Wildlife Safari

Mongolia Luxury Wildlife Holiday

This is a slow-paced luxurious holiday in search of fascinating

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Duration: 13 days; Duration
Group size: Max 2; Group size
From, per person: $5,400; From, per person

Overview

This is a slow-paced luxurious holiday in search of fascinating bird and wildlife. Stay in our carefully chosen first-class hotels and ger camps.

Showing the fascinating birdlife, bringing you face-to-face with the untouched landscapes and true nomadic life with excellent food and accommodation for your travel will be our first priority in Mongolia.

Our experienced and conservation-oriented experts will show you the most interesting birds and wildlife species including Amur and Saker Falcons, Cinereous Vulture, Upland Buzzard, and Siberian Rubythroat, Oriental Plover, Argali, Siberian Ibex, Takhi Wild Horse, and Mongolian Gazelle.

Expect more than 180 species of birds, more than 35 mammal species, more than 7 species of amphibians and reptiles and for the trip depending on a season.

At a glance

Duration: 13 days
Group size: 2 - 5 persons
Price: from $5,400 per person
Departures: Sep 01 - 13, 2023
Physical rating: Easy/Moderate

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Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Our crew picks you up at the Chinggis Khaan international airport upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia and transfer to the 5-star Shangri-la hotel. Optional rest at the hotel for few hours. After lunch (in case you arrive before lunch), visit Tuul river valley for introduction birding at the wetland and a beautiful mix of cherry, elm, willow, and popular. Interesting birds here include uncommon Black Stork, Black-eared Kite, Demoiselle Crane, Pied Avocet, Mongolian Gull, ‘black-billed’ Common Tern longipennis, Horned Lark brandti, Barn Swallow tytleri, White-cheeked Starling, Blyth’s Pipit, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline-Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch and probably world endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Welcome dinner at one of the better restaurants in Ulaanbaatar. Food: Optional lunch and welcome dinner. Road:Total coverage 30 km paved road (30 minutes).

Day 2-3. Gorkhi - Terelj National Park

Gorkhi-Terelj NP is a southern end of the Siberian boreal forest (or taiga) where you find the picturesque mountain with mixed forest trenched by beautiful valleys. Following arrival in the national park, we will check in our tourist ger camp near birding site. The afternoon we will do light walking near the campsite and see some interesting birds including Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian Rubythroat, Willow Tit, Taiga Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, and Pine Bunting, and probably Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Have dinner at the restaurant of the ger camp.

Next morning will drive down to riparian forest, where we will find old and big popular trees and find Oriental and Common Cuckoos, Eurasian Hoopoe, Great Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Grey-headed and Black Woodpeckers, Great and Willow Tits, Red-throated Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, Dusky, Greenish and Yellow-browed Warblers, Taiga and Asian Brown Flycatchers, Eastern Buzzard (B. b. japonicus) and Pine Bunting. The afternoon we will do birding near campsite for Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits, Isabelline and Northern Wheatears, Daurian Jackdaw and Red-billed Chough. Overnight in a tourist ger camp near birding site. Food:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 70 km paved road (1 hours).

Day 4-5. Yolyn Am (Gobi Altai Mountains)

We will fly over 1 hour to the Gobi and land at the Gurvan Saikhan Airport near Dalanzadgad, capital of Umnugobi Province. Our crew meets you at the airport and then drive straight to the reserved tourist ger camp near the beautiful mountain gorge Yolyn Am. Following lunch at the ger camp, we will drive to the mountain gorge and do another exciting bird walk along the path. The interesting birds in the valley are Chukar, Bearded Vulture and Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Accentor, Beautiful and Common Rosefinches, Twite, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Wallcreeper, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Northern House Martin, Eurasian Crag Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, and probably Barred Warbler, Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings and many others. Altai Snowcock is one of the challenging species in this area but we will give it a try. In the evening we will be back to the ger camp at the dinner time.

Next morning, we will visit the same spot as the last evening and look for the missing species along with some mammals including Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Pika, Red Fox, and possibly Argali Wild Sheep. The afternoon we will visit Mukhart shiver valley to see some missing species. And we will drive north of the ger camp to find Oriental Plover on the wide desert steppe. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road:Total coverage 50 km paved road (Fly 1 hour & drive 30 minutes).

Day 6-7. Bayanzag (The Flaming Cliffs)

Start early morning to the next place Bayanzag which is a famous place for the first discovery of dinosaur eggs by an American naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews in 1920’s. Find the magnificent Goitered Gazelle en route. Upon arrival at the destination, check in in the reserved tourist ger camp. Catch sunrise on the Flaming Cliffs and enjoy the scenery of the dinosaur habitat. The saxaul forest provides a home to a few but special birds including Great Grey and Isabelline Shrikes and Long-legged Buzzard. The strange-looking Great Gerbil occurs in the forest. Look for the most sought after Oriental Plover and Crested Lark on the open steppe. Watch the flocks of Pallas’s Sandgrouse drinking water in early morning. In order to see the smart Henderson’s Ground Jay, we might drive to a different part of the region. In the evening, we will observe night mammals of the Gobi desert including Gobi Jerboa and Long-eared Hedgehog. Enjoy the stars in the late evening. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 160 km of dust road (5-6 hours).

Day 8. Dalanzadgad Town

After breakfast, we start driving back to the Dalanzadgad town. En route we can see Upland Buzzard, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Isabelline Shrike and Great Grey Shrike, Desert Wheatear. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road:Total coverage 100 km dust road (1-2 hours’ drive).

