Wildflower · MWFT

Mongolia Wildflower Trip

Siberian taiga forest, Steppes, Mountain steppes, Gobi Desert; Saxaul TreesThis

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Duration: 13 days; Duration
Group size: Max 4; Group size
From, per person: $2,300; From, per person

Overview

Siberian taiga forest, Steppes, Mountain steppes, Gobi Desert; Saxaul Trees

This botanical tour is dedicated to anyone who loves beautiful flowers in the wilderness. We start our travel watching plants that adapted to Siberian taiga forest and across Mongolian steppes and mountain steppes, reach High Mountains in the Gobi Desert and visit saxaul forest. In the meantime, you will also enjoy Mongolian nomadic lifestyle which existed for a long time in the part of the world. There are more than 900 medicinal plants in Mongolia, which have been used for centuries. Take this opportunity and make you dreams come true seeing wonderful wildflowers including Asian Globeflower Trollius asiaticus, Siberian Columbine Aquilegia sibirica, Rhododendron Rhododendron dahuricum, Cowberry Vaccinum vitisidea, Pink wintergreen Pyrola incarnata, Twinflower Linnaea borealis, Anemone Anemone crinite, Bellflower Campanula turczaninovii, Asian Yarrow Achillea asiatica, Jacob's Ladder Polemonium racemosum, Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum, Himalayan Stellera Stellera chamaejasme, Dwarf Statice Goniolimon speciosum, Root seeds Leuzea uniflora, Globethistle Echinops latifolius, Pink Dianthus versicolor, Scabious Scabiosa comosa, Chamaerhodos Chamaerhodos altaica, Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum, Cymbaria Cymbaria dahurica, Juniper Juniperus sabina, Galitzkya Galitzkya macrocarpa, Mongolian leek/onion Allium mongolicum, Calligonum Calligonum mongolicum, Saxaul Tree Haloxylon ammodendron, Siberian nitrebush Nitraria sibirica, Rhubarb Rheum nanum, Agriophyllum Agrophyllium pungens, Cynomorium songaricum, Cistanche deserticola, Sea lavender Limonium aureum.

Trip Highlights:

Wonderful wildflowers that adapted to different types of habitats
Stunning sceneries of Siberian boreal forest (taiga), Mongolian steppes, Gobi Altai High Mountains, and Mongolian Gobi Deserts
Expert guide – professional botanist
Horse or camel riding experience
Mongolia wildlife watching and photography: Przewalski’s Wild Horse, Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Marmot, Goitered Gazelle and Argali Wild Sheep

At a glance

Duration: 13 days
Group size: 4-14 persons
Price: from $2,300 per person
Departures: Jun 20 – Jul 02, 2023
Physical rating: Easy/Moderate and optional hard walks
Trip code: MWFT

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Itinerary

Day 1-2.Gorkhi Terelj NP (Siberian Taiga/Boreal Forest)

Our crew will pick you up at the Chinggis Khaan International airport after your arrival in Ulaanbaatar which is the capital of Mongolia and check in a hotel. And then we will drive straight to the Terelj national park which has stunning landscapes of typical Siberian boreal forest.Immediately after arrival,we will check in a tourist ger camp and we will dine together. And we will start watching the wild flowers. The beautiful flowers in the park will be Asian Globeflower Trollius asiaticus (This wonderful bright colored flower is a target species to see and photograph in early morning during the trip), Siberian Columbine Aquilegia sibirica(Typical forest flower and used for decoration), Rhododendron Rhododendron dahuricum (This fragrant plant is both medicinal and ornamental), Cowberry Vaccinum vitisidea(Typical plant in Siberian taiga forest.Medicinal and edible. The berry is used for drinks), Pink wintergreen Pyrola incarnata(This typical plant in Siberian taiga is used for medicine and ornament),Twinflower Linnaea borealis(Grows in the depths of the Siberian taiga forest), Anemone Anemone crinite(Grows in forest and is ornamental), Bellflower Campanula turczaninovii(Grows in the depths of the forest and is ornamental) , Asian Yarrow Achillea asiatica (Grows both in the depths and edge of the forest. Has beautiful flower and is ornamental), Jacob's Ladder Polemonium racemosum (Occurs both in the depths and edge of the forest. Beautiful flower is ornamental) , Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis (Commonly occurs in forest and forest steppe habitats. Medicinal and ornamental), Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum (symbol of everlasting life) , Himalayan Stellera Stellera chamaejasme(medicinal and orn amental). Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Welcome dinner at a restaurant. Road: Total coverage 30 km paved road (30 minutes’ drive).

