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Trip Rating Details
Moderate: Hotels, lodges, or full service tent camping. Hikes of two to four hours on some days. Easy physical activities. May include one to three longer driving days.
Packing List
This is a suggested packing list, which you should feel free to adjust to suit your needs. Please refer to our travel guide for more detailed information.
- backpack or soft bag
- sleeping bag (-5C)
- day pack
- head lamp/flashlight
- spare batteries/bulb
- personal medications
- towel
- hiking boots/shoes
- rain jacket with hood
- fleece jacket or wool jumper
- cotton t-shirts
- long sleeve shirts
- lightweight trousers
- shorts
- warm hat
- socks
- underwear
- sun hat
- sandals
- sun glasses
- sun cream
- spare glasses
- insect repellent
- resealing (ziploc) plastic bags
- binoculars/camera
- wet tissues
- watch/ alarm clock
- money belt/ pouch
- insurance confirmation copy
- emergency contact number
See our packing tips for detailed information.
Trip Information - Central Mongolia Birding Expedition
Day 1. Arrival (D)
Arrival to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to hotel. Depending on time of arrival,
you may have a short city sight-seeing tour. Evening welcome dinner. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 2. Ulaanbaatar /Uliastai/Otgontenger (B,L,D)
In the morning we fly to Western Mongolia, landing in Zavkhan province,
where we will meet up with our 4X4 vehicles and drive to Otgontenger National
Park. Otgontenger is the highest point of the Khangai mountain range at
4021 m. On the way we may see Black-eared Kite, Horned Larks, Demoiselle
Cranes, Pere David’s Snowfinch, and the Common Shelduck. Overnight in
tents.
Day 3. Otgontenger National Park (B,L,D)
Today we will explore the area of Tsagaan Nuur (White lake) and Dayn Khairkhan
(Holy Mountain), where we may sight the Black Woodpecker, Common Cuckoo,
Hoopoe, Golden Eagle, Greylag Goose, Palla’s Sandgrouse, Little Owl, Long-eared
Owl, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Pheasant and Altai Snowcock. Overnight in
tents.
Day 4. Otgon Sum (B,L,D)
We continue from the park south east through the Khangai Mountain range,
crossing the Shireet and Tumurtei Rivers. During our journey we may see
Upland Buzzard, Mongolian Lark, Black Vulture, Amur
Overnight in tents.
Days 5-6. Buuintsagaan Nuur (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we drive to Buuintsagaan Nuur, a brackish lake surrounded
by semi-arid steppe considered one of the best bird watching spots in
Mongolia. Over the next two days we will look for Brown-headed Gulls,
Great White Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Whooper Swans, Bar-Headed Geese,
Swan Geese, Ferruginous Ducks, White-winged Scoter, Pallas’s Fish Eagle,
Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pallas’s Gull, Gull-billed Caspian Terns, Pallas’s
Grasshopper, Paddyfield Warblers, and Pallas’s Reed Bunting. Overnight
in tents.
Day 7. Kholboolj Nuur (B,L,D)
After breaking camp we drive to Kholboolj Nuur, a small brackish lake
where an adundance of waterfowl can be found. On our way we pass through
the semi-arid steppe of Nuuruudiin Khundii. Here we may see Henderson’s
Ground Jay, Steppe Grey Shrikes, Desert Wheatear, Chukar, Mongolian Finch,
and MacQueen’s Bustard, and numerous birds of prey including falcons and
eagles. After lunch we arrive at Kholboolj Nuur, where we can normally
spot Richard’s Pipits, Marsh Sandpipers, Citrine Wagtails, Mute Swans,
Water Rail, Grey Herons, Whooper Swans, and Falcated Duck. Overnight in
tents.
Day 8. Eight Lakes (B,L,D)
We leave the steppe and drive into the Hangai Nuruu, Mongolia’s second
largest mountain range, to the Eight Lakes National Park which lies 2800
meters above sea level. As its name suggests, the national park contains
many lakes scattered over two big valleys. Very few families inhabit the
area, and it is a perfect spot for bird watching. Late in the afternoon
we reach Duruu Lake. Around this lake, we may see Spoonbill, Black ducks,
Azure-winged Magpie, and Bean Goose. Overnight in tents.
Day 9. Eight Lakes (B,L,D)
Today we hike through the coniferous forest to look for the Three-toed
Woodpecker, Oriental Cuckoo, Eurasian Jay, Tengmalm’s Owl, Eurasian Pygmy
Owl, Siberian Jay, Pine Grosbeaks, Great Grey Owl, Black-billed Capercaillie
and Hazel Grouse. Overnight in tents.
Day 10-11. Elsiin Tasarhai (B,L,D)
Leaving the Eight Lakes, we have a long drive to reach the northern edge
of the great Gobi Desert. Elsiin Tasarhai is a sand dune that stretches
over 130 km north from the Gobi into the heart of Central Mongolia. The
small lake of Jaakhan Nuur next to the dunes is home to hundreds of waterfowl
including Black Stork, Mongolian Gull, Ruddy Shelduck, Grey Heron, Black
Heron, and Mute Swans. In the nearby dunes we may see the Brown Accentor,
Alpine Accentors, Daurian Jackdaw, Brown Shrike, White-cheeked Starling,
Common Rosefinch, Dark-sided flycatcher, Two-barred Greenish, Black Vulture,
Black-eared Kite, Black Redstart, Booted Eagle, Golden Eagle and, occasionally,
Lammergeier. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 12. Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)
After breakfast we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar, arriving in the early
afternoon. In the afternoon we will have some free time around the city
center for shopping before we meet for an early evening cultural performance
and farewell dinner together. Overnight in hotel.
Day 13. Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel, and transfer to the airport for your departing
flight.
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