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Explore the hidden treasures in the remote Mongolian steppe, the spectacular Gobi Desert and its nomadic traditions. Delve deep into the wilderness and off the beaten path to where the nomads are on this 13-day raw and thrilling adventure. Your experience is heightened with 9 nights in traditional nomadic ger camps taking you back to basics and a simpler time to connect you into the deep heart of nature.
Your adventure begins in the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar. Over the next few days your time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape as you delve into Mongolia’s remote wilderness. There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the ‘singing’ sand dunes, Vulture canyon or the ‘Flaming cliffs’, and more. Begin with visiting the ...
Your adventure begins in the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar. Over the next few days your time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape as you delve into Mongolia’s remote wilderness. There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the ‘singing’ sand dunes, Vulture canyon or the ‘Flaming cliffs’, and more. Begin with visiting the Gandan Monastery before leaving UlaanBaatar for Ger. Explore Khustain Nuruu National Park for a guided hike to see the Mongolian wild horses. Journey to Little Gobi Desert and unto Mount Khogno Khan and its little base temple. Drive to Karakorumo and visit the Erdene Zuu monastery, Karakorum Museum, and the surrounding landscape. Proceed to Arvaikheer with a stopover at Shankh monastery. Drive for 9 hours to Bayan Gobi, sighting the Ikh Bogd mountain from afar and some of the most beautiful landscapes of Mongolia. You’ll delve deeper into the stunning Gobi Desert scenery. Behold the magnificence of the Khongoryn dunes that sing along with the wind and host 100,000 camels. Visit the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, its wildlife, a local museum, and the canyon. Hike at the picturesque flaming cliffs of Bayanzag and the renowned dinosaur exploration site. Your incredible journey ends as you fly back to UlaanBaatar to uncover its wonders including the Tereji National Park, Aryabal Temple, and the giant Genghis Khan statue.
The adventure package includes 12 nights accommodation on a twin share basis including comfortable hotels and 9 nights at ger camps. Ger camps are traditional camps that take you back to a simpler time with their rustic charm and are complete with comfortable beds where bathrooms are normally shared and have hot water. For more details on ger camps refer to our ‘More Section’ below. Some meals and activities are included as specified.
Feel the wonder of a magnificent yet unsung Asian country. Traverse steppes, deserts, national parks and immerse in Mongolia’s nomadic culture shock as you unearth its remote and raw wilderness.
Extend your itinerary with special festivals on specific departures. 15 Days Nadaam Festival or 17 Days Eagle Festival in the Altai Mountains. Please contact us, booking on request.
Dates or itinerary don't fit? We are specialising in bespoke "tailor-made" luxury or private journeys. Please contact us for a "tailor-made" itinerary for your perfect adventure.
This tour is eligible to earn ONLYLUXE reward points.
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Making your own way from Chinggis Khaan International Airport, your adventure begins at your hotel in the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar at Bayangol Hotel.
Depending on your arrival, today is yours to explore at your own leisure. Venture into the city's wonders such as the Sukhbaatar, its main square, a national history museum, and national park, before returning to the hotel for the trip briefing and official group reception by the hotel.
Alternatively, unwind at the hotel in the comfort of your cosy room with wi-fi, and city views. Relish the taste of mouth-watering cuisines at its restaurants, and enjoy treatments in facilities like a sauna, fitness centre, and a beauty salon (all at your own expense).
Today, we depart UlaanBaatar, but not without visiting the Gandan Monastery, the hub of Buddhist studies and Mongolia's biggest functioning lamastery. Here we might see monks praying and the 20m gold and bronze statue of Migjid Janraisig.
We drive to Karakorum afterward, pausing at the Khustain Nuruu National Park on the westside of Ulaanbaatar to behold the Mongolian wild horses. Once extinct in the 20th century, they were reintroduced into the park and became its highlight. The horse is named Takhi, and courtesy of efforts by international organisations and other Mongolian concerned bodies, the wild horses now roam on the steppes, and we'll take a hike to see them, before spending our first night on the ger camps, traditional Mongolian felt tents.
These traditional camps take you back to a simpler time with their rustic charm and intriguing architecture. Breathe in the crisp, fresh air as you’re surrounded by nature where its sound will lull you to sleep. This experience seamlessly connects you into the deep heart of nature. Tonight, is the first of the many camp experiences that await us through the entire adventure.
Today, we proceed on a long journey towards Karakorum, cruising along an asphalt road, and stopping at our first magical destination, the Little Gobi Desert, marked by sand dunes on the steppes. On arrival at noon, we'll check into our new ger camp and explore the surroundings to sight camels roaming the desert dunes and grazing horses on a steppe.
Our next stop is at Mount Khogno Khan, including a small temple at the mountain's foot. Wildlife is abundant here, including birds such as the steppe eagle for our viewing pleasure, before our hearty retreat back to camp.
Today, we complete the final lap of our journey (90km) to arrive at Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. This former capital was formed by Ogedei Khan before Khublai Khan moved it to Beijing. The Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is probably the oldest surviving and largest monastery in Mongolia sits nearby. The monastery was built by the orders of Abtai Khan on the ancient ruins of the capital. Although a significant part of the monastery fell to the Stalin purges of the early 19th century, there's still a great number of temples and stupas existing. We will explore them after lunch, including a museum and the ambiance of this historic site.
We venture further on our journey through the asphalt to Arvaikheer, the capital of Uvurkhangai Aimag province in the central part of Mongolia and at the edge of the Gobi Desert to the North. While en route, we will make a stopover at Shankh monastery, which is also the former home of Zanabazar, a spiritual leader of Khalkha Mongols and a Mongolian theologist. We'll probably arrive in Arvaikheer at noon and check into our hotel, the Arvaikheer Palace, or a similar one. After settling, we tour a local museum filled with artefacts and visit a local market if time permits.
The Arvaikheer Palace is a simple yet charming hotel and one of the best in the city. Settle in and rest your body in preparation for the thrilling adventure tomorrow.
We embark on a long road trip today, off the beaten path and deep into the Gobi Desert, where the stony plains are vast. The journey begins after an early breakfast, and as we progress, the scenery on our way gradually transforms, looking mountainous and we can sight the Ikh Bogd Mountain from afar, which is the highest point on the Altai Gobi Mountain range. This mountain surrounds the Bayan Gobi region alongside desert stretches.
After 9 hours of travelling, with stopovers, we finally rest at our ger camp. Despite the travelling distance (the longest of our expedition), the trip is rewarding, with fascinating views of some of Mongolia's enchanting landscapes. Gobi Desert is also the sixth largest in the world, and its natural endowments are worth every hour spent in admiration.
We explore Bayan Gobi on this day, going over a desert pass and beholding the stunning sights of a white cave, earning its crystal white due to the abundance of quartz in its formation. We forge on to the picturesque desert scenery of Bayan Gobi, hosting vast stony plains, including rocky outcrops and small batches of sand across the Khatan Suudal Steppe.
At noon, we pause for lunch by the wayside, with the perks of viewing the Arts of the Bogd Mountains on the north. Lunch prepares us for the highlight of the expedition with the energy to travel to Khongoriin Els Sand dunes for a late afternoon arrival.
The entire day is dedicated to exploring the singing dunes in the South Gobi Desert, which is the largest dune in Mongolia, stretching up to 200km and rising up to 300m in some areas. The dunes are within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park and are named 'singing dunes' due to the whistling sound they make when the wind blows. Over 100,000 camels are resident here and used as a mode of transportation by herders for their gers. As a closing act for the day, we visit a local camel breeding to partially immerse in the nomadic herder's lifestyle.
In the morning, we take a vehicle tour of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, which lies on the eastern end of the Gobi Atlai Mountain Range. The park, named after Gurvan Saikhan Mountains (translated as three beauties), is the largest national park in Mongolia and home to some rare wildlife species such as snow leopard, argali sheep, Siberia Ibex, and Gobi Camel.
The park's landscapes are diverse and beautiful, featuring rocky and sandy desert plains, ravines, cliffs, pans, salts, and oases. Next, we visit an astonishing natural sight of the region, Yolyn Am, meaning Vulture’s Mouth— a canyon so deep and narrow that even in the height of summer, winter ice can still remain on the valley floor. This region is also well known for its wildlife diversity and home to many endangered species including Khulan, Ibex, Argali and elusive snow leopards. We visit a local museum and explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby camp for a dinner featuring authentic Mongolian delights before turning in for the night.
Within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, we drive to Banyanzag (70km) after relaxing in our comfortable ger camp. At this location, we enjoy views of the flaming cliffs named because of their red coloration and further satiate our eyes by hiking through the colorful sands of red, yellow, and orange that characterize this magnificent site. The experience gets thrilling when we explore the Banyanzag region further and luckily sight dinosaur fossils because the site is a region of dinosaur fossil exploration uncovered by paleontologists in the 1920s. After the hike, we retire to the comfort of our ger camp.
We bid farewell to the iconic Gobi Desert and fly back to Ulaan Baatar. Our arrival depends on when the flight leaves but we are certain to embark on a tour of the Tereji National Park on landing in UlaanBaatar. A bus will pick us up on arrival for a 60 km drive to the national park, which might prolong due to traffic.
Exploring the Tereji National Park is blissful as we behold the conserved region of green mountain meadows hosting an army of wildflowers, including edelweiss, and strange rock shapes created by wind. Flowing rivers, streams, and wildlife in the forest at the mountain's depth are highlights of this park. The experience here comes on a sensational note, way different from the Gobi Desert life, and marks the end of our ger camp accommodation.
Rising from our ger camp at the Tereji National Park in the morning, we visit a Tibetan-style Aryabala temple. The temple is a meditation centre sitting by the mountain overlooking charming views of the national park. The pathway to the temple is flanked by placards with inspirational quotes and sayings. Brace up for the ascent to the temple, which is filled with many steps but isn't as difficult as you would discover.
