WT18 catalog single pgs

84 / 148

Under Mongolia’s “great blue sky,” we bring you incredible cultural adventures, including visits with nomad families and a spectacular Naadam festival.
QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 84
Mongolia is a magnificently remote land, its
wild, rolling grasslands dotted with nomad
camps, herds of yaks and horses, and shamanic
oovos—cairns that mark the way across this
mesmerizing realm. On our far-flung journey,
we’ll explore ancient Kharakhorum, once the
capital of Genghis Khan’s empire, and soak
in hot springs amid the canyons and lakes of
Arkhanghai Province. Heading overland into
the Gobi Desert, we hike in the Yol Valley,
sip a memorable sundowner at the fabled
Flaming Cliffs, and even ride a Bactrian camel.
Along the way, we’ll enjoy a wonderful
welcome into Mongolia’s ancient nomadic
culture as we meet local families, spend
nights in our cozy traditional gers, and
attend a Naadam festival, a quintessentially
Mongolian celebration with archery, wrestling,
and wild cross-country horse races.
Days 1-3 Ulaanbaatar / Hustain Nuruu
From Ulaanbaatar, we head across Mongolia’s
wondrous and unfenced grasslands to Hustain
Nuruu National Park, home to the last remaining
species of wild horse, the takhi, or Przewalski’s
horse. One of our hikes brings us among the
great standing stones at Ongot, a site that dates
from 500 AD.
Days 4-5 Erdene Zuu Monastery /
Kharakhorum In the Orkhon Valley, we are
welcomed into the home of a nomad family, and
we explore the chanting halls and frescoed
chambers at 16th century Erdene Zuu Monastery,
the “Jewel Temple,” built over the ruins of
Kharakhorum, capital of the Mongol Empire
between 1235 and 1260 AD.
Days 6-8 Arkhanghai Province / Tsenkher
Hot Springs Exploring Arkhanghai, one of
the most archaeologically rich regions in
all Mongolia, we visit ancient megalithic
sites, hike in the hills, and relax in mineral
springs surrounded by wildflower-carpeted
mountains. Each departure of our journey
will have a day to witness a Naadam Festival
(the actual day varies with each trip), where
we witness traditional Mongolian sports
dating back to Genghis Khan’s time and
once used to train warriors and their horses
for battle.
Days 9-13 Gobi Desert / Ulaanbaatar In the
vast Gobi, we hike in Yol Valley National Park
and visit the renowned site of the “Fighting
Dinosaurs,” where fossils of a protoceratops and
velociraptor locked in combat were discovered.
We can enjoy a ride on a Bactrian camel in this
famed desert, and we explore the legendary
fossil site of the Flaming Cliffs—stunning when
illuminated by the oranges and golds of sunset.
Depart on Day 13.
ADVENTURING FROM KHARAKHORUM TO THE GOBI DESERT
WOLFGANG KAEHLER
BRUNO MORANDI DAVE STAMBOULIS
DAVOR LOVINCIC
BRUNO MORANDI
HIGHLIGHTS
• Witness a spectacular Naadam Festival,
an exuberant expression of Mongolia’s
ancient culture
• Experience the oceanic vastness of
Mongolia’s famous grasslands,
mountains, and deserts
• Soak in hot springs at Tsenkher, visit
the ruins of Kharakhorum, Genghis
Khan’s capital
• Meet traditional nomad families with
their herds of horses, yaks, and goats
• See the wild horses of Hustain Nuruu
National Park
• In the Gobi, explore Yol Valley National
Park and the famous Flaming Cliffs
DETAILS
• 13-day trip begins and ends in Ulaanbaatar
• 9 nights ger camps, 3 nights hotels
• All meals included
DATES
Jul 5-17, 2018 Naadam in Kharakhorum
Aug 1-13 Naadam in Gobi Desert
TRIP COST
$6395 (10-15 members)
$6995 (5-9 members)
Single supplement: $1615
Internal airfare: $205 (subject to change)
Lake Hovsgol extension: from $2555
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rugged road travel, walking and light
hiking, cultural adventures