3-Day Karakorum with a Nomad Family Stay
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Ulaanbaatar β Karakorum (Kharkhorin)
We pick you up from your accommodation at 08:00 and drive west to Karakorum, about 360 km and 6 hours on a paved road across the rolling steppe of Central Mongolia. Karakorum was the capital of the Great Mongol Empire, founded under Chinggis Khaan and built up by his son Γgedei into a cosmopolitan city of merchants, envoys, and craftsmen from across Eurasia; today a small township stands on the site. Some 200 years after the city was sacked by Chinese armies, builders reused materials from its ruins to found Erdene Zuu in 1586, the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, ringed by a wall topped with 108 white stupas. Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Karakorum Museum with its finds from the imperial capital, and other historical sights around the town, such as the ancient stone Turtle Rock. Spend the night nearby.
Elsen Tasarkhai Sands β Khustai National Park β Nomadic Family
After breakfast, drive about 75 km (1 hour on a paved road) to the Elsen Tasarkhai Sands, whose name means 'piece of sand.' Considered the northern edge of the Gobi, this strip of small dunes runs through the lowland between the legendary Khugnu Khaan and Bat Khaan mountains. After lunch, ride Bactrian camels, sitting comfortably between their two humps as they walk slowly and gently across the sand. Then drive about 225 km (4 hours on a paved road) to Khustai National Park, where takhi wild horses have been reintroduced since 1992. Known in the West as Przewalski's horse, the takhi is the last wild horse subspecies to survive into the 21st century; Russian explorer N. M. Przhevalsky first described it in western Mongolia in the late 1870s. Hike in the hills to look for the horses, and perhaps maral deer and other animals too. Finally, drive about 25 km on a dirt road to a nomadic family for dinner in their ger, then take a 1-hour horse ride through the Tuul River valley and up the mountain for the view; no experience is required.
Nomadic Family β Ulaanbaatar
Wake up to the sounds of the herds around the ger and share breakfast with your host family. Then say goodbye and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, about 80 km and 2 hours, mostly on a paved road. We transfer you to your accommodation, arriving at around 11:00, with the rest of the day free in the capital.