* Yurt and lux in the Mongolian steppes *
The yurt, extra ordinary heritage of nomadic civilizations, a type of housing
which origins dates back some 3000 years and the most ancient evidences
related to yurts in Mongolia date 13th century. These ear lie huts had a circular
shape, over the years, this structure developed and adapted to the lifestyle of
civilizations, it became square for sedentary civilizations and moved towards the
yurt shape for nomadic civilizations or again towards the tepee for the people
who had developed nomadism highly such as Lapons or the American Indians.
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The basic principle of the yurt remains the same, with a wooden frame covered
by completely detachable felt cover or other insulating materials and fabrics for
the much more recent models. The yurt has become the most typical housing for
the people who practice pastoral nomadism, as is the case in Ouzbekistan,
Khazakstan and in Mongolia, where it has become the symbol of the country, as
Mongolia civilization one mains attached to this life style turning round nature.
Chinggis Khan himself also always soused yurts during his conquests and his
military camps consisted of yurts, his capital Kharkhorim was also made of yurts,
even if these were yurts too large to be suitable for nomadism.
In this period, yurts were installed on large cart spelled by a few dozenoxes
Mongolia will still remain for a long time the last nomadic state in the world,
where half of the population follow a nom addictive style over the seasons.
It is a trip revolving entirely around nomadic which we propose you there, with
the discovery of the nomadic civilization of the steppes, an incursion in the life
of the steppe, an open door on the herding families’ lifestyle, and the
possibility for you to be in the shoes of a nomad of the central steppes
During your journey, in the heart of the steppe Mongols, a camp will be
installed only for you, on the gorgeous sites and moved one or two times, for
you to make the most of the large flat landscapes and ecosystems. Like a horde
of Khans Mongols in the grande era of invasions and luxuries of the empire of
the great Gengis Khan.
Our team of local guides will be there to set the yurts and you will be free to
participate in this who lily traditional asks where you can indulge in some
nomadic dreams….
D0 departure from Paris
D1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar- reception at the airport and settling in Kempinsky Palace
hotel. After a nice relaxing howler leave for the city on a city tour –Even if the city is
not the most picturesque places, there are two beautiful museums, one interesting art
gallery, two beautiful monasteries, which are Gandam, in activity and Chogin Lama,
whose architecture is very interesting and of course the winter palace of the last
great Khan, renovated by the BBC and which his pretty in treating to visit now.
In the evening, a wonder full dinner in one out standing restaurant of the capital.
D2 departure for the steppe
Perfect paved road for the beginning of a circuit towards the ancient capital of
Mongolia – Kharkhorim. On the way, lunch break in Khogno Khan, better known under
name « small Gobi », long sand dunes set in the middle of a granite massif.
Kharkhorim isles than one hour away from the visit to the great monastery Erdene
Zuu built on the remains of the ancient capital of Gengis Khan.
Its visits planned for the following days, so you will continue your journey until the
site where our itinerant camp will be set - magnificent landscape of steppes and hills.
Settling under the yurt
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D3 – Discovery of the nomad life – departure by car to vies it a nomadic family we
work with – discovery of the nomadic life, livestock, horses, vast grasslands...
Our team will have al readier pared the picnic, the tables and chairs as they should be,
for a comfortable picnic in the middle of nowhere – Back in our camp just in time for
an aperitif and attend a full traditional concert, singing, dances, a contortionist and of
course Khumi, the famous diaphonic singing registered as world heritage by UNESCO.
D4 Orkhon -In the daily program, visit to the well known Orkhon water fall.
The Orkhon river is one of the longest veers of Mongolia and is also the wealth of this valley,
it is also at the origin of the installation of the ancient capital of 12ndcentury, as it irrigates
and enriches the pastures and surroundings.
On its course, a fracture linked to an ancient volcanic explosion has created a
waterfall; one of the pilgrimages sites the most visited by Mongols. Picnic, walking
around the waterfall, then return into the valley and settling in the very comfortable
camp Dream Land, which isles than 3 hour drive from the waterfall.
Evening in the yurt camp.
D5 Departure for Kharkhorin and visit of the monastery accompanied by a Lama for
relevant explanations.
Lunch in the afternoon in a camp near the monastery.
Then ride towards Tsetserleg, literally "garden", this beautiful village is the province
capital, whose construction must have begun by 1580 at the foot of a rocky massif,
Zaisan GegeeniiSum, a monastery whose activity was very important in the 16thcentury.
Tsetserleg faces the steppe, it is there, a little lower that Ganzorig set up his summer
camp, it is there also that our itinerant camp will have been installed since the day
before, , not far from the river, near the nomadic camp.
Eveinage in Our camp.
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D6 horse day, whet her you are a fine horseman or a mere novice Ganzo will always
have a horse for you, in small groups depending on your riding skills, a long loop
throughout the steppe with a picnic break, always as comfortable. Back towards the
camp for the most festive evening –Khorkhog evening
The Khorkhog is certainly the most traditional dish and most valued by Mongols, the
origins of this dish goes back to the great invasions. The great Gengis him se lf would
have thought this cooking method with red hot stones take from the fire… At that
time, there was no need for a big pottered the army of the great Khan, simply because
the goat skin was used as a container, cut in to small pieces, the me at was then
stuffed back in the animal skin with red hot rocks from the fire, vegetables and spices.
Of this I trod called Bodog and which is always practiced; the Khorkhog was born,
made with mutton and cooked in a metal container. A dish that is proposed only for
large festive or particular events.
D7 Ikh Tamir, 50 km from Tsetserleg, you will find the village of Ikh Tamir, in Tamir river
valley. This is where marvel oust arched logical site is located, with petro glyphs whose
dictation spans over some thousand years, deer stones, sculptures erected on the funerary
sites of Khunuuera, that is dating back to Attila, tumuli of Chinggis Khan time, that is 12th
century, a fantastic trip in Mongolia’s past, accompanied by a Mongolian archeologist.
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Picnic in this wide landscape of Tamir valley.
Then return to the camp.
In the evening, fire party together with the whole team and the nomadic family, an
evening that will be obviously enlivened by Mongolian songs, since there willed verb a
party without traditional songs.
It will be the occasion to say bye to the logistic team which will bring down the camp
the day after to go back to Ulaanbaatar.
D8 Return to UB. Ride through Kharkhorim, then Khogno Khan
Settling under the yurt at the comfortable Stepping camp. After lunch, visit to the
heart of the sand dunes – possibility to make a small ride on camelback. Evening in the
camp.
D9 End of the itinerary and arrival in UB by early afternoon – Settling in Kempinsky
hotel - lunch – shopping – in the evening, last meal of the trip in an excellent
restaurant in the city and Mongolian fashion show.
D10 International flight and arrival.
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