Orkhon Valley & Karakorum
Introduction
This 5 day trip combines ancient history, religion and the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Central Mongolia. We visit Harhorin, or Karakorum, as the ancient capital of the Mongol empire was called during the 13th -14th cen-turies. Before it was destroyed by the Chinese Ming ar-my during the overthrow of Yuan dynasty, Khubilai Khan’s dynasty. The Mongol emperor who shaped to-day’s China borders and the grandson of Genghis Khan. Little remains of the original city, as during the 16th century, the first Buddhist monastery of Mongolia, Erdene Zuu was built on the site from the rubble of Karakorum. The monastery was destroyed during the Stalinist purges of the late 1930s and the remaining temples were reo-pened as museum in 1965. Since the democratic reforms of the early 1990s it is a fully functioning monastery once again with about 40 resident monks. In stark contrast to the giant monastery of Erdenezuu, situated in a broad fertile valley, the small and secluded Tövkhön monastery, is hidden deep away on top of a densely forested moun-tain. It was used by Zanabazar, the first Buddhist leader of the Mongols as his personal retreat. On the way back we visit Högnö Khan Mountain, a unique rock formation, situated on the arid steppe. Hidden among the rocks, an-other monastery, Erdene Khamba is being restored and nearby a small freshwater lake with ducks and herons can be found. We will stay overnight in gers (Mongolian yurts) in permanent camps, with restaurants and shared sanitary facilities for the duration of the trip.
| Trip Details |
|---|
| Orkhon Valley & Karakorum
Erdene Zuu & Tövkhön Monasteries |
| 5 Days / 4 Nights |
Trip Details
Day 1: To Karakorum
We depart from Ulaanbaatar in the morning by bus or car for Karakorum. We will travel on one of Mongolia’s few tarmac roads. There will be steppe landscape all the way. We’ll stop for picnic lunch at place with sand dunes and camels, locally known as “Little Gobi” or “Elsen Tasarkhai”. We stay in a ger camp near Karakorum for the night.
Day 2: Erdenezuu & Karakorum
In the morning we visit Erdene Zuu Monastery. Within its 400 by 400 meters long walls, it once housed 62 temples and 1000 monks were performing religious duties. Today only the three oldest temples remain and about 40 monks are in residence. At once a museum and a fully functioning monastery, Erdene Zuu is still one of the most fascinating sites of Mongolia.
Usually we will be able to see the prayers. We will also visit the best Mongolian coun-tryside museum here, exhibiting artefacts from ancient Karakorum. After lunch we drive up the Orkhon Valley, passing the village of Khujirt, famous for its mineral springs. The Orkhon Valley Cultural Land-scape was inscribed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List for the role it played in the formation of the first steppe empires, and the host of cultural remains including petroglyphs, steles and monuments. It also is a picturesque valley used as summer pasture by many herder families and their livestock. There are a lot of yaks. We stay at Ursa Major Ger Camp for two over-nights.
Day 3: Tövkhön Monastery
Full day excursion to Tövkhön Monastery. We drive on along the Orkhon valley into the Hangai Mountains. We hike on a steep uphill for 2½ kilometers to reach the Tövkhön Hermitage retreat. We are re-warded with breathtaking views of the for-ested mountain range. Tövkhön is a se-cluded Mongolian pilgrimage site which sits on top of a rocky mountain ridge at 2312 meters above sea level, where Zanabazar the first religious leader of Mongolia com-posed the Soyombo alphabet. The first let-ter of this alphabet can be seen on the Mongolian National flag. The retreat fea-tures several minor caves where Zanaba-zar meditated in total seclusion. Today Tövkhön is a lively pilgrimage site for local Buddhists.
Day 4: To Högnö Khan Mountain
Today we will drive back east, and stop at Högnö Khan Mountain, to enjoy the grand scenery and visit the small and recently rebuilt Erdene Khamba Temple. It is possi-ble to hike a short way to the ruins of Övgön Monastery, located in a green oasis hidden in the middle of Högnö Khan Moun-tains. A small freshwater lake with ducks and herons is situated nearby. We stay at a ger camp in the area for the night.
Day 5: Return to Ulaanbaatar
We drive back to Ulaanbaatar and have a picnic lunch en route. Check into your hotel and explore the city on your own.
Itinerary Map
DATES ex. Ulaanbaatar: 2024
- Daily mid May to end of September.
PRICE 2024 ex Ulaanbaatar:
2 – 12 members: USD 1250 per person
Single supplement (4n): USD 240
Practicalities:
Transport:
This tour is supported by a jeep or minibus depending on the number of travelers.
Accommodation:
We’ll stay in Ger (yurt) Camps for the duration of this trip. These permanent camps are equipped with a res-taurant and shared bathroom and shower blocks.
Staff:
An English-speaking Mongolian guide will accompany you at all times. Other lan-guage guides such as Russian, French, German, Italian, Korean etc. available at additional cost, upon request.
Meals:
The meals will be provided in the ger camps, or as picnic lunches.
Additional:
We can organize hotel accommodation, city tours and transfers in Ulaanbaatar.
Including:
Guide, all meals outside Ulaanbaatar. All overnights in ger camps. All local transport and entrance fees.
Excluding:
Beverages. Transfers and accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Air or train tickets in and out Mongolia.
What our guests say
We appreciate your feedback about our tours and services.
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Great place to stay and experience mongolian way of living, no tv, wifi, phone. Just nature and great company of the staff and livestocks of mongolia. The toilet is a hole in the ground covered by a shed. It is clean, but can be smelly to those used to city life. Not hot water supply, inform the staff that you like to hot water half an hour earlier so that they can boil it over camel dung 🙂
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You can choose the general Gobi tourist circuits with long daily drives and chatty companions, or you can choose to stay at this special little place in the East Gobi. Red Rock Ger camp comprises 15 gers and a dining room ger, library ger and shower ger. The camp staff do not speak much English, but things manage to get done. Your ger will have decent beds, chairs and a table, place for your luggage and a small wash stand. There is a stove in the middle which can be lit by request to the staff, for cold nights and/or mornings. The ger has a small solar powered light and a candle. You will need a torch light to see your way to the WC block at night. The showers are lovely with water heated on a fire. It takes around 10-20 mins for them to get it set up, so you should let them know before hand...
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