Day 3. Kherlen river valley (Grassland)

After breakfast we will drive to the east of the tourist ger camp to get steppe in Herlen river valley, where you will find many wonderful flowers including Dwarf Statice Goniolimon speciosum, Root seeds Leuzea uniflora, Globethistle Echinops latifolius (Common plants in steppe and forest steppe habitats and are ornamental), Pink Dianthus versicolor (Traditionally used for medicine in Mongolia and is ornamental), Scabious Scabiosa comosa (Mongolian national flower of pride and is common in forest steppe and steppe habitats. Ornamental), Chamaerhodos Chamaerhodos altaica (Common in mountain steppe and is medicinal and ornamental), Almond Amygdalus pedunculata (Typical in mountain steppe and blooms in early spring. Both ornamental and medicinal), Silver Speedwell Veronica incana (Typical in steppe and mountain steppe. Ornamental and medicinal), Cymbaria Cymbaria dahurica (Typical in Mongolian steppes and has wonderful flowers and is ornamental), Mongolian Caryopteris Caryopteris mongolica (Medicinal and ornamental plant found on hills in the semi-desert zone), Thyme Thymus gobicus (Fragrant. Ornamental and medicinal and is commonly found in mountain steppe), Haplophyllum Haplophyllum dahuricum (Common in steppes and semi deserts and is ornamental), Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum, Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: 100 km on paved road and 10 km on dust road. 2-3 hours’ drive.

Day 4. Bogd Mountain (Mountain steppe) - Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we will drive to the west of the ger camp to get Bogd mountain, which is located in the south of Ulaanbaatar city. The wonderful flowers in the mountain are: Trollius asiaticus, Thalictrum petaloideum (ornamental and is common in steppe an d forest steppe), Scabious Scabiosa comosa, Japanese catnip Schizonepeta multifida (Medicinal and ornamental, and is common in steppe and forest steppe), Cranesbill Geranium pratense (Medicinal and ornamental, and occurs in the edge of the forest and meadow), Alpine aster Aster alpinus (ornamental), L i l y Lilium pumilum (Medicinal, ornamental and edible), Larkspur Delphinium grandiflorum (ornamental), Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata (ornamental), Gentian Gentiana decumbens (medicinal and ornamental), Ladybells Adenophora stenanthina (ornamental), Jerusalem sage Phlomis tuberose (medicinal and ornamental), Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum, Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, Pink Dianthus versicolor, Thyme Thymus gobicus. Overnight in a hotel. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Road: 100 km on paved road and 10 km on dust road. 2 - 3 hours’ drive.

Day 5-6. Khustai NP

After breakfast we will drive to Hustai national park where we will find mountain steppe and steppe plants including Chamaerhodos Chamaerhodos altaica, Almond Amygdalus pedunculata, Silver Speedwell Veronica incana, Edelweiss Leontopodium ochroleucum, Great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, Pink Dianthus versicolor, Thyme Thymus gobicus, Scabious, Alpine aster Aster alpinus Columbine Aquilega viridiflora, Mongolian leek Allium mongolicum, Saxaul Haloxylon ammodendron, Cranesbill Geranium pratense, Alpine aster Aster alpinus, Lily Lilium pumilum, Larkspur Delphinium grandiflorum, Gentian Gentiana decumbens, Ladybells Adenophora stenanthina. In the afternoon of the 5th day, we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar city. Overnight in a tourist ger camp on day 4 and overnight in a hotel on day 5.Food: Local restaurant-Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Road: Total coverage 120 km on dust road (2-3 hours’ drive).

Day 7-8. Yolyn Am (Gobi-Altai Mountain)

Flight to Dalanzadgad and transfer to Yolyn Am where we will find Juniper Juniperus sabina (Traditionally used for religious reasons for its lovely fragrance), Cinquefoils Potentilla ikonikovii, Galitzkya Galitzkya macrocarpa (sub-endemic for Mongolia), Papaver Papaver saichanense, Polygala Polygala tenuifolia, Euphorbia Euphorbia kozlovi, Orostachys Orostachys spinosa (succulent plant resides in Mongolian Gobi Desert. Stay green under snow during winters. Orostachys are a group of rosette forming plants consisting of thirteen species in the genus), Grossularia Grossularia acicularis (high rocky mountain species), Columbine Aquilega viridiflora. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Tourist ger camp – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 50km on paved road (1-hour flight and 30 minutes’ drive).

