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Mongolia Travel, Mongolia Tours, Mongolia Sightseeing

Bird Watching and Wild Bird Photography Tour in Mongolia, the Land of the Steppe, 11 Days

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Duration10 nights / 11 days
AccommodationStandard hotel / ger
Meals9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
GuideBird guide
Price2 people: $2,550
Departure pointChinggis Khaan Airport
Tour Highlights
Airport transferBirdwatchingDesertGer stayLake & riverDomestic flight

Overview

Tour codeSIT-03
Number of days10 nights / 11 days
Departure pointChinggis Khaan Airport
AccommodationStandard hotel / ger
Meals9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
Hotel usedStandard room
Local guideBird guide
Minimum number of participantsFrom 1 person
Booking methodBook online
Local tour price2 people: $2,550

Itinerary

DayScheduleMealsAccommodation
1
Day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Transport: private car, bird guide

An English-speaking specialist bird guide will meet you at the airport. We guide you by private car to a hotel in the city.

Dinner: ○City hotelHotel
2
Day
Ulaanbaatar → Hustai
Transport: private car, bird guide

[Ulaanbaatar to Hustai National Park] Depart the hotel early at 5 am.

By private car to Hustai National Park, a protected area for wild birds and wild plants where the Mongolian native wild horse, the takhi (Przewalski's horse), is protected (100 km, 2 hours). After arrival, lunch at the restaurant inside Hustai National Park.

Bird watching in the park. See wild horses on the way.

Possible birds to observe: saker falcon, golden eagle, saker falcon, cinereous vulture, Himalayan griffon, grey partridge, red-footed falcon, Eurasian hobby, long-legged buzzard, Daurian jackdaw, black stork, Mongolian lark, buntings, little owl, and more. After observing, go to the tourist camp and have dinner at the restaurant inside the camp.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Hustai Tourist CampGer
3
Day
Hustai → Tsagaan Lake → Ugii Lake
Transport: private car, bird guide

[Hustai to Tsagaan Lake to Ugii Lake] Breakfast at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

To Tsagaan Lake, a lake on the steppe.

Possible birds to observe at this lake.

Relict gull, snowfinch, Pallas's reed bunting, Siberian oystercatcher-type waders, citrine wagtail, white wagtail, yellow wagtail, bar-headed goose, greylag goose, white-winged tern, demoiselle crane, horned lark, and more. After bird watching, go to Ugii Lake (200 km, 4 hours).

Lunch at the restaurant of the tourist camp near Ugii Lake.

After a rest, go bird watching.

Possible birds to observe at this lake.

Mongolian finch, ruddy shelduck, bar-headed goose, Mongolian gull, rock sparrow, horned lark, Pallas's fish eagle, white-tailed eagle, swan goose, and more. After bird watching, go to the tourist camp.

Dinner at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Ugii Lake Tourist CampGer
4
Day
Ugii Lake → Karakorum
Transport: private car, bird guide

[Ugii Lake to Karakorum] Breakfast at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

To Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire era (100 km, 2 hours). Karakorum sightseeing (we guide you to the grand Erdene Zuu monastery, a World Heritage Site where four gates and 108 stupas form a square around the temple complex, the excavation site of the palace of the second emperor, Ogedei Khan, and Turtle Rock, shaped like the turtle said to support the world).

Lunch at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

After seeing Karakorum, bird watching in a poplar grove.

Horned lark. Possible birds to observe in this grove: willow warbler, yellow-browed warbler, asian brown flycatcher, and more. Dinner inside the tourist camp.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Karakorum Tourist CampGer
5
Day
Karakorum → Elsen Tasarkhai → Terelj
Transport: private car, bird guide

[Karakorum to Elsen Tasarkhai] Depart the hotel early at 5 am.

To the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes (100 km, 1.5 hours).

Lunch at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

Observe birds living in the marshland.

Possible birds to observe in this place: common loon, marsh harrier, white-naped crane, bar-headed goose, great reed warbler, and more.

Bearded vulture, saker falcon, Himalayan griffon, lesser kestrel, golden eagle, steppe eagle, red-billed chough, white-winged redstart, Isabelline wheatear, desert wheatear, black-eared wheatear and more. Move to Terelj by private car (about 420 km, 5 hours). See Turtle Rock in Terelj on the way.

