Raptors

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Haliaeetus albicilla	White-tailed eagle	Very rare	Days 9, 10
Gypaetus barbatus	Bearded Vulture	Very rare	Day 3
Aegyphius monachus	Black Vulture	Abundant	All site
Milvus migrans	Black Kite	Abundant	All site
Circus macrourus	Pallid Harrier	Rare	Days 9,10
Circus aeruginosus	Marsh Harrier	Very Rare	Days 9,10
Accipiter gentilis	Northern Goshawk	Very rare	Days 9,10
Buteo buteo	Common Buzzard	Rare	All site
Buteo hemilasius	Upland Buzzard	Abundant	All site
Aquila chrysaetos	Golden Eagle	Rare	All site
Aquila nipalensis	Steppe Eagle	Common?	All site
Falco naumanni	Lesser Kestrel	Rare	All site
Falco tinnunculus	Common Kestrel	Common	All site
Falco columbarius	Merlin	Rare	Baga Gazaryn chuluu
Falco cherrug	Saker Falcon	Abundant	All site
Falco subbuteo	Hobby	Rare	Days 9,10
Falco amurensis	Amur Falcon	Very rare	Days 9,10

Waterbird and shorebirds

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Ardea cinerea	Gray Heron	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anser anser	Grey leg Goose	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anser indicus	Bar-headed Goose	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Tadorna ferruginea	Ruddy Shelduck	Common	All site
Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anas crecca	Coomon Teal	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anas strepera	Gadwall	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anas penelope	Eurasian Wigeon	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anas acuta	Northern Pintail	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Anas clypeata	Northern Shoveler	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Fulica atra	Common Coot	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Charadrius dubius	Little ringed Plover	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Charadrius veredus	Oriental Plover	Rare	In the open steppe
Charadrius alexandrinus	Kentish Plover	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Calidris minuta	Little Stint	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Calidris temminckii	Temminckii’s Stint	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Tringa totanus	Common Redshank	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Tringa erythropus	Spotted Redshank	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Tringa hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Gallinago gallinago	Common Snipe	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Recurvirostra avosetta	Black capped Avocet	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Larus ridibundus	Black headed Gull	Rare	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Larus argentatus	Herring Gull	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones
Sterna hirundo	Common Tern	Common	Sum Khukh Burd, small lakes in the steppe zones

Endemic bird species in Mongolia

Scientific name	English name	Status	SItes
Buteo hemilasius	Upland Buzzard	Abundant	All site
Melanocorypha mongolica	Mongolian Lark	Common	Central Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Eej khad, Baga Gazryn Chuluu, Mandalgobi.
Podoces hendersoni	Henderson’s ground Jay	Rare	Days 4-6

Other interesting birds

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Coturnix coturnix	Common Quail	Rare	Steppe zone
Anthropoides virgo	Demoiselle Crane	Abundant	All site. Here is the main breeding area in the World.
Otis tarda	Great Bustard	Very rare	Only steppe.
Syrrhaptes paradoxus	Pallas’ Sandgrouse	Abundant	All site
Streptopelia orientalis	Oriental Turtle Dove	Rare	All site
Bubo bubo	Eagle Owl	Very rare	Baga Gazryn chuluu, Eej khad.
Athene noctua	Little Owl	Common	All site
Apus pacificus	White-rumped Swift	Common	Ulaanbaatar, Eej khad
Upupo epops	Hoopoe	Common	All site
Calandrella rufescens	Lesser Short-toed Lark	Common	All site
Melanocorypha mongolica	Horned lark	Adundant	All site
Lanius cristatus	Brown Shrike	Common	All site
Lanius isabellinus	Isabelline Shrike	Common?	All site
Monticola saxatilis	White backed Rockthrush	Common	Baga gazryn chuluu,
Turdus naumanni	Naumann’s Thrush	Rare	Baga gazryn chuluu
Carpodacus erythrinus	Scarlet Rosefinch	Common	Days 9, 10
Montifringilla davidiana	Pere David’s Snow Finch	Common	All site
Pica pica	Black-billed Magpie	Abundant	All site