Day 9-11. Bayanzag - Dalanzadgad

In Bayanzag, we will find Gobi Desert plants including Saxaul Haloxylon ammodendron (Saxaul is the only tree that forms forest in Mongolian Gobi Deserts and blocks the sand shifts), Mongolian leek/onion Allium mongolicum (Leek is traditionally used for treatment, food, and main fodder for livestock. In autumn, the meat of livestock, which ate this nutritious plants, considered to have a good taste), Calligonum Calligonum mongolicum (Endemic to Central Asian deserts. Strengthens soil), Siberian nitrebush Nitraria sibirica (Medicinal and food source. The fruit is used to make drinks including juice, wine, vodka), Agriophyllum Agrophyllium pungens (Occurs in saxaul forest and sandy soil of deserts. Has food and medicinal importance. The grain is used to produce flour), Rhubarb Rheum nanum (Has food, fodder, medicinal, and ornamental importance and is a true Gobi Desert plant. Main forage for Gobi Bear and other wildlife), Cynomorium songaricum (Parasitic to roots of Siberian nitrebrush), Cistanche deserticola (Parasitic to roots of saxaul. Assessed as Vulnerable in Mongolian red list of plants), Sea lavender Limonium aureum (Desert plant and ornamental). On day 11, we will drive to Dalanzadgad town for tomorrow’s flight back Ulaanbaatar city. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Tourist ger camp –Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 70 km dust road (2-hour drive).

Day 12. Back to Ulaanbaatar

Arrival in the city from Gobi Desert. Shopping and city tour is possible in the city. Overnight in a local hotel. Food: Local Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch and Farewell Dinner. Road: 1-hour flight.

Day 13. Departure

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

Trip details

Physical rating: Easy/Moderate and optional hard walks

The price includes: Price is per person, double occupancy. For a single room, add USD 350. Price includes all transports and accommodations within Mongolia, and meals, expert bird guide, drinking water, nomad family visit, entrance fees to all national parks, and road tolls.

Trip Information

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

Group Limit: 14 persons, plus guides

Accommodation: Please note that the hotels you are staying at are below the average of international hotels, but those are clean, comfortable, and has en-suite rooms.

No tented camping during this trip. 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. Deluxe en-suite gers are also possible in some sites, but it charges a little bit higher than the standard ones.

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 or by Paypal 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 Golomt Bank has been taken care of the transfer security.

Includes

Accommodation (2 nights’ hotel in Ulaanbaatar city; 1-night hotel in Dalanzadgad town; 9 nights’ tourist ger lodges)
Transport (Ground transportations by 4WD vehicles, including petrol; Two-way domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar city and Dalanzadgad town)
Meals -13 breakfast, 12 lunch; 12 dinner
Entrance fees to all National Parks and road tolls
English speaking bird guide
Drinking water will be provided. It will be appreciated if you could bring your refillable bottle.

Excludes:

Last dinner on 01 July (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 plant enthusiast with different levels of skills and ages. Our experienced guide will do his/her best to explain everything about plants, birds, wildlife, culture etc.

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

Road and Transport: We will mostly drive on the paved road during this trip. The longest drive will cover 120 km a day, which will take about 2-3 hours with shortstops. Mitsubishi Delica or Russian Furgon or County Bus will be employed depending on the number of participants and their interests. 3-4 clients will occupy a car in case we do not hire a county bus. Our experienced and skilful drivers will drive safely on the occasion of the off-road journey.

Climate: The climate of Mongolia is described to be severe and greatly variable geographically and time-wise. Mongolia is far from the world oceans, surrounded by high mountains and highly elevated above the sea level averaging 1.5 km. The climate of Mongolia is characterized by "short dry summer (June to the middle of August) and long cold winter (end of November to April) with spring (April to the beginning of June) and autumn (end of August to end of October). Summer rainfall seldom exceeds 380 mm in the mountains and is less than 50 mm in the desert areas. For more updated and regional weather news, please visit the weather online. 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/eng/default.aspx.

Destinations on this trip: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Yolyn Am, Bayanzag, Bogd Khan Mountain SPA