STEP 1 - ULAANBAATAR, CITY TOUR : Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia (called UB). You will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to Dream hotel, a 2 star establishment that’s conveniently located in downtown UB within walking distance from major attractions in the city. Depending on your arrival time, your guide will accompany you around this ‘soviet-esque’ city that offers some rich cultural attractions and museums. You will first head for Gandantegchinlen, a Tibetan-style monastery with 150 monks in residence. This is one of the very few monasteries which escaped the massive destruction during the communist period in the 1930s. The monks in residence usually pray in the morning, a ceremony open to visitors. The Buddhist Centre will be also ready to answer any of your questions. You will then visit a cashmere factory, one of Mongolia’s best known exports. This will be followed by lunch in a local restaurant to work your taste buds on Mongolian cuisine. In the afternoon, you will visit the National History Museum where three floors Mongolia’s rich and glorious past await you - from pre-historical ages to the soviet era without forgetting the glories of Genghis Khan’s period of reign. You will then head for our office to collect details of your trip: the itinerary, advice and to address any doubts or questions. At 6 pm, the Tumen Ekh traditional show will provide an exposé on traditional Mongolian folk arts including folklore dances, contortionism and Khoomi - the famous overtone singing style. PICK UP AT THE AIPORT LUNCH DOWNTOWN, DINNER NOT INCLUDED AND OVERNIGHT IN A HOTEL

STEP 2 - ULAANBAATAR – KHOGNO KHAN NATIONAL PARK : Today, you will go by jeep to the Khogno Khan natural reserve about 200 km/125 miles east. You settle in your teepees and then hike in the Khogno Khan natural reserve: semi-arid steppes, taiga and amazing rocks. You might spot ibex, wolves and many varieties of hawks. You will go for a hike and visit the Erdene Khambiin; the "Erdene monk’s Monastery". It has been built in the 17th century by Zanabazar in honour of its teacher Erdene. Visit of the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarhai. BREAKFAST IN HOTEL, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN A TEEPEES CAMP JEEP : 4 HOURS HIKE : 3 HOURS

STEP 3 - KHOGNO KHAN - KHARKHORIN - TSENKHER HOT SPRINGS : By jeep, you will arrive at Kharkhorin, the old capital city in the afternoon. The legendary city of Genghis Khan was established in 1220 along the Ancient Silk Road. It remained Mongolia’s capital city until Kubilai Khan later moved it to Beijing though the ruins of the great city still remain today. After this you will visit Erdene Zuu monastery which was built in 1586 by a nomad prince. The monastery has been built with inspiration from China and Tibet and is surrounded by 108 sacred stupas. Lunch with a family of the village and departure to Tsenkher hot springs. Pamper yourself in the warm water baths of the camp. BREAKFAST AT THE CAMP, LUNCH WITH A FAMILY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN A GERS CAMP JEEP : 3H30 OPTION : MASSAGES

STEP 4 - TSENKHER HOT SPRINGS - KHANGAÏ MOUNTS, HIKE : We leave the hot springs by foot. We hike in a plain before making the ascent of a first pass on a wooded trail. Then we move in a path through a forest of larch trees in this particularly pleasant, hilly valley. We reach the Tsenkher river where we have lunch. We cross the Tamir river , and continue to move forward on its western shore before turning to our left. Rise of a second pass where we have a break near a ovoo prayers. BREAKFAST IN THE CAMP, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC HIKE : 20 KM, 5H30 CAR FOR LOGISTIC ALTITUDE: 750 METERS

STEP 5 - CROSSING OF KHANGAÏ, HIKE : Today we descend towards the Tamir on the bank of which we have a long lunch. You can swim, especially in June, July and August. After these moments of relaxation, we leave for 3 hours walk following the river. We turn to our left and cross a pass before going down in a lush valley, where we set up our camp. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC HIKE : 22 KM, 5H30 CAR FOR LOGISTIC ALTITUDE: 300 METERS

STEP 6 - CROSSING OF KHANGAÏ, HIKE : We continue our journey through the Khangai. We find the valley we went trough the day before and we hike for several miles before turning on the left and find a more wooded area. Many farmers are living in the area, and we walk near many herds of yaks and nomadic settlements. Slight elevation in the late morning before crossing a vast plain where we have lunch. We continue our hike in the valley, we cross a river before passing the "hill condor", that area have this nickname because of the birds that we observed here. We set our camp for the night just after crossing the small pass at the beginning of the valley. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC HIKE : 23 KM, 5H45 CAR FOR LOGISTIC ALTITUDE: 250 METERS

