Best of Mongolia

Fly overnight to Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Start your explorations with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia. Here, you'll get to witness the monks' morning chants and learn more about Mongolian Buddhism. Then head to the heart of the city to stand in Genghis Khan Square and view the fascinating exhibitions of the National Museum of Mongolia. This evening, enjoy a lively cultural show that features traditional songs, dances and music.

Leave the city and travel into the hinterland to discover the picturesque scenery of Terelj National Park. En route, stop at the impressive Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex – the largest of its kind in the world.

Continue your journey to Terelj National Park, where you'll walk around the iconic Turtle Rock and visit the serene Aryabal Temple. Unwind at your premium ger camp, enjoying leisure time with stargazing and sauna facilities.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Dalanzadgad, the gateway to the Gobi Desert. Begin your sightseeing in a comfortable, air-conditioned 4WD with a visit to a local market, then drive to the Yol Valley in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Take a scenic walk through a narrow gorge surrounded by towering rock formations. Spend the night in a premium ger camp.

Travel across striking desert plains, passing herds of camels on your way to the towering sand dunes of Khongoryn Els. Explore the dunes on foot, with the option to climb to the top for sweeping views across the Gobi. Dine tonight under the starry Gobi sky and spend the next two nights in a premium ger camp.

Spend a full day exploring the beauty of Khongoryn Els, some of the world's most spectacular sand dunes. Take a walk to admire the contrasts between the shifting sands and green oases and visit a nomadic camel herding family to learn about their way of life.

In the afternoon you'll have free time to explore as you wish before returning to the ger camp for a traditional Mongolian dinner.

Drive through magnificent landscapes to reach Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, to admire these red sandstone formations. Take a walk through the Gobi Dinosaurs Cemetery, keeping a look out for fossils, before a guided walk to discover more about the area's rich paleontological history. Overnight in a premium ger..

Set out across the stark scenery of the Gobi to Ongiin Khiid, a monastery on the banks of the Ongi River. Wander around the ruins of two historic monasteries which were once among the largest in Mongolia and take a walk around the site to learn more about the area's past. Continue the drive into Mongolia's green heartlands and settle into your standard ger for the next two nights.

Today, immerse yourself into Mongolia's rich traditions and nomadic heritage, witnessing a mini Naadam Festival, featuring the traditional 'Three Manly Games'. Watch a wrestling competition, a horse race and learn the art of archery. This evening, sit down to an authentic Mongolian stone-grilled mutton feast.

Visit the Orkhon Waterfall, then drive to Kharkhorin, once the seat of Genghis Khan's great empire. Explore the the Kharkhorin Museum, which offers a comprehensive insight to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Orkhon River Valley. Spend two nights in a premium ger.

Step back in time at the sacred Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's oldest Buddhist monastery. Take a gentle walk to the Orkhon River Valley viewpoint, offering sweeping panoramas across this vast UNESCO-listed landscape, before continuing to Turtle Stone Hill, a curious landmark.

Arrive in Khustai National Park, home to Mongolia's wild takhi horses. Once extinct in the wild, these rare animals now roam freely alongside other native wildlife. Settle into your premium ger camp and soak in the beauty of the open steppe.

Spend the morning exploring the wild beauty of Khustai National Park before returning to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy a free afternoon to shop for souvenirs or wander the city at your own pace. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a traditional Mongolian restaurant, complete with live folk music.

This morning you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Australia, arriving home the next day.