7 days Khuvsgul lake tour, Mongolia
Day1. Elsen Tasarkhai Sands - camel riding & Karakorum
We will pick you up from your accommodation
Before dinner time, we will drive to Karakorum (82 km). Karakorum, the capital of Great Mongolian State where today there is a small local township. In the history, the city of Karakorum was founded in 1220 in Orkhon River Valley by order of Genghis Khan and after collapsing of Yuan dynasty of Khuvilai Khan Min state’s invaders sacked the city and massacred its inhabitants in 1388 and ruined it. After 200 years, Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia and by various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum. At its peak in the late 18th century the complex of ornate gardens and 62 temples was home to over 1000 lamas. But in 1937, by communist purges the whole monastery completely destroyed. Overnight there.
Day2. Karakorum - Genghis Khan's former capital & Tsenkher Hot Spring - take rest in open pool
After breakfast time, we will do half day tour of Karakorum. We will visit to Karakorum Museum, Karakorum Ruin Open Museum and Erdene Zuu Monastery Complex respectively. After lunch time, we will drive to Tsenkher Hot Spring (125 km). Tsenkher's abundant therapeutic natural hot spring, flows out from the ground at +86°c, have been identified as amongst the best in the Mongolia in terms of healing qualities, radio energy & temperature variance & water supply, and are particularly effective in treating a multitude of ailments and skin diseases because they can accommodate many different forms/strengths of therapy. In the evening, we will enjoy in the open pool. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.
Day3. Taikhar Rock & Khorgo-Terkh National Park - horse trek & climb up
Taikhar Rock viewAfter breakfast time, After lunch time, we will drive to Taikhar Rock (51 km). Taikhar Rock is a large granite over 18 m high rock formation. Geologically, the rock was separated by Tamir river systems in millions years from north side of the mountain. The rock has a large number of inscriptions, over 150, in various scripts including Turkish, Uighar, Mongolian, Tibetan, Manchu, Sogda and Chinese too. Unfortunately, most of them seem to have barely appeared as time passes.
After lunch time, we will drive to the Khorgo-Terkh National Park (161 km). On the way, we will see Chuluut River Canyon. The volcano erupted in the Quaternary Period and its lava closed the water stream of a river and result of this meeting has created a truly incredible landscape, Khorgo Extinct Volcano and Terkh Lake, large placid lake is ringed by sandy beaches. There is a number of rock formations of erupted several volcanoes and circuit gorges with fast flowing rivers and cascades. We will horse trek there and climb up to the top of the volcano. Overnight there.
Day4. Shine Ider sub-province
After breakfast time, we will drive to Shine Ider sub-province (170 km). On the way, we will see picturesque and high Orookh Mountain Pass. We will walk larch forested surrounding mountain of the tourist ger camp. Overnight in the tourist ger camp.
Day5. Uushig Deer Stones - ancient burial site & Khuvsgul Lake National Park
After breakfast time, we will drive to Uushig Deer Stones (109 km). A complex of 30 deer stones of Uushig Valley and its burial mounts belong to the ancient Huns period and over 3000 years old. The Bronze Age funeral practice, sacrificial ritual and ideology and animal style art, which were spread among ancient nomads, are all together represented through deer stones made by long block of granite. Highly artistic illustrations of deers and other images are symbol of Shamanism. Especially, statues with images of human face draw attentions of many scientists and considered one of the rarest statues. We will walk around the site.
Then we will drive to Khuvsgul Lake (132 km). About midway along border between Mongolia and Russian Siberia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110km long and almost 40km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth - Lake Khusgul. The lake region is home to an enormous variety of plants and animals. Since 1990s Lake Khuvsgul and the entire surrounding area have been designated as a national park, and Khuvsgul is today a naturalist's paradise and an idyllic holiday destination. The water in the lake is so clean and clear that one can easily catch sight of ground. Overnight there.
Day6. Khuvsgul Lake National Park - half day trekking and visit to reindeer people
After breakfast time, you will have half day hiking. Hiking and climbing up to the top of the back mountain of the lake is unforgettable. You will hike over a beautiful and fully covered forest of Siberian larch. Your guide will be accompanying you and packed lunch will be available. (car driving: 36 km)
After lunch time, you will visit a reindeer herders’ family. They are Tuvan people who moved to the Mongolia from Tuvan Republic around 1920s to the northern most part of Mongolia. Dukha (another name) are one of the last groups of nomadic reindeer herders (about 40 families left). Some reindeer people moved to the lake area for selling hand made souviner to tourists and brought their reindeers.
Day7. Back to Ulaanbaatar.
After breakfast time, we will drive to Murun town (119 km) and fly to Ulaanbaatar city. After you landed in Ulaanbaatar city, you will be transferred to your booked accommodation.