Dinner at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Tourist camp in Terelj National ParkGer
6
Day
Terelj
Transport: private car, bird guide

[Terelj National Park] Bird watching in forest and steppe.

Possible birds to observe in this place: white-capped bunting, black-throated thrush, oriental cuckoo, hoopoe, black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, willow tit, white-capped bunting, black-throated thrush, Siberian rubythroat, whinchat, red-flanked bluetail, dusky warbler, willow warbler, red-breasted flycatcher, asian brown flycatcher, common buzzard, Siberian grasshopper warbler, red-flanked bluetail, and more. Dinner at the restaurant inside the tourist camp.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Terelj Tourist CampGer
8
Day
Day 9→South Gobi→Bird guide→[Khongor Sand Dunes to Bayanzag / Yolyn Am]
Transport: Private car

Depart the hotel early at 4 am. Move to Bayanzag by private car.

(Valley of the Eagles, Gobi Nature Museum, Bayanzag)

At Bayanzag you excavate dinosaur fossils.

With luck you might find something.

Pallas's sandgrouse

Forest desert wheatear, desert warbler, great grey shrike, Henderson's ground jay, sandgrouse, and probably the upland buzzard.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: yes
Stay at the Juulchin Gobi Camp, South Gobi
10
Day
South Gobi → Ulaanbaatar
Transport: private car, bird guide

[South Gobi to Ulaanbaatar].

After breakfast, by private car to Dalanzadgad. Domestic flight to Ulaanbaatar, 1.5 hours.

After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, city sightseeing (Ethnography Museum, Zaisan Hill, Chinggis Khaan Square, shopping at Nomin Department Store).

Azure tit.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: ○
Dinner: ○
Stay at a city hotelHotel
11
Day
Ulaanbaatar to the airport
Transport: private car, English-speaking guide

[Ulaanbaatar to Chinggis Khaan International Airport].

In the morning the driver takes you to the airport.

[40 km, 40 minutes] Airline check-in. Fly home by direct or connecting flight.

Breakfast: ○
Lunch: none
Dinner: none
-

*Itinerary and times may change depending on weather and road conditions.

Tour Map

Highlights and Information

Mongolia Bird Journey: From the Taiga Forest to the South Gobi and Sand Dunes  

Tour Points and Schedule Guide

Mongolia can be called one of the meccas of bird watching in East Asia. In cooperation with the Mongolian Ornithological Society (NGO), we arrange a specialist bird guide. For group tours, an English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout, so there is no worry about language.

Travel from the taiga to the South Gobi and enjoy bird watching that differs by environment, guided by Mongolian experts with broad knowledge of the birds of Mongolia. On the tour you can see Mongolia's national bird, the saker falcon, the bearded vulture, upland buzzard, red-footed falcon, steppe eagle, Pallas's fish eagle and other birds of prey, as well as waterbirds, sandgrouse, and lovable small birds, more than 170 species of wild birds in all.

 The bird list ishere.

Days 7 and 8

Terelj

International airport

Yolyn Am

Khongor Sand Dunes

Private car

Bird guide

[Terelj to Khongor Sand Dunes / Yolyn Am]

After breakfast, to the airport by private car.

Take a domestic flight to Dalanzadgad in the South Gobi (1.5 hours). After arriving in the South Gobi, move to Yolyn Am by private car.

Above the Yolyn Am valley, whose name in Mongolian means "Valley of the Eagles," eagles really do fly, and you feel the place name is true to life. At 2,200 m altitude in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, it takes about 1.5 hours from the tourist camp. Besides eagles, you may see wild yaks and goats on the mountainsides.

Among the many dunes of the Gobi Desert, the one of incomparable scale is the Khongor Sand Dunes, 220 km from Dalanzadgad. These great dunes are 800 m high and 3.5 km wide, boasting the highest in Mongolia. Enjoy the moving desert scenery.

Mongolian finch

Possible birds to observe

Mongolian and Kozlov's accentor, brown accentor, Mongolian finch, crag martin, white-winged snowfinch, black redstart, saker falcon, Mongolian finch, buntings, bearded vulture, Himalayan griffon

"Stay at a South Gobi tourist camp"

Breakfast: ○

Lunch: ○

Dinner: yes

* The above itinerary and times may change locally depending on the weather and road congestion on the day. In that case, we kindly ask for your understanding and to follow the instructions of the local staff.

