Mongolia is the Montana of Central Asia. Sparsely populated, vast grasslands paint the gently rolling steppes between deserts, high mountains, and pristine lakes. This trip savors spectacular and varied environments, culture, and ancient history. You won’t ride with the Mongol hordes, but you will visualize the events of historical antiquity and earlier epochs as you visit archaeological sites dating to the times of Genghis Khan and earlier. You will also visit dinosaur fossil sites. Destination highlights include Lake Hovsgol, the Gobi Desert, Yol Valley, Flaming Cliffs, and Hustain Nuruu National Reserve. The cultural highlight of the trip may be your visit to the great Naadam Festival in Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, established by Genghis Khan in 1220 A.D. July is an excellent time of year for warm weather, wildlife viewing, and photography. Many of the nights you will stay in cozy, comfortable gers, which are traditional domed shelters.
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