Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Beijing airport, you will be welcomed to China by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Day at leisure: Today is free to explore Beijing, or a tour can be pre-booked. The myriad options include a guided tour of the Forbidden City, a trek along the Great Wall and a visit to the Summer Palace. Please contact us to discuss the excursions that we can arrrange for you today.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the railway station in time to board the train to Mongolia.

Overnight tain journey from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar: Depart from Beijing on train 23 to Ulaanbaatar.  The train departs at 11.22am and arrives at 14.35pm the following day. Settle into your 2-berth compartment and enjoy the journey through the rolling farmland North of Beijing and up through the vast empty plains of the south-east Gobi. Most of the Mongolia section will be overnight, as you reach the border around 8pm. The border crossing and changing of the bogeys (the gauges of China and Mongolia are different) takes around 4 hours. There is a restaurant car on board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on the Trans Siberian Train (Private 2-berth compartment)

Meals: Breakfast

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Ulaanbaatar railway station, you will be welcomed to Mongolia by your private English-speaking guide.

Overland journey from Ulaanbaatar to Khustai Nuruu: Drive west out of Ulaanbaatar to Khustai National Park and settle into your first ger camp, a journey of around 2.5 hours.

Evening safari to see Takhi Horses: At dusk set off for the National Park on a driving safari to spot the Takhi prehistoric horses. This is the time when they gather to drink at streams so you have a better chance of seeing them up close, and in accessible areas. The takhii is distinct with it long nose and heavy skull and sandy colour with black legs. You may also spot deer, ibex, marmots - and if you're lucky, a wolf. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Khustai NP Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey from Khustai Nuruu to Bayangobi: Today set off after breakfast on the drive to Bayangobi, a journey of approximately 5 hours. As you journey through the countryside you will see remote ger settlements, herders on horseback with cattle or camels and distant mountains and lakes. If you would like to stop for photos or to stretch your legs please just let your driver or guide know.

Bayangobi: The most northern part of the Gobi Desert, Bayangobi is a unique combination of Bat Khaan mountains and desert type sand dunes - the Mongol Els - which run for a distance of 200 km. It is home to families of camel herders and provides a heartland alternative to the Gobi desert in the South.

Afternoon activity: Once settled into the homely ger camp, you may choose to ride camels on the sand dunes and/or horses in the open steppe nearby. Perhaps visit a family of nomadic camel herders who live near a small lake that attracts a wonderful bird life.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sweet Gobi Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to Khogno Khaan: After breakfast, set off on the drive to Khogno Khaan, a journey of approximately 45 minutes.

Morning tour of Uygun Khiid Monastery: The small restored monastery complex of Uvgun Khiid is located in the foothills of Khongo Khaan mountain range. Enjoy a walk around the monastery complex with one of the three generations of Buddhist women who have organized the rebuilding and running of the temples. These wonderful women are the descendents of one of the lamas who suffered here during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s. Then take a 45-minute hike up into the mountains to explore the magnificent ruins of the first Uvgun monastery.

Overland journey from Khogno Khaan to Karakorum: After your morning tour, drive to Karakorum, a journey of approximately 3 hours. The journey starts in the grasslands of central Mongolia, which eventually give way to scrub and sand dunes, before once again turning a lush green as you approach Karakorum. Along the way you may pass nomadic herders taking their animals to new pastures; horses, cattle, sheep, goats, camels and yaks may be seen grazing by the roadside.

Evening traditional music performance: After dinner this evening, there will be some traditional music at your ger camp, including a performance of the art of Khoomi (throat) singing.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Monkh Tenger Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning tour of Erdene Zuu Monastery: After breakfast this morning visit Erdene Zuu Monastery in time to hear the young monks calling the other monks to prayer. Enter and watch the proceedings and hear the chanting in the beautifully decorated Tibetan Style temple. Erdene Zuu monastery was built with bricks from the ruins of the ancient city of Karakorum in 1586. There even stands a stone from the ancient city with Arabic script and turtle statues, which are said to be the guardians of the ancient city. The monastery was destroyed in the 1930s but the outer walls and large temples remain and it is now a functioning monastery.

Overland journey from Karakorum to Tsenkher Valley: Later this morning continue north through fertile valleys to a remote countryside spot in the Tsenkher Valley, a journey of around 3.5 hours. This is an area of Mongolia where you may see the most ger camps owned by the nomadic horse breeders. Nestled in the foothills of the Khangai mountains, Tsenkher Valley is some of the lushest countryside in Mongolia with green forested mountains and meandering rivers.