* Meals may be boxed lunches. Also, the hotels, restaurants and tourist ger camps used for lodging and meals may each change, so we ask for your understanding in advance.

* The sun is strong, so please bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and insect repellent, as there are many insects near water.

* Mornings and evenings get quite cold, so please bring a sweater, fleece or other warm clothing.

Included in the price(City hotel: 2 people per room; tourist ger camp: 3–4 people share. For single-room use, add $55 per night.)

Ø  Accommodation: Flower Hotel in Ulaanbaatar; tourist ger camps at other places visited 

Ø  Private 4WD vehicle during the itinerary (driver and fuel included)

Ø  English-speaking bird guide

Ø  Entrance fees to places visited during the itinerary, such as national parks and Erdene Zuu

Ø  Road tolls and parking fees

Ø  Gratuity for nomad family visits

Ø  Domestic flight tickets

Ø  South Gobi sightseeing fees

Ø  One bottle (500 cc) of mineral water per day

Ø  Meals (10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners)

Not included in the price

o   International airfare. Overseas travel insurance (we recommend insurance that also covers emergency evacuation from Mongolia). Departure tax. Transportation, food and drink, laundry, telephone charges, entrance fees for places not listed in the itinerary, and other personal expenses not included in the tour price.

o   If your international flight is delayed, the itinerary may change and additional expenses may arise. Our disclaimer:

o   We are not liable if continuing the tour becomes difficult due to natural disasters (including typhoons and earthquakes), war, riots or orders of government authorities, or if you suffer damage through the intentional act or negligence of yourself or a third party.

*The above itinerary and times may change locally depending on weather and traffic congestion on the day. In that case, please follow the instructions of the local staff. We appreciate your understanding.

*Meals may become box lunches, and the hotel / restaurant / ger may each be changed.
Sightseeing Map


 Hotel

The only Japanese-owned hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Many staff speak Japanese, which is reassuring. Some rooms have no bath, but you can use the large (Japanese-style) public bath in the building. The hotel has Japanese, Western and Chinese restaurants, with facilities Japanese guests will appreciate. There is a karaoke bar in the building. Internet is available in each room.

http://www.flower-hotel.mn/

What is a ger tourist camp?
In Mongolia, "gers" are used as accommodation for tourists. Inside a ger are 3–4 beds, with a wood stove, table and chairs in the center. Even in summer, the stove is used when mornings and evenings are cold. A facility made up of these tourist gers and a neighboring separate building with a restaurant, toilets, shower rooms and so on is generally called a "tourist camp." Tourist camps in the suburbs of Ulaanbaatar and in provincial towns have no telephones, and radio communication is usual. Some provincial tourist camps have solar-heated showers, but because it is dry even in summer, you rarely feel sticky with sweat.

Transport and vehicles during the tour

During the tour you travel on unpaved roads, so for safety our tours use 4WD vehicles. Depending on your request, we use a Mitsubishi Delica or a Toyota Land Cruiser (extra charge required). Drivers are experienced veterans well used to driving on unpaved roads, so please rest assured. All vehicles are insured, but this does not cover the full cost of serious cases such as emergency evacuation to your home country, so before departure we recommend joining overseas travel accident insurance that covers rescue costs (emergency evacuation) in your home country.


Local Mongolia Tour Points
  • The above price is the per-person price when the tour runs with2people. Depending on the number of participants, a more economical price plan may be available.
  • Accommodation is the hotel listed above or a hotel of equivalent class.
  • In Ulaanbaatar city hotels, two people normally share one room.
  • If one person uses a room alone, an additional charge of $40 per night applies.
  • At tourist camps, rooms (gers) are normally shared by 2–4 people.
  • If you use a tourist camp ger as a single, an additional charge of $25 per night applies.
  • An English-speaking guide stays with you throughout, and a professional licensed driver is arranged.
  • The vehicle is a private vehicle suited to the number of people: sedan, minibus, 4WD, etc.
  • Meals: as stated in the itinerary (standard three-course meals)
  • Sightseeing and meals may change due to local conditions such as weather or flight delays.
  • We also accept requests for additional arrangements such as extra nights, a private guide or a private car, and for hotel specification or upgrades.
    *Please consult us when booking.
  • We can arrange Mongolia flight tickets. If you wish, please clickMongolia discount flight tickets.
  • Based on this itinerary, we can also arrange extending your stay or adding destinations. Please feel free to consult us.

