Mongolia gobi Desert Beauties

Included In-Country Services

The Beauties of the Mongolia’s Gobi Desert

Spend a day exploring the sights and sounds of Ulaanbaatar before traveling for 9 days through the varied landscape of the Gobi along our Mongolia Gobi Desert Beauties tour. You will be staying in gers, the traditional dwelling of the Mongols. Visit Buddhist monasteries enjoying recent revival, sites of dinosaur fossils, an ice gorge and ride a camel through the Khongoriin Els sand-dunes.

This Mongolia Gobi Desert program combines the ancient traditions of Buddhism with the natural beauty and grandeur of the pristine nature. Erdenezuu is the largest functioning monastery in Mongolia and is slowly and lovingly being restored to its former glory after many years of abandonment and neglect during the socialism era. The Monastery is situated where the ancient capital of Mongolia, Karakorum, is located. It was here that Chinggis Khaan assembled his mighty cavalry to conquer half of the known world.

Next we head into the Gobi area. The sites of the Mongolia Gobi Desert are varied and unique, like the valley at Yoliin Am, known as Eagle Valley, whose depths support huge glacial sheets that remain until the hot summer months, or the massive sand dunes. Of great interest to foreign travelers and scientists alike are the dinosaur remains scattered throughout the Mongolia Gobi Desert.

Day One in Mongolia

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Sightseeing and Welcoming Dinner

Arrive and transfer to a 4 star hotel. After lunch at the hotel restaurant, do afternoon sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar, including the Bogd Khan Palace, which is a series of beautiful traditional buildings where the last religious King of Mongolia resided. Also visit the National History Museum. In the evening there will be a cultural program consisting of a Folklore show. Overnight in a 4-star hotel.

Day Two in Mongolia

Before Traveling Southwards towards The Mongolia Gobi Desert – We’ll Enjoy Some Hiking at Mount Khogno Khan

You will be met at your hotel at a pre-arranged time by your guide and driver and will head west into the countryside. The scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. We will stop for lunch along the way and reach Mount ‘Khogno Khan’ in the late afternoon. It is about a 6 hours drive from Ulaanbaatar. This mountain is perfect for some afternoon hiking and there are remains of an ancient monastery, which should be explored. Dinner and overnight will be at a ger camp.

Day Three in Mongolia

Today We’ll Overland by Jeep to Karakorum – The Ancient Capital of the Mongol Empire

Today we will drive on to the Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia where there is now a small township. This is about a 2-hour drive from Khogno Khan Mountain. On arrival, the first and most obvious landmarks are the remains of the Erdenezuu Monastery’s vast walls. This monastery was built in 1586 and is surrounded by a massive 400m x 400m wall. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the ornate temples, only a few of which remain standing after the communist purges. We will visit this monastery and then head on to the Karakorum ger camp. Dinner and overnight will be at a ger camp.

Day Four in Mongolia

Continue Overland by Jeep towards Orkhon Waterfalls for Walking and Rest

Today we will make a trip to the Orkhon Waterfall, situated in the Orkhon Valley. This valley is known as the cradle of Mongolian civilization as many of Mongolia’s ancient monuments lie within its borders. Today we will visit some of its natural beauties. The Orkhon Waterfall marks the halfway point of the Orkhon River, the longest river in Mongolia.

The area surrounding the waterfall is green and forested and we will spend the day walking in the area and having a picnic lunch. This area of Mongolia is well known for producing the best ‘airag’, or fermented mares’ milk, in the country. Many locals will love to challenge you to a singing game, the loser having to consume a whole bowl of the ‘airag’, so beware when visiting local families! The drive from the Karakorum is about two-and-a-half hours and in the afternoon we will drive to a ger camp in the area for dinner and the night.

Day Five in Mongolia

Overland by Jeep towards Mongolia’s Gobi Desert

Today we start driving towards Mongolia’s Gobi desert. The scenery will change into the vast open steppe that meets with the horizon. There will be occasional nomadic families’ gers in the distance. We will have a packed lunch on the way and in the afternoon we will come to a ger camp by the Ongiin River, where we will stay for the night. There is the ruin of the Ongiin Monastery nearby, which we will visit.

Day Six in Mongolia

Across Mongolia Gobi Desert are Fascinating Locations e.g. The Flamming Red Cliffs of Bayanzag, and much more!

Continue driving to the flaming, red cliffs at Bayanzag. The first discovery of dinosaur eggs, as well as bones, was made in this area in the famous American expedition of the 1920s. There will be a chance to meet local nomadic people and to visit their gers. Overnight will be at the local ger camp.

Day Seven in Mongolia

Today We’ll Overland by Jeep Mongolia Gobi Desert to the Famed Gobi Desert Sand Dunes aka Kongoriin Els Sand Dunes

Today we drive west along with the Altai Mountain range until we reach Khongoriin Els. Reaching heights of 800m, these are Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. Locally they are called the ‘Singing Dunes’ because of the tons of sand, which shift in the wind, making a strange sound similar to that of distant aircraft. The drive is about 6 hours long. We will stay overnight in a ger camp close to the dunes.

Day Eight in Mongolia

Today We’ll Journey Mongolia Gobi Desert via Camels!

After some long days of driving, we will have the opportunity to use a different type of transport. We will be riding on camels today to explore these massive sand- dunes. The two-humped camels are very comfortable to ride, as they walk slowly and gently and we will be well supported by the humps, sitting comfortably between them. Our camel wrangler will take us to the sand-dunes. We will take our lunch with us and ride back to the camp in the evening.

Day Nine in Mongolia

Overland Mongolia Gobi Desert by Jeep to Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Pak

Today we will drive to Yoliin Am (Eagle Valley). This is a long valley with high cliff walls, which shade some areas of the valley floor from the sun for the entire year, allowing the stunning ice sheets to form. We will walk through the valley and see the ibex grazing on the cliff faces. The wildlife in the area is abundant and the desert plants vibrant and varied. The areas we will be visiting are situated in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, which encompasses the ‘Three Beauties’ peaks and the eastern-most points of the Altai Mountains. Overnight at a local ger camp.

Day Ten in Mongolia

Today We’ll Be Departing Mongolia Gobi Desert via a Return Flight to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we will drive to Dalanzadgad and take a local flight back to Ulaanbaatar. The flight takes one-and-a-half hours and your guide will accompany you. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel.

Day Eleven in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing

Today will be a full day of sightseeing including Gandantegchilen Monastery and the Dinosaurs Museum. After lunch at the hotel, we will visit the Fine Arts Museum and the Toy Museum. The evening program will include a folklore show followed by a farewell dinner at Hazara Restaurant. Overnight will be at a 4-star hotel.

Day Twelve in Mongolia