Another major highlight of the park is the Equestrian Statue of Ghengis Khan, situated on the Tuul River Bank at Tsonjin Boldog. The stainless steel monument is the world's tallest Equestrian Statue at 40m. The statue is of a Mongolian ruler on his horse at the top of the visitor's centre of the park. If you are daring enough, you can climb to the statue's top to see the face of Ghengis Khan. We return to UlaanBaatar for a night of dance and songs at the National Academic Drama Theatre, which is optional (US $10). Afterwards, we enjoy a last rewarding dinner before drawing the curtains on our nomadic adventure.
Savour a relaxing breakfast, a perfect time to reflect on your incredible journey before you bid farewell and make your own arrangements for your onward travel. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us.
NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.
- The departure and finish point is Ulaanbaatar
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Ulaanbaatar. The closest major airport is Chinggis Khaan International Airport and is 14 km from the center of Ulaanbaatar.
- Airport transfers are not included. Joining location starts in your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar making your own arrangements there. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us.
The walking level on this trip is rated Level 2 Leisurely/Moderate.
Level 1 Leisurely: Experience is not necessary; anyone fit and healthy enough to complete a weekend walk will thrive. Walks are often optional. Trails are seldom flat, so expect a reasonable number of ascents and descents. You normally walk for two to five hours per day; daily ascents will likely be around 985ft to 1,640ft (300m to 500m), perhaps with the odd day around 1,970ft (600m).
Level 3 Moderate: Expect easy, medium-length walks or harder, shorter walks. Some experience is useful, but not essential. Good health and reasonable fitness are important. There will be walks at higher altitudes and some longer, harder days. Generally, though, the underfoot conditions will be fair. A walking day is normally five to seven hours; daily ascents will likely be around 1,640ft to 2,625ft (500m to 800m), perhaps with the odd day around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m).
Level 5 Challenging: Fitness is vital with extended walking in mountainous terrain. You might also experience high altitude, challenging climates and remote locations. Trekking experience is desirable, but not vital if you are confident in your physical condition. Walking days are usually between six and eight hours, although they may be longer for passes or peaks. Daily ascents can be around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3,940ft (1,100m to 1,200m).
Level 7 Tough: Trekking experience is essential and preferably at altitude. You need complete confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. You may encounter extreme altitude and weather conditions and may need to use ice axes and crampons. Stamina is essential as walking days last six to nine hours (sometimes more on occasions). Daily ascents will likely be around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3,940ft (1,100m to 1,200m).
Split and optional grades: Where a trip falls between two grades, an intermediate or ‘split’ grade is used. For example, Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). Occasionally there are optional ascents available; in this case, the grade will be highlighted.
July and August are summer months and daytime temperatures should be a pleasant 20’C in Ulaanbaatar and central regions. Temperatures can reach a maximum of 33’C in the capital and high 30s in the Gobi desert in July and although the average is lower, clients should expect some very warm weather. Evening temperatures are uniformly 15 to 20’C. Humidity is very low. These months are also the wet season and over a trip of this duration you should expect some rain but showers are not normally long lasting and the total rainfall during this period is very low. (June – 28mm, July – 76mm & August – 51mm).
Mongolia is 6.5 times larger than the UK but with a population 21 times smaller. Understandably this means that large tracts of the country do not have much infrastructure. Much of our time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape. On this trip we go further into the wilderness than the average visitor to Mongolia and whilst this allows us to travel through stunning parts of the country, encountering few people other than the odd nomad, it does mean that some days involve long and bumpy drives. These drives are balanced out with some downtime to relax and just take in the incredible surroundings or often, with the option of going for a walk or even, at times a horse or camel ride. There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the Singing sand dunes, Vulture canyon or the Flaming cliffs, for instance. These are relatively short, no more than one or two hours on mostly flat or undulating terrain. The Flaming Cliffs hike may not be recommended if you have an acute fear of heights and can involve some scrambling, however it’s possible to still enjoy great views of the cliffs and opt out of the walk. The climate in central Mongolia is generally pleasant in summer when the trip runs. In the Gobi Desert, however, temperatures can get well above 30’C, even approaching 40’C. This is a trip that goes off the ‘tourist trail’ and comes to the encounter of local nomads. It takes us through spectacular and diverse wilderness and gives us an insight into a fascinating country unlike any other.
Ger camps: Gers are similar to yurts, generally airy and comfortable with beds and, normally, a stove (though in the summer the stoves are not normally needed). The bathrooms are normally shared and all have hot water (however due to the remoteness of the camps this can, at times be erratic). Many of the ger camps now have 24hr electricity in the ger itself for charging batteries. If there is no charging facility inside the ger itself then there are charging facilities in the common area (though this may during limited periods of the day only when the generator is turned on). There will normally be no more than two people per ger, however in some cases, due to availability issues we may need to have triples in the ger. There may also be rare occasions when a single cannot be guaranteed in a particular ger camp.
Single supplement from AUD 1,209
We travel around in a convoy of 4WD Jeeps (4 passengers per vehicle) as we make our way around central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert.
Driving in the wilderness can be hard going on minivans/larger vehicles with punctures or the need to be cooled down from overheating common. We use Jeeps as they are much more reliable and able to navigate rough roads better than the larger seated minivans often used. Although rare, punctures/issues can occur so please come with an open mind.
We may also use a coach for getting around Ulaanbaatar and Terelj National Park. We also use one internal flight.