Operating conditions and notes

Booking deadline

For tour bookings, please book at least 15 days before departure (excluding public holidays). If a booking is made after that, we will first reply to you by email to confirm that we can reach each other reliably before we start the arrangements. Bookings 7 days or more before departure will be accommodated as far as possible, so please consult us. (Cancellation charges start from 10 days before, so please note.) Please check the usage guide before booking.

Price notes

This course operates from 2 people, but we can accept a booking for 1 person. In that case an additional charge for a one-person departure and a single-room supplement apply. Please ask us for the price of a one-person departure before booking.

Payment method

After you reserve by email and phone, we will send a travel confirmation and an invoice to your email address. After checking the invoice, transfer 50% of the tour price to our bank account. The booking becomes official after we confirm receipt. The remaining 50% is paid by bank transfer before the trip starts.

Included in the tour price

Meal costs and service charges stated in the itinerary
Accommodation costs and service charges stated in the itinerary
Sightseeing costs stated in the itinerary (guide fee, admission fees)
Domestic flights or free internet and water

Not included in the tour price

Round-trip international airfare or international train fare

Optional tour fees

Overseas travel insurance

Personal souvenirs

Beer, liquor and other alcoholic drinks

Cancellation fees

From 18:00 local time 10 business days before the tour date to 18:00 local time 8 business days before: 20% of the total booking amount

From 18:00 local time 7 business days before the tour date to 18:00 local time 5 business days before: 30% of the total booking amount

From 18:00 local time 4 business days before the tour date to 18:00 local time 2 business days before: 40% of the total booking amount

From 18:00 local time 2 business days before the tour date to 1 business day before: 50% of the total booking amount

On the tour date: 100% of the total booking amount

 Other  
  • For airport pickup, the driver waits in the arrivals hall of Chinggis Khaan International Airport holding a name board.
  • If you depart from a local hotel in the morning, the guide will be waiting in the hotel lobby at that time.
  • We provide free Wi-Fi from the start to the end of the trip, and at the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport you can buy an e-SIM card with internet for about $15 for 7 days.
  • There are money exchange counters open 24 hours on the 1st and 2nd floors of the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport. You can exchange money at any time. On your return you can also exchange Mongolian currency back to your own currency.
  • In Mongolia, some accommodations use "gers" as lodging for tourists.
  • Inside the ger are 3–4 beds, with a wood stove, table and chairs in the center. Even in summer, the stove is used when mornings and evenings are cold. A facility made up of these tourist gers and a neighboring separate building with a restaurant, toilets, shower rooms and so on is generally called a "tourist camp."
  • We can also arrange a deluxe ger with toilet and shower, but in that case an extra charge of $135 per ger per night applies.
  • The above itinerary and times may change locally depending on the weather and road congestion on the day. In that case, we kindly ask for your understanding and to follow the instructions of the local staff.
  • Meals may be boxed lunches, and the hotels / restaurants / gers may each change.
  • For questions about traveling to Mongolia and what to bring, please see the links below.

Mongolia travel questions and quotes: Mongolia travel seasons and clothing

 

How to Book

How to Book

1. Inquiry
Please tell us your dates, number of people and flight information.

2. Itinerary and quote
We will send you an itinerary and a quote.

3. Booking
Please send a copy of your passport (up to 15 days before departure).

4. Travel confirmation and invoice
We will send you a travel confirmation and an invoice.

5. Payment
Transfer 50% of the invoiced amount (the booking is confirmed after we confirm receipt). Please transfer the remaining 50% before departure.

For participation conditions, cancellation rules and more, please seeMongolia Travel Guide/Basic Information.

Other Recommended Tours

Booking and Inquiries

Please feel free to contact us even if your dates and number of people are not decided yet.Quotes are free.

A memorable journey in Mongolia.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Shine Zuuch Travel Tel: 976-70000558 Mobile: 976-99095525 (English OK)
E-mail:info@nomadmongolia.com

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