MOUNTAIN LAKES

You will be welcomed by our team at the Chinggis Khaan International airport. Depending on your arrival time, the city tour will be planned.

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

This day, you’ll depart Ulaanbaatar by domestic flight to Donoi airport in Zavkhan province. Zavkhan is located in the central part of Mongolia and surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the Khangai Mountains and famous for worshipped Mount Otgontenger Khairkhan. Being with less developed infrastructure, tourism has not yet been developed there and the region is a wild mountainous area with little traffic and suitable for breeding yaks. After landing from the flight, we head to Ider sum through the provincial capital Uliastai. The entire territory of Ider Sum is an upland region covered by forests. You will arrive by car at the center of Darkhan-Uul Bag (a small village), which is 15 km from the center of Ider sum. And stay in a herder family and thoroughly familiarized with the ride guides, horses, and other components of the trip such as horse equipment while preparing to trek.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Herder family

Horse trekking starts from the Darkhan-Uul bag village and we ride 10km to Tsaluugiin Lake. Around the lake, Mount Otgontenger Khairkhan’s branch Tarvagatai Mountain ridge is located and, in the valleys, you will see the numerous streams and small-scaled lakes sourced from these mountains. One of those lakes is Tsaluugiin Lake which glacially originated and heightened 2455 meters from the sea level. We continue our trekking journey from there passing by Sevjidbaljir mountain slope and going up through the canyon of Jargalant river and traveling 15 km to Takhilt waterfall. On the way, we take field lunch. Takhilt waterfall streams down from the top of an 8-meters high rocky wall situated through an edge of a small canyon of the mountain ravine. The waterfall flows creating a majestic sound over the huge boulders along the forest path. There are 8 small lakes in the south and southeast of the waterfall. They are considered as "eight sacrifices". Further, we trek 8 km from the waterfall and arrive at Tsagaan river, and camp overnight there. (The organizing team will be reached at the spot in advance and will be prepared for camping)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

After breakfast, we will travel 15 km from Tsagaan River to Doloon Lake Tag and then go to the top of Jinstiin Buluu Mountain to spot вансэмбэрүү цэцэг. Around Mount Otgontenger Khairkhan, there are branch mountains lifted to 2500 meters high above sea level. It is mostly flat plain mountains with odd high rock cliffs on their tops. In those mountains, medicinal plants and flowers such as вансэмбэрүү, хонин арц, алтангагнуур, жамъянмядаг grow. The Mongolians honored the flower вансэмбэрүү as the "heavenly flower" and respected its beauty. This flower shows up in pairs in nature and is considered a "symbol of eternal love". As well as, it occurs very rarely and grows in small numbers on the slopes of high mountain cliffs. So, it is believed that it is not a flower that everyone can see. People who could see the flower вансэмбэрүү appraise themselves as "lucky" and symbolizes that their love will grow stronger or they will meet their beloved one. Later, we will come back to the camping and take a rest.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

Early morning, we travel on horseback 5km to the Tsagaan river on the mountain top. The lake is located in the hollow of the mountain top which is 2230 meters high above sea level in the area of Ider sum. This freshly watered lake has an area of 3.1 square kilometers, 3.6 kilometers in width, 1.6 kilometers wide, and 28 meters deep. Because of its location in between the Great Dayan and the Little Dayan mountains, the shores are cut to form capes, peninsulas, and bays. In front of the lake, a 12 km long river called "Nuuriin khooloi (Lake Pipe)" flows with several streams. The Tsagaan lake is surrounded by forests and its water looks white colored. Then, we continue the journey to the other side of the lake, passing Serven Khairkhan, and travel about 10 km down the mountain to reach the Ider River. Traveling upstream 15 km of the river, we arrive at Gyalgar lake. It is also a lake located in the hollow of the upper mountain. We stay overnight at the lake shore. (The organizing team will arrive in advance by car and prepare a camping spot)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

On this day, you will travel about 30 km up the Ider River and come to Buga Haraidagiin khavtsal (Deer jumping canyon). The Ider River sources from the north of Undur-Ulziit mountain and flows 452 km through the territory of 3 provinces. The Ider River is one of the large rivers and together with the Delger River flows into Selenge Lake which drains into Lake Baikal. The river is around 40-60 meters wide, up to 2 meters deep, and more than 30 rivers flow into it. The Ider River is part of the Arctic Ocean basin, and its tributaries are the source of the famous Yenisei and Angar rivers in Russia. (The organizing team will arrive by driving in advance and preparing the camping spot)

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

We continue our horse trekking trip to the highest point of Ider Sum, 3535m above sea level. As it is not possible to reach there by car, we have to carry our immediate luggage with us in the accompanying horseback. Reaching the foot of the mountain, we camp in the real wilderness without any settlement or livestock flocks. Undur-Uliit Mountain is one of the highest peaks of the Khangai Mountains range and has been revered by locals since ancient times.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

On this day, you will recharge your energy and stamina by hiking to the top of Undur-Ulziit mountain and get a feeling of overcoming yourself. It takes a day to climb up and down the mountain. If you don’t want to walk until the top of the mountain, you can spend the day relaxing at the foot or on the slope of the mountain. Mongolians have been hiking to the top of the mountain to refresh their spirits, to see far distance from the top of the mountain, and to pray to the master of nature by adding small stones to the pile on the top. After descending from the mountain, return to the camping site on horseback.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping in tents

We trek back to the place where our car is. We will also say goodbye to the ride guides and the horses we were riding, and then we drive to Green Lake, which is located next to Ider Sum. Green Lake is located 22 km south of the center of Ider Sum. The lake is formed by the water flowing into the left-side depression of the Ider river. The water of the lake in the crater changes its color from blue-green to deep green on sunny days. It looks black about 5-8 meters from the shore on either side, and further turns green color.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ger Tourist camp

In the morning you’ll spend a relaxing morning at the shore of Green Lake. You may meditate and reflect the nature. After lunch, we drive back 100km to Uliastai passing by Ider sum center.Uliastai, the provincial capital of Zavkhan, is located in a depression surrounded by mountains on its four sides. Recently, government policy is paying special attention to this region’s infrastructure expansion to make the city the main center of development in the western region of Mongolia. Once in four years, when Mount Otgontenger Khairkhan is worshiped, people gather from all over Mongolia to watch the worship ceremony. The worshipping mountain is a large-scale organized ritual in Mongolia. It is a praise to the spirit of the mountain and its power by giving offerings to the peak of the mountain and its animals and birds. During the ritual, people pay respect to nature and the earth and ask for protection and good luck by singing songs and telling good praises. Stay in a hotel in Uliastai and rest well to relieve the fatigue of the long journey.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

We depart from Uliastai to Ulaanbaatar by domestic flight. This day you can spend the time as your leisure as we don’t require you to follow any plan. Ulaanbaatar is located in the valley of Tuul and Selbe rivers surrounded by four mountains. The total population is around 1,5 million.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

On this day, you will take a sightseeing tour of the city. You visit Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of the UB, and Chingghis Khaan Museum, which is considered one of the best museums in Asia. Visit the shopping centers and may you buy "Mongolian" souvenirs and cashmere products. At the final of the day, arrive at the hotel and prepare for your departure travel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

We will transfer you to the airport according to your departure time from Chinggis Khaan International Airport.

Meal: Breakfast