Cranes

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Grus japonensis	Red crowned crane	Very rare/ passage migrant	Days 2-6. Sometimes a indivuadal summer along the river.
Grus leucogeranus	Siberian crane	Very rare/ summer	Only along Ulz river basin. 2 or 3 birds will be observed.
Grus vipio	White-naped crane	Common /breeding	Days 2-13
Grus monacha	Hooded crane	Rare/ summer	Only along Ulz river. Days 3-7
Grus grus	Common crane	Rare /breeding	Only along Ulz river. Days 3-7, 13
Anthropoides virgo	Demoiselle crane	Abundant /breeding	All sites

Waterbirds

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Gavia arctica	Red-throated Diver	Very rare	Days 2-12
Podiceps cristatus	Great Crested Grebe	Common	All site
Podiceps nigrocollis	Black-necked Grebe	Rare	All site
Podiceps auritus	Horned Grebe	Rare	All site
Podiceps gresigena	Red-necked Grebe	Very rare	Days 4-6.
Phalacrocorax carbo	Great Kormorant	Abundant	All site
Botaurus stellaris	Great Bittern	Common	Days 2-13
Ixobrychus minutus	Little Bittern	Very rare	Days 2-9
Ixobrychus euthrymus	Schrenck's Bittern	Very rare	Days 2-9
Egretta alba	Great White Egret	Ñvery rare	Days 2-9
Ardea cinerea	Gray Heron	Abundant	All sites
Ardea purpurea	Purple Heron	Very rare	Days 2-9
Platalea leucorodia	Eurasian Spoonbill	Very rare	Days 2-9
Ciconia nigra	Black Stork	Rare	All sites
Ciconia boyciana	Oriental White Stork	Very rare	Days 2-10
Anser fabalis	Bean Goose	Common	All site
Anser albifrons	White-fronted Goose	Very rare	Days 2-11
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	Very rare	Days 2-7
Anser indicus	Bar-headed Goose	Very rare	Days 2-11
Anser cygnoides	Swan Goose	Abundant	All sites
Cygnus olor	Mute Swan	Very rare	Days 2-7
Cygnus columbianus	Tundra Swan	Very rare	Days 9,10
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	Abundant	All sites
Tadorna ferruginea	Ruddy Shelduck	Abundant	All sites
Tadorna tadorna	Common Shelduck	Abundant	All sites
Aix galericulata	Mandarin Duck	Very rare	Days 2-6
Anas penelope	Eurasian Wigeon	Abundant	All sites
Anas strepera	Gadwall	Abundant	All sites
Anas formosa	Baikal Teal	Rare	Days 2-10
Anas crecca	Common Teal	Abundant	All sites
Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard	Abundant	All sites
Anas poecilorhyncha	Spot-billed Duck	Abundant	All sites
Anas acuta	Northern Pintail	Abundant	All sites
Anas querquedula	Garganey	Abundant	All sites
Anas clypeata	Northern Shoveler	Abundant	All sites
Anas falcata	Falcated Duck	Rare	Days 3-11
Aythya ferina	Common Pochard	Abundant	All sites
Aythya baeri	Baer's Pochard	Very rare	Days 3-11
Aythya fuligula	Tufted Duck	Common	All sites
Aythya marila	Greater Scaup	Very rare	Days 2-9
Melanitta (fusca / deglandi ?) stejnegeri	Asiatic White-winged Scoter	Common	Days 3-11
Bucephala clangula	Common Goldeneye	Abundant	All sites
Mergus albellus	Smew	Common	Days 2-11
Mergus serrator	Red-breasted Merganser	Very rare	Days 6-12
Mergus merganser	Goosander	Common	All sites

