In the morning, the sun is already raised, the air is cool and the sun send out moverless, lovely light the „7th. INTERNATNIONAL GOBI MARATHON MONGOLIA“ starts.
The track is going through the probably most impressive part of the landscape including sand dunes, Mongolian dessert steppes, the world wide known famous Saxaul forest and the dinosaur excavation area.
The ground is hard sand and quite good for running. During the whole way nomadic people with Ger's and herd‘s could be seen and it always could happened that camels are crossing the track. But never the mind, the camels would not feel disturb neither from the runners nor from the red signal flags they shows the runners the correct way of the track.
Every five kilometre is a station with food and drinks, a small first medical help station, which hopefully no one would need.
We offer 5 different itineraries:
Tour I A:
5days by bus from Ulaanbaatar to South Gobi and back by bus to Ulaanbaatar
Tour II A:
3 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour II B:
4 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour III A:
4 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Tour II B:
4 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour III A:
4 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Tour II B:
4 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour III A:
4 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Tour II B:
4 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour III A:
4 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Tour II B:
4 days – Flights from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar
Tour III A:
4 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Tour III B:
5 days – Flight from Ulaanbaatar and back to Ulaanbaatar by bus
Itinerary TOUR I A
5 days - Shuttle bus from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad and back to Ulaanbaatar
Day 1 (Friday, 2008-09-12):
Ulaanbaatar - Mandelgovi
We will meet us in the afternoon at 1.30 pm at the parking area of the MIAT ticket office (opposite ‘Arte –Kino-Theatre). From here the “shuttle bus” is leaving to the South Gobi Aimag. Today after approximately six hours we will reach Mandalgovi in Central Gobi Aimag. We stay in a small hotel in the Aimag center Mandelgovi.
Meals included:
Dinner
Day 2 (Saturday, 2008-09-13):
Mandelgovi – South Gobi
In the morning drive further onwards through the Gobi desert and after appr. six and half hours we will arrive at the Ger camp. We will have lunch and a rest.
In the afternoon drive out to the Gobi Gurvan Saichan National Park to visit the impressive and famous Yolyn Am canyon. Here we walk through a marvelous and impressive canyon where we can see eagles, vulture, mammals and ibex. Probably we find some small glaciers and ice patches at the bottom and can cross them.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch in the Ger camp, Dinner is a pre-race pasta party
Day 3 (2008-09-14): THE DAY
Marathon / Half-Marathon
for Walkers and Runners
Breakfast at the Ger camp during the morning. Different transfers to Marathon and Half-Marathon starting lines reaching there approximately 30 minutes before start.
Your equipment as well as your clothes will be in one of the cars and drive to the finish line so you can change clothes there.
From the finish line there are transfers back to the Ger camp for overnight. On the way we‘ll make photo stop. Also you can walk inside the dinosaur excavation area. In the evening is a small farewell party.
Meals included:
Breakfast, drinks and food during the race (normal Marathon “food”), Dinner
Day 4 (Monday, 2008-09-15):
South Gobi - Monastery
After later breakfast we drive out to the Aimag center Dalanzadgad for walk around. Than we drive through the marvelous and impressive Gobi Dessert to Mandelgovi and further to the small monastery. Here we will stay in the guest Ger(s) of the monastery. At the area of the monastery we can see the biggest Ger in Mongolia. This Ger is used as praying hall.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 (Tuesday, 2008-09-16):
Monastery - Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we will have a look around in the monastery. The monastery is something very special and very worth to see. We will have the chance to talk to the lamas (when they are in) and discuss with them about Buddhism. After we drive back to Ulaanbaatar. We should arrive during the late afternoon at the parking place in front of MIAT Casa. End of service.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch
Tour price: USD ,- per person
The price includes:
- Transports by bus from Ulaanbaatar to the South Gobi and back to Ulaanbaatar
- Transfers to the starting line and back from the finish line to the Ger camp
- Transfers and transports as mentioned
- Sightseeing as mentioned
- Overnight at Ger Camp in Ger‘s (Mongolian Yurt’s)
- Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- German-, English-, Russian- and Mongolian speaking tour guide,
- Entrance fee Gobi National Park
- Fare well dinner and lot of fun
- T-Shirt for all finishers: International Gobi Marathon 2008
- IGMM medal for all participants
The price does not include:
- Starting fee for Half-Marathon USD 35,- per person
- Starting fee for Marathon USD 45,- per person
- Starting fee for Team Marathon USD 25,- per person
- Insurance
- Drinks
- Souvenirs
- Tips and other personal items.
Important remarks:A) Starting Fee as well tour price has to be paid in advance
B) Jogging or running shoes are fine
C) Also you get forecast weather information so you can decide during the morning which clothes you are using for running / walking
D) Only to cross the small sand dunes it is little harsh the rest of the way is fine. Some smaller parts has soft sand
D) Water you get enough on the way also small food like banana, bread, sweats, power drinks et cetera
E) None of the runners got lost during the last 7 years
F) Red marks are done throughout the whole way as well as the cars are always driving up and down the path
Volunteers: Please ask for your special price.
