MONGOLIA
From Genghis Khan to the Gobi Desert!
July 15-29, 2011

Dear Travelers:
Join us as we explore Mongolia, “Land of the Blue Sky!” Mongolia stands alone among the Asian countries for its vast, sparsely inhabited hinterlands. The Gobi Desert spreads across the south, with steppe grasslands and conifer taiga forest to the north. Landscapes are bright, clean, nearly oceanic in their expansiveness. Wildlife is relatively abundant on the open steppes, and the mammals and birds are easier to see than they are in woodier places. Mongolian summer skies also have some of the most beautiful clouds that you will see anywhere in the world.

Despite its low population density, the Mongolian people often etch the most profound memories in the minds of their visitors. They are extreme in their self reliance, unpretentiously graceful in their traditions, and possessed of a hospitality that is hard to find in the more congested parts of the world. Today many Mongolian people are aggregating in cities and towns, but even so a majority continue to cherish their semi-nomadic ways. In summer, round white gers (we know them as yurts) are scattered widely across the grasslands. These practical structures of willow and felt are well insulated from winter’s cold and summer’s intense sunlight, yet they remain airy and pleasant inside with a small stove and a ventilation window at the apex. Each family may have one or a small cluster of gers. Mongolia’s constitution guarantees all citizens unrestricted access to the land.

Mongolians are justifiably proud of their heritage. Seven hundred years ago the steppe grasslands gave rise to the greatest empire the world has ever known. Chinggis Khan (we call him Genghis) and his descendants famously conquered nearly all of Eurasia. Along the way, the Mongolians encountered Tibetan influenced Buddhism.

Today, monasteries in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar provide some of the best expressions of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Families worship in the courtyards, monks chant in the lamaseries, and the chapels contain a priceless heritage of artwork and devotional objects.

Our expedition begins in Ulaanbaatar, urban center of a nation that remains nomadic at heart. Stretching along the valley of the Tuul River, embraced by hills, Ulaanbaatar hints at the adventure and open spaces of the landscape beyond. Our accommodation in Ulanbaatar will be a small, well-appointed hotel of international standard.

Outside of Ulaanbaatar we will stay in the traditional, but perfectly comfortable ger camps. One ger can accommodate one or two guests. Open to the fresh air, with a pleasant ambience and a light footprint, gers are certainly the best way to house visitors on the steppe. Meals at the ger camps are prepared family style, and the food is abundant and delicious, surprisingly European in character.

Highlights of our journey, as described in the itinerary include the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape including Erdene Zuu Monastery and the remnants of ancient Karakorum, the national parks of Hoyor Zagal and Hustain Nuruu with its (re-introduced) population of wild Przewalski’s horses, Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve with wild argali sheep and wetlands that support a variety of large water birds including swans and cranes, Terelj National Park with larch forests and sculpted granite mountains, and the Gobi Desert where we’ll visit the Bayanzag—Flaming Cliffs dinosaur fossil site, Yolyn Am Gorge, and the Moltsog Els sand dunes.

Join us for an invigorating journey to explore the landscapes and cultural heritage of Mongolia.

Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Carpenter
Expedition Leader

$3,995 + air

Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)