Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. After lunch, city tour including a visit to the National History Museum, where you will see artifacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present, and displays of the development of Mongolian arts and culture. Afterwards an excursion to the Zaisan Hill War Memorial to get your bearings with a panoramic view of the whole city. Overnight at selected hotel

Attend the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival at the Central Stadium in Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy competitions of the three manly sports, archery, wrestling and horse racing, along with Mongolian cultural performances. Afternoon tour: Watch the horse races taking place outside of the city. Naadam Gala dinner and a folk concert in the evening. Overnight at selected hotel

After breakfast drive to Terelj national park, 80km north-east of city. Spend the day touring the area and enjoying the magnificent alpine scenery. There are great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing and horse riding. You can visit to nomad family and explore the unique lifestyle and horse riding. Return back to the hotel. Overnight at selected hotel

Transfer to Karakorum ancient capital (380km). Lunch on the way. Arrive in Karakorum late afternoon and have refreshments. Dinner and overnight in camp. Overnight in tourist GER camp

Visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, the 13th century imperial capital of the Mongol Empire and the Erdene-Zuu Monastery, once one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia, which was almost destroyed in the communist purges of the 1930s. Tour of the monastery grounds and several chapels with excellent examples of Buddhist iconography dating from the 16th century. Lunch at the camp. Visit a family of nomads. Overnight in tourist GER camp.

Drive to Bayangobi. Lunch in the Ger camp. Visit a horse-breeder’s family to see the making of the traditional Mongolian drink, airag (fermented mare’s milk). Horseback riding on Mongolian-style wooden saddles. Overnight in traditional ger dwellings at the Bayangobi camp. Overnight in tourist GER camp

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. On the way visit Hustain Nuruu (Pike Hustai) National Reserve to see the Przewalski wild horses, recently re-introduced back into Mongolia. Visit the park museum to learn about the history of the last pure wild horses in the world and the history of the area. Lunch. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar late afternoon. Dinner and a cultural performance. Overnight at selected hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, which is one of the only monasteries in the country that was not damaged by communists. It was built for the brother of the Eighth Bogd Gegeen, Mongolia’s last Khan, and contains intact Buddhist religious items and artworks. It is an exact representation of a functioning monastery. In the afternoon, leisure time for individual plans and shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Overnight at selected hotel

After an early breakfast transfer to the airport for a flight to the Gobi base camp. Visit Yol Valley National Park (50km) for trekking and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape, the Gobi Glacier and the wildlife of the area. Picnic lunch in the National Park, and leisure hiking. En route back to base camp, visit a camel breeder’s family for photo opportunities, an optional camel-riding session and to experience the nomadic lifestyle. Enjoy a relaxing evening under the Gobi Desert skies. Overnight in tourist GER camp

A day trip to Bayan Zag, the Flaming Cliffs (70km), to explore the Gobi Dinosaur Cemetery and to follow the historic trail of paleontologist / explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. Picnic Lunch. Return to base camp for dinner and overnight. Overnight in tourist GER camp

Late morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar. After lunch, tour the Gobi cashmere factory and shop for original and pure cashmere gifts and garments. Overnight at selected hotel

Transfer to the airport for departure.