Birding Tour to Gobi Desert and Central Mongolia

DAY 1. Ulaanbaatar | Capital City of Mongolia

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Meet your local guide and driver at Chinggis Khaan International airport and then transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we can take a short city tour. Stay in hotel. /L, D/

DAY 2-3. Gorkhi - Terelj National Park | Khentii Mountain Range

Our Mongolian Birding tour begins today. After having breakfast let us heading to the north-east to Terelj NP, one of the best birding spots near the capital city. Siberian larch forests, magnificent rock formations, beautiful Terelj River and peaceful meadows make the park main tourist attraction. For birders, the park offers some of stunning species, including Black-billed Capercaillie, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Azure Tit and more bush birds to watch and photograph. We will be birding here for 2 days accommodating in tourist ger/yurt camp where serve us full board of meals and modern facilities. /B, L, D/

DAY 4. Gun Galuut Nature Reserve | Semi-steppe

Leave the park for Gun Galuut Nature Reserve in the morning. Drive for 2 hours to the nature reserve where the small lake named as Gun, the main birding spot, splendid White-naped Crane is seen here, and it might be the chance to find Siberian Crane, and more aquatic birds. River Kherlen, crosses through the NR, has its origin in the south slopes of the Khentii mountains, is one of the reasons to make this place an iconic habitat of mammals, including flock of white-tailed gazelle, fox and marmot. Beautiful Argali Wild Sheep might be seen while their watering time, but we cannot have guarantee to see them. We stay in tourist ger camp, fishing, camel, horse riding activities are available for the leisure, surrounding is very peaceful, perfect place for nature lovers and give them a good chance to stay relaxed. /B, L, D/

DAY 5. Baga Gazriin Chuluu & Sum Khuh Burd | Desert Steppe

The day for heading to the Gobi Desert and arrive at Baga Gazriin Chuluu, explore the surrounding area old underground crystal mining, eyes spring, some of rare plants and maybe seen wild goats. Visit Sum Khuh Burd where a small lake exists, aquatic birds such as Whooper Swan, Ruddy Shelduck and harriers, Eastern Marsh Harrier have been living here. For historical attraction, in the middle of lake, on with the ruins of a historic temple built in the 16th century. Stay overnight in tourist ger camp. /B, L, D/

DAY 6. Yol Valley | Gobi Desert  

Drive on paved road to Yol Valley via Dalanzadgad, the center of Umnu- Gobi province of Mongolia. Visit Gobi Gurvan Saikhan NP where the Yol Valley locates, a home to lammergeyer, iconic Wallcreeper and Siberian Ibex. We walk through deep, narrow gorge with water forms, four small waterfalls. Although this is the desert region and the sun shines a lot, the canyon remains dark, so that in the bottom, a part of the river remains nearly all year long covered by a thick layer of ice. Stay overnight in the tourist camp near the park. /B, L, D/

DAY 7. Yol Valley to Bayanzag | Gobi Desert

Today we visit Bayanzag knows as Flaming Cliffs named as Roy Chapman Andrews. Beautiful red canyon, surrounded with Saxual forests, famous for its paleontological finding to the world, the fist dinosaur eggs were found. We have chance to find Mongolian Ground Jay and sure to see some of desert birds such us Saxual sparrow, Desert Wheatear, Asian Desert Warbler and the raptors. We can visit local camel herding family for experiencing nomad life. Sometimes, Mongolian Ground Jays can be found outside of the local family ger/yurt.

DAY 8. Khongor Sand Dune | Gobi Desert

We head to the west and drive on earth road for 150 km to reach at Khongor Sand Dune, the biggest sand dune in the Gobi Desert that extends nearly 180 km long, with crests rising 80 to 300m above the landscape. The destination, that offers us try camel riding, sand dune climbing. We can visit local camel herding family for experiencing nomad life.  /B, L, D/

DAY 9-10. Orog Lake | Desert steppe

The days, start travelling through the desert-steppe valleys with in Ramsar Sites. The first spot is Orog, the salt water lake, supports the wetlands of this region. Water levels vary, depending on in-flow from the Tuin River, which rises in the Khangai mountain range. On the northern side of the lake, there is a wide sand dune which stretches along the shore. Local nomads and the livestock are inhabitants also. Stay overnight in tented camp. /B, L, D/

DAY 11-12.  Buun Tsagaan Lake | Desert steppe

We arrive at one of the most important birding spots in Mongolia, Buun Tsagaan Lake, called as “Thousand Bird Island” by locals. Threatened species, Swan Goose, Houbara Bustard, Pallas’s Fish-eagle and Relict Gull might be occurred. The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert biome. Some of the rarest mammals also might be seen such as Saiga antelope, Black-tailed Gazelle. Stay in tented camp near the lake. /B, L, D/

DAY 13. Kharkhorin | Grassland mountain steppe

Heading back to Ulaanbaatar, travel through famous the Orkhon Cultural Landscape of UNESCO Heritage, arrive at Kharkhorin village, known as the place where the ancient capital city of The Mongol Empire exists. The perfect place for getting relaxed and having good knowledge of Mongolian history dated back to 13^th century to nowadays, by visiting ancient city sites, Erdene-zuu Monastery and modern statue of Mongolian dynasties. Stay in tourist ger camp.

DAY 14-15. Ugii Lake | Grassland mountain steppe

We continue travelling in valley of the Orkhon River, the cultural landscapes and reach at Ugii Lake, the Ramsar Site. Local nomads, livestock, mammals, raptors and travelers are along the road to the lake. /B, L, D/

DAY 16-17. Hustai National Park | Grassland mountain steppe

On the way to Ulaanbaatar, we visit Hustain Nuruu NP, designated as reintroduction of Przewalski's Wild Horse (Equus przewalskii), which was once extinct in the wild comprises an area of mountain forest steppe, grassland steppe and river valley, located in a southwestern extension of the Khentii Mountains. The area is important for a variety of bird species during the breeding season and on migration, due to the diversity of habitats in a small area. To date, a total of 169 bird species have been recorded here. We stay in tourist ger camp at the entrance of the park. /B, L, D/

DAY 18. Ulaanbaatar

Drive for 100km on paved road to arrive at capital city. On the way we can see some falcons, harriers and buzzards. In the city we give you a free time to explore city birds all meals are included. Have nice dinner and stay in hotel. /B, L, D/

DAY 19. Departure

Transfer to the airport for the departure. /B/