Raptors

Scientific name	English name	Status	Sites
Pandion haliaetos	Osprey	Very rare	Days 2-7
Milvus migrans	Black Kite	Abundant	All sites
Circus aeruginosus	Marsh Harrier	Common	All sites
Circus cyaneus	Hen Harrier	Common	Days 2-13
Circus macrourus	Pallid Harrier	Very rare	Days 3-9
Circus melanoleucos	Pied Harrier	Rare	Days 3-7
Haliaeetus albicilla	White-tailed Eagle	Rare	Days 2-12
Haliaeetus leucoyphus	Pallas's Eagle	Very rare	Days 3-9
Aegypius monachus	Black Vulture	Common	All sites
Accipiter gentilis	Northern Goshawk	Rare	Days 7-13
Accipiter gularis	Japanese Sparrowhawk	Very rare	Days 7-12
Accipiter nisus	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Rare	Days 8-12
Buteo buteo	Common Buzzard	Rare	All sites
Buteo hemilasius	Upland Buzzard	Abundant	All sites
Buteo lagopus	Rough-legged Buzzard	Very rare?	Days 3-12
Aquila clanga	Spotted Eagle	Very rare	Days 8-12
Aquila nipalensis	Steppe Eagle	Common	All sites
Aquila heliaca	Imperial Eagle	Very rare	Days 8-12
Aquila chrysaetos	Golden Eagle	Common	All sites
Falco naumanni	Lesser Kestrel	Rare	All sites
Falco tinnunculus	Common Kestrel	Common	All sites
Falco amurensis	Eastern Red-footed Falcon	Common	Days 4-13
Falco columbarius	Merlin	Very rare	Days 2-11
Falco subbuteo	Eurasian Hobby	Common	All sites
Falco cherrug	Saker Falcon	Common	All sites
Falco peregrinus	Peregrine Falcon	Very rare	All sites

Tour code explanation

My Shortlist

Testimonials

Paolo and Laura, Italy
We are missing Mongolia very much! It was a beautiful trip, we met many kind people and we seen nice places. Please accept our thanks to Nopi and Jack, they were a good guide and a good driver…

testimonials »

Current poll

Useful Links

www.tripsmongolia-jp.blogspot.com
www.tripsmongolia.blogspot.com
www.miat.com www.taxiairport.net www.taxiforyou.net www.londontransfers.net

Social Network

Subscribe to our Newsletter

If you want to receive our important updates to your email, please subscribe your email.

Explore the Mysterious Land of Southern - Northern Mongolia

Modified: 2011/4/20. Wednesday.

« Classic Tours

Length: 21 days/20 nights Trip Code: CL'21' Southern-Northern

Trip Level: Moderate Minimum Group Size: 4 pax in one group

Locations Visited: Ulaanbaatar, Gobi, Kharakorum, Khuvsgul Lake, etc...

Description: Mongolia has many unique sites and gorgeous sites. From the Gobi Desert (where you can possibly see and touch dinosaur fossils), Khuvsgul Lake, we will provide you many opportunities to experience the people, wonders, sites and culture of Mongolia on this unique trip to this unique land.

Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival at Chinggis Khan International Airport or Ulaanbaatar Train Station and meet our guide and driver. Transfer to hotel and check in* (The check in and out time is 12.00 in the noon and early check in not guaranteed) Relaxing in the morning. Lunch and afternoon short city tour in Ulaanbaatar city: visit Main Square Sukhbaatar – Chinggis Khan’s monument, Natural History Museum, Bogd Khan’s Winter Palace Museum and visit Zaisan Hill for Panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar . Overnight at hotel.