Afternoon / evening activities: The valleys surrounding the camp are filled with nomadic families, who live here due to the lush pasture and water sources. This is a great place to visit a local family in their ger and experience traditional countryside hospitality. This afternoon there will also be the opportunity to saddle up for a 1-2 hour horse ride in the surrounding valleys. Then return to the ger camp where you can have a soak in the pool fed by the hot springs.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Nomadic Family Homestay (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey from Tsenkher Valley to White Lake: Leave the refugio after breakfast and drive west, perhaps stopping in the town of Tsetserleg where you can visit the market and pick up any supplies you may need. Drive across rolling hills to the Bronze Age "deer stone", sacred forest and the dramatic Chuluutin Gol Gorge. Continue to tonight's ger camp in a valley east of White Lake, surrounded by mountains and an imposing volcano. The area is home to traditional yak herding families, their way of life unchanged for centuries in many ways. Today's drive is around 7 hours.

White Lake: White Lake (Tsagaan Nuur) was formed by lava flows many millenia ago. Rare species of flowers and pine trees grow in the black volcanic soil and ancient lava flows streak out across the meadow which is home to alpine wildlife. This astonishingly beautiful crystal clear lake is renowned for its fish and birdlife, including the Ruddy Shellduck and Great Cormorant. Khorgo volcano was reponsible for creating Tsagaan Nuur thousands of years ago and is now extinct. The crater is accessible by foot or on horseback, providing excellent views of the lake and surrounding basalt covered countryside. Local wildlife is also abundant and the area is a haven for birdwatchers.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Khorgo Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Exploring White Lake area: Walk from the camp along the local nomad trail over the back of the mountains to see the lake for the first time. Visit nomadic families and gain an understanding of their nomadic culture, their resilience and resourcefulness. Watch or take part in herding and milking the yaks. Time to horse ride, fish or bathe in the lake from the beach. You can also climb to the summit of the volcano and walk around the crater rim.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Khorgo Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to Jargalant: This morning, head north in to the mountains towards Jargalant, a journey of approximately 4 hours.

Jargalant: The sleepy town of Jargalant makes for a useful stopover on the overland trail from the heartland to Lake Khovsgol in the North. Located in the northern Arkhangai province, the rocky roads make for few travellers - which make the region a more unspoilt haven of rugged beauty. The area is also noted for its natural hot springs.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is free to relax in the thermal baths at the ger camp, or perhaps treat yourself to a massage.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jargal Jiguur Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Overland journey from Jargalant to Muron: The road north to Muron is one of Mongolia's less traveled routes and takes you through some stunning territory. Beautiful valleys and high mountain passes make for wonderful panoramic views. Today's drive is around 7 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuultiin Tokhoi Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure in Muron: Today is free to relax at your Ger Camp after yesterday's drive, and explore more of the Muron area. Muron is the lively capital of Khovsgol province and bears the hallmarks of being a trading outpost close to the border with Russian Siberia, in that it is slightly wild and rough around the edges. However, this adds to its charm and unique atmosphere - none more so at the bustling market in the centre of town. Local hero Davaadorj, who fought against the Japanese at Khalkhiin Gol in 1939, is immortalised with a statue in the town's main square.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuultiin Tokhoi Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey from Muron to Lake Khovsgol: Visit the bustling market in Muron town and stock up on supplies, before a short drive west to the ancient deerstone site of Ushigiin Uver to see the carved stones and burial grounds. Drive north to Khatgal, and stop for lunch of Mongolian buuz and hushuur at a guanz (cafe). The gateway to Khovsgol, the small charming town of Khatgal is located on the Southern tip of the lake. Wooden houses are the norm here due to the abundance of timber from the surrounding mountain forests. Continue to your ger camp situated on the western shore of Lake Khuvsgul. Today's drive is around 3 hours.

Afternoon activity: In the late afternoon, maybe a leisurely horse ride or walk along the shore, before relaxing with a drink overlooking the sunset across the water.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ar Davkhar Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities around Lake Khovsgol: Spend today by the lake, relaxing or doing some of the activities on offer. Ride or hike with local Darkhat guides up through the meadows and Siberian forests into the Khoridol Saridag Mountain range. Fishing and kayaking are alsoon offer, and there are some good hiking routes. The Khoridol Saridag Mountains to the west of Lake Khuvsgul are home to 68 species of mammal including musk deer, brown bear, lynx, marten, beaver, elk, reindeer, moose, argali, ibex and wolf. Here the teepee dwelling Dukha folk herd reindeer, and the region has strong shamanic roots.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ar Davkhar Ger Camp (Standard Ger)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Overland journey to Muron Airport: Depart after breakfast this morning for the drive to Muron airport, a journey of around 3 hours.

Flight: ZY952 Muron - Ulaanbaatar 11.30 - 13.00

Private transfer: On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon guided tour of Ulaanbaatar: This afternoon, you will set out with your guide to explore more of the Mongolian capital. Start with a visit to the Natural History Museum which gives an overview of Mongolia's landscape and geology, although its highlight by far is the collection of dinosaur exhibits. Here you can see 2 whole dinosaur skeletons, with the Tarbosaurus reaching 15 metres tall. Another amazing exhibit is the reptiles that were fossilized mid-fight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tuushin Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast