Border Information: If joining in Bishkek, you will most likely enter Kyrgyzstan at Bishkek Manas International Airport ( IATA code: FRU ).There will be a pre-departure meeting at 10.00am - please look out for a note from your leader at the reception of the joining hotel upon arrival with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will need to carefully check your visas at this initial meeting as well. The remainder of the day is free to explore the relaxed and atmospheric city of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Please note many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Bishkek before the start of your trip with us - please contact your sales agent if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Bishkek. *Important note - do not bring any medicines containing tramadol, codeine, temazepam, morphine or opiates to Central Asia. These are illegal in all circumstances in most of Central Asia and you will risk arrest. If in doubt about a particular medicine, please do not bring it. See the notes at the bottom for more details.*
Today we will have a full day's journey south to Tash Rabat, once a key staging post on the Silk Road close to the Kyrgyzstan-China border. During our time here we will visit an ancient caravanserai and have some time to explore the surrounding area. In Tash Rabat we will wild camp. In cold weather ( or if simply the group prefers or there is no availability ), we may choose to stay in local nomadic yurts that are set up for guests near the caravanserai, sleeping 8 - 10 people per yurt.
Border Information: Exit Kyrgyzstan at Torugart, enter China at Torugart. Today we will drive over the 3752m Torugart Pass, crossing into China and heading down to the Uighur city of Kashgar.
This morning we will have an included visit to Shiptons Arch - the largest natural arch in the world! In the afternoon we will have free time to explore the town, the central Id Kah Mosque and its surrounding square, while your crew finalise the customs procedures for our truck to continue further into China.
We will have another free day in Kashgar today as we wait for the paperwork to be finalised for the truck.
Our journey through China begins as we leave Kashgar and head east through the Taklamkan Desert! Our crossing of the desert usually takes 3 days/2nights and we will plan to stay in local hotels along the way. Our first night we will plan to spend in Aksu
Another full drive day through the desert and onto the small town of Bayanbulak
Today we will travel to the oasis town of Turpan, where we will have time to explore the surrounding sites including the famous Jiaohe ruins.
Today is mostly a travel day as we make our way closer to the Chinese/ Mongolian Border.We will either wild camp tonight if possible or stay in a local hotel.
Border Information: Exit China at Takeshiken, enter Mongolia at Hovdiin Bulgan.This morning we will complete the drive to the border and cross into Mongolia. We will stop in the small town of Bulgan to stock up on supplies for the next few days before we find a place to camp for the night in this remote area of Western Mongolia.
Over the next 3 days we will be driving mostly offroad making our way further west towards Altai Tavn National Park wild camping along the way. Today we will drive through Bodnach Canyon and then onto Tal Lake. On the way we will visit one of the biggest deer stone sites in Western Mongolia.
We will have an early start today as we continue our journey on to Khoton and Khurgan Lakes where we will have 2 nights camping next to the beautiful lake in the National Park.
Today we will have the day to spend relaxing by the lake or stretch your legs and opt to do a full day hike to Turken Waterfalls.
This morning we will leave the national park and continue on to the town of Ulgii.In the afternoon we will have an included visit to the local museum to understand more about Ulgii and the surrounding areas. We will also head to the local markets to explore and stock up on supplies again.
Today we drive out of the town of Ulgii and do a full day's drive off road onto Tsambagarav National Park.We hope to arrive early afternoon where there will be free time to explore this beautiful national park and admire the view of Tsambagarav which is one of the highest mountains in Mongolia sitting at 4195 metres.Tonight we will wild camp in the National Park
We have an early start this morning to begin our drive to Tsenhker Caves. Once we arrive and have set up camp we will have a chance to stretch our legs and walk to the caves to see the rock paintings which have been there for thousands of years. Tonight we will wild camp near the caves
Over the next 2 days we will continue our journey east, edging closer to the famous Gobi Desert.
We will bush camp tonight near the Antaishir Mountain range
Another full drive today ahead of us in the afternoon we hope to reach Taats Lake which has a beautiful sandy beach giving us the opportunity to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings in this area.
Leaving Taats lake we will drive to Khongor Sand Dunes.
Late this afternoon we will hike to Duut Mankhan which is the highest point of the dunes to see the stunning sunset over the dunes.
With another full day in Khongor we have a chance to enjoy and take in the incredible landscapes with an opportunity for Camel Riding as well.
This morning we will leave the sand dunes behind and drive to Bayanzag known as the site of the Flaming Cliffs. Late in the afternoon we will see them change colours with the sun direction and enjoy another stunning sunset. We continue on through the Gobi Desert taking in the vast open lands in all directions taking in another beautiful sunset as we reach our camp for the night.
Today we will continue through the Gobi and Yol Valley, we will eventually start to head north to Tsagaan Suvraga which is translated to White Stupa. This sediment structure is over 60 metres high with steep slopes which appear to be the ruins of an ancient city. Tonight we will wild camp
Today we will drive to Baga Gazrynn Chuluu. When we arrive we will get a chance to explore the impressive rock formations rising from the desert steppe. Tonight we will spend our last night wild camping before we reach Ulaanbaatar.
This morning we will leave the desert behind and make our way to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. In the afternoon we will have free time to explore the city.Tonight we will stay in a comfortable local hotel.
Border Information: If you are leaving at Ulaanbaatar, you will most likely exit Mongolia at Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Today is a free day to further explore the city of Ulaanbaatar. Please note that if you are leaving at Ulaanbaatar, today is the last day of the trip and there is no accommodation included tonight.