STEP 7 - TOVKHON MONASTERY - ORKHON VALLEY, HIKE : Early in the morning we start to climb the hill Ondor Shireet. On her summit, at an altitude of 2312 meters, stands Tovkhon monastery where Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia, wrote the Soyombo alphabet. From this monastery we will have a magnificent view over the entire chain of Khangai. Following this visit, we go down to the valley and have lunch near the winters camp of nomads, and we observe petroglyphs dating from the Bronze Age in the area. In the afternoon after crossing a last hill, we descend to the green valley of the Orkhon and to place of said Ongoistiin Guur where we cross the canyon of the Orkhon. We reach of family of our local guide. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT WITH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS HIKE : 20 KM, 5H30 CAR FOR LOGISTIC ALTITUDE: 1200 METERS

STEP 8 - FAMILY CAMP - URAGT : Today we start hiking. We go first to the famous waterfalls of the Orkhon, a steady white, dripping on the black stone, a ray of sun turns into an ephemeral rainbow. These falls are 16 meters and simply magical. We reach the falls near Baga where we have lunch. We then continue through the wooded areas of Uragt, and Unit of Khoshited Mountains where we set up our camp. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC HIKE : 20 KM, 5H00

STEP 9 - NAIMAN NUUR NATIONAL PARK : This is the first day that we go hiking in the valley surrounded by the Khangai mountain chain and with Deed Khurd. We reach two small mountainlakes, where we will set up our camp for the night. We continue our walk along the valley of the Khangai. We cross an elevated area, which rises in the direction of the Khangai Nuuru pass and then comes down again towards the lake of Tsagaan Azarga. We go back up the gorges of the Khokh Davaanii River before reaching the national park of Naiman Nuur (8 Lakes); a mountainous region strewed with numerous beautifull lakes. First, we visit the Lake of Shanaga before setting our camp on the banks of the Khuis lake. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC HIKE : 4 KM, 5 HOURS A DAY

STEP 10 - NAIMAN NUUR , DISCOVERY OF THE LAKES : We shall dedicate the first day of our walk to visiting the numerous lakes of the region; Shanaa, Bugat, Khaya, Doroo, Khaliut and finally the lake of Shireet, where we will set up our camp. The next day we go hiking in the hills of Shireet and visit the stones of Shurangiin Tsokhoi. Then we will visit a herder’s family where we can rest for the rest of the day. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC (DAY 1) AND WITH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS (DAY 2) HIKE : 38 KM, 5 HOURS A DAY

STEP 11 - NAIMAN NUUR - ONGIIN MONASTERY : Today will be a transit from the green mountains of Khangai into the Gobi landscape. You will stop at Saikhan Ovoo, a medium altitude mountain along the Ongiin Gol river and a place of quiet solitude. The ruins of two monasteries Barlim and Khutagt still remain on the north and south shores of the river. You will visit this site commonly called Ongii lamasery and its little museum. Around a thousand monks used to live there until the destruction in 1937 by the Soviet army. In 2002, some monks came back and began restoration work with a small budget, making up for what they lacked monetarily with inspiring spiritual fervour. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN A GERS CAMP JEEP ; 7 HOURS

STEP 12 - ONGII MONASTERY– CLIFFS OF BAYANZAG : This will be the last stretch before the Great Gobi desert and its “Three Beauties”, a name derived from the three subranges, the East ‘Zuun Saikhan’ the highest at 2815 meters, the Middle ‘Dund Saikhan’ and the Beauty to the West ‘Baruun Saikhan’. On this day you will be driven to the “Flaming Cliffs” of Bayanzag. The rocks radiate a glowing orange colour with the sunset and so the rightfully earned name. The area is also famous for its fabulous fossil finds. In 1922 Roy Chapman Andrews, the famous paleontologist was the first to discover dinosaur eggs and bones in this area, many of which you can now see in the Natural History Museum of Ulaanbaatar as well as in numerous museums throughout the world. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT WITH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS JEEP ; 5 HOURS

