Exchange Details
Overview
This Journey will introduce you to two completely different countries and cultures in a matter of just 15 days! Week one is in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, and during the second week you will be in Ulan-Ude, Russia. Highlights will include sleeping in a ger camp, visits to Mongolian national parks, temples and museums, and the biggest statue of Chinggis Khan. In Ulan-Ude, you can look forward to visiting a Buddhist temple, spending some time on the shores of Lake Baikal, and getting a taste of Buryat national cuisine.
Home Hospitality
Home Hospitality provided by the Friendship Force clubs of Mongolia and Ulan-Ude.
Live With a Local
- Members will have an opportunity to connect with each other and with members of the Friendship Force clubs of Mongolia and Ulan-Ude, Russia, over the course of the 14-night Journey.
- Find new friends thousands of kilometers from your house.
Sightseeing Highlights
- See the traditions and customs of the Buryats in the Buddhist temple
- Spend a few nights on the shore of the deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world
- Spend a night in a Ger camp in Mongolia (yurts)
- Sukhbaatar square
- Visit Terelj national park where you will see Turtle rock and Aryaval temple
- View the breathtaking Giant Chinggis Khan statue
- See many sites of cultural significance, including Gandan temple, Choijing Lama Temple museum, ZaisanTolgoi monument, Bogd Khan museum, Ivolginskiy datzan -the center of Buddhism in Russia, Odigitrievsky Cathedral - an Orthodox church
Discover Mongolia and Siberia
15 Days / 14 Nights Program and Itinerary:
August 1, 2019 – August 15, 2019
Coordinator: Oyuna Sengeeva, FFI
oyuna@friendshipforce.org
All Friendship Force Itineraries are subject to change.
August 1, 2019
All ambassadors arrive to the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, meet with their hosts and go to the host families’ homes.
August 2, 2019
All ambassadors meet at meeting point, and then go to the Sukhbaatar Square.
Do some sightseeing around Sukhbaatar Square, including Parliament house, Opera house, Ulaanbaatar city governor’s office, and the National Museum.
In the afternoon, all club members and ambassadors will attend a welcome party.
August 3, 2019
All ambassadors meet at meeting point and go to Terelj National Park to see Turtle Rock, Aryaval Temple, and stay at Ger camp. (By bus)
August 4, 2019
In the morning, ambassadors will go to see Giant Chinggis Khan statue at Tsonjin Boldog and then go to see 13th Century national park.
Then go back to Ger camp and stay one more night there. (By bus)
August 5, 2019
After breakfast, we will visit the nomad and herder families to see their lifestyle, culture, and learn how Mongolians prepare real Mongolian barbecue called “Khorkhog.”
Afternoon, go back to Ulaanbaatar city. (By bus)
August 6, 2019
City tour day:
Gandan temple
Choijing Lama Temple museum
ZaisanTolgoi monument
Bogd Khan museum
State Department store
Souvenir shop
Cashmere store
In the evening, go to see Tumen Ekh ensemble concert. (By bus)
August 7, 2019
Free day with their host families.
In the afternoon, all club members and ambassadors will attend to the goodbye party.
August 8, 2019
Depart from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulan-Ude, Russia.
Bus arrives at Union Station.
Ambassadors meet host families.
Welcome dinner.
August 9, 2019
Meet at the Theatre Square.
Visit Ivolginskiy datzan – the center of Buddhism in Russia, study of the phenomenon of the incorruptible body Lama Itigilov.
Participation in the service.
August 10, 2019
Walking tour of downtown.
Lunch of national Buryat food.
Visit the Odigitrievsky Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church in Ulan-Ude. It is the first stone building in the city of Ulan-Ude and an architectural monument of the Siberian baroque. The cathedral is also unique because it is built in an area of high seismic activity. It is located in the heart of the city, on the banks of the Uda River where is flows into the Selenga.
August 11, 2019
Trip to the Lake Baikal and guest house village Enkhaluk. In Buryat, “Enkhaluk” means “calm, peaceful, gracious.” This is one of the favorite places of recreation and tourism in Buryatia. The coast of Lake Baikal in the area Enkhaluk is a great sandy beach. The recreation area is located between Cape Enkhaluk Bummer and unnamed creek near the village of New Enkhaluk, 170 kilometers from Ulan-Ude.
August 12, 2019
Time with “Grandfather Baikal.”
Free time on Lake Baikal.
August 13, 2019
Time on Lake.
Afternoon back to Ulan-Ude.
Time with hosts.
Shopping, free time.
Packing.
August 14, 2019
Meeting with women nuns – Buddhist datsan women “Zungon Darzhaling” – at female Buddhist monastery.
Lunch.
Reception from Lam healers, astrologers.
Farewell dinner.
August 15, 2019
Arrive to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Depart from Mongolia.
Rate:
$2500 USD
Price Includes: FFI and host fees, transportation between Mongolia and Ulan-Ude (round trip), all meals while traveling, and official dinners.Know before you go
- Journey Number 15171
- August in Siberia and Mongolia is kind of cold during the evening and at night, so all ambassadors must bring their warm clothes: jackets, sweaters, etc.
Our Mission
Friendship Force International provides opportunities to explore new countries and cultures from the inside by bringing people together at the personal level. Through the signature program of home hospitality, local hosts welcome international visitors into their culture, sharing with them meals, conversation, and the best sights and experiences of their region.
Read more.