Mongolia Bird Watching Tour (code:23)
Mongolia
has a rich composition of bird species due to the migration routes from Pacific
and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea and to the Arctic Ocean and northern
tundra. The best seasons to visit are the 
migration times.
In Mongolia 427 different species of birds, out of which 108 species are transitory birds, 74 species are non-migrant and 231 species are migratory birds, which are come from countries with hot climate, 13 species are birds which come from southward from Siberia in winter.
This bird watching tour takes you to amazing Gorkh- Terelj national Park, Mineral spring of Buuruljuut, Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, Gun Lake, Kherlen river, Ganga lake and Steppe of Dornod. These areas are the best spot to see forest, steppe and water birds.
In the steppes: the gray demoiselle crane, a variety of hoopoes, odd eagle, vulture, upland buzzard, steppe eagle, variety of falcons including saker falcon, black kite and variety of owls and hawks. In the mountains: ptarmigan, finch, woodpecker, owl, Lammergeyers,you will also watch Argali Mountain Wild Sheep- Dream of every hunter. In the Lakes: pelicans, hooded cranes, relict gulls and bar headed geese.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Tour Length: 10 days
Group size: 2 to 10 people
Tour cost: US$ 1410- (including taxes)
Transport type: Vehicle
Tour level: Moderate
Schedule 2011: June- September (You can choose when you come and the date.)
Highlights: Ulaanbaatar, Gorkh- Terelj national Park, Tuul river, Mineral spring of Buuruljuut, Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, Gun Lake, Kherlen river, Baganuur city- Khentii mountains, Ganga lake and Steppe of Dornod
ITINERARY
Day-1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar.
After transferring to a hotel, there will be some sightseeing around town. We
visit the Dinosaur Exhibition Hall of the Natural Historical Museum, and Gandan
monastery. There will be an overnight stay in the hotel. 
(L+D)
Day-2 Terelj National Park and Tuul river
The Park is situated at 80Km. north east of Ulaan Baatar, and is a very popular area both with the locals on a week end and with foreign tourists. It took us nearly two hours to drive from the capital as the roads were pretty bad. The park lies at 1600 metres high and offers great opportunities for hiking, horse-riding, rafting and rock climbing. The parks is over 1.2 million acres large. The landscape is looking a little bit like the alps. It is a national park which started to developed in the 1960's and officially was classified as a National Park in 1994. It is almost uninhabited by humans, only by a few nomads and farmers. Inside the park, there are ranges of protected animals such as birds (250 species). Also many species of falcons such as Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Kestrel (falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel or the Falco naumanni, as well as Upland Buzzard /Buteo hemilasius/ and Long legged buzzard /Buteo lagopus/. Mongolian lark, Calandra lark, Crested lark, Horned lark, Thrushes, Pipits, Magpies and Hoopoes, Owls and Tawny-Owls are seen here. Overnight in the "Ger” tourist camp. (B+L+D)
Day-3 Mineral spring of Buuruljuut
After breakfast drive to Buuruljuut health resort, in the way to see Nalaikh district, Nalaikh coal mine, which is the founded since 1910 and with the year of tserd galav of middle iron era. In a year prepared 600 thousands ton coals. One of the 140 coal mines in Mongolia. Then to see the ancient carving Tonyukuk monument of Tureg period, Arjanchivlan, Bayan mountain pass, Erdene sum, Arkhust and drive to the health resort. Lunch will eat in steppe. Common are apple manus, wild cherry, black currant, wild rose fruits, rare liquorice, hippobopae, and medical herbs such as plaintain, bergenia, rooseroot, thorniopsis. In the province there are 16 species of birds. (Goldcres, Willow Tit Coal Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, White- winged Crossbill, Hawfinch, Long- tailed Rosefinch). Overnight in the "Ger” tourist camp or nomad family. (B+L+D)
Day 4- 5: Gun Galuut Nature Reserve and Gun Lake
