10 Days in the Gobi Desert and Central Mongolia

Places visited

Baga Gazariin Chuluu granite formations, Tsagaan Suvarga clay cliffs, Yoliin Am / Vulture Valley in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, Khongor sand dunes, Flaming Cliffs, Ongi Monastery, Erdene Zuu Monastery on the Orkhon River and Elsen Tasarkhai.

Tour description

Many people imagine the Mongolian Gobi as flat sandy land, dunes and dry clay plains. A journey here reveals a different landscape: rocky mountains covered in vegetation, streams, springs and wildlife. Blue mountains rise beside long, high sand dunes, green riverbanks and endless steppes. Herds of sheep, goats, horses, cattle and rare Bactrian camels offer another view of life in the Gobi. Ger camps provide wide views of the steppe. The nights are quiet, with countless bright stars, and the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. Activities include mountain hikes, climbing dunes, riding two-humped camels and visiting nomads and ancient monasteries. Travel with us to discover the Gobi's remarkable beauty.

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Welcome to Mongolia! Arrive in the morning. Meet at 11 am for a guided city tour. Visit sights including the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan, the country's last king, and the National Museum of Mongolian History. In the evening, enjoy a performance of contortion and throat singing.

Day 2: Baga Gazariin Chuluu

Your guide and driver collect you from the hotel lobby at 9 am. Travel to Baga Gazariin Chuluu, a range of granite mountains whose highest peak reaches 1,700 m. Discover monastery ruins, ancient tombs and unusual granite formations, and experience the emptiness of the Gobi.

Day 3: Tsagaan Suvarga, colorful clay cliffs

Tsagaan Suvarga means White Stupa. These massive, colorful clay cliffs resemble stupas and are among the Gobi's best-known highlights. Hike among the formations and take photographs.

Day 4: Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and Vulture Valley

Gobi Gurvan Saikhan means Three Beautiful Mountains in the Gobi. The park is rich in wildlife and scenic places. Drive to the designated parking area at Yoliin Am / Vulture Valley and walk into its steep rocky gorge. Sunlight does not reach the gorge floor, allowing ice to remain until late June. The return hike takes 2.5–3 hours. Wild sheep and ibex live in the valley.

Day 5: Khongor sand dunes

Continue to the great Khongor dunes. Walk beside the green riverbanks, climb the dunes, visit a nomadic family and ride a camel for one hour. At the top of a high dune, scatter sand northward against the wind to discover why local people call them Singing Sands. Enjoy the views from the summit.

Day 6: Flaming Cliffs

Continue to the Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur remains and the first dinosaur eggs known to science. Hike around the cliffs, look for fossil traces and see the Gobi tree groves known as Bayanzag.

Day 7: Across the steppe to Ongi Monastery

Drive through slate mountains and across the Ongi steppe. Ongi was one of Mongolia's seven largest monasteries, with two complexes and more than 30 temples along the river. The temples were destroyed during the socialist purges of the 1930s. Visit the new active temple and ger museum, explore the ruins and climb a nearby mountain for views of the area.

Day 8: Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu Monastery

Travel from the Gobi into the steppe. Kharkhorin, formerly Karakorum, was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the capital moved to Beijing and the empire declined, the city was abandoned and destroyed in 1388. See religious objects in the monastery museum, admire the architecture and visit Karakorum Museum to view remains of the ancient city.

Day 9: Nomad visit, horse riding and return to Ulaanbaatar

On your final day in the countryside, visit a nomadic family, ride horses and share lunch with the family. Continue to Ulaanbaatar and check into a hotel.

Day 10: Departure

Transfer to the airport or railway station.

Included

Airport transfers; 2 nights in a 3-star hotel; 8 nights in ger camps; four-wheel-drive vehicle transfers; full board; German-speaking guide; daily bottled water; horse and camel riding; national park and museum entrance fees; meals as indicated in the itinerary, or breakfast and lunch.

Prices per person

1 person: €2,100; 2 people: €1,590; 3–4 people: €1,290; group tour: €1,100. Single room supplement: €100. International flights are excluded.