Elsen Tasarkhai Karakorum 2 Days Tour

Overview

If you are in Ulaanbaatar, One of the TOP destination from Ulaanbaatar is the Elsen Tasarkhai Sand dunes and old capital of Mongolia, Karakorum in 2 days! Karakorum is the old capital city of Mongol empire. Here at Karakorum you would visit Erdene Zuu monastery which is operating as museum, Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes are on our way to Karakorum. We would ride camel on the sand dunes!

Despite its relatively small size, Karakorum was one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road. Although founded by Genghis Khan in 1220, Karakorum's development as capital of the Mongol Empire occurred in the 1230s under his son Ögedei. However most of the city was ruined, there are a lot to impress you!

We would have spend couple hundreds of miles in the car to get to this destination and back. Expect long drives, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the beautiful nature!

Highlights of the trip:

Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
Ancient capital of Mongolia, Karakorum
Erdene zuu monaster
Camel ride on sand dunes
Mongolian culture, and museum
Visiting local nomad family
Interaction with nomad way of life
Beautiful nature

Day 1- Elsen Tasarkhai & Karakorum

You would get pick up by our crew and will drive heading to Elsen Tasarkhai to the west on paved road. We would have some stops one beautiful spots and have lunch on the way. After noon we would get to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. We would ride camel for 30-50 minutes while enjoying great view of Sand dunes. Then we would visit local nomad family and drive further to ancient capital of Mongol Empire. Overnight at hotel. (LD -Lunch and Dinner)

Day 2- Karakorum - Back to UB

After the breakfast we would visit Erene zuu temple, that is what left from ruins of old capital. Then we would visit local museum where we would get more information about old capital. After the lunch we would drive heading back to Ulaanbaatar. (BLD)

Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

Elsen Tasarkhai Sand dune is located in the central Mongolia and is on the direction to the old capital city of Mongolia, Karakorum city, It is about 300 kms from Ulaanbaatar (5 hours drive), to the west. Elsen tasarkhai sand dune is 80 km long, with width of 5 km average. The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with rare bushes and a small forest near a river. Together this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gobi-type landscape in one location. Local people call this sand dunes Duut mankhan (Singing sand).

Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes - Camel ride

Experience the lifestyle of nomadic family in a traditional Mongolian ger or ride the camel, walk on sand dunes, and relax in beautifully serene nature. The area is populated by the Maral stag (elk), wolves, deer and fox. The Elsen Tasarkhai literally means "an isolated torn-off piece of sand" and it is a small sequence of real desert in the midst of green steppes.

camel ride at Elsen tasarkhai sand dunes

Karakorum - Ancient capital of Mongol Empire

Karakorum was ancient capital of Mongol empire. The city of Kharkhorum or Karakorum was transferred to the city from Aurag Palace in 1220 by the order of Genghis Khan, and became the official capital from the time of Ogedei Khan. Founded in the 13th century, the city was destroyed in 1388 by the Ming invasion.

The site of Karakorum may have been first settled about 750. In 1220 Genghis Khan, the great Mongol conqueror, established his headquarters there and used it as a base for his invasion of China. In 1267 the capital was moved to Khanbaliq (modern Peking) by Kublai Khan, greatest of the successors of Genghis Khan and founder of the Mongol (Yüan) dynasty (1206–1368) in China. In 1235 Genghis Khan’s son and successor, Ögödei, surrounded Karakorum with walls and built a rectangular palace supported by 64 wooden columns standing on granite bases. Many brick buildings, 12 shamanistic shrines, and two mosques were once part of the city, which also was an early centre for sculpture, especially noteworthy for its great stone tortoises.

Erdene zuu - temple in Karakorum

In 1368, Bilikt Khan, the son of Togon Timur, the last emperor of the Mongol dynasty of China, who had been banished from Peking, returned to Karakorum, which was partly rebuilt. It was then known as Erdeni Dzu (the Mongol name for Buddha), because during the 13th century lamaistic Buddhism had made progress under Kublai Khan. In the Battle of Puir Nor in 1388, Chinese forces under the leadership of the emperor Hung-wu invaded Mongolia and won a decisive victory, capturing 70,000 Mongols and destroying Karakorum. Later it was partially rebuilt but was subsequently abandoned. The Buddhist monastery of Erdeni Dzu (built 1585), which today remains only as a museum, was built on the city site..

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Elsen Tasarkhai Karakorum Erdenezuu – 2 Days Tour

Overview

Day 1- Elsen Tasarkhai & Karakorum

Day 2- Karakorum - Back to UB