EASTERN MONGOLIA BIRDING TOUR

OVERVIEW

It is a dream trip of any birdwatcher that takes you to grassy steppes and wooded hillsides of North Eastern Mongolia. Wide open grasslands, flooded meadows and pools are home to many species such as Upland Buzzard, Amur Falcon, Great Bustard, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Oriental Plover,  Mongolian Lark, Siberian crane, Steppe eagle…  to name just a few. Experience the nomadic culture which seemingly hasn’t changed for many hundreds of years. Our expert guides will ensure your ultimate enjoyment by offering skillful guiding.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Admire stunning landscapes typical to southern Siberia
  • See and photograph rare birds, many of them endangered
  • Overnights in mobile camps and in traditional ger hotels
  • Visit museums and attractions of Ulaanbaatar
  • Learn of lifestyle and mores of Mongolian nomads
| Price: To be confirmed. USD p.p.
| Dates: 2025 , 2026
| Difficulty rating: Moderate

ITINERARY

  • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

    You will be picked up by your guide upon arriving at Genghis Khan International airport in Ulaanbaatar and transferred to a comfortable modern hotel. Time permitting we visit a number of small ponds on the outskirts of the city where you can expect to see Demoiselle Cranes, Cinereous Vultures, Ruddy Shelducks and Isabelline Wheatears. We return in time for the tour briefing and introduction to Mongolian bird watching at a welcome dinner. (Dinner / hotel)

  • Travel to Baldan Bereeven monastery

    Early morning departure from UB and in an hour’s driving time stop at a gigantic mounted statue of Genghis Khan, founder of the great Mongol empire. The statue was conceived as the centerpiece of a colossal complex comparable to and in some aspects resembling the Chinese “terracotta warriors”. Take a panoramic view of the surrounding steppe and mountains from an observation deck on the horses head.
    We travel further east across open grassland with rolling hills in the background that are soon replaced by mountains covered with pine and cedar forests interrupted by granite outcroppings, a feature typical to the southernmost tip of Siberia. We set a tent camp upon reaching the Baldan Bereeven monastery, once-largest Buddhist center in Eastern Mongolia. Species we can expect to see during travel and at our campsite include Steppe eagle, Upland buzzard, Black Kite, Demoiselle Crane, Ruddy Shelduck, White-naped Crane, Common Crane, Black Grouse, Arctic Loon and a number of smaller forest birds. We talk about the days’ events in the comfort of the tent camp. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner / tent)

  • Drive to Khurkh valley

    Travel further east to Khurkh valley monitoring site designated by Ramsar convention dedicated to preservation of global wetland eco-systems. The valley is a habitat to many rare birds included in the list of Endangered Species as well as the Mongolian Red Book. Out of 5 crane species found here White-naped Crane, Common Crane and Demoiselle Crane nest and summer in high numbers whereas Hooded Cranes can be observed only during spring and fall migration. Siberian Cranes have been reported to spend summers here over the last 3 years. The cultural agenda today includes visiting a massive wall like rock depicting chiseled images of seals of over 300 ancient Mongolian clans as well as some writing. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner / tent)

  • Bird watching in Khurkh and Khuiten valleys

    We travel to Khuiten valley browsing wetlands and the steppe for various waterfowl, wetland birds, waders and raptors including Steppe eagle, Upland Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Black Kite, Pallas’s Fish Eagle. Great Bustard is a common sight in the arable fields that pass alongside. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner / tent)

  • Drive to Onon river

    Without shifting the camp we cross Onon river, largest in NE Mongolia. It flows for 300km within the boundaries of Mongolia before it gives rise to Shilka, a tributary of Amur that eventually empties in to Pacific ocean. Once across Onon we watch birds at a series of small lakes, a nesting ground of Pallas’s Fish Eagle. There is a slim chance of seeing Mandarin Ducks among other more common duck species. After lunch we visit some local nomads at their homes and find out “whats, hows and whys” of the way of life that has not seemingly changed much for centuries. Return to our base camp for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

  • Drive to Gun Galuut lake

    After an early start we begin a long journey towards to Gun Galuut. The scenery is dominated by wooded hillsides and rocky outcrops. Countless flocks of grazing sheep, goats, horses and cattle herded by nomads and their traditional homes, also known as ger, is a common sight. Gun Galuut literally meaning “deep and with lots of geese” is a few small lakes where Whooper Swans and Swan Geese nest as well as a number of waders. Quite often Stejneger’s White-winged Scoters, Garganey, White-naped Cranes can be spotted here. Overnight today will be in a hotel comprised of traditional felt walled tents. Its relative comfort will be a pleasant surprise after days of camping. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

  • Return to UB

    Enthusiast may wish to get up at dawn and attempt to see Argali Sheep, the largest sheep in the world. We will have checked on their location with local rangers but it surely will require some luck and patient tracking to spot them. We return to our ger camp in time for breakfast. We then use our last chance to see White-naped Cranes and Demoiselle cranes before driving to Ulaanbaatar. This 2-3 hour journey on tarmac is rather uneventful. Upon arrival settle in your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. (Breakfast, lunch / hotel)

