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A cultural-ethnographic tour by off-road vehicle around Mongolia is a unique opportunity to touch numerous mysteries and puzzles hiding in the stillness of Mongolian steppes, in the depth of huge mountains and in the greatness of Buddhist temples. The tour introduces you to the bright culture of steppe nomads, gives you a chance to visit the capital of Chengis Khan's legendary empire, attend a marvelous theatrical show, experience the solitary silence of ancient monasteries and lets you consider the world in a new way. Type of tour:
cultural-ethnographic
Itinerary:
Irkutsk- Ulan-Ude- Kyahta- Ulan-Baator- Harhorin- Ulan-Baator- Kyahta Ulan-Ude– Irkutsk.
Length:
3500 km
Duration:
12 days/ 11 nights
Period:
all year round
Group size:
1-2 people, 3-5 people or 6-7 people. Day 1
Arrive in Irkutsk. Take an excursion around the historical center of the city. Then travel to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, by a picturesque road along the coast of Lake Baikal. After crossing the serpentine Kultuk Pass, participants of the expedition will be served with a traditionally tasty lunch of Siberian cuisine. From this vantage point a view of Baikal extends to the horizon. Day 2
Take a tour of Ulan-Ude, titled “From Stockade to Capital". Visit the most important Buddhist temple of Russia, Ivolginsk Datsan, which is the greatest example of traditional religious architecture. The body of Hambo Lama Itigelov, which has not yet begun to decay since his death, is kept on display here. Lunch of national Buryat cuisine is served. Then travel to Kyahta, which served as one of the most important places for caravans of the Great China Road since the end of XVIII century. Day 3
Cross the border into Mongolia at the international automobile crossing Altan Bulag". Travel to the capital of Mongolia, Ulan-Baator. En route visit the revolutionary city Sukhe-Bator. Traditional Mongolian dinner is served. Day 4
Excursion around Ulan-Baator, which lets you see the unique coexistence of felt gers and modern office buildings. Visit Gandan monastery, where a 26-meter statue of Buddha, one of the biggest statues in the world, stands. Visit the most popular museums in Mongolia, including the Natural History Museum, world-famous for its unique exhibits of whole dinosaur skeletons, and the National Museum of Mongolian History, containing exhibits of different development periods of Mongolia, from the Paleolithic Era up till the present. Day 5
Take a trip to legendary Harhorin, the capital of Ghengis Khan's ancient Mongolian Empire. The road leads through picturesque landscapes of Central Mongolia; steppes and sand dunes change to mountains and rivers with breath-taking speed. A stop on the way for lunch includes visiting a datsan, situated in a canyon, followed by a 2-hour hike to the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery from the thirteenth century. Day 6
Participate in an excursion around Harhorin with a visit to the most ancient monastery of Mongolia, Erdene-Zuu, surrounded by a wall of 108 stupas. While in the city, visit a museum of ancient culture and the temple Lambram, the only surviving example of classical Tibetan architecture in Mongolia. Visit active archeological excavations of Ugaday temple. Walk to the ruins of a tower from the seventh century. Day 7
Tour around active monasteries and temples in nearby areas of Harhorin. Research and view ruins of temples and monasteries from the ninth through thirtheenth centuries. There will be a unique opportunity to search for artifacts of precious metal with the help of a professional metal detector. Attend an open air theatrical show “Ghengis-Show", and see many cavalrymen, a huge chariot with shaggy-haired yaks, beautiful Mongolian girls and dashing horse riders. Day 8
Return to Ulan-Baator. En route there will be an excursion to the sand dunes and a visit to a nomad camp. While at the nomad camp, experience an introduction to the traditional way of life of Mongolian cattle breeders, and taste the national drink of fermented milk, called “airag". Day 9
Visit the winter residential palace complex of Mongolian Khans. Various shopping opportunities exist, including goods characteristic only of Mongolia, goods made of high quality leather, woolen luxurious carpets with classical or national ornament, and goods of high quality cashmere. Many antique souvenirs are also available, including: cold steel, goods made of stone, ritual accessories, and objects of applied arts. Take a tour “Ulan-Baator by Night." Day 10, 11
Return to Irkutsk. Festive dinner, celebrating culmination of the expedition. Day 12
Departure
The cost of participation in the expedition “Land of Legends”
Group
| 1-2 people
| 3 900 euros | Group
| 3-5 people
| 2 600 euros
| Group
| 6-7 people | 1 950 euros
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The expedition includes:
- Transportation services according to the itinerary
- Accommodation in hotels/ tents
- Meals tree times a day
- Excursions
- Swim in the hot springs
- Guide services
- Insurance
- Visa
The company “Asia-expedition" has a right to make slight changes in the itinerary of the expedition. The starting and ending points of the expedition may be customized to participants’ preferences out of the following cities: Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Ulan-Baator. The itinerary of the expedition may be extended with additional fee-paid services such as an excursion to Listvyanka, situated on the Lake Baikal coast; a visit to the architectural-ethnographical museum Taltsy"; a visit to a unique monument of engineering architecture, Transbaikal Railroad; an excursion to the major storage of nature and historical-cultural values of the Eastern Siberia and Central Asia countries, the Kyahta Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy; and other cultural and tourist opportunities. Photogallery "Mongolia"
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Mongolia 
