World Energy Center - Khamar Monastery Tour Mongolia

Option to transfer to the hotel and relax. City tour including the Gandan Monastery, the National Museum of Mongolia, which represents Mongolian Culture starting from the Stone Age to the 21st century, and Buddhism, Sukhbaatar Square (also known as Chingis Khaan Square). In Gandan Monastery, you can take local prayers, monks, the biggest standing indoor Buddha statue, and temples' own figure. Transfer to the train station and take a train to Sainshand around 21 o'clock. (L/D)

Arrive around 7 o'clock in Sainshand town, the central town of Dornogovi (East Gobi) Province, which is one of the most essential central towns in Mongolia because of its strategic location to the border of China. Meet our driver and transfer to the hotel and have breakfast. Option to relax in the hotel. Then, town tour with the local museum and Danzanravjaa Museum. After that, visit the camel herder. (B/L/D)

Sainshand Museum. There are plenty of stuffed Gobi animals, a collection of seashells and marine fossils (Dornogobi was once beneath the sea), and some dinosaur fossils. The history section includes some eulogies to Manzav, the local Baatar (hero) who distinguished himself fighting for Mongolian independence during the 1921 revolution.

Museum of Danzanravjaa. Noyon Khutagt Danzanravjaa (1803-56), a well-known Mongolian writer, composer, painter, and medic, was born about 100km south-west of Sainshand. The museum has a collection of gifts presented to Danzanravjaa by Chinese and Tibetan leaders, costumes used in his plays, Buddhist statues presented to him by the 10th Dalai Lama, and some of his paintings. He was also very interested in traditional medicine, so the museum has a collection of herbs. Look out for the jar in front of his statue, which contains the Danzanravjaa's bones; the poet's mummified body was burned along with his monastery in the 1930s.

In the morning, visit Khamar Monastery (Khamriin Khiid), founded in 1820, was an important Red Hat sect Buddhist monastic, cultural, and education center in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert region until its destruction in 1937. It is located 43 km south of the provincial center, Sainshand. Visit the Energy Center known as Shambhala.

After the picnic, drive to Khan Bayanzurkh mountain or Khar Uul (black mountain). The most famous Gobi Mountain. Locals call it "wish-fulfilling Mountain". If you have time on your hands, locals recommend the two-to-three-hour hike out to Khar Uul (Black Mountains), south-west of the town. (B/L/D)

After breakfast, drive to Burdene Sand Dunes with a beautiful oasis where Saint Danzanravjaa used to come with his disciples and meditate. There are 108 springs in the area to explore. Lunch in Sainshand. Transfer to the train station. Take a train to Beijing in the afternoon. Time will be announced later. (B/L)