GOBI KHANGAI MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR
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TOUR
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PRICE
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TOUR DESCRIPTION:
14 day biking tour with 8 cycling days included. Well planned route on friendly terrain. Authentic cultural experiences, full expedition support, good food, comfortable camping and professional guides! Overnights are in tents and gers (traditional felt tents).
PRICE INCLUDES:
All accommodation (twin shared): 2 hotel nights in Ulaanbaatar, 2 nights in gers, 9 tented overnights, all transfers including arrival & departure, internal flight, indicated meals (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), visits & national park fees, camping equipment, English speaking cycling guide(s), expedition cook(s), a mountain bike
PRICE EXCLUDES:
Travel insurance, excess luggage fees on the internal flight, meals not indicated, sleeping bags and pads, drinks, gratuities
TOUR GALLERY:
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TOUR INTRUDUCTION:
Start cycling from the northern edge of the Gobi desert and traverse the Khangai Mountain range. Challenge 2000m passes and enjoy breath-taking descents into valleys of nomadic herders who graze large flocks of sheep and goats on green pastures. The extreme climate of central Asia has shaped this tolerant and friendly people.
Mongolia has always been imagined as the land of vast grasslands and of arid plains roamed by innumerable yaks and horses. But this is true only to an extent. This cycling tour will allow you to experience the part of Mongolia that is dominated by high mountains, woods and that receives a relatively high amount of rain.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival to Ulaanbaatar, guided city tour
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), the capital of Mongolia and transfer to a centrally located 4 star hotel. Afternoon guided city tour will introduce you to the highlights of the city: the Gandan Temple - city's main Buddhist center, the central city square with a grand statue of Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city's edge providing a panoramic view of UB. Then choose to visit one or two museums from the following: Museum of National History introducing Mongolia's history from early humans to modern era, Natural History Museum with a unique collection of dinosaur fossils, Choijin Lama or State Oracle Residence-museum displaying best samples of Buddhist artwork and religious masks. The Winter palace of Bogd Khan showcasing rare statues of Buddhist deities and items of personal use of this last theocratic ruler of Mongolia is also worth considering. A show of traditional music, throat singing and contortion at 6PM will be followed by a welcome dinner. (hotel/D)
Day 2: Flight to the northern edge of the Gobi desert
This morning you will be transferred for an hour and a half flight to the Gobi desert. On arrival meet with the support team of guide(s), cooks and drivers. After picnic lunch take a 2 hour transfer to the starting point of cycling. Here we set our tented camp in one of the southern valleys of the Khangai mountains. Dinner and overnight. (tent/B,L,D)
Day 3: Acclimatization day
Our campsite lies at an altitude of 2100m above sea level in the valley of Shargaljuut river. The area has over 300 hot and cold mineral springs. After assembling bikes we take a short ride to the springs and back to acclimatize and get the bikes thoroughly checked and adjusted. (tent/B,L,D)
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Day 4-8: Cycle to cross the Khangai Mountain range(222km)
During these 5 days we aim to cross the Khangai mountains. They separate the Gobi Desert from the northern steppes. Avoiding the main travel routes across the Khangai as much as possible we will follow a route which has seen very few western visitors and certainly fewer bikers. We will be cycling along easy mountain valleys interrupted by short but challenging passes to climb followed long fast downhills. Each pass will open a grand view of distant ridges, high mountains and wide green valleys. On some days we will cross small streams, sometimes knee-deep. Everyday we will be passing by nomadic encampments and hundreds of yaks, sheep and goats grazing alongside watched by tough horsemen. Nomads are the most hospitable people, quite often they invite travelers into their gers and offer tea and dairy products. In the evening of the 8th day we arrive at a ger camp and take a bath or shower in the hot spring water. You may as well take a relaxing body massage at a small additional fee. Tonight you will have an overnight in a traditional Mongolian felt tent known as ger". (tent/ger/B,L,D)
Day 9: Cycle to Orkhon river valley
90km of smooth hard pack surface brings us there. Our tented camp will be erected about 10km higher up the stream upon reaching and crossing the Orkhon river. Once the camp is set you may leisurely hike the camp area or take a dip in its cool waters before dinner is ready. (tent/B,L,D)
Day 10: Rest day
We today take a short drive to the waterfall of Ulaan Tsutgalan, the
highlight of the area. It was formed by a small tributary dropping in
to a fault in which the main body of Orkhon river flows. We then continue
to visit a local herding family. The kind of visits usually become one
of the most memorable events of any trip. This is a chance to get first
hand knowledge of nomadic life and of local traditions. Almost surely you
will be offered "airag", the fermented horse milk, the area is famous
for and possibly milk vodka too. The Orkhon valley also contains many
ancient graves and historic sites within its boundaries the story of which
can be told by your guide. (tent/B,L,D)
Day 11: Bike to Karakorum - medieval city of Genghis Khan
Today we cycle eastward along the Orkhon river till we reach Karakorum
- the medieval capital of the Mongolian Empire. It is the last day of
80km but on a smooth hard pack ground. Our tented camp will be set up
just outside of Karakorum town. (tent/B,L,D)
Day 12: Visit Karakorum and drive to Hustai NP
After breakfast we visit Karakorum - the medieval capital of Mongolian
Empire. Today it is a small town but the former capital still lies in
ruins since it was leveled by Chinese Min dynasty troops in 1380-ies.
Present day Karakorum is recognized by the massive walled compound of
the Erdene Zuu monastery. It was built in the 16th century by a Mongol
Khan as part of his efforts to re-unite the nation under banners of "yellow"
faith. The monastery suffered a tremendous destruction during anti-religion
campaigns of 1930-ies with only a dozen of temples surviving to these
days. We spend some time visiting the peaceful premises of the monastery
as well as a few surviving artifacts of the old capital. Then we drive
to the Hustai Natonal park, where the wild horses of Przewalski were re-introduced
in early 1990-ies to their ancestral land after they had been extinct
for over 3 decades. We visit the park's information center and proceed
to observe the wild horses. Dinner and overnight in gers in the park's
visitor center. (ger/B,L,D)
Day 13: Return to Ulaanbataar, farewell dinner
After breakfast take a 2 hour drive to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon for shopping and else. Farewell dinner.
(hotel/B,D)
Day 14: Departure transfer
Transfer for your return travel home.(B)
