Transport to/ from UK and any overnight stay that may be involved, visa cost, travel insurance, departure tax, sleeping bags, excess baggage, drinks and any items of a purely personal nature.
Visa: is applied to foreign citizen or stateless person visiting Mongolia as tourist. Visa shall have designation Entry – Exit / suitable for stays within 90 days in Mongolia.
Henderson's Ground Jay, Swan Goose, Altai Snowcock, Daurian Partridge, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, White-naped Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Oriental Plover, Relict Gull, Saker Falcon, Amur Falcon, Mongolian Lark, White-crowned Penduline-Tit, Azure Tit, Asian Desert Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Kozlov's Accentor, Mongolian Finch, Pallas's Bunting, Pine Bunting, Godlewski's Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting, Pere David's Snowfinch, Stejneger's Scoter, Black-billed Capercaillie, Upland Buzzard, Oriental Cuckoo, Pacific Swift, Daurian Jackdaw, Daurian Redstart, Beautiful Rosefinch.
Mongolia is home to over 400 species of birds. It has a rich composition of bird species due to the migration routes from Pacific and Indian Oceans (including the Mediterranean Sea) and to the Arctic Ocean and northern tundra. Mongolia possesses a great range of landscapes and habitats: lush taiga in the north, a mosaic of steppe and coniferous forests in the north and central areas, endless ‘seas’ of grass in the east and dry desert-steppe and desert in the south. In addition, there are several mountain ranges with sub-alpine and alpine habitats at higher altitudes, and many wetlands. The best seasons to visit are the migration times. The very name ‘Mongolia’ conjures up images of a vast, remote and distant land. While Mongolia is certainly vast and much of it is remote, it is also home to an exciting array of poorly known and rarely observed birds that occur only here. In our 13 day tour we will enjoy the majestic landscapes of Mongolia in the heart of Asia, where birds abound amidst the endless steppes and deserts, with resident and hundreds of migrants passing through. As we traverse this vast land we will often be travelling on rarely used roads, and occasionally driving across steppe grasslands, exciting wetlands where no roads venture. Travel from the Gobi Desert and Gobi Altai Mountains to Gun Galuut and the steppe lakes, to the birds and mammals of the taiga forests in Terelj and Khustain National Parks.
Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar City
We will meet our guide andtransport at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport after your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia and check in a hotel. Following few minutes’ rest at the hotel, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. Then we will do a short drive to the Tuul river forest and a marshland to see some interesting birds including Azure-winged Magpie, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-cheeked Starling, probably Black Stork, and Grey Heron, Oriental Reed Warbler, and some waterfowls and waders from the checklist. In the evening we will have a WELCOME DINNER at one of the most famous restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, and then return to the hotel. Food: Restaurant - Optional lunch and welcome dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km on paved road (30 minutes’ drive).
Day 2-3. Gun Galuut Nature Reserve
Following breakfast at 3*** hotel in the capital, we will drive east to get wonderful nature reserve Gun Galuut. On the steppe, we will search for Corsac Fox and steppe rodents. Gun Galuut is well known site for sightings of Wild Argali Sheep near Ulaanbaatar. Interesting birds in the nature reserve are White-naped and Demoiselle Cranes, Saker Falcon, Golden and Steppe Eagles and others. Overnight in a local hotel near the reserve. Food: Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 130 km on dust road (2-3 hours’ drive).
Day 4-5. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Upon breakfast, we will straight drive to the Terelj NP, which is a southern part of Siberian boreal forest where you will find picturesque mountain with forest trenched by beautiful valleys. Following arrival in the national park, we will check in our tourist ger camp near birding site. Afternoon we will do light walking near the campsite and see some interesting birds including Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian Rubythroat, Willow Tit, Taiga Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, and Pine Bunting, and probably Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Have dinner at the restaurant of the ger camp.
Next morning will drive down to river forest, where we will find old and big larches and watch Oriental Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Hoopoe, Great spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Pine Bunting, Red-throated Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, Dusky Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Taiga Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, and Eastern Buzzard (B. b. japonicus). We will watch some special mammals including Red Squirrel, Chipmunk, Long-tailed Souslik, and Daurian Pika. Afternoon we will do birding near campsite for Blyth’s Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Daurian Jackdaw, and Red-billed Chough. Overnight in a tourist ger camp near birding site. Food: Tourist Ger Camp – Breakfast; Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 80 km on paved road (1-2 hours’ drive).
Day 6-7. Yolyn Am Gorge/Valley (Gobi Altai Mountains)
Early morning transfer to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar. We will fly over 1 hour to the Gobi and land at the Gurvan Saikhan Airport in Dalanzadgad town, capital of Umnugobi Province. Our crew will pick us up at the airport and then drive straight to a tourist ger camp near the beautiful mountain gorge Yolyn Am. Following lunch at the ger camp, we will drive to the mountain gorge and do another exciting birding while doing some light walking. The interesting birds in the valley are Chukar, Daurian Partridge, Bearded Vulture and Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Accentor, Beautiful Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch, Twite, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Wallcreeper, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Northern House Martin, Eurasian Crag Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, and probably Barred Warbler, Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings and many, many others. Altai Snowcock is one of the challenging species in this habitat. In the evening we will be back at the ger camp at the dinner time. Star gazing is beautiful during the nights.
