One week Central Mongolia Trip

Day 1. Sunday: Welcome to Ulaanbaatar

On your arrival to your one week Mongolia trip SIXT Limousine Service will pick you up upon your arrival at Ulaanbaatar Airport or Ulaanbaatar Central Train Station and drive you to the Kempinski Khan Palace Hotel or another 5-Star Hotel in Ulaanbaatar. For those who land early at sunrise it is great to stop for a nice breakfast at R.O.C. Coffee Shop in Zaisan and having a bit later a look a the Gandam Monastery or the National Museum before lunch and hotel checkin time (early checkins are usually available at extra cost).

Head back to the city center at the Sukhbaatar Square and visit the close by Choijin Lama Temple. The area is ideal for your lunch break with several good restaurants around the temple like Millies, Silk Road, Veranda, Choijin Temple Restaurant and more restaurants and coffee shops are in the close by Shangri La mall.

Collect your rental car at the SIXT station in the Bluesky Hotel on the main square and stop by one of the modern supermarkets like the Emart in Khan Uul or traditional good markets like "Saruul market" to buy groceries and anything you will take on your trip to Central Mongolia. There are several smaller shops along the entire trip but choice of products will be limited.

Continue your afternoon with a visit to the Gandantegchinlen Monastery and Zaisan Memorial with a great view over the city.

End the day by attending the Tumen Ekh Ensemble - one of the best national song and dance ensembles in Mongolia and a nice dinner in one of the many good restaurants of Ulaanbaatar. The Bull Hot Pot Restaurant Chain is a popular dining option for many in Mongolia's capital. For first time visitors who want to dive right in the Mongolian dishes in the beginning of their Mongolia itinerary the Ayanchin Restaurant located in the city center between the main square and the Shangri-La Mall is a great choice. The restaurant serves very tasty Khushuur, Mongolian steaks and various other tasty Mongolian foods.

Day 2. Monday: Hustai National Park

Enjoy your breakfast in Mongolia's capital, load your car and drive off to Hustai National Park in the west of Ulaanbaatar. Hustai National Park  is a beautiful National Park in Tuv province and one of the well-known and special protected areas in Mongolia. The park was created as a place for the Takhi (Przewalski Horse) to be re-introduced back into Mongolia in 1992, where it had become extinct in the wild. They hide out high in the hills during the day, but in the evening they come down to the Tuul River which runs through the park. At the entrance of Hustai National Park you can find small museum and see the movie about the wild horses and the national park. You can stay overnight in the ger camp at the entrance of Hustai National Park or camp in the sand dunes half way back to the main road.

Day 3. Tuesday: Mini Gobi Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

Today you will get the first strong impressions of the endless landscapes of this vast country by driving further to the west towards the center of the former Mongol empire. You will be passing a lot of Mongolian steppe, small towns and seeing nomadic families and their nomadic culture. The 80km long sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai often referred to as a "small" Gobi desert is your next stop. Located 280 km west of Ulaanbaatar and 80 km east of the ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire Karakorum, this area is a sequence of real desert in the midst of green steppes. Drive to Erdene Khamba Monastery ruins, which is only 18 km north from Elsen Tasarkhai. Also ride the horses and camels proposed by tourist camps of this area up on the sand dunes to get a glimpse of the vast landscapes. Take a break for the picnic at one of the springs and lakes next to the sand dunes and set up your camp. There are several nice traditional ger camps along the dunes as well for foreign travelers who would like to sleep in a yurt. Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise and then continue your road trip to Karakorum city.

Day 4. Wednesday: Karakorum

After a rather short drive you will arrive in Karakorum, which is an ancient capital city of the Great Mongol Empire established by Genghis Khan in 1220. Walking here is strolling in an amazing part of history.

Drive to the Erdene Zuu Monastery and explore one of the last vast temples in Mongolia. The temple with its surrounding walls was the center of the ancient city of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Empire. The temple is home to many monks who are doing their chanting in the main building all year round.

After the temple you can drive over to the Kharakhorum Museum and learn more about the fascinating history of this place.

Karakorum has many nice hotels, ger camps and hostels for travelers who desire a night in comfort. The Calligraphy Center is a unique establishment for those who want to learn more about calligraphy and Mongolian Art. A great camping spot is south of the city in the Orkhon River Valley.

Day 5. Thursday: Tsetserleg Hot Springs or Khorgoo

On this day you can choose whether you would like to have a shorter drive to relaxing hot springs that you can swim in or a longer drive to a nice volcano located at the nice White Lake.

The relaxing choice:

Drive west in the direction to Tsetserleg and head south before reaching it in Tsenkher on a dirt road to Tsenkher Hot Springs. In the valley at the Tsenkher Hot Springs you will find several nice traditional ger camps and wodden block house resorts with swimming pools that get the hot water from the hot springs. Take a dip and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of this place for a night. Please let us know if you would like to stay there and we will assist you with the camp booking. The Duut Resort is a nice camp.

The choice for hikers and explorers:

Drive the road towards Tsetserleg a bit longer and pass this small town for 280km until you reach Khorgoo mountain and Terkhiin Tsagaa Lake - White Lake. Try to leave Kharakhorum early to arrive by early afternoon at Khorgoo, so you have enough time to hike up to the edge of the volcano and to set up your camp towards the lake later on. Relax at a nice camping dinner in the evening in this stunning location.

Day 6. Friday: Ugii Lake

For those who went to Khrogoo mountain enjoy the sunrise and start driving early towards Ugii lake. On Once you arrive it is time to explore one of the biggest (freshwater) lakes of Mongolia. Ugii lake is a stopover point for more than 150 species of migrating water birds. Ugii lake is also renowned for its fishing, and is rich in Perch and Pike. Don’t forget to take your swimming costume as the water is very warm during summer. Also it is enthusiastic for swimming, sunbathing, horse and camel-back riding around the lake. Make sure to keep your camera and binoculars handy for spotting and documenting rare bird life. There are several ger tourist camps around the lake to stay overnight and plenty of nice spots for camping.

Day 7. Saturday: Back to Ulaanbaatar

Enjoy the last morning on this Mongolia itinerary in the vast country before heading back to the capital city. Return the rental car before 6pm at the SIXT rental car station in the Bluesky Hotel, enjoy a nice shower in your hotel and a nice dinner back in the modern city.

Day 8. Sunday: Departure Time

Enjoy your breakfast at the Hotel. Afterwards, SIXT Limousine Service will bring you to the airport or train station.

Loss Damage Waiver:

Excess: MNT 1,320,000 (approx. $542) per day - $2
Excess: MNT 400,000 (approx. $164) per day - $18
Excess: MNT 0 per day - $25
Roadside Protection per day - $6
Gravel Protection per day - $10
Tire and Windscreen Coverage per day - $5