Trans-Mongolian

<p>As you arrive at the Railway Station in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, your guide-interpreter and driver will welcome you and lead you on to the city tour. The capital has plenty to offer. On the tour you will visit the Gandan Monastery, a historical and spiritual Buddhist temple in the city. Then you can walk around the National History Museum and the Chinggis Khaan Square in front of the Mongolian Parliament house to help you get a general knowledge and information about the Mongolian history and culture.</p><p>FB, Night in a tourist hotel</p>

<p>You leave the capital and move to the “Khogno Khan”, called the Central Gobi, one of the 33 “Gobi” (a local word for “Desert”) in Mongolia. Visit and set up with your host nomadic family, settled in the middle of the pastures. Upon the visit, you can have a taste of “White food” and notably Airag, a traditional drink made from fermented mare’s milk.</p><p>Continuing your trip, you will visit one of the country’s ancient Buddhist monasteries – The Erdene Khamba monastery, which is located in the sacred Mountain Khogno Khan.</p><p>Return to the family and discover the nomadic way of life by participating in their daily life: cooking traditional dishes, looking after the herd, milking the animals, etc.</p><p>FB, Overnight with a nomadic family</p>

<p>Early in the morning, you will depart and start the tour of Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire during the time of Chinggis Khaan (1162-1227). The current city of Karakorum is above all the seat of the best-known monastery in Mongolian territory: Erdene Zuu. Erdene Zuu means’ hundred treasures. The building dates from 1586 and once consisted of more than a hundred temples. Sadly, the complex has been subjected to many political ups and downs, at last being actively restored since 1990 around twenty remain today. The complex is fully fenced and every fifteen meters there are stupas, 108 in total, in the walls. At the end of the day you return to Khogno Tarna, to stay one more night with the nomad family.</p><p>FB, Overnight with a nomadic family</p>

<p>After breakfast you return to the capital Ulaanbaatar and arrive at your hotel. Take this time to have a little rest. Then you will go shopping in the State Department Store, the largest shopping mall in Mongolia, a leftover of the Soviet occupation. There, you can find cashmere, leather, and whatever you want for souvenirs, presents and gifts.</p><p>In the evening you’ll indulge in Mongolian culture with a folklore show, concert of traditional music and contortion. You’ll hear performances with the Traditional Mongolian instrument Morin Khuur, a two-string fiddle adorned with a carved horse’s head; overtone singing, previously only used by shamans to enter into communication with the spirits.</p><p>At last, a farewell dinner with your team to wrap up an excellent journey full of memories.</p><p>FB, Night in a tourist hotel</p>

<p>After having breakfast in the hotel, your team will drive you to the Ulaanbaatar Railway Station 2 hours before your departure.</p><p>Have a safe journey, continuing through the Trans-Siberian!</p>