  • Khustai National Park

    It is here that in 1993 a small number of last remaining wild horses known as “Przewalski horses" was brought from several European zoos and re-introduced to their historic homeland after they had been extinct for 5 decades. Today is the most successful wild life preservation project ever seen in Mongolia with over 300 wild horses living in wilderness withstanding predators and harsh climate. Impressively, the park is also home to 220 species of birds, 1200 Red deer and 20,000 marmots. On arrival we get a short introduction to the park’s activities before setting out on a wild life watching hike. We can expect to see Przewalski horses, Red deer, marmots and birds including Golden Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon and various smaller Falconidae. At dinner in the park’s restaurant we talk about our adventures with other likeminded people. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner /ger camp)

  • Return to UB, optional city visits

    2 hour driving brings us back to UB and to our lunch venue located next the country’s largest Cashmere shop. Mongolia produces quarter of the world’s raw cashmere, one of the mainstays of rural economy. Optionally, continue to the Palace-museum of Bogd Khan, showcasing personal relics and luxury items of the last theocratic ruler of Mongolia. Free evening. (Breakfast, lunch / hotel)

  • Guided city sightseeing tour

    Today you will be introduced to highlights of Ulaanbaatar city: the Gandan Temple - city's main Buddhist center, featuring a 26 meter tall gold-plated statue of Lord Buddha, the central city square with a grand memorial complex dedicated to Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city's edge providing a panoramic view of UB. A show of traditional song and dance, as well as contortion and throat singing will be followed by a splendid good-bye dinner to celebrate our adventure. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner / hotel)

  • Departure transfer

    You will be transferred to airport to start your return journey home. (Breakfast)

25th June, 2025

4th July, 2025

Available

To be confirmed

Pp twin occ. + USD 168 for sgl. occ.

6th October, 2025

16th October, 2025

Available

To be confirmed

Pp twin occ. + USD 168 for sgl. occ.

Price Includes:
  • All accommodation: hotel (4 nights), ger (2 nights), tent (4)
  • Indicated meals & drinking water
  • All visits, sightseeing, national park and permit fees
  • Overland transport (Japanese 4WD vans)
  • Airport transfers
  • English speaking birding guide
Price Excludes:
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activity fees (camel and horse riding)
  • Meals not indicated
  • Sleeping bags
  • Drinks & Alcohol
  • Gratuities

REVIEWS

Tripadvisor Reviews:

Ronald Perlstein, USA

This was a fantastic adventure trip to Eastern Mongolia. We traveled in comfortable 4-wheel drive vans to rural area to see unique wildlife, domestic herds of animals, and the life style of local families. We stayed in a combination of gers and tents. The big surprise was the ability of our tour chef to prepare us outstanding meals that proved to be better that the food at most restaurants. Our guides were very knowledgable about Mongolian history, politics, geography, wild animal species, and nomadic life styles. I would love to do the same trip again.


Beth R

Great tour of Eastern Mongolia
Bat made sure we saw tons of stuff on our 12 day tour of Eastern Mongolia. We saw monuments, so many animals, so many kind and generous people and wonderful scenery. His staff and equipment were top-notch! He handled our large group with ease. Bat is a wonderful ambassador for the country with an encyclopedic knowledge of history and customs. Highly recommended

Donna, California

Excellent Wildlife and Cultural Adventure in Mongolia !!
I highly recommend Mongolia Trekking, and I would travel with them again. ------- Our twelve-day Mongolian adventure was focused in Eastern Mongolia. I was very impressed with the organization and implementation by Mongolia Trekking in order to provide for our exciting and seamless expedition covering hundreds of kilometers. The entire MT team is multi-talented, helpful, dedicated and courteous. ------ Our drivers skillfully transported us in Mitsubishi 4WD minivans on unpaved roads and terrain through mostly uninhabited steppe -- an ongoing beautiful landscape. ------- The MT crew set up, maintained and disassembled our lunch stops and campsites quickly and efficiently. While out in the middle of nowhere, our basic needs were comfortably met with a dining tent, sleeping tents, toilets, showers, deluxe lounge chairs and even electricity in addition to unbelievable views. ------- The chef and his family prepared outstanding meals. I did not expect such high-quality, delicious and varied (international) dishes while camping. ------- Our stays at three different ger camps were very comfortable. The gers and dining and bathroom facilities were practically luxurious being located in such remote areas. What fun to stay in a ger! ------- We saw various wildlife daily, including takhi (Przewalski's horse), argali wild sheep, gazelle, cranes, eagles and much more. We even stopped by the International Crane Foundation's research station where we were updated by a researcher. ------- We visited two homes where we were warmly welcomed and offered homemade treats and shown the amazing horse riding skills of a few locals. We were lucky to see a ger construction workshop which was very interesting after having stayed in gers. ------- Batbayar, MT's Managing Director, was willing to answer any questions and share his vast knowledge of Mongolia's history, culture, and politics. It was definitely a pleasure to travel with him and his team.

BOOKING FORM

Please complete the form below and click the submit button. There is no obligation to make a payment at this stage. * indicates a required field.

Personal information:
Trip information: