2008 August 1 Solar Eclipse
 | 2008 August 1st Solar Eclipse14 day Gobi Desert |  |
Itinerary outline |  Lake Harus  horseman  rock sculpture  Jargalant  lake  Yurts | ||
| 25 July | Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, after clearing arrival formalities, you are met and transferred to your hotel *** or ****. Enjoy a full day in Ulaanbaatar, visiting the Gandan Monastery and the Museum of Mongolian History. | ||
| 26 July | Fly to Hovd, a provincial centre town. Continue your journey driving in 4 wheel drive vehicles to lake Har Us. Camp not far from the lake. The altitude here is about 1500m, with day time temperatures of about 20°C and nights around 15°C. It will be possible to make a boat excursion on the lake to see the magnificent and varied bird life with about 240 species. Mosquito repellant very useful to make the most of this visit! | ||
| 27 July | Travel to Mt Munkhhairkhan, Tavan Humst the main peak is about 4205m. above sea level. Enroute we explore Gurvan Tsenkheriin Cave, home of Stone Age people living about 20-15,000 years ago that contains rock engravings and burials sites from Hun period. Camp by, or just after, the cave. A good headtorch helps with the viewing of the cave art. | ||
| 28 July | Drive to the village of Munkhhairhan which is circled by numerous Red Kite in the afternoon. Lunch stop. We continue driving to one of two campsites - the groups could divide depending on the interest for the following day's programme. | ||
| 29 July | Lake Camp Group (Camp at an altitude of 2600m. Days 15°C night 5°C.) - lake Khukh is famous for its very clean water, here you can relax and go on a boat trip on the lake. Relaxing day. This area is rich with ancient burial sites with burial stones with deer engravings from the bronze age and more recent ones engraved with human images from the the 6th century. A visit will be made to a local Uriankhai nomadic family. Their way of life is very similar to the Mongolian nomadic peoples who speak a slightly different dialect than the nomadic peoples of the east. Foreign guests are a rare treat for them and they welcome them warmly. In the afternoon drive back to Munkhhairhan and then continue driving for a few hours to make camp. Mountain Group An easier walk in this area takes in some scenic valleys and a fine waterfall. In the afternoong drive to meet up with the Lake Group. | ||
| 30 July | Travel to Uench village and explore the impressive Uench gorge where the Siberian Ibex makes its home. Camp in steppe / foothills. | ||
| 31 July | Drive to eclipse site in the Great Gobi National Park, Part-B. The park is home
to many wild species including the wild horse "Takhi" which is
the only surviving wild horse in the world, Wild Ass, Wild Camel and Steppe
Gazelle. Camp at an altitude of 2600m. Days 30-35°C nights 20-25°C. | ||
| 01 August | Observe the solar eclipse on the centre of the totality line (2min 3sec of totality). Camp. | ||
| 02 August | Head to east driving through the GGNP and spend one night in Alag Hairhan Natural Reserve. We camp at an altitide of 2000m. Days 15-20°C and 5-10°C nights. Likely to see Wild Hornes Sheep. There is a pleasant camping place with streams and poplar trees in the mountains. | ||
| 03 August | Continue to drive east and visit nomadic family with opportunity to watch them milking camels. We can then try the famous camel drink, a curative organic drink for indigestion. Spend a night in Sharga-Manhan Natural Reserve with potential sighting of the Saiga, an endemic antelope only live in the Sharga Gobi. | ||
| 04 August | After spending a day in the reserve drive towards Altai, camp near Altai. | ||
| 05 August | Start early morning drive to Altai and fly to Ulaanbaatar and visit to the performance of the Tumen Ekh folk ensemble followed by farewell dinner. | ||
| 06 August | Sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar (this day could be used to drive back from Altai if the flight has been cancelled due to bad weather which occurs on about 10% of flights). | ||
| 07 August | Return flight from UB. | ||
| Cost: Euro 2800 per person from Ulaan Baatar. Included in the costs The cost from Ulaan Baatar to Ulaan Baatar including internal flights, hotels and all meals, guides, city tours, entrance fees, airport transfers. The cost does not include international flights to Ulaan Baatar. International Flights
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There will be a total solar eclipse in August 2008. Its maximum duration will
be 2 minutes 27 seconds at approximately 65 N, 72 E. This is a location in
Northern Siberia where the sky is often either overcast or hazy. The optimal
viewing conditions in an interesting environment for viewing will most likely
be just to the south of the Altai Mountains, in the Gobi Desert in western
Mongolia. If you examine the statistics produced by 