Distant Routes and Memorable Moments: Travel to China, Mongolia, Tibet and Beyond

MIR travelers crisscross Asia from Kashgar in the lowlands of Western China, to Lhasa, Tibet, one of the highest major cities in the world, and from the pervasive tranquility of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to the boisterous streets of Beijing.

Each place is distinct and features a broad range of signature experiences:

• Drive from Lhasa through the Tibetan highlands to sacred cities and shrines, then admire Western China’s Mogao Caves, presenting a thousand-year study in the development of Buddhist art.
• Sip tea in a traditional nomadic ger with a local Mongolian family, then bask in the exotic stillness of Lhasa’s Buddhist monasteries, where yak-butter candles flicker.
• Cheer for the wrestlers, jockeys and archers at Mongolia’s Naadam Festival; marvel at the expanse of rolling steppe in Kara Korum, the legendary capital of Genghis Khan; and climb the sands at Moltsog Els, some of the Gobi’s rare dunes.
• Travel on your own schedule through Tibet, exploring Samye Monastery in Tsetang, UNESCO-listed Potala Palace in the holy city of Lhasa, the 14^th century fortress at Gyantse and Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
• Watch the eagles soar above the traditions and pageantry on display at the Golden Eagle Festival in Mongolia, an annual event showcasing the prowess of the country’s eagles and eagle hunters.
• Browse the spices, handicrafts, and fabrics on display at Kashgar’s timeless bazaar before heading over to the nearby livestock market where goats, sheep, horses, and camels are haggled over much as they have been for centuries.

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Four hand-crafted MIR itineraries explore these far-flung places:

• China’s Silk Route & Tibet: Route of Monks & Merchants (small group tour)
• Mongolian Explorer: The Gobi & Beyond with Naadam Festival (small group tour)
• Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival (small group tour)
• Essential Tibet (classic independent journey)

Explore the Tibetan Plateau on MIR’s small group tour: China’s Silk Route & Tibet: Route of Monks & Merchants. This splendid circular route includes:

• Tours of Tibet’s sacred cities, Tsetang, Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse
• A ride on the high-altitude train from Lhasa down to Lanzhou
• A drive from Lhasa through the Tibetan highlands to sacred Yamdrok Lake, said to be the incarnation of a goddess
• A camel ride around Dunhuang’s Crescent Moon Lake in Western China
• An exploration of Kashgar’s legendary Sunday Animal Market with its brilliant conjunction of traders, clients and living merchandise

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Discover the vast expanses at the heart of Mongolia, from an overnight stay in a remote ger camp to the extraordinary Naadam Festival, on MIR’s small group tour, Mongolian Explorer: The Gobi & Beyond with Naadam Festival.

• Marvel at the expanse of green rolling steppe as you visit Kara Korum, the legendary city of Genghis Khan.
• Visit the home of a local nomad and perhaps sample airag, fermented mare’s milk.
• Sip tea in the doorway of a traditional nomadic ger as you watch the sun set over the austere Gobi Desert.
• Climb the sands at Moltsog Els, some of the Gobi’s rare dunes.
• Stand in the shadow of the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered.
• Cheer for the wrestlers, jockeys and archers of the Naadam Festival.
• Hear the eerie, otherworldly sound of Mongolian throat-singing.
• Explore Mongolia’s blue pearl, Lake Hovsgol, home to reindeer herds of the Tsaatan nomads (post-tour only).

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Explore Mongolia’s vast landscapes and timeless traditions as you traverse the country on MIR’s small group tour, Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival.

• Marvel at the expanse of green rolling steppe as you visit Kara Korum, the legendary city of Genghis Khan (optional pre-tour only).
• Explore Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar, admiring its beautiful Gandan Monastery, and perusing a selection of its fascinating museums.
• Sip tea in a traditional nomadic ger as you watch the sun set over the vast expanse of the Gobi.
• Climb the sands at Moltsog Els, some of the Gobi’s few dunes.
• Gaze upon the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered.
• Cheer as Eagle Festival participants parade onto the field on horseback, wearing their handcrafted hunting outfits, and carrying their hooded birds.
• Observe the competitions in diving speed, agility, and ability to hit a target, the skills birds of prey are made for.
• Listen to the eerie, otherworldly sound of Mongolian throat-singing.

On MIR’s Flexible Essential Private Trip, Essential Tibet, choose your dates to explore the holy city of Lhasa and the remote monasteries and sacred refuges hidden in the heart of the forbidding Tibetan Plateau.

• Travel overland in Tibet and discover a less commonly visited region, including Tsetang with its isolated Samye Monastery.
• Bask in the exotic stillness of Lhasa’s Buddhist monasteries, where fragrant incense burns and yakbutter candles flicker.
• Bargain with locals in the Barkhor Market, striking deals on everything from prayer wheels to coral jewelry.

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