The Best Central Mongolia tour with Mini Naadam

Itinerary

Day 1: Kharakhorum

Stop At: Kharakhorum Museum, Khushuu Tsaidam Rd, Kharkhorin 62090 Mongolia
Mongolia’s ancient capital, Kharakhorum, Chinggis Khaan’s fabled city, was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It was from there that the Mongol Empire governed, until Khubilai Khaan moved it to Beijing. The symbolic ruins of Kharakhorum (kharkhorin), monumental walls (400 m of length) with 108 stupas, surround the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586. In 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas; since 1990, it has become an active monastery again. Turtles carved from the stone marked the boundaries of the complex. Nearby, Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions erected in 8-9th centuries in memory of outstanding fighters for independence.

In 1220 Genghis Khan decided to build the capital city of his vast Mongolian empire at Karakorum. Building was completed by his son, Ogedai Khan, after Genghis' death, but Karakorum served as the capital for only 40 years before Kublai Khan moved it to what is now Beijing. Following the move, and the subsequent collapse of the Mongolian empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then later destroyed by hordes of Manchurian soldiers. Whatever was left was used to help build the Erdene Zuu monastery in the 16th century, which itself was badly destroyed during the Stalinist purges. The modern and dreary town of Kharkhorin was built on the same spot.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin 62090 Mongolia
Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) was the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The monastery was started in 1586 by Abtai Khaan, but wasn't entirely finished until about 300 years later. It had between 60 and 100 temples, about 300 gers were set up inside the walls and, at its height, up to 1000 monks were in residence.

Like Karakorum, the monastery was abandoned and then vandalized by invading Manchus. Attempts at restoration were made in about 1760 and, again, in 1808 under the direction of the famous architect Manzshir, but then came the Stalinist purges of the 1930s. All but three of the temples in Erdene Zuu were destroyed and an unknown number of monks were either killed or shipped off to Siberia and never heard from again.

However, a surprising number of statues, tsam masks and scroll paintings were saved from the monastery at the time of the purges - possibly with the help of a few sympathetic military officers. These were buried in nearby mountains, or stored in local homes (at great risk to the residents). Sadly the statues are still not safe: a security system was installed in the monastery halls in early 2000 after several statues were stolen.

The monastery remained closed until 1965 when it was permitted to reopen as a museum, but not as a place of worship. It was only with the collapse of communism in 1990 that religious freedom was restored and the monastery became active again. Today, Erdene Zuu Khiid still retains much of its former glory, though no doubt it's a shadow of what it once was. Restoration of the monastery is one of Mongolia's top cultural projects, but few funds are available from the government or international agencies.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Tourist Camp

Day 2: Semi Gobi

Stop At: Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi), Rashaant, Mongolia
The main road separates Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune into two parts, Mongol Els on the south and Khugnu Tarnyn Els on the north. Elsen Tasarkhai sand is sodden under its surface, so shrubberies such as willow, elm and dogwood, grow in the area. There are many tourist camps around Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes. Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes is surrounded by Mount Khugnu Khan on the north and Mount Ikh Mongol on the south.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Nomad Family

Day 3: Hustai National Park

Stop At: Hustai National Park, Ulaanbaatar 13 Mongolia
Hustai National Park, home to the Takhi (Przewalski wild horses), to see the endangered horse species roaming freely on rolling hills of beautiful Mongolia along with other wildlife animals. The Park covers a vast area providing visitors a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy, including Takhi and bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, photography, and ancient ruin sight-seeing.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Hustain Nuruu - Biosphere Reserve - Hustai National Park, Khustai Mountains Rd, Mongolia
Mini version of Naadam Festival offers authentic experience and atmosphere of Mongolian Naadam. Mongolian Naadam Festival consists of the Three Manly Games of the Mongols, namely, wrestling, archery, horse racing that nomads of Mongolia have practices thousands of years. The Naadam Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the world. From the moment that visitors set foot at the arena they will see and feel the Naadam, there will be traditional Mongolian tent set, Mongolian music played and traditionally dressed locals everywhere as well as the Naadam competitors: wrestlers, archers, horse trainers and jockeys with their horses.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.