Mongolia - Grasslands, Nomads and the Gobi

Grasslands extend to a horizon of cobalt-blue skies, pastel-hued rocks color the Gobi Desert and fast-flowing rivers cut deep canyons in arid steppes in this remote Asian nation land-locked between China and Russia. The people, descendants of Genghis Khan, are an eclectic mix of rugged nomads, Buddhist monks, farmers and merchants. For the truly adventurous, Mongolia holds the promise of an exotic culture rarely visited by travelers.

Starting in Ulaanbaatar, the tour uses the capital as a hub to visit the Gobi Desert, Lake Hovsgol and central Mongolia. In the Gobi, we visit the Flaming Cliffs, a world-class dinosaur site with remains so plentiful that dinosaur eggshells can still be found on the surface.

In Yol Valley National Park, we experience a unique environment that includes 200 species of birds and 600 species of vegetation.

We stay on the beautiful shores of Lake Hovsgol. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it contains three percent of the earth's fresh water. In central Mongolia, we visit Gorkhi-Terelj and Bogd National Parks. In Karakoram, we discover the ruins of the ancient capital of the Mongols and in Ulaanbaatar, we walk through former royal palaces and visit the national museum.

The highlight for many is the famous Naadam Festival. Full of ceremony, pomp and festive Mongolians, this event features the "Three Sports of Men" - archery, wrestling and horse racing. Our Mongolian odyssey concludes in Ulaanbaatar.