Day 1 to 2 - Arrive Ulaan Baatar – Amarbayasgalant Monastery

The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre tour accommodation. On arrival please ask at the reception for information on when the pre departure meeting will be held.

We visit the recently restored and reopened complex of the Amarbayasgalant Monastery, which was built during the early to mid 1700s by order of Manju emperor Enkh-Amgalan Khan. The interior of this impressive Buddhist monastery is decorated with gilded bronze sculptures, wall frescoes, appliqué icons and paintings on silk. Today about sixty novices and ordained monks are in residence and practicing Dharma. One of the Buddhist traditions that has been revived since its reopening is the Tsam Dancing ceremony.

Tonight we spend our first night in a ger, the traditional home of the nomadic Mongolian people. The word ger actually means 'home' and this style of housing has been used since the Mongols started nomadic life with animal husbandry and is still favoured today as they are able to pack up and relocate to a different or preferred area.

The ger consists of felt covers, wooden columns, and a round window at the top, thin wooden poles and floor, wall (wooden lattice attached together with animal hide, ropes) and ropes. Most of ger materials are made of animals like felt - sheep wool, ropes - camel or sheep wool, horse or yak's tail, and of course wood.

We then continue on to the beautiful Selenge River, one of the most lush and beautiful areas of Mongolia. This is the perfect place for nature lovers and avid photographers to spot some of Mongolia's diverse wildlife. Look out for marmots and an array of birds of prey such as falcons, eagles, owls and kites.

Day 3 to 5 - Selenge River – White Lake

Our journey continues to Terkhiin Tsagaan Nurr, also known as White Lake, located in the Khorgo and White Lake National Park in the Khangai Mountains of central Mongolia. While we are here we will enjoy views of the beautiful crystal clear waters and perhaps spot some of the local wildlife, including terns, cormorants, gulls, shelducks and hares, and also take an included horse ride near the lake. We'll also visit the extinct Khorgo volcano at the eastern end of the lake, where we have the opportunity to swim in the lake or perhaps go fishing.

Continuing on we'll visit the crater of the extinct Tsagaanur volcano - it's a 15 minute walk up stairs to the first small crater and another 10 minute walk to the big red crater. On the way it's possible to visit a 'yellow dog' cave where you can learn the story of the daughter who sacrificed her favourite dog to save her father's life and visit Yolin Am (the vulture's mouth) ice cavern, also known as the 'Gobi Glacier' as it remains frozen inside until August, despite the heat of the surrounding desert.

Let's take some time to relax in the remote Tsenher Jiguur Hot Springs. The hot water springs from the earth at over 80°C and is fed to bathing pools by a complex system of pipelines which regulates the temperature. This is an ideal place to relax, sit back and enjoy the nature around you under the stars.

Day 6 to 8 - Tsenkher Jiguur Hot Spring – Kharkhorin – Flaming Cliff

We head back to a city again in Kharkhorin, the very place where Ghenghis Khan planned his capital. The city was the political, cultural and economic centre of his empire but was only completed after his death, and was later destroyed by Manchurian invaders. The Kharkhorin of today is a small settlement with little focus on tourism. Close by to our camp you can visit Erdene-Zuu, Mongolia's first Buddhist Monastery.

From Kharkorin we move on to remote Ongyin Khid. Bayanzag, or the Flaming Cliffs, a region in the Gobi Desert with a rich orange and red landscape which lights up as if on fire at sunset on a clear day. The area became world famous after the discovery of dinosaur eggs by palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews and it is known to be one of the world's biggest dinosaur graveyards. Dinosaur fossils are still often found by visitors and you may be lucky enough to see a fragment or two. It is said that in order to distinguish a dinosaur bone from a rock or other animal bone, you lick it, and if it's a dinosaur bone it will stick to your tongue like ice (we don't necessarily recommend it!).

The following morning we head for Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National park which lies on the northern edge of the Gobi desert.

Day 9 to 11 - Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park – Yol Valley – Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

The Gobi desert is one of the world's greatest deserts, covering much of southern Mongolia in barren expenses, gravel plains and rocky outcrops. The climate here can be extreme with temperatures reaching + 40°C in the summer, and - 40°C in the winter.

The Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park is one of the world's largest biospheres covering an area larger than Switzerland. Wildlife here consists of wild bacterian (two-humped) camels, wild ass, and Gobi bears - the world's only desert-inhabiting bears. This area is also famous for some of the best preserved dinosaur fossil findings. A short drive takes us into the core of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, named the 'three beauties', and the Yol Valley, a famous ravine within the park which is usually covered with ice and snow and is another excellent place to view wildlife and birds of prey.

There is time for more wildlife spotting in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park before moving on to Erdenedalai Village where we spend the night. Our journey back to Ulaan Bataar takes us through the grasslands of Mongolia via Sum Huh Burd and Baga Gazrin Chuluu.

Day 12 to 13 - Erdenedalai – Ulaan Baatar

Sum Huh Burd is an oasis located in the Gobi area with a small lake. There is an ancient stone fortress on an island in the centre of the lake dating back to the 16th century.

Baga Gazriin Chuluu (Earth Stone) is a series of mountain ridges and rock formations found throughout the National Park and we will stop off and take a look at some of the most spectacular. We will return to Ulaan Baatar for some last minute sight seeing and shopping.

Day 14 to 14 - Depart Ulaan Baatar

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today, please confirm with the reception the check out time. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.