Private Expedition: Mongolia

10 days
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews  
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Private Guided
The timeless spirit of Mongolia can be found in the remote corners of its countryside, upon the rolling steppe and desert landscapes where nomads have roamed for millennia. Embrace this intriguing way of life as you explore the soaring Altay Mountains, hike through the grasslands of the steppe, and traverse undulating dunes in the Gobi. Sleep in the serenity ...
From$7,095
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Help local palaeontologists examine newly excavated dinosaur fossils at a lab in Ulaanbaatar.
    • Track this, the world’s last remaining species of wild horse, on an excursion through the grassy steppe of Hustai National Park.
    • Get a first-hand look at the nomadic lifestyle on a visit to a camel-herding camp in the Gobi.
    • Stay in a ger—a traditional round Mongolian tent—at the award-winning Three Camel Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World located amid the vast desert landscapes of the Gobi.

What's this trip about?

    The timeless spirit of Mongolia can be found in the remote corners of its countryside, upon the rolling steppe and desert landscapes where nomads have roamed for millennia. Embrace this intriguing way of life as you explore the soaring Altay Mountains, hike through the grasslands of the steppe, and traverse undulating dunes in the Gobi. Sleep in the serenity of traditional ger tents and spend time with nomadic families in their settlements. In Ulaanbaatar, where ancient temples stand amid contemporary skyscrapers, see past and present mingle within an evolving, modern cityscape.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityUlaanbaatar
End CityUlaanbaatar

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Mongolia

Attractions

  • Altai Mountains
  • Gandan Monastery
  • Gobi Desert
  • Ulaanbaatar

Activities

  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing

Trip includes

    • Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary
    • Pre-departure information
    • Entrance fees, excursions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary
    • All gratuities except those for train or ship's crew, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page
    • Ground transportation during the expedition
    • Services of National Geographic experts and/or local guides, lecturers, expedition leaders, and any other staff
    • Taxes, port charges, baggage handling, and service charges

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1:  Arrive Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s bustling and expansive capital. Ride from the airport to your downtown hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace

The day begins with a visit to Gandan Monastery, one of the few monasteries in the city that survived Stalin’s religious purges of the 1930s. Greet red-robed monks and explore ...

Day 3: Ulaanbaatar/Hustai National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: HS Khaan Resort Hotel

Join paleontologists for a behind-the-scenes tour of a local laboratory and examine the latest batch of dinosaur fossils excavated from the field. Then, travel west to Hustai Nationa...

Day 4: Hustai National Park/ Ulaanbaatar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace

This morning, visit the Neolithic graves of the Ongud, an ancient Mongol people that were active during the reign of Genghis Khan. On your return trip to Ulaanbaatar, travel th...

Day 5: Gobi/Gegeet Valley/Khongoryn Els

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Fly over Mongolia’s vast wilderness to the mystical Gobi, a semiarid landscape that defies conventional notions of desert scenery. Here undulating sand dunes give way to stretches of green shrublands teeming with diverse wildl...

Day 6: Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Three Camel Lodge

Rise early for an excursion through the Gobi’s “singing sands” and slide across the dunes to induce their famous groaning sounds. Visit the camp of a camel-herding family and learn about...

 Day 7: Yolyn Am

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Three Camel Lodge

Travel to Yolyn Am, the Valley of the Eagles, and hike the valley running through the foothills of the Altay Mountains. Spot yaks, Altay snowcocks, ibex, and lammergeiers as you trek thr...

Day 8: Tugrigiin Shiree/Flaming Cliffs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Three Camel Lodge

Head to Tugrigiin Shiree where paleontologists unearthed the famous “fighting dinosaurs” fossils of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat. Drive to the Flaming Cliffs of Baya...

Day 9: Ulaanbaatar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace

Return to Ulaanbaatar and visit the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan. Home to Mongolia’s last emperor, Bogd Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII, the ornate temple complex is now a museum d...

Day 10: Ulaanbaatar/Depart

Transfer to the airport and catch your international flight home.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,095
Price per day$710
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with National Geographic Expeditions.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the National Geographic Society, was founded on the same belief in the importance of exploration that distinguishes the Society's 125-year history. Launched in 1999, National Geographic Expeditions now operates hundreds of trips each year, spanning all seven continents and more than 60 destinations.

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As part of the National Geographic Travel group, National Geographic Expeditions aims to fulfill the Society's mission to inspire people to care about the planet by providing meaningful opportunities to explore it. Proceeds from all travel programs support the Society’s efforts to increase global understanding through exploration, education and scientific research.

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Travel in good company: Lasting friendships often begin on National Geographic Expeditions. Your traveling companions are Society members like you: active, engaged, and curious about the world.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary)
    • Activities noted as optional in the itinerary
    • Passport, visa, and permit expenses
    • Medical expenses and immunizations
    • Baggage, accident, cancellation insurance
    • Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages
    • Any other items not specifically noted as included
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Meals Included

8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 8 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
nation-privatnat

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