Mongolia Khamriin Khiid Monastery
& Gobi Desert Trip

 

Explore Mongolia, the 'Land of the Eternal Blue Sky' with us!

Mongolia is a remote region of boundless space and sky, endless steppes, the cradle of nomadic people and a land of diverse ethnic groups, religions and terrain. Steeped in legend, mythical Mongolia is a fabled land of golden steppes, the infamous Gengis Khan, nomads on horseback, gers and both Shamanistic and

The Gobi Dessert, over1600 kilometers from southwest to northeast,  is one of Mongolia's best known regions, a vast expanse of waves of sand, nomadic people, camels, cave monasteries, pre-historic excavations and bare rock. The Gobi is the fifth largest desert in the world, and the largest in Asia. Khamriin Khiid is a wonderful Buddhist monastery set in the midst of a large expanse of desert, which magically turns hues of pink, yellow and orche in the evening light, and one of the most important power points in all of the world.

We stay at a lovely tourist ger complex, get out into the desert for camel-riding excursions and visiting local families during this Gobi trip, which can be either an extension of one of our Mongolia treks or a trip on its own.

ITINERARY  

Day 1  - Arrive Ulan Bator

Day 2 - Ulan Bator

*** Trek Extension Starts ***

Day 3 - Drive Gobi (Saishand)

Day 4 - Camel Riding & Gobi Trekking

Day 5 - Visit Khamriid Khiid Monastery
by Camel

Day 6 - Camel Riding & Jeep to Khar Uul Monastery

Day 7 - Drive Ulan Bator

*** Trek Extension Ends ***

Day 8 - Depart

(Optional Day - Zuunbayan)

 

Mongolia
Mongolia (or Outer Mongolia), a vast country in the heart of Central Asia referred to by its inhabitants as 'Blue Mongolia', is a country of eternal blue sky, nomads, yurts, desert and extreme contrasts. Protected by an immense blue dome, the Mongolians revere nature and the heavens and their protectors. To this day, Mongolian women offer the first sip of their milky tea to the sky gods.

Mongolia, its meager population (which has quadrupled since the turn of the century) of 2.7 million living in an area half the size of Europe, is sandwiched between Russian and China, and was caught in a tug-of-war for many years with Russia winning out. In 1990 Mongolia became democratic and instituted numerous political reforms; after many years of being closed, its now open to the outside world and it welcomes tourism but with a more basic infrastructure than other Asian countries in general. Twelve hundred years ago the nation we now know as Mongolia was made up of nomadic tribes, but now only half of the population continue their nomadic lifestyle, the other half living a much more modern life-style in cities and towns. The nomads produce approximately 20% of the Pashmina wool sold on the world-wide market.

Before the onset of communism when all but one monastery were destroyed and nearly half the monk population killed, Mongolia was second only to Tibet as a strong-hold of Tibetan Buddhism. Since the liberalization in the 1990s there has been a huge revival of Buddhism, and Mongolia now hosts over 130 Buddhist monasteries. There are also approximately 60,000 Kazakh Muslims and a small percentage of Christians in Mongolia.

The topography of Mongolia ranges from the Gobi Desert to high mountain ranges to the severe Siberian steppe ...

Day 1 - Arrive Mongolia (Ulaan Baatar/Ulan Bator)
Arrive in Ulan Bator (locally known as Ulaan Baatar), where about half of the Mongolia population now lives. You'll be met at the airport by a representative from Happy Camels and/or our guest house (TBA) and driven to the centrally-located guest house where your rooms are booked for you. Take a walk around Ulan Bator to get yourself oriented; visit the main square with the impressive statue of Ghengis Khan or head up to the Zaisan Memorial on a hill overlooking the city. There are also several museums worth visiting for those who arrive early including the Museum of Natural History, the Natural History Museum and the Choijin Lama or State Oracle Residence Museum. There is also the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan, the palace of the last theocratic ruler of Mongolia, to visit if time permits.

Day 2 - Ulan Bator
A free day in Ulan Bator today, so take the day and explore the city. Some options are to visit Gandan Monastery, home of Tibetan Buddhist since 1911, to visit the Chojin Lama Museum or to do one of several other things (see start of trek, UB). We will set up a local sight-seeing tour based on what you would like to do.

*** Following is the trek extension trip.

Day 3 - Drive to Saishand in the Gobi Desert
We leave Ulan Bator in our private jeep for the long drive to Saishand, in the Gobi Desert ,where we will stay with a local camel-breeding family. This is a unique opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of the Mongolian families. For dinner we will be offered a typical Mongolian meal that will be prepared by nomads. Those who want will have the opportunity to try the 'airag' or fermented horse milk! Mmmm.  Our guide/translator will help us to communicate, ask questions and bond with these families.

Day 4 - Camel Riding & Gobi Trekking
Hop on! More details of this fun day to come ...

Day 5 - Khamriin Khiid Monastery
We're back on our wonderful camels to visit Khamariin Monastery (Sambala Khiid), where we will explore a region of  petrified wood, dinosaurs bones, Sambala energy complex and cave monasteries. We'll wander around in the beautiful, ochre sand dunes in the afternoon, a unique experience.

Day 6 - Khar Uul Monastery
We'll spend another  desert day on our camels, this time just for the morning. After lunch we will take jeeps to another small monastery, Khar Uul,  at the other side of the railroad. Once there, we'll  climb up to the top of the hill and enjoy spectacular views from high up in the Mongolian sky ...

Optional Day: Zuunbayan
You can drive to Zuunbayan and visit this ghost town. It used to be a Russian military base, but since the Russians left this town was abandoned. Now empty buildings are all that remains.

Day 7 - Drive back to Ulan Bator
Sadly we leave the Gobi and our new friends behind and head back to Ulan Bator in our jeeps.

Day 8 - Depart
We take you to the airport for your flight home. It's been an amazing journey through Mongolia, the land of the eternal blue sky.

Namaste & Tashi Delek!