Gun-Galuut is the state combined from diversity of ecosystem although it owns comparatively small area. The harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands as well are kept enough as its original condition. Gun-Galuut is rich in its numerous number of threatened biodiversity which allows tourists to see them closest. For instance: 9 of 28 (30%) Mongolian rare birds registered in IUCN "Red List” are observed here. The largest prey bird of Mongolia, Black Vulture /Aegypius monachus/ nests in Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve. It is so large and its size reaches up to 3 m when the wings are fast. Black Vulture lives in Mt Baits and Berkh for all 4 seasons, lays 1 egg in April and the chick flies in late August. There are 4 species of Eagle observed in Mongolia, 2 of which inhabit in the Nature Reserve, Steppe Eagle /Aguile nipalensis/ and Golden Eagle /Aguila chrysaetos/. The eagles live in Mt Baits and Berkh. Golden Eagle nests at rock not accessible by anything, however, Steppe Eagle nests on rocks sometimes even on ground. Also many species of falcons such as Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Kestrel (falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel or the Falco naumanni, as well as Upland Buzzard /Buteo hemilasius/ and Long legged buzzard /Buteo lagopus/. Mongolian lark, Calandra lark, Crested lark, Horned lark, Thrushes, Pipits, Magpies and Hoopoes, Owls and Tawny-Owls are seen here. Not only these, but also many endangered and rare waterbirds also occur in Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, namely. Overnight in the "Ger” tourist camp or nomad family. (B+L+D)
Day-6:
Kherlen River and Uruu bulan
The Kherlen River is one of the biggest rivers in the Eastern Mongolia within the Pacific basin. The river takes its origin at the upper part of the Khentii mountain range and flows to the south first, and then gradually to the east and ultimately joins Dalai Lake in China. The river watershed area is 116455 km.sq and length of 1090 km in the territory of Mongolia. The River Kherlen area is full of migratory birds in summer and it is very beautiful to watch them in the early morning and evening. 38 species of fish swim freely within the crystal clear waters of the Kherlen. These fish include the following species: Taimen (Hucho taimen), Lenok (Brachymystax lenok), Chadary whitefish (Coregonus chadary), Amur grayling (Thymallus arcticus grubei), Amur pike (Esox reicherti), Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), Amur catfish (Parasilurus asotus), Burbot (Lota lota), Amur wild carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) and many more. In the province there are 14 species of birds. (Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Kestrel (falco tinnunculus) and Lesser Kestrel or the Falco naumanni, as well as Upland Buzzard /Buteo hemilasius/ and Long legged buzzard /Buteo lagopus/. Mongolian lark, Calandra lark, Crested lark, Horned lark, Thrushes, Pipits, Magpies and Hoopoes, Owls and Tawny-Owls) Overnight in the "Ger” tourist camp or nomad family. (B+L+D)
Day -7- 8 Ganga lake
The Ganga Lake
or Gyaker Sinyi is a naturally made lake. The Ganga Lake in Arunachal
Pradesh is located at a distance of 6 kms from Itanagar, the capital city
of the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. 
This lake is located at the
foothill region of the Himalayan range. This place is often chosen by the
tourists as a picnic spot. The Ganga
Lake at Arunachal Pradesh is ideal for those who are interested in boating.
You can cross the lake by a boat. To get a better view of the natural beauty of
the place, you can ascend a few steps uphill and then look at the lake
surrounded by forestland from above. To
reach the Ganga Lake of Arunachal Pradesh, one has to first reach
Itanagar. The airport that is closest to Itanagar is located at the place
called Lilabari in the neighboring state of Assam. The distance between these
two places is about 67 kms. One can also avail trains from the railway station
at Guwahati, which travel as far as Harmuti. We can expect to see (Loons, Swan
Goose Anser cygnoides,
Whooper
Swan Cygnus cygnus,
Ruddy
Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea,
Common
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna,
Great
Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus,
Great
Bustard Otis tarda,
White-naped
Crane Grus vipio). Overnight in the "Ger” tourist
camp or nomad family. (B+L+D)
Day-9: Ulaanbaatar
We arrive in Ulaanbaatar from Ganga Lake in midday .Before the farewell dinner, there will be a quick shopping tour including Mongolian national souvenir stores and cashmere garments shops. Overnight Ulaanbaatar. (B+L+D)
Day-10: Departure
After breakfast, will be transferred from hotel to train station or airport. (B)
B- Breakfast
L- Lunch
D- Dinner
Included:
- Twin bedded rooms in a hotel
- Shared accommodation in tourist ger camp
- Guiding and interpreting service
- All meals as listed in the itinerary
- Daily supply of bottled water
- Transfers by vehicle 4x4
- Local guides
- All entrance fees
- Horse, camel, yak ride trial
Not included:
- international airfare
- visa cost
- alcoholic drinks
- travel insurance