Day 2	Drive to Gobi desert through Baga Gazriin Chuluu or known as Rock formation. We’ll drive around 280 km through steppe by overview of land-sea and grandiose formation of rocks and basalts of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 3	Tsagaan Suvarga (White Shrines), one of the picturesque places in Middle Gobi. Just 30 km’s away from here you can find cave paintings left from the Bronze Age. Driving to the cave paintings offers one of the uneasy roads but it offer great panoramic view on both sides of the hill on whose top the road itself lies. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 4	Drive through Gobi desert will give you an exotic view of the desert – with boundless view of horizons, rare species of mammals and plants. Visit to Vulture gorge or known as Yoliin Am which located in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan or known as Three Beauties of Gobi. It is end of the Altai mountain ranges and chance to see wild animals such as wild sheep, ibex, condor, golden eagle and of course vultures. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 5	Drive to Khongor sand dune or known as Singing Dune. Khongor sand dune is one of the biggest sand dunes of Mongolia . It has an extraordinary length of approximate 100kms and 12 kilometers wide. There is an oasis near a river Khongor at the northern edge of the sand dunes. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 6	Free day for leisure nearby the sand dune. Dune journey and camel riding is available. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 7	Drive to Bayanzag or known as Flaming cliffs. Bayanzag is famous for dinosaur remains-complete dinosaur skeletons and eggs. American Geologist Ray Andrew Chapman has been discovered this area in beginning of 20 century and getting famous all over the world. Visit to Dinosaur fossils found area. If you see carefully, you could find piece of bone or dinosaur egg. Afternoon short hiking Gobi tree-saxaul forest. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 8	Drive up to Ongi temple ruin. It was one of the Mongolian biggest 7 temples. There are 2 temple ruins which were built up in 1780s. After people’s revolution in 1921, these two temples destroyed and lamas (monks) were killed. If you get up early, you will have a chance to see some wild animals such as wild sheep, wolf etc… Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 9	Drive to Karakorum nowadays a functioning monastery in constant renovation to its former splendor. Once, 1000 monks used to inhabit Erdenezuu Monastery. It had some 100 temples within its 400 by 400 meters long walls. The monastery was sacked during the purges of 1937. Only the walls and 3 temples remain. Erdenezuu is still one of the most fascinating sites of Mongolia , and usually we will be able to experience and see the prayers. Also here you can see Mongolian only Tibetan style temple as well. Depends on time around you might visit the monastery at next morning. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 10	Drive to Orkhon waterfall. This waterfall is 24 meter high in the volcanic landscape, hot springs the surrounding hillside. The black volcanic rocks that carpet the landscape exploded from the earth 20 to 30 million years ago, when nearby Togoo crater was still active. In early summer waterfall may be completely dry. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 11	Drive to Taikhar stone via Tsetserleg town. Here is you can see one of the most beautiful temple museum of Mongolia which called Zaya bandid gegeen temple. Arrive at Taikhar stone and short hiking in bank of Tamir River . Overnight GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 12	Drive to Khorgo Terkh National Park . On the way you will drive through Chuluut gorge. This gorge is beautiful gorge comes from volcanic earthquake. Arrive at Khorgo and Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 13	Full day for hiking to White Lake or known as Terkhyn Tsagaan Nuur shore and nearby mountains over 2000m above sea level. On the way visit Cave of the Yellow Dog, Ice cave and Zaluuchuud cave etc … hike back to Ger camp and overnight.

Day 14	Drive to Jargal Jiguur GER camp which located in on the way of Khorgo Terkh National Park and Murun town. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 15	Drive to Khuvsgul Lake . Lake Khuvsgul , 136 kilometers long and 36 kilometers wide, at 1,645 meters above sea level, is the second largest lake in Mongolia as well as the deepest. Known as the “the blue pearl of Mongolia”, because of its crystal clear waters, it flows into the Eg River (Egiin Gol), which then joins the Selenge, and finally reaches Lake Baikal. Overnight at Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 16	Visit Tsaatan or known as reindeer people where located app 50kms from our camp site and it takes 2.5 hours of driving. (Depends year around) There will be two families one is Tsaatan herder and Shaman. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 17	Free day for leisure. Overnight at tourist GER camp (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 18	Drive to Uran Togoo Mountain . This mountain is 500 – 600 meter wide and 50 meter deep crater. Overnight at GER Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 19	Drive to Amarbayasgalant monastery, It is the best preserved old monastery in Mongolia . This is main Chinese style monastery in Mongolia : architecture, plan of various temple buildings and artistic details deserve a careful visit. The temple is in use and inhabited by many monks. Overnight at GER (Mongolian traditional felt accommodation)

Day 20	Drive to Ulaanbaatar . Arrive at Ulaanbaatar . Shopping in cashmere shops and see the Mongolian traditional folklore concert. Overnight at hotel.

Day 21	Check out from hotel and transfer to Chinggis Khan International Airport or Ulaanbaatar Train Station. End of the tour

Is this trip right for you

Accomodation: Hotel stay 3-4 stars hotel for twin sharing bed, GER camp stay for 3 – 4 people in one GER (single supplement on request with charge)

Transport: All local transportation by 4WD vehicle

Guide: English speaking guide (other language guide on request)

Meals: 3 meals a day

Including: Camel Riding, National park entrance fee or other taxes during the trip, Sightseeing

Not including: Insurance, International flight or train fares, Beverages and any additional cost which is not mentioned above.

click here to view trip map

Comments not allowed

CL	Classic	CU	Cultural
HR	Horse riding	SE	Solar Eclipse
CT	Camel trekking	BW	Bird Watching
MO	Mountaineering	SO	Stop Overs
MB	Mountain biking	BP	Buddhist Pilgrimage
FI	Fishing	EF	Eagle Festival
TR	Trekking