Kharkhorum & Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi)

Kharkhorum was founded in the early 13th century and became the capital of the Mongol Empire in 1235 under Ögedei Khan. The city was enclosed by walls and included a palace and many buildings connected to trade and daily life. People of different cultures and religious backgrounds lived in Kharkhorum, making it one of the most diverse cities of its time. We will visit the Kharkhorum Museum and Erdene Zuu Monastery.

Elsen Tasarkhai is an 80 km-long belt of sand dunes, divided by a road into Mongol Els and Khugnu Tarniin Els. Despite the desert setting, the dunes are dotted with vegetation such as willow, elm, and hardy shrubs. We visit the sand dunes and a local nomadic family to experience their traditional way of life.

We'll do camel or horseback riding for a couple of hours. And then we'll go hiking to the Uvgon temple ruins.

Khustai National Park was established to reintroduce the takhi (Equus ferus przewalskii Groves), the world’s last remaining species of truly wild horse listed in the IUCN Red List. The reintroduction began in 1992, and today the park is also home to many other rare species of flora and fauna, including marmots, deer, and birds of prey. We will visit Khustai National Park along the way before returning to Ulaanbaatar in the evening.