The most beautiful sites of Mongolia concentrated in this single trip! If you want to see everything and to know everything about Mongolia you will certainly be seduced by this journey of 21 days crossing the most renowned three regions of the country: Gobi desert, Orkhon valley and Khuvsgul Lake.
From the Gobi desert of south, to the great crystalline lake Khuvsgul of north, crossing by the vast steppes of central Mongolia, the trip offers you a diversity of nature exceptional. On your way, the Jurassic sanctuaries, hermitage and Buddhist monasteries will recharge your historical and cultural knowledge of Mongolia. Your stay in many nomadic families, will offer you the real opportunity to encounter Mongolian nomads and to understand nomadic way of life.
Your great adventure will begin in the heart of the mythical Gobi Desert. Between lunar landscapes, granitic plains and the cliffs of Gurvan Saikhan National Park, you will discover astonishing sand dune Khongor Els by the rhythm of camels.
Then you leave Gobi desert, its fauna and flora to reach gradually the big luxuriant plains of central Mongolia, on the foothills of the Khangai mountain range. You are in the magnificent Orkhon valley, the true cradle of the Mongolian people. Imagine a luxuriant plain strewed by smoking yurts, where herds graze freely by the fall of humming water … Kharkhorin, the legendary city of Chinggis Khaan will open you its doors and reveal you the extraordinary history of the biggest empire. On the ruins of this ancient imperial city, you will discover an important Buddhist monument: the Erdene Zuu monastery.
Now the big North is waiting for you! The Khorgo Terkhi National park and its magnificent lake constitute a pleasant stop-over on your long road to the north.
Finally you reach the southern bank of the lake Khuvsgul, the «Blue Pearl of Mongolia ". An immense extent of crystalline water surrounded by majestic mountains offers itself on front of your eyes.
Around the lake, the taiga shelters some nomadic families and herds of yaks, horses and sheeps. The panorama is spectacular!
Your big crossing soon touches its end. Several curiosities will enliven your return way, among which Amarbayasgalant monastery, a real architectural jewel.

Reception at the airport by our team. Transfer to the hotel. We go after lunch to explore Ulaanbaatar, an amazing city. This Soviet-style city still marked by its history is very much alive today. At the crossroads of Eastern and Western influences, it seems in transition between communist and capitalist economy, nomadic and sedentary lifestyle.
Visits of National Museum of History and of Gandan Monastery, the largest religious center of Mongolia, will provide a clear historical and cultural basis for exploring the country.
Evening at the national academy for a traditional songs and dances performance.

Early morning we leave the bustle of the capital to start our adventure in direction of the Gobi desert. Soon, we taste the pleasures of the track which replace the asphalted road! We drive to south through the vast steppes, and we discover amazed  our first images of Mongolia: herds of wild horses galloping along the track, smoking yurt isolated at the bottom of an irrigated valley ...We picnic  on the foothills of sacred mountain Zorgol Khairkhan: Rocky Mountain in the form of a lying fawn.   
A short drive in the afternoon between the semi-desert steppes leads us to the site of Baga Gazariin Chuluu: plain covered with ocher-colored granites eroded by the natural elements. During a walk through the strange rocky formations, we enter the gorge of Sudut endowed with trees of Trembles.

A long day drive in the heart of a barren landscape now allows us to reach the cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga (White stupas). These cliffs 30 meters of height, shaped as stupas, marked by erosion, carried a few million years ago an ocean. This is one of the natural secrets that Gobi Desert preserves for us.

On the road between dry steppes and mountains, we discover the Khongor Els sand dune, the longest of the country extending over 180 km height and 20km width. This huge dune welcome to its feet, a stream forming a green oasis. It is by the swaying rhythm of the camels, that we discover this surreal scene, combining lush plains and dunes in the north. The sunset that awaits us at the end of the day promises to be magical.

We begin our ascent towards the great massif of the Khangai. Several interesting steps enliven our way.  To start, it is the famous cliff Bayanzag "Flaming Cliffs" which was a real Jurassic sanctuary that deserves our stop. It was here in 1922 that were discovered skeletons and fossilized dinosaur eggs, now on display at the Museum of Natural History in Ulanbator. If you are "dinosaurophobe", you can still admire the beautiful cliffs and saxaul woods: Typical upland bushes struggling against the advancing of the desert.
After lunch, we continue our road to the north. A detour to the impressive ruins of the Ongiin Khiid monastery is required. Nestled on the banks of Ongiin River, this monastery was the most important Buddhist center in the region populated by the Mongolians "Khalka", before being destroyed by the Communists.

Leaving the Great Gobi behind us, we make our last miles before the massif of Khangai. For the Mongolians, the Khangai refers to a mountainous region with abundant water resources, where the animals graze peacefully, shielded from the wind.
After a long day's drive, we finally reach Kharkhorin, the legendary city of Chinggis khan, founded in 1220.

