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Discover the Mongolian Deer StonesTravel with Happy CamelTours and Expeditions |
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Explore Mongolia |
1st dayUpon arrival at the airport we will be welcomed by your guide. He will bring us to your comfortable, centrally located hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the Bogd Khan's Winter Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the eighth Living Buddha and the last king lived. It is now a museum displaying fascinating artefacts and costumes associated with the last king as well as his collection of stuffed animals. (Hotel, L, D) 2nd dayIn the morning we will head for Kharkhorin (also called Karakorum, 130 km, 4 hours driving), site of the 13th century capital of the Mongolian Empire created by Chinggis Khan. Very little is left from this legendary city. In the 16th century, Mongolia's biggest Monastery was build from the ruins of Kharkhorin. Now Erdene Zuu Monastery are the remains of what once was a huge monastery of 100 temples and about 1.000 lamas residencing there. We will explore the grounds of Erdene Zuu Monastery surrounded by its massive 400 m X 400 m walls. We will be guided around the 3 remaining temples: Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha and Lavrin Temple. We will also see the Turtle Rock and the Phallic Rock. Tented Camp 3rd dayOur first lost city will be Khar Balgas Citadel. This citadel was founded in 751 as the capital of the Uiighur khanate. It was destroyed by fire, approximately 100 years later during the invasion Kirghiz invaders. Today only fragments of the outer walls and the Buddhist stupa remain. After Khar Balgas Citadel, we will drive further to Khar Bushiin Balgas, other ruins of a city dated of the 14th - 15th century. Tented Camp 4th dayOur next stop will Tsogtiin Tsagaan Baishinh. A large stone monument situated near those ruins bears on inscription in Mongolian and Tibetan characters, stating that at this place the construction of 6 temples began in 1601 and was completed in 1617. The great number of building foundations suggest that a large number of people lived here. Later today we will start driving northwards in the direction of Ulzii-Orkhon. Tented Camp 5th dayToday we start driving in a by the tourist totally unexplored area. Our road will be out of the usual touristy tracks. After some driving will reach Ulzii-Okhon. This town used to be a military base with several 1000 Russian army people living here. This town had apartments, shops, restaurants, theatre and all other facilities a modern Russian town had. Ten years after the Russians left, this town looks as a ruined ghost town. Still today tens of families are making their living by recycling old bricks, steal, cables, etc. The sight is impressive. We’ll wander around in the ruins and if the only Russian left in the area is in town, he will guide us around and show us what used to be where. Tented Camp 6th dayAfter our breakfast along the river, we will set of for Orkhon where we will see our first deer stones. The first site we will visit is Seeriin Adag, a site with relatively small deer stones. Deer stones, with Human Statue and Religious Sculptures, are the earliest examples of Mongolian visual art on rock. Deer Stones granite monuments left by Central Asian People date of the Bronze Age. They are usually located in small groups of 4 or 5, but not always. They are 1meter high, but some reach an extraordinary 4 meters. The Deer Stone can be divided in 3 parts, representing the 3 worlds of the ancient central Asian mythology: the sky (most upper part), the earth or the world of the living (central part) and the underground world of the spirits or the world of the death (lower part). A sun and a moon decorate the upper part of the stone. Deers or other hoofed animals are represented on the middle part. The lower part is represented with different weapons such as knifes, swords, bow and arrows. After Seriin Adag, we will drive to Nariin Khuemt human statue. Human statues date from the Turkic Empire period (6th to 8th century). Probably in connection with ancestor worship, the human stones were placed above graves, facing the sun. Tented Camp 7th dayWe drive further Northwards and first stop by will see Khol Asgatiin Dursal, more stone deers. Later today we will see Shiveet Ulaan, more human statues. This last one represents a herder with his animals. Tented Camp 8th dayEver crossing a river in a bac (very elementary ferry). This will be our first exciting moment of the day. After having crossed the river, we will drive to Baibaliik, another lost and forgotten citadel. Tented Camp 9th dayToday we will drive westwards to reach Zunii Gol, one of the most beautiful of deer stone monuments. Tented Camp 10th dayWe will pass the little town of Moron and see 3 more famous stone deer complexes. First we will stop by Uushig, which is the largest deer stone gathering of Mongolia. We drive by Khiatkhiin and see our last deer stone Irgula. This last one is the highest deer stone found in Mongolia. Tented Camp 11th dayToday we will reach the Mongolian blue pearl, the Hovsgol Lake. It is a huge 2.760 square km alpine lake (130 km in length and 30 km in width), surrounded by mountain chains of more than 2000 meters high, thick pine forests and lush meadow with grazing yaks and horses. More than 100 small rivers and streams feed the lake with crystal clear water. Water exits the lake through only one river, the Egiin, whose waters eventually reach the Baikal Lake. The lake contains about 1.5% of the world's fresh water (excluding water contained in the icecaps). The lake and rivers are full of fish. Around a dozen species of fish inhabit the lake and rivers. The most well known are the sturgeon, grayling, lennok, salmon, taimon, etc. We will overnight in a ger camp located along the Western shore of the lake. 12th dayWe will spend a full day exploring the lakeshore and surrounding mountains. For those interested they will have the possibility to go horseback riding, visit Mongolian families, go hiking, go fishing, etc. Please bring your own rod and tackle, or buy it in Ulaanbaatar. Ger Camp 13th dayToday we will fly back to Ulaanbaatar. (Hotel, B, D) 14th dayToday we will have a full free day to stroll around in Ulaanbaatar and buy some souvenirs before heading back home. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a good restaurant. (Hotel, B, D) 15th dayAfter breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure
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