Day 1 Arrival

The contrast between ancient traditions and the dawning of a 21st century democracy is most visible in Ulaanbaatar where traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries coexist with modern high-rises.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to Ulaan Baatar Kempinski. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at Abtai-Sain Khan Palace Restaurant, a large ger like one once owned by Chinggis Khan.

Day 2 Ulaanbaatar

Begin the day with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. Strolling through the monastery grounds, you will hear the low tones of the horns used to call the lamas to the temple and can observe their daily rituals, including the reading of sutras (teachings of the Buddha). Also visit the recently reconstructed Chenrezi and Kalachakra Temples, as well as the magnificent statue of Migjid Janraisig (“the lord who looks in every direction”).

This 82-foot high statue, gilded in pure gold and clothed
with silk and precious stones, completely fills one of Gandan’s temples. After lunch, travel back in time with a visit to the dinosaur halls of the Natural History Museum, showcasing the spectacular fossils found in the Gobi desert. On display are fierce Tarbosaurous fossils (closely related to Tyrannosaurus rex), dinosaur eggs, large Hadrosaur fossils (duck-billed dinosaurs), and many others, all of which illustrate the richness and importance of the paleontological sites in the
Gobi desert.

Also visit the paleontological laboratory of the Academy
of Sciences and enjoy a private behind-the-scenes look at fossils
that are being prepared for exhibition. In the evening, enjoy dinner
at a fine local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Gobi / Hongoryn Els sand dunes
In the morning, fly over vast steppe to the Gobi (1.5 hours), Mongolia’s
southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Of all the
world’s arid lands, the Gobi (which means simply “desert”) has
about it the greatest air of mystery, perhaps because it lies at the
heart of Asia’s remotest hinterland between the Siberian wilderness
to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. Contrary to the
sterile sameness that the word “desert” suggests, the Gobi holds
many fascinations including sites of some of the most important paleontological
discoveries of this century.

Upon arrival, drive to Hongoryn Els (4 hour drive), which means
“Singing Sands” in Mongolian. Though the Gobi is primarily a
stony desert covered with a sparse layer of scrub vegetation, there
are a few areas where you can find the traditional desert landscape
of seemingly endless sand dunes. Hongoryn Els is the largest of
these areas, with dunes reaching upwards of 800m and extending
parallel to the Gobi Altai Mountains for approximately 100 km.
(Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 4 Hongoryn Els / Nemegt Basin
After an early breakfast, drive from Hongoryn Els through the austere
and beautiful Gobi landscape to Nemegt basin (7 hour drive).
Spend the next eight days prospecting for and excavating fossils.
Discovered by a joint Soviet/Mongolian expedition in 1946, the
labyrinth of gorges which comprise the Nemegt basin has yielded
specimens of various dinosaurs, early mammals and other organisms,
including the forbidding Tarborsaurus baatar (a relative of Tyrannosaurus
rex), Saurolophus angustirostris, and Therizinosaurus cheloniformis.
During the expedition, our guides will set up camp with tents for
every two people, outfitted with sleeping bags and mats.
(Tent Camp; B, L, D)
In the field during Dinosaurs of the Gobi Expedition
Day 5-8 Nemegt Basin
Days in the field typically begin at 7:00 am with a hearty breakfast
at 8:00 am. You will then prospect for the rest of the day under the
supervision of Dr. Michael Ryan, with a break for lunch. After dinner,
Dr. Michael Ryan will review the day’s work and discuss the
significance of any discoveries. (Tent Camp; B, L, D)