2011
MONGOLIA
 GOBI DESERT  TO  THE ALTAI MOUNTAINS,
THE LAND  OF THE  EAGLE HUNTERS
ITINERARY

Tour Dates:  Thursday Aug 4th, 2011 - Wednesday Aug 16, 2011
Please read the Journals from
2003 and 2002 Tours

PRE TOUR EXTENSION FOR KARAKORUM AND HUSTAI
ITINERARY:  Please check the map of the tour

Day 01 Thursday Aug 4th, 2011 ULAAN BATOOR
 You will be picked up from the air port with MELITOUR SIGN. The tour members will be arriving today from different destinations. We will meat the the lobby of the hotel at 04;30 PM for a group meeting.
For details on arrival please click here

 Day 02  Friday Aug. 5th, 2011     GOBI     
Fly to GOBI early in the morning. The flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad Air port takes 1,5 hours and then half an hour drive to the Ger Camp. Check in the camp . After Lunch drive 1.5 hours to Eagle Valley of Yolyn Am Valley . A small natural history museum and the shops of the desert people . We will hike　 into the depths of the valley. We will be surrounded with the animals of the valley including domestic yaks grazing on the slopes of rocky hills. Whistling mice busy visiting each others holes in the ground, wild goats at the peaks of the hills. Eagles flying above the sheep herds looking for a feast. the shepherds　 of the valley let you know that you are not just in any beautiful gorge in the world but in Mongolia. Back to the ger camp. Enjoy sitting around the camp fire listening to the stories of Gobi.
For the photographers an amazing site of the desert as the plane lands on desert ground.


 Day 03 Saturday Aug. 6th, 2011 GOBI      Gobi desert Bayanzag - The flaming cliffs
 After an early breakfast leave the camp at 0730 for a long pleasant day at the GOBI desert.　 Our destination is not as important as what we feel and see in the endlessness of this vast Desert. We will stop at the Sand Dunes and the red sandstone cliffs at the canyon of Bayanzag　 where the fossil bed of dinosaur bones discovered in the beginning of the 20th Century..
Drive to "the only forest " of midget trees for picnic lunch. Visit gers and families on route. We will see lots of free roaming Camels. If we are lucky we will see Gazelles.. Camel Herders Family.
Camel Back riding ; One of the best ways to experience the Gobi is　 from the back of a camel. They are very easy to ride. Today we will also see herds of yaks.
Back to the same camp. Showers are available. The temperature at the desert will be cool in the morning and in the late afternoon . in mid day t can get to will be around 80 –90 Degrees F .

Day 04  Sunday Aug. 7th, 2011  ULAAN BATOOR
At 11 am From Dalanzadgad fly back to Ulaan Baator . Arrive in Ulaan Baator　 in time for lunch . Mongolian Artists have excellent talent for paper cutting. We will meet several artists at at the Children's　 Park to find more about this craft. sitting comfortable on the grass in the shade of huge linden trees we will cut our own little magic forms out of black paper trying to understand the tricks of this very old Mongolia art. Later in the afternoon a sculptor will have us at his work shop to show us the traditional forms of ceramic use for the Budist temples. Afternoon Paper Cutter Artist and Ceramic Sculptor.  Overnight in Ulaan Batoor

Day 05  Monday Aug.8th, 2011  Olgii ALTAY
0800 am fight　 out of Ulaan Baator to Olgii　 on the Altay Moutains. this is a 3 hour flight with one stop for fueling in the middle. Bayan Olgii nestles among the towering snow-capped peaks of the Altay mountains. The population consists of mainly Turkish Kazaks. Meli speaks　 their language.
Besides natural beauty, the archaeological sites offer incredible unique evidence of the past: the deer-stones, balbal    (the Turkish Stone figures) and petrogliphs. But the most impressive memory of the day will be meeting the EAGLE HUNTERS. This is the most beautiful camp they have in Mongolia from our experiences of the camps. The only camp where the shower room has a little sauna　 built into it.

Day 06　 Tuesday Aug 09th, 2011 KHOVD ALTAI
120 Km jeep drive to Khovd. In Mongolia this distance will normally take 4-5 hours. With our interest in photography and the wealth of its photo ops with the nomads and mountains and the archaeological sites, we will be on the road the whole day.
Khovd has a varied demographic structure with different ethnic groups of the Mongolians. Overnight at ger camp which has the best cook for excellent meals. Showers are available but not too reliable.

Day 07　　 Wednesday　 Aug 10, 2011　 Khoved ALTAI
Free time in the morning for people to catch up with their journal in this spectacular land. Early lunch at 11;45. Leave the camp for Khovd city 20 minutes　 away from the Camp we are staying at. This town has an interesting "Black Market" that serves all the nomads in the vicinity of several hundred miles. Visit the market for excellent shots of work a day in Mongolia" .In the afternoon visit　 local museum and the Budist temple which stay pen only for few hours a day. Visit the　 families. Overnight at the same Camp.

