Mongolia and Siberia
The Trans-Siberian railway offers a unique opportunity to experience Mongolian culture and to contrast it with that of the Siberian plateau. Harsh winters and the difficulty of life on the steppe and in the taiga forest have made for very similar traditions of welcome and hospitality among very different peoples. The train ride between Ulaanbaatar and Irkutsk offers spectacular scenery and a sense of the powerful linkages between Mongolia and Siberia.
Day 1-2 Ulaanbaatar Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. City tour including Buddhist monasteries and local museums.
Train ride to lrkutsk, Siberia. Transfer to Lake Baikal, the deepest lake on Earth. Explore the Baikal Lake area on foot and by boat. Experience Siberian hospitality while shopping and dining in lrkutsk city.
Take a short flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Free time to explore the city. Enjoy an evening cultural performance.
Discover the Gobi. the site of an ancient inland sea. and a treasure chest of fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs. Known to be one of the harshest environments on earth. With extreme temperature and seasonal changes, the Gobi is surprisingly full of wildlife such as white and black tail gazelles, wild ass, wild camels or havtgai, antelopes, Argali sheep, lbex, and the rare Cobi Bear- Mazaalai. Excursions to the Gobi desert's best attractions, including Yoliin Am, the Flaming Cliffs (Bayan Zag), and the Moltsog sand dunes, as well as a visit with a local camel breeder's family. The majority of Mongolian population of Bactrian camels lives in this area and you may enjoy an optional camel ride should you wish.
Return to Ulaanbaatar. Visit the Bogdo Khaan Palace Museum en route to the hotel. Leisure time for shopping and exploration, and farewell dinner.
Transfer to the airport or train station for departure.