It is a cultural day ahead us today. Kharkhorin, the former imperial capital hosts the important Erdenezuu monastery and other historic sites reflecting the glorious past of the different empires issued from the steppe. Then we dive into the famous Orkhon Valley, the true cradle of the Mongolian people, listed world heritage of humanity by UNESCO. First we visit the monastery of Tuvkhen dating from the seventeenth century. Built in a mountainside on the bottom of the Khangai range, we reach the site by 3-4 km climb on horseback or on foot. Only when we arrived at its foot that we find the monastery perfectly integrated in its natural environment. Immediately, we feel calm, serenity and contemplation emerging from this sacred place, dedicated to the worship of Zanabazar, the first Buddhist spiritual leader of Mongolians.  
We picnic facing a breathtaking view over the Khangai mountain range and its surrounding valleys.
We cross the valley from east to west in order to reach the encampment of our host family, which lives about fifty kilometres at the bottom of the valley. Orkhon Valley is one of the most populated valleys. Its more favourable weather conditions have attracted many nomadic families living on their husbandry.
Our slow progress on the damaged track leaves us plenty of time to observe the different scenes of nomadic life.

In order to understand, the real life of Mongolian herders, its constraints such as its pleasures, we spend this day with our host family. Those who wish, participate in various daily tasks of herding: deals with pets, make dairy products, etc. Possibility of horseback trekking in the valley.

Let’s saddle up our horses. The space is ideal to gallop in the vast grassy plains, interspersed with basalt rocks and surrounded by ancient dormant volcanoes. On our side, Orkhon follows-up its banks, furrows between beds of Edelweiss and steep gorges.
Unexpectedly we find ourselves at the edge of the famous Ulaantsutgalan waterfall. A short walk through the canyon to the foot of the waterfall is worth seeing.

Today, we cross the high forested mountains of the Khangai range to reach the Tsenkher hot-water source springing up to 86.5 °C.  The track we take winds through the high mountains, some mountain passes can reach altitudes of 2 500m. Breaks to take pictures are not lacking in a rapidly changing landscape. We picnic face to wild and beautiful landscape. This water containing hydrogen sulphate is known for its many healing properties. We can enjoy the different basins and the beautiful surroundings to relax us after a long drive. 

We cross the Jargalant pass and come down to the valley of Tamir river, where the mysterious rock Taikhar, waits us. After a short stop at the spectacular canyon of Chuluut river, we reach the Khorgo Terkhi National Park . This park has two protected and classified nature reserves: the extinct Khorgo volcano 2210 m height and the Terkhin Tsagaan Nuur lake one of the finest of Mongolia. The lake is formed following a volcanic eruption.

Today we will hike to the crater of the volcano Khorgo which will allow a great opportunity to have a fantastic view over the lake and its surrounding mountains.

A long and difficult road separates us from the Khuvsgul Lake. The track we take winds between the high forested mountains of Taiga, now. Some mountain passes can reach altitudes of 2 500m. Breaks to take pictures are not lacking in a rapidly changing landscape. An important historical site of the country will enliven our way: the steles of Uushigt, dating from the Huns Empire. (second century BC). We will reach the southern shores of the lake, in the afternoon.

Beautiful award that to arrive at the Khuvsgul Lake!  We discover one of the wonders of the world. A huge and crystal alpine lake, as a fresh-water sea, surrounded by dozens of high mountains rising sometimes over 3000m and dressed in pine forests.  
We take this day to relax us in this idyllic nature. Free activities: walk along the wooded banks of the lake, swimming for the least sensitive to cold...

Day 17: Khuvsgul - Ikh Uul
We now turn to the last part of our journey: go back to Ulaanbaatar. Several steps enliven our way. Starting with the Selenge River the largest of the country (992 km long), with the bushy banks.

Day 18: Ikh Uul - Khorgo Terkhi
This day will be devoted to the discovery of extinct volcanoes Togoo and Uran, whose sites are unique landscapes because of the fertility of its volcanic soil. In the afternoon, a short hike allows us to reach the top of the Uran volcano. Its crater preserves many surprises...

Day 19: Khorgo Terkhi - Amarbayasgalant
After Erdenet, Mongolia's second biggest city, a Buddhist architectural treasure awaits us today: Amarbayasgalant Khiid, the "monastery of tranquil bliss." This Chinese-style building was erected in the eighteenth century by a Manchu emperor. The Buddhist center was particularly alive and had several monastic colleges when it's flourishing period. It is one of the few survivors of the great religious repression of the 1937.

Night: in tourist camp, 4-6 h of drive, 1-2 h of walk

Day 20: Amarbayasgalant - Ulaanbaatar
We make our last drive in the heart of the Mongolian steppes before reaching Ulaanbaatar. We'll get there in the afternoon. Transfer to hotel.
Free time for shopping or some visits in the city. Possibility of visiting the factory stores of cashmere.

Night: in hotel, 5 h of drive

Day 21: Return
After breakfast at the hotel, a driver is waiting to transfer you to the airport.