Mongolia Lakes and Legends

Mongolia is the Montana of Central Asia. Sparsely populated, vast grasslands paint the gently rolling steppes between deserts, high mountains and pristine lakes. This trip savors spectacular and varied environments, culture and ancient history. You won’t ride with the Mongol hordes, but you will visualize the events of historical antiquity and earlier epochs as we visit archaeological sites dating to the times of Chingis Khan and earlier. You will also visit dinosaur fossil sites. Destination highlights include Lake Hovsgol, Gobi Desert, Yol Valley, Flaming Cliffs, and Hustain Nuruu National Reserve. The cultural highlight of the trip may be your visit to the great Naadam Festival in Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia established by Chinghis Khan in 1220 A.D. July is an excellent time of year for warm weather, wildlife viewing and photography. You may observe such wildlife as nesting cranes, eagles and waterfowl as well as indigenous wild horses, camels and argali sheep. Many of the nights you will stay in cozy gers which are traditional domed shelters. On this wide-ranging trip, participants endurance and patience may be tested by difficult roads, transportation, and uncertainties like hot, cold, wet or dry weather, but we have great faith in the local company and guides whom we employ.