Next morning, we will visit the same spot as the last evening and look for the missing species along with some mammals including Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Pika, Red Fox, and possibly Argali Wild Sheep. Afternoon we will visit Mukhart shiver valley to see some missing species. And we will drive north of the ger camp to find Oriental Plover on the wide steppe. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Tourist Ger Camp- Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner. Road: Total coverage 50 km on paved road (30 minutes’ drive).
Day 8-9. Khongoryn Els (sand dune)
After breakfast, we start driving to the famous Khongoryn Els, which is a beautiful singing sand dune located on the rear side of a high mountain and borders with endless desert steppe. The views of camels grazing in the miracle of desert steppe, in front of the High Mountain, and picturesque sand dune in the sunrise, will be one of the best moments of the trip. We have a long drive today, but will make stops for any interesting birds or sceneries along the way. Our first stop will be at a spring which attracts thousands of Pallas’s Sandgrouses, and a plantation where some Isabelline Shrikes nest. We have packed lunched in the field. While driving on endless valley, we will see Long-legged Buzzard, Desert wheatear, and possible mammal will be the magnificent Goitered Gazelle. On the boiling ground of the Gobi, we will find Tuva toad-head agama and Mongolian racerunner. At the dinner time, we will arrive at our tourist ger camp. The remainder of the day is free to relax following the drive.
Next morning will visit saxaul forest to see breeding Saxaul sparrow, Long-legged buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline Shrike, Crested Lark, and Desert Wheatear, and also visit a small pond to see Pallas’s Sandgrouses drinking water, and some wetland birds including Whiskered Tern, Kentish Plover, Demoiselle Crane, and probably White-cheeked Starling. Afternoon relax at the ger camp due to boiling hotness. In late evening, we will observe night mammals of the Gobi desert, including Long-eared Jerboa and Long-eared Hedgehog. Food: Tourist Ger Camp -Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner. Road: Total coverage 20 km paved and 150 km on dust road (5-6 hours’ drive).
Day 10. Dalanzadgad Town
After early breakfast, we will head to Dalanzadgad town. En route we will stop at a bushy area to see our high priority species Mongolian/Henderson’s Ground Jay, Asian Desert Warbler, and probably Little Owl. Stay here for several hours to have good view and photograph of the species. After field lunch, we will continue driving to the town. At the dinner time, we will arrive at the ger camp near the Gurvan Saikhan Airport. Have good refreshment after the long hours of driving through the Gobi Desert. Food: Tourist Ger Camp - Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner. Road: Total coverage 150 km on dust road and 50 km on paved road (7-8 hours’ drive).
Day 11-12. Hustai National Park (fly back UB city)
Depending on the time schedule of the flight, we will fly to Ulaanbaatar city. If the flight is in the morning, we will directly drive to the Hustai national park where re-introduced Przewalski's Wild Horses are roaming and grazing. En route we will stop at an arable land and see Asian Short-toed Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Lark, and perhaps Pere David's Snowfinch. Along sideways, we will see Upland Buzzard, Sake Falcon, and Steppe Eagle. At dinner we will arrive at Hustai tourist lodge. In the evening, we will have a dinner with Mongolian beers in the comfortable restaurant of the park.
In the next morning, we will drive to a mountain valley and do some light walking to see Daurian Partridge, breeding colony of small falcons including Amur Falcon, Common Kestrel, and Eurasian Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat, Black Vulture, Pied Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, and Meadow Bunting. Possible mammals are Mongolian Marmot, Red Deer, Long-tailed Souslik and sometimes Przewalski's Wild Horse. Then we will come back to the lodge for breakfast. Following few minutes' rest after breakfast, we drive further into the park and pass the Research center of the national park to watch Lesser Kestrel on the transmission line. Overhead we will see soaring raptors including Cinereous Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Golden Eagle, and perhaps Himalayan and Bearded Vultures. Then we will drive further south to reach Tuul River, where we will have a packed lunch on the beautiful green grass of the river bank. In the river forest, we will try to find White-crowned Penduline Tit, Azure Tit, and perhaps breeding Common Kestrel. Along the river, we will see Bar-headed Goose, Demoiselle Crane, Daurian Jackdaw, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, and possibly Swan Goose. In the late evening we will be back in the lodge and have dinner with Mongolian cold beers. Overnight in the Hustai tourist lodge. Food: Hustai Restaurant- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 90 km on paved road and 10 km dust road (1 hour’s flight and 1-2 hours’ drive).
Day 13. Ulaanbaatar City
Early morning we will do some light walk to the mountain to find same species in clear view in Hustai NP. Afternoon we will drive to the Ulaanbaatar city and check in a hotel. Shopping and city tour available. Farewell dinner in city restaurant. Food: Restaurant - Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner. Road: Total coverage 90 km on paved road and 10 km dust road (1-2 hours’ drive).
Day 14. Departure
Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport.
