliin Am and neighboring mountain for 18-20km. After having rest for one hour continue travel through wide open steppe about 1 hour drive/ 40km. overnight in tourist Ger camp. BLD

11 Aug Day 14 Drive to local airport for flight (1.5h) back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel. After lunch shop for souvenirs and cashmere if you like. Visit National costumes museum, then enjoy fashion show of national and modern costumes.Farewell dinner. overnight in the hotel. BLD

12 Aug Day 15 Transfer to airport for departure. B

Price: $2550 per person, Single Room Supplement $150 (hotel in Ulaanbaatar), $206 at Ger camps
Includes: All activities described in the itinerary, accompanying escort and guide service, full board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)/picnic during the trekking in countryside, shared double room accommodation, entrance fees to Special Protected Areas, fee of art performance and sightseeing costs, all transfers by minibus in the city, by 4WD Russian mini van in the countryside according to the travel program, domestic flights .
Does Not Include: International flight, travel insurance, camera fees, bottled water, alcoholic drinks, laundry, tips, and items of a personal nature.

The nomads have developed a circular felt-covered dwelling, the ger (or yurt in Turkish language), adapted to the difficult conditions of their daily life (cold, wind, sun) and easy to be moved as can be raised and dismantled in thirty to sixty minutes. The gers have beautiful carved and decorated doors south oriented. When entering into a ger airag and cheese are blown and snuff bottles are exchanged. It is very easy to meet nomads and enter into a ger, Mongolian nomads being very hospitable. Accommodation in ger camps provides a perfect balance between comfort and authenticity and allows travelers to visit remote places where no other accommodation facilities are available. The gers are clean and comfortable and furnished in traditional Mongolian style with four single beds in each ger, table and chairs, and small potbelly stove for heating. There are showers, saunas and western toilets.

About the Mongolian traditional meal: we will have Mongolian cousin once at lunch at the Undurduv camp during the tour. Mongolian diet is based on dairy products and meat, especially boiled mutton, Steamed-boiled dumpling (buuz) is another varient of cooked meat and some vegetables, especailly potatoes, cabbage, carrots and onions. International Flight: MIAT (Mongolian Airlines) has flights from Beijing, Berlin, Moscow to Ulaanbaatar

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