As a result of Mongolia’s wide territory, altitude variations in its surface geography, and extreme weather conditions, its plant life is diverse and special. From the north to the south the land is divided between three main regional types, taiga forest, steppe, and desert; with intermediate transitional areas dispersed between them. For example, there are mountainous semi – forested steppe regions, forested steppe regions, desert steppe regions, dispersed among other areas. For the most part, Mongolia is mountainous, and from the base of the mountains to the peaks the temperatures drop, and humidity levels vary. The vertical zones are established in the mountain regions by the distribution of humidity levels, sun exposure, and topsoil composition. Therefore, the Mongolian land surface characteristics are divided into six basic regional types.

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Upon your arrival at the Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport in Mongolia, you will meet the Mongolei Reisen crew and transfer to the 4 star hotel, conveniently situated in downtown
Ulaanbaatar. After freshening up from your trip, we will spend the day with a walking tour of some of the capital’s most noteworthy sites starting out at the Museum of National History where you’ll encounter exhibits highlighting the amazing history of the Mongolian people. The museum has several interested exhibits of national costumes and some artifacts from time of Chinggis Khaan. From the museum, it’s a short walk to the heart of Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square. Here we will see the statue of Sukhbaatar, the hero of the Mongolian revolution, the Parliament house, National Opera, and City Hall. Afterwards we’ll visit Zaisan Hill, which offers great views of the city. In the evening, you will attend a performance of traditional dancing and singing. Mongolia is best known for the traditional form of throat singing, khoomii, and the horse-headed fiddle that accompanies many traditional songs. Overnight in hotel (L, D)

Day 2: Terelj National Park
In the morning, we drive to Terelj National Park, located within the Khan Khentii Mountains to the East of Ulaanbaatar. Terelj is a beautiful setting where you can enjoy the natural scenery of this forested area, home to wolves, deer, bears and wild boars. We will explore the various species of flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs in this scenic landscape, which lies on the southern end of the Siberian Taiga. Overnight in ger camp (B, L, D)

Day 3: Terelj and Khurkhree Rivers, Baruun Bayan Mountain
We’ll spend a full day of hiking and exploration, to examine some of Mongolia’s unique plant life.We’ll start along the banks of the Khurkhree and Terelj Rivers, exploring the unique vegetation that thrives here. Our hike continues to Baruun Bayan Mountain in the north, at an altitude of 2286 meters. The alpine vegetation on the peak make it well worth the 5-6 kilometer hike to the top. Overnight in tents (B, L, D)

Day 4: Baruun Bayan river
A 14-16 kilometer hike brings us down the Baruun Bayan River Basin, with a unique variety of plant life fed by runoff from the mountain. We will have an opportunity to explore the mountain, steppe and meadow vegetation in this area as well as the beautiful natural landscapes. Overnight in tents (B, L, D)

Days 5 – 6: Baruun Bayan River Basin
We continue walking back toward Ulaanbaatar through the Baruun Bayan River Basin, studying the beautiful plant species that thrive here. This is also a great area to spot some of the wildlife of Mongolia including Mountain sheep, Ibex, and a wide range of birds. We’ll also have the opportunity to meet with local herders to find out about the traditional Mongolian lifestyle and culture. Overnight in ger camp (B, L, D)

Day 7: Ulaanbaatar
The journey concludes in Ulaanbaatar, with the remainder of the day free for rest or shopping. After dinner, we’ll attend a performance of an ensemble performance of Mongolian folk art. Overnight in hotel (B, L, D)

Day 8: Departure
Our adventure together ends with your transfer back to the Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport for your departure.