Journey Through Crystal Waters

Mongolia's lakes are among its most beautiful sights. Lake Khuvsgul in the north — the "Blue Pearl of Mongolia" — stretches 136 km, is the deepest freshwater lake in Central Asia and is surrounded by mountains and forests. Terkhiin Tsagaan (White Lake) in the Khangai mountains was formed by a volcanic eruption and lies beside the extinct Khorgo volcano, among lava fields, meadows and cliffs.

• Lake Khuvsgul — the Blue Pearl
• Terkhiin Tsagaan (White Lake)
• Khorgo volcano
• Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum
• Tsaatan reindeer herders
• Bayangobi sand dunes

1. 01

   Day 1

   Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

   Upon arrival at the airport you are welcomed by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Visit the Chinggis Khan National Museum — the nation's largest, with over 10,000 objects relating to the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire and the history of Mongolia from the Xiongnu to the end of the 20th century. After lunch visit the palace museum of the 8th Bogd Gegeen, the last emperor of Mongolia. Built between 1893 and 1903 and named "The temple of developing wisdom", it displays religious art, ethnographic objects and the Bogd Khan's royal collection.

   Overnight:

   Hotel

2. 02

   Day 2

   Bayangobi → Kharkhorin

   Drive to Kharkhorin, stopping at Bayangobi. Bayangobi (Elsen Tasarkhai) combines Gobi sand dunes stretching 80 km with forests and rocky mountains. Hike in the small dunes and ride a camel.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp or local hotel

   Distance:

   360 km, 6 h (paved road)

3. 03

   Day 3

   Erdene Zuu — Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

   Visit Erdene Zuu, one of Mongolia's first and largest Buddhist monasteries, founded in 1586 by Abtai Khan at the old imperial capital Karakorum. Partly destroyed in 1937, it reopened as a museum in 1965 and became an active monastery again after 1990. After lunch drive to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, stopping at the Chuluut River canyon — 20 m deep and carved through basalt from the lava of extinct volcanoes.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp

   Distance:

   310 km, 6 h (paved/dirt)

4. 04

   Day 4

   Khorgo volcano

   Climb Khorgo, the last volcano to erupt in Mongolia, nearly 8,000 years ago. Stairs on its west side lead to the 200 m crater rim — a short 15-minute trek to fabulous views.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp

   Distance:

   20 km, 30 min (dirt road)

5. 05

   Day 5

   Zuun Nuur salt lake

   Continue north to a camp near Zuun Nuur, a small salt lake surrounded by rolling steppe and wild flowers — a haven for birds.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp

   Distance:

   180 km, 4 h (dirt road)

6. 06

   Day 6

   Lake Khuvsgul

   Drive to Lake Khuvsgul, Mongolia's largest freshwater lake and one of the world's "ancient lakes" — over two million years old, with water clean enough to drink. Its name comes from the Turkic "Khob Su Kol", lake with great water.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp

   Distance:

   230 km, 5–6 h (dirt road)

7. 07

   Day 7

   Lake Khuvsgul

   A full day on the lakeshore. You can meet a Tsaatan reindeer-herding family — the West and East Taiga communities keep over 1,000 reindeer. Free time for hiking and photography along the shore, rich in wildlife and birds.

   Overnight:

   Ger camp

8. 08

   Day 8

   Erdenet city

   Drive south with a stop in Erdenet, Mongolia's third-largest city. Lunch on the way.

   Overnight:

   Hotel

   Distance:

   510 km, 6–7 h (paved road)

9. 09

   Day 9

   Ulaanbaatar

   Drive to Ulaanbaatar, rest after the journey or shop for souvenirs at the State Department Store or a cashmere factory store.

   Overnight:

   Hotel

   Distance:

   400 km, 4–5 h (paved road)

10. 10

    Day 10

    Departure

    After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight.

Join a scheduled group departure, or pick your own date for a private tour.

No scheduled dates right now — choose any date in the cart for a private tour.

No reviews for this tour yet.