From Ghengis Khan to the Gobi Desert including the Naadam Festival!
MONGOLIA
July 4-19, 2012

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 nearly oceanic in their expansiveness and wildlife is relatively abundant on the open steppes. 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 elsewhere. Today many Mongolian people are aggregating in towns, but even so most continue to cherish their semi-nomadic ways.

In summer, round white gers (yurts) are scattered across the grasslands. These willow and felt homes are well insulated from winter’s cold and summer’s intense sunlight, yet they remain airy and pleasant with a small stove and a ventilation window at the apex. 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 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 World Heritage Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape including Erdene Zuu Monastery and the remnants of ancient Karakorum, Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve with wild argali sheep and wetlands that support a variety of large water birds including swans and cranes, and the Gobi Desert where we will visit the Bayanzag—Flaming Cliffs dinosaur fossil site, Yolyn Am Gorge, and the Motsog Els sand dunes.

The trip will include the famous Mongolian Naadam Festival with games of archery, wrestling, and horse riding!

Join us for a delightful journey to explore the landscapes and cultural heritage of Mongolia.

Sincerely,
Margaret M. Betchart
President, Betchart Expeditions Inc.
For AAAS, Sigma Xi, and ACS

$3,995 plus air

Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)