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Trip Rating Details
Demanding: Significant expedition style camping or family stays. May include full-day hikes (up to 6 hours) or rides over challenging terrain, long driving distances over rough unpaved roads, or challenging weather conditions, including extremes of temperature.
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)
- waterproof bag cover
- day pack
- head lamp/flashlight
- spare batteries/bulb
- personal medications
- towel
- waterproof hiking boots
- waterproof jacket with hood
- waterproof overpants
- fleece jacket or wool jumper
- cotton t-shirts
- long sleeve shirts
- lightweight trousers
- shorts
- warm hat
- long underwear
- socks
- underwear
- sun hat
- gloves
- sandals
- sun glasses
- sun cream
- spare glasses
- spare hiking shoes
- insect repellent
- resealing (ziploc) plastic bags
- water bottle
- binoculars/camera
- hiking stick
- wet tissues
- watch/ alarm clock
- money belt/ pouch
- insurance confirmation copy
- emergency contact number
See our packing tips for detailed information.
Trip Information - Kharkhira Wildflower Trek
Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (D)
Upon your arrival to Ulaanbaatar, transfer to the hotel. Depending on
your time of arrival, we may have a short city sight-seeing tour. Evening
welcome dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2. Ulaanbaatar/Ulaangom/Uureg Nuur (B,L,D)
After breakfast we will catch a flight to Ulaangom were we meet our 4x4
vehicles. From Ulaangom we head directly to Uureg Lake, a brackish lake
located close to Russian border which is a stopover point for many species
of waterfowl. Camping overnight.
Day 3. Uureg/Yamaat Valley (B,L,D)
Leaving out campsite, we cross over the Baarangiin pass. On our route
we will see Arctic Poppy (Papaver nudicaule), Edelwiess (Leontopodium),
and many other common flowers of Western Mongolia. Early in the afternoon
we arrive in the Yamaat valley and meet up with the local ranger and his
family. Overnight camping next to the family’s ger.
Day 4. Yamaat Valley (B,L,D)
In the morning we will take a short hike to the small gully of Khundlun
Am. In this spot Siberian columbine (Aquilegia sibirica Lam), Blue bells
(Campanula), Gentian (Gentiana Karelinii Griseb), Scabious (Scabiosa comosa)
and Trailing windweed (Convolvulus arvensis) can be seen. We return to
our campsite for dinner with the ranger’s family and overnight in tents.
Day 5. Yamaat Valley/Olon Nuur (B,L,D)
Today we drive to Olon Nuur (Many Lakes), also called by local people
the 108 lakes. Exploring the surroundings of the lakes,we arrive at the
home of Dashdavaa, a local ranger who will guide us for part of our trip,
in the afternoon. Overnight camping next to Dashdavaa’s home.
Day 6. Olon Nuur/3 Colors Lakes (B,L,D)
Today we leave our vehicles, loading our luggage and equipment on pack
camels, then continuing to the 3 Colors Lakes on foot. A hike of approximately
6 hours brings us to the lakes, with stops on the way to catalogue or
photograph Silene (Silene Repens), Loueswort (Pedicularis rubens Steph),
Arctic Poppy (Papaver nudivaule), Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium),
and other mountainous zone plants. Camping overnight.
Day 7. 3 Color Lakes/Rashaanii Mukhar (B,L,D)
In the early part of the day we will hike up to Yellow Lake, the best
spot to find Saussurea involucrata in bloom. Growing 60-80 cm high, the
large blooms of this plant are used in traditional medicine by Mongolians.
After lunch, we continue to Rashaanii Mukhar, a small gully, where we
can see the blooming Altai wild onion (Allium altaicum Pall), Gentian
(Gentiana algida Pall), and Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Herb).
Camping overnight.
Day 8. Rashaanii Mukhar/Olon Nuur (B,L,D)
Today we hike down to the valley, returning to Dashdavaa’s home where
we will be met by our vehicles. Traditional Mongolian BBQ dinner and overnight
camping next to Dashdavaa’s family.
Day 9. Olon Nuur /Ulaangom (B,L,D)
After bidding farewell to our hosts, we drive to Ulaangom, passing through
semi arid steppe where we can see various plants native to the Gobi Desert.
When we arrive in Ulaangom, we will visit a plantation of sea buckthorn
(Hippophae Rhamnoides), a plant native to few countries the berries of
which are recognized to have many
Day 10. Ulaangom Ulaanbaatar/Terelj (B,L,D)
Depending on our flight time, we can visit small market in Ulaangom and
the local museum before catching the first flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
On landing, we will continue straight to Gorki-Terelj National Park. The
park features unique rock formations, scenic valleys, a winding river,
and alpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers. Many nomads live in the park
itself, where they find good grazing for their animals. We will take a
late afternoon hike through the park. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 11. Terelj (B,L,D)
We spend the day exploring the hidden valleys of Terelj and looking for
wildflowers native to Central Mongolia. We will also visit the Ariabal
Temple, a Buddhist temple that was destroyed during the communist purges
and is now being restored. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 12. Terelj/Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)
Free time in the morning to explore the banks of the Terelj River. We
drive back to Ulaanbaatar after lunch. After check-in at the hotel, we
will visit the Natural History Museum, where a permanent exhibition of
the flora and fauna of Mongolia is displayed, including excellent examples
of dinosaur skeletons excavated from the Gobi Desert. We will attend an
early evening cultural performance before our farewell dinner. Overnight
in a hotel.
Day 13. Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departing
flight.
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