STEP 13 - CLIFFS OF BAYANZAG – KHONGORIIN ELS (SAND DUNES) : You will be driven today to the western end of the park towards Khongoriin Els - the most spectacular sand dunes of Mongolia. In places they rise 200 meters above a lush, spring-fed wetland at their base. At 180km long and 20km wide, the summit of the dunes offer a fabulous view on the vast desert and steppes around. You will also hear for yourself the song of the desert sung by shifting sands and dunes that collapse into sand avalanches in a phenomenon commonly called ‘Singing Dunes’. As sand is constantly moving due to Gobi strong winds, few plants grow among the shifting dunes; the sandy ridges are therefore pure, finely sifted, dun coloured sand. You will then experience Mongolian hospitality with a nomadic family who will host you for two nights. This is the time to discover their authentic lifestyle and cultural quirks like passing the snuffbox while tasting ‘suu tai tsai’ (Mongolian salted milk tea) and camel dairy products. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT WITH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS HIKE : 4 TO 5 HOURS

STEP 14 - KHONGORIIN ELS, CAMEL RIDE : A camel ride in the Gobi is an unforgettable experience. After breakfast, you ride to a Saxaul forest on camel back. Saxaul is a plant with very tiny leaves and ranges in size from a large shrub to a small tree. Saxaul barks may be pressed for drinking water. In the Gobi desert, it is often the only kind of wood that nomads can use for heating and cooking. This plant is also a camel’s favorite meal. The Gobi is also home to diverse wildlife species. If lucky you can spot Ibex, Argalis, wild Mouflon and Antelopes. On foot, you will trudge up to the summit of the dunes to admire the astounding vista of desert land, and on a good day, catch the chant of the singing dunes. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT WITH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS CAMEL RIDE : 3 TO 6 HOURS

STEP 15 - KHONGORIIN ELS - ICED CANYON OF YOLIIN AM : Going towards the East this time, today’s adventure involves a hike in Yoliin Am (Eagles Canyon), a mountain valley that conceals the natural wonder of a large ice field that remains frozen most of the year. You will stop at Dungdene Canyon to leave the jeep behind and discover the astounding gorge on foot. The gorge is so deep that sunrays are unable to melt the ice field before August, after which temperatures quickly drop with the coming of autumn, leaving much of the ice field frozen all year round. Yoliin Am or Eagles Canyon is also a favourable place to spot and observe wildlife such as mouflon, wild sheep or argali, snow leopards and black-tailed antelopes. A its name suggests, you will also find eagles, hawks and vultures. You will spend the night with a local herder family. WESTERN BREAKFAST, LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT WTH A FAMILY, IN A GER FOR GUESTS JEEP : 5 HOURS HIKE : 4 HOURS

STEP 16 - YOLIIN AM - TSAGAAN SUVARGA : We begin our way back to Ulaanbaatar. We go through one of the emptiest regions of Mongolia. Between the desert of rocks and semi-arid steppes, we reach the white stupa, Tsagaan suvarga. This hill is 30 meters high, and venerated for centuries by the Mongols. The traveler will be surprised by these magnificent lunar landscape, looking like end of the world place and also by the many fossils found in this region the sea covered a few million years ago. WESTERN BREAKFAST , LUNCH ON THE ROAD, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN A GERS CAMP JEEP : 6 HOURS

STEP 17 - TSAGAAN SUVARGA - BAGA GAZRIIN CHUULU : Again crossing semi-arid steppe in the program of this day that will take us to the mountains of Ikh Baga Gazriin Chuulu where we will observe impressive granite rock formations eroded by the elements, often violent in the region. In the 19th century, two revered monks lived here, and their inscriptions in the rock can be seen. Of course there is also a legend that Chinggis Khan remained in this splendid region where it is good to walk. BREAKFAST IN THE CAMP, LUNCH ON THE ROAD, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN BIVOUAC JEEP : 7 HOURS

STEP 18 - BAGA GAZRIIN CHUULU - ULAANBAATAR : After your breakfast, you will depart for Ulaanbaatar. This will be last chance to bid farewell to the Mongolian countryside as you catch your last glimpse of gers, horses and sheep grazing in the steppes. You can spend the afternoon to visiting Naraan Tuul black market, one of Asia’s largest outdoor markets, for the last bit of shopping. WESTERN BREAKFAST? LUNCH ON THE WAY, DINNER NOT INCLUDED AND OVERNIGHT IN HOTEL JEEP : 6 HOURS

STEP 19 - RETURN : Breakfast at the hotel. Return transfer can take place at the desired time, depending on your flight time.