Day 08　　　 Thursday Aug. 11, 2011 Khoved ALTAI
Drive 60 miles　 to the largest Cave of Mongolia to see remains of Paleolithic Tsenkheriin Agui caves. Similar Caves in other parts of the world ( France)　 are not accessible for preservation concerns. So this will be a very rare opportunity to look into the lives of the oldest peoples of our planet . On the way back to Khovd　 we will be at the western shore of the lake KHAR　 us Nuur Lake. (Black Water Lake) Pelicans bird watching…Overnight at the same camp

Day 09　 Friday　 Aug. 12, 2011 　Ulaan Baator
Fly back to Ulaan Baator at 08:30 AM. Arrive the capital at lunch time. The lunch will be at the hotel. Generally this afternoon is the time when every one catches up with laundry and a short visit to the department store for changing money or visiting the 5th floor which has excellent souvenirs. Some groups like to take the opportunity of visiting a FOOT REFLEXOLOGY place to get ready for the next part of our tour. Manicure and pedicure has been popular among the female tour members as well
Dinner at a very popular restaurant. Overnight at Edelweiss hotel

Day 10 　Saturday Aug. 13, 2011 Ulaan Baator
We will start the day after breakfast with a visit to the largest Monastery of Ulaan Baator which survived the Communist destruction. Gundan Monastery. After lunch we will visit the school for contortionists and learn about what it means to the Mongolian Families to have their little sons and daughters learn how to have full command over their bodies- bones and muscles. some tour members take time in the afternoon to go shopping or more museum or art gallery hopping. Dinner at the hotel

Day 11　 Sunday Aug. 14, 2011 Huvsgul
Fly to Murun 1.5 hours flight from Ulaan Baator. Then drive to Huvsgul lake, the spectacular alpine lake. The deepest and second-largest lake in Mongolia, Huvsgul Nuur is breathtaking, surrounded by 8,000-foot peaks. Settle into a traditional ger tent on the shores of the lake and spend the next two nights getting a taste of the centuries-old lifestyle of the nomad, but with added amenities for your comfort. This afternoon, hike along the shore to view the swans, ospreys, thrushes and various other shore birds.

Day 12 Monday　 Aug15, 2011　 Huvsgul

After breakfast, visit the reindeer herders, the most primitive ethnic group in Mongolia. Experience riding reindeers and experience the primitive lifestyle of reindeer people residing the remotest part of the country. Then move on to visit a shaman’s hut to have an insight of this unique ancient religion of Mongolia. Have packed lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at the ger camp.

Day 13 Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011 Ulaan Baator
Drive to Saridag　 to see the animals under protection. Fly back to Ulaan Baator at around 1.00 pm
Arrive in Ulaan Baator Late afternoon. Farewell dinner

Day 14　 Wednesday Aug 17, 2011 Ulaan Baator
The tour will be over. Transfer to the Air port is included

The Price of the Tour:
The tour will not operate with less than 5 people
Single room supplement: US$ 520

5 pax

US$  5,435.-

6 Pax

US$  5,218.-

7 Pax

US$  4,882.-

8 Pax

US$  4,819.-

9 Pax

US$  4,771.-

10 - 12 Pax

US$  4,512.-

 

 

 

 

The Price Includes:

  • 5 nights stay in a 4-star Eidelweiss hotel in Ulaanbaatar

  • Daily meals in choice fine restaurants in Ulaanbaatar

  • 8 nights in accommodation in gers In Gobi, Altai and Huvsgul with fullboard

  • All sightseeing as per itinerary and transfers

  • Entrance fees including museums, national parks and concert

  • Private deluxe coach transport in Ulaanbaataar

  • Russian made 4WD UAZ Purgon mini van in Gobi, Altai and Huvsgul

  • English speaking guide service throughout the journey

  • Domestic return flight to Dalanzadgad, center of South Gobi

  • Domestic return flight to Murun, center of Huvsgul province

  • Domestic one way flight to Ulgii town

  • Domestic one way flight from Khovd town

  • Horse Back riding at the lake

  • The tips at the hotel and restaurants

  • Boat Ride

  • Meli accompanying the group

Typical Melitour tour price. Once you arrive in Ulaan Baator, until you leave Mongolia
you do not need to pay for any thing

The price does not include:

  • International flight

  • Alcoholic drinks

  • Travel or medical insurance

  • Tips to the driver and the guide

  • Camel ride at the desert

Itinerary / Arrival Info / FAQ / Hotel info/Tour Map/Mongolia Gobi Altay page/Melitour home page

Payment & Cancellation
 Please make sure you buy Trip cancellation insurance
 

Deposit :        

US$ 250 .-

Non Refundable
Paid at sign Up

2nd Payment:March 04, 2011

US$ 1500.-

in case of cancellation until the next payment 70% of your payment will      be returned to you

3rd Payment: May 04, 2011

US$ 2000.-

in case of cancellation until the next payment 50% of your total payment will be returned to you

4th Payment: June 04, 2011

Rest of your payment  

in case of cancellation there will be no refund