| 1. day: |
In the afternoon at around 14.00 o´clock departure from Berlin-Tegel with Mongolian Airlines
(MIAT) via Moscow to Ulaanbaatar ( flight time: 8,5 h)
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| 2. day: |
After arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, transfer to our city hotel. City tour with
sightseeing: city centre with Suchbaatar-Square and parliamentary
building, Bogd-Khan-Winterpalace and museum, national museum, black market and
state-mall.
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| 3. day: |
After breakfast visit of Gandan-Monastery with the
biggest, standing Buddha statue in whole Asia (27 m) and Bogd Chaan Uul hill with war
memorial. After this we drive in western direction to the MONGOL PALACE CAMP
(about 280 km, 7 hours drive). Lunch on the way. The MONGOL PALACE CAMP is located at a beautiful sand dune landscape close to the Högno-Hahn Mountains. Dinner and overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP.
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| 4. day: |
After breakfast visit of the small monastery Erdene-Hamp, which is about 800 years old. Here we are able to join a small
lama-ceremony. Our walk goes on through a beautiful landscape with old trees and bizarre rocks. After 40 minutes we reach a small valley with a lot of ruins from an old
monastery. After lunch at the camp, we drive on to Karakorum (80 km). On the way visit of the Shanhyn-Hiit
Monastery. Dinner and overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP.
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| 5. day: |
After breakfast we start our whole day sightseeing tour in Karakorum. In the 11th and 12th century it was the world’s most important city of that time – Karakorum – which means something like “black stone”. Karakorum was some kind of New York of this time. Envoys of the pope and the French king lived in
Karakorum. Today there are big stone monuments that still remind of that glorious time. The famous Erdene-Zuu monastery already is worth a trip to Mongolia and lies next to
Karakorum. The monastery dates of the 15th century and is Mongolia’s primordial church. Today a lot of lamas live in the huge monastery area
again. The 1.600 meters of monstrous walls are crowned by 108 huge
stupas. For lunch we drive back to our MONGOL PALACE CAMP. In the afternoon we survey the area around Karakorum
(GreatKhan Monument, Yak breeders at the Orchon Valley, stone turtle etc.), where about 8000 people live
today. After dinner we enjoy traditional music and song performances in our camp
restaurant.
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| 6. day: |
Whole day drive to the western Middle Gobi (about 280 km,8 hours drive). First we pass
grasslands, later the semi-desert. Diversified drive through gorgeous
landscapes. Fotostopps possible at any time. We will have picnic lunch with
nomads. Dinner and overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP.
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| 7. day: |
In the morning we plan a trip through the ruin-town of
Onggin-Hiit, which is situated on both sides of the river. By foot it takes only a few minutes from our camp to the first ruins of the
town, whose buildings were mostly monasteries and temples of
Buddhism. When the water-level is high it can be difficult to reach the other side of the
river, as there does not exist any bridge. Lunch at the camp. In the afternoon you can go for a swim in the clean desert
river. Later Lamas from the town come to our camp to hold a religious
ceremony. The camp has its own “Ovoo” (stony cult- and sacrifice
place). Parallel to the ceremony a traditional nomad-meal is
prepared: “meat in milk can”. Therefore hot stones and meat (goat or
lamb) are put in a big milk can. After one hour the meat is done and can be
served. Very tasty! Overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP.
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| 8. day: |
Daytour to the South Gobi (about 250 km, 8 hours drive). We first drive through the
semi-desert, which fades into the sandy desert. On the way to the MONGOL PALACE CAMP, located in the South Gobi, we visit the famous dinosaur cemetery of
Bayanzak. After that we pass a region with a lot of Saxaul-trees. These fossil trees can only be found in the
Gobi-desert! Lunch with nomads on the way. In the evening we reach the MONGOL PALACE CAMP at the Gobi
desert, located at the foothills of the Altai Mountains. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
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| 9. day |
Whole day trip to the wild romantic “Eagle-Gorge” in the eastern Altai Mountains. The MONGOL PALACE CAMP is situated directly at the base of the huge Altai. Driving time to the gorge is about 1
hour. After our arrival we explore the closer surroundings. In the meantime our companions prepared a
picnic-lunch. After lunch we visit the actual Eagle-Gorge. A deep, narrow gorge which is so sun protected that one can find ice during the whole
year, even in high summer. In the high walls one can observe eagles in their
eyries. In the afternoon we drive back to the camp where we have
dinner.
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| 10. day |
Daytrip in the South Gobi in direction to Khongoryn Els to the hugest and most spectacular sand dunes of
Mongolia. Lunch on the way. The dune landscapes – up to 800 m high, 12 km wide and 100 km long – are named “the singing dunes”. From top of the dunes we have a fantastic view over this bizarre
landscape. Dinner and overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP.
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| 11. day: |
Daytour by car to the eastern Middle Gobi (about 450 km, 11 hours drive). Lunch on the way. Late in the afternoon we arrive at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP. Enjoy the silence of the nature! Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
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| 12. day: |
After breakfast tour to the Baga Gadsryn Tschuluu Mountains. Impressing granite rock formations shape the wild romantic rocky landscape with pre-christian rocky paintings and megalithic
tombs. After lunch at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP free afternoon for exploring the magic
territory. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
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| 13. day: |
In the morning departure to
Terelj, about 290 km, 7 hours drive. Lunch on the way. We take a break in Manzhir for visiting the wonderfully located
monastery. Dinner and overnight at the MONGOL PALACE CAMP, located in the Terelj nature
reserve.
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| 14. day: |
Full day with impressing excursions in the wonderful Terelj National Park. The Terelj is the main destination of every
Mongolia-Tourist. The fabulous landscape can be compared with European or North-American
landscapes. In the past moviemakers of the former GDR frequently used this
region. The translation of “Terelj” is: “where Mongolia is most beautiful”. We visit the meditation
monastery, the famous Turtle Rock and experience fabulous nature
landscapes. In the afternoon back to Ulaanbaatar (about 75 km, 2 hours
drive, good roads) through wonderful areas with amazing views. At arrival in
Ulaanbaatar, transfer to our hotel and common dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
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| 15. day: |
In the morning transfer to the airport for departure with Mongolian Airlines (MIAT) to
Berlin-Tegel.
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