Day 10-11. Khustai National Park (Land of the Wild Horses)

Fly to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to Khustai national park, the land of the reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski’s Wild Horse (Equus przewalskii). Thanks to the good conservation management, the species which was on the brink of extinction has now exceeded well over 300 individuals. Along with other interesting mammals, watch the fascinating birdlife including Daurian Partridge, Cinereous & Himalayan Vultures, Golden & Steppe Eagles, Upland Buzzard, Saker & Amur Falcons, Mongolian and Asian Short-toed Larks, Northern, Isabelline & Pied Wheatears, Brown Shrike and Meadow Bunting. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road:Total coverage 90 km paved road (Drive 2 hours and fly 1 hour).

Day 12. Ulaanbaatar (Shopping and Farewell Dinner)

Drive to Ulaanbaatar. En route we will stop to get good views of Steppe Eagle, Saker Falcon, and Upland Buzzard and probably gatherings of the Cinereous Vultures on a carcass, Mongolian and Asian Short-toed Larks and Small Snowfinch. If time allows, visit Tuul River for missing species. City tour and shopping available. Food:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road:Total coverage 90 km paved road (2 hours).

Day 13. Departure (End of Our Service)

Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport will be the end of our services in Mongolia.

Trip details

Physical rating: Easy/Moderate

The price includes: The price includes all transport and accommodations within Mongolia, and meals, expert guide, drinking water, nomad family visit, entrance fees to all protected areas, and road tolls.

Date & Duration: This tour will run in early September 2023. And it continues for 13 days including arrival and departure date in Mongolia.

Group Limit 2-5 participants, plus guides

Accommodation We are going to reverse the standard room at the international standard 5-star Shangri-la hotel in Ulaanbaatar. You should pay extra money for the deluxe rooms. We will choose the most comfortable rooms at Dalanzadgad‘s best hotel. Please note that the hotel in Dalanzadgad would be below the international standard.

You will stay overnights in permanent tourist ger camps, which have gers (yurts) for accommodation, and separate blocks with European style toilets and shower rooms, as well as the restaurant. Each ger is equipped with small wood or coal-burning stove, which fired by a worker of the camp. We will book deluxe en-suite gers for your stays.

Meals All main meals are included in the price. The breakfasts will be very simple. We will have bread/toast, cheese, butter, jam, eggs, sausage and cereals for breakfast. Depending on the time possibilities, we will have picnic lunches packaged from the tourist ger camps or restaurants. Sometimes we will have lunches in local restaurants. Evening meals will be well prepared Mongolian and European-style dishes served in the hotel restaurants and at the ger camps. Food is generally good, it may lack a variety (e.g. meat, vegetables, rice, French fries).

Payment The deposit 30% of all cost per person should be paid by wire transfer before 3 months. Be sure that you have read our terms & condition on our website before you make payment. If you pay it through our website, our collaboration with the Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia has been taken care of the transfer security.

Includes:

Accommodation (3 nights’ hotel in Ulaanbaatar city; 1-night hotel in Dalanzadgad town; 8 nights’ tourist ger camps)
Transport (Ground transportations by 4WD vehicles, including petrol)
Meals -12 breakfast, 12 lunch; 11 dinner
Entrance fees to all national parks and road tolls
English speaking expert guide
Drinking water will be provided. It will be appreciated if you could bring your refillable bottle.

Excludes:

Last dinner (It will be your free choice)
International transportation
All types of insurance
Visas
Departure tax
Alcoholic drinks and items of personal nature
Binoculars, telescopes, and tripods
Extra luggage
Optional tours

We cannot warranty:

Occasional flight delays or cancellations
Poor road conditions
Items of personal nature
Adverse weather conditions

Physical Rating The tour is suitable for every birder with different levels of skills and ages. Our experienced guide will do his/her best to find all the lifers in the region.

We will mostly do moderate walks during this trip. There will be optional hard walks in the mountains.

Road and Transport We will drive on the paved and dust roads during this trip. The longest drive on dust road will cover 100 km a day, which will take about 2-3 hours with shortstops. Toyota Land Cruiser 200 or Lexus 570 will be employed depending on your interests. Our experienced and skilful drivers will drive safely on the occasion of the off-road journey.

Weather Temperature is generally warm during days in early September, mostly being 15-25 degrees Celsius. In the boreal forest, it is likely to rain and be foggy during this period. You can check the weather forecast on http://www.tsag-agaar.gov.mn/eng while you are packing or staying at the hotels in Mongolia where it is possible.

Money You can change your US Dollar or Euro and other foreign currency into Mongolian tugriks (MNT) at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport just after your arrival. Alternatively, you can ask your guide and drivers to stop for changing money at any bank or official currency exchange offices in Ulaanbaatar. Remember it might be a problem if you try to change them outside of Ulaanbaatar as the banks there could have a limited amount of foreign currency. You can change the money only for your need for beers or any other alcoholic drinks, snacks, and personal items. A fine bottle of beer costs about 4000 -6000 MNT at the restaurants of tourist ger camps, but in the supermarkets, it will be cheaper. The official currency rate can be found at https://www.mongolbank.mn/.

For more information, please visit our website www.mongolica.org.

Destinations on this trip: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Yolyn Am, Bayanzag, Ulaanbaatar, Dalanzadgad Town, Khustai Nuruu National Park