EASTERN MONGOLIA - tour
Tour Dates 14 - 24 May 2020, 20 - 30 August 2020 (11 days tour)
Tour price (per person)
Max group size 4 - 12 with 1 Mongolian guide tour leader & local guide
Expected Climate At higher elevations, temperatures are pleasant during the day, but can get cool at night.
Accommadation Most of this tour will be spent camping.
Photographic opportunities Good
Other attractions Khangal lake, Dund Jargalant deer stone, Binder ovoo, Rashaan rock, Chinggis khaan statue complex, Energiin ovoo (energy cairn), Ugtam temple
Tour pace & walking Moderate
Top birds Amur Falcon, Relict Gull, Great Bustard, Black Grouse, Black-billed Capercaillie, Black Stork, Cinereous Vulture, Booted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Pallas’s Sea-Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Greater Spotted eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Common Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Hooded Crane, Japanese Crane, Siberian White Crane, White-naped Crane, Red-crowned Crane, Lesser Kestrel, Saker Falcon, Reed parrotbill, Mongolian Lark, Eurasian Pygmy-owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Ural Owl, Northern Lapwing, Baikal Tern, Swan Goose, Whooper Swan, Grey Heron, Black Redstart, Daurian Starling, Godlewski’s Bunting, Hodgson’s Redstart, Marsh Grassbird, Marsh Hawk, Three-toed Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Wagtail, Rufous-tailed Robin, Yellow breasted Bunting...
Number of Species Expected 100+
Top mammals Red Deer, Mongolian Gazelle, Siberian Roe Deer, Wild boar, Moose, Eurasian Lynx, Pallas's Cat, Least Weasel, Stoat, Siberian Weasel, Mountain Weasel, Wolverine, Asian Badger, Corsac Fox, Red Fox, Grey Wolf, Siberian Jerbao, Striped Dwarf Hamster, Mongolian Silver Vole, Mongolian Vole, False or Steppe Zokor, Mongolian Marmot, Tolai Hare, Daurian Hedgehog, Tundra Shrew ...

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive to Mongolia. (International flights arrives to Mongolia mostly early in the morning or afternoon past 17:00 clock.) If you arrive in morning flight we will add near city observation program. Stay at hotel near airport.

Day 2

Early in the morning we will drive to Gun galuutai situated 130km east of Ulaanbaatar. This site with beautiful landscape compromises small lakes, Kherlen river and steppe is the heaven to birds where we can see wetland birds. Overnight stay at tourist camp.

Day 3

Drive to Khurkh river valley, located on the boundaries of Batshireet, Binder, Umnudelger and Bayan-Adraga soums of Khentii province, the eastern part of Mongolia. Khurkh river valley is the valley along Zuunbayan river stretches 13km. There is 3-4km long bushy grove which provides good stopover for small birds during spring and autumn. (370 km)

Day 4

We will spend this day doing observation in the Khurkh river valley which runs to Onon river, one of the biggest river of Mongolia. In the last 50 years expedition groups of Mongolia-Russia, Mongolia-Germany and Mongolia-Hungary conducting scientific research, banding or ringing small birds in the Khurkh valley. Therefore, the “Crane festival” takes place in the last 10 days of July at Khurkh valley, jointly organized by local community, organizing events to introduce birds to children and teach them how to take of birds and do observation. (120 km)

Day 5

Today we will do observation around the beautiful places like Gurvan nuur lake and Onon balj in Dadal soum, which is famous for birthplace of Chinggis khaan. This site is rich in different types of trees, bushes and shrubs, cliffs, small and mid-sized rivers, lakes, valleys and hills which comprise grassland and steppe where different types of birds occur in high numbers during migration. Overnight stay in tourist camp. (100 km)

Day 6

Bird watching in Bayan-Uul soum, Ugtam mountain and Chukh lake of Dornod province. Ulz river basin comprises small lakes, broadleaf forest and mountain steppe. There were recorded 250 species of birds at this site. In the evening we will stay at Chukh resort, established during Socialism. (180 km)

Day 7

Bird watching in Mongol Daguur strictly protected area, located in Ulz river basin, the foremost northern part of Mongolia. The site is flat plain with low rolling hills. Cranes, bustards, swans, ducks and shorebirds congregate in large numbers here. (110 km) 

Day 8

Bird watching around Khukh lake, the lowest point of Mongolia at 560m above sea level. The lake is surrounded by low rolling hills. Overnight stay in tent next to nomad family. (160 km) 

Day 9

On the way back to Chinggis city, the center of the Khentii province, we will stop in Choibalsan city, the biggest city of the eastern region to have lunch. Overnight stay in tourist camp. (450 km)

Day 10

Back to Ulaanbaatar city and do shopping in Gobi cashmere store and souvenir shop at State Department Store. (320 km)

Day 11

Depart Mongolia.

Highlights

  • Gun galuutai National park
  • Kherlen river
  • Khurkh valley
  • Onon river
  • Gurvan nuur lake
  • Valley of Onon - Balj rivers
  • Birthplace of Chinggis khaan
  • Buryad family
  • Ugtam mountain
  • Chukh lake
  • Ulz river basin
  • Mongol Daguur strictly protected area
  • Khukh lake
  • Chinggis city
  • Gobi cashmere store

Included

  •  Hotel
  •  A car with an experienced driver
  •  Petrol
  •  A Professional birding guide
  •  Tourist camp
  •  Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  •  Entrance fees
  •  Road taxes
  •  Bottled water
  •  Travel equipment
  •  Transport fees from/to airport and hotel

Not included

  •  Travel insurance
  •  Personal expenses and gratuities
  •  Photography charge (museums, concert & monastery)
  •  Beverages

Travel Packing List

  • Lip balm
  • Hand cream
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Bug hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Water bottle
  • Wet tissue
  • Dry tissue
  • Raincoat
  • Hiking boots
  • Gumboots
  • Gloves
  • Universal adapter plug
  • Battery resource
  • Binoculars
  • Flashlight
  • Sleeping bag

Map