Gobi Desert And Central Mongolia - 15 Days
About this tour
On this trip you’ll enjoy the wonderful scenery Orkhon Valley, learn about Buddhism and the history of Mongolia,see an eternally clear sky, blue mirages, golden sands and boundlessly expansive steppe lands, wild asses,ibexes camels, mountain sheep and gazelles flourish in the Gobi desert, Furthermore, you’ll be able to experience typical nomadic family lifestyle and do horse and camel riding.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi), Mongolia
We’ll drive to Khogno Khan mountain. On the way we’ll visit Khustain National park which is on the north side of the Tuul River, west of Ulaanbaatar, about a two-hour drive. Although located in the central grasslands, Khustai means “with birch” because birch trees and aspen groves are plentiful in the area. It is a hilly terrain, with the Tuul River forming the southern boundary. The national park was originally set up in 1993 as a nature reserve for the first reintroduction of the Przewalski’s Horse (Equus przewalskii) into Mongolia. Today the Khustai Trust runs the park, funded mainly by tourism funds.
Day 2: Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi), Mongolia to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin, Mongolia
We’ll drive to Mongolian ancient capital, Kharakhorin, Chinggis Khaan's fabled city, was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon Valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It was from there that the Mongol Empire was governed until Kubilai Khan moved it to Beijing. It served as the capital for 40 years. Following the move, and the subsequent collapse of the Mongolian empire, Karakorum was abandoned. Whatever was left was used to help build the glorious Erdene Zuu monastery in the 16th century. Nearby, Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions erected in 8-9th centuries in memory of outstanding fighters for independence.
Day 3: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin, Mongolia to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, Mongolia
We’ll drive to Great White Lake and Khorgo Volcano. Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National park was established to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of fauna and flora. The area has extinct volcanoes, many beautiful lakes, a great number of animals and birds, and is definitely one of the best natural tourist attractions. Khorgo is a unique natural complex (2240 m), National Park surrounded by the Khangai Mountains, which reach as 3000 meters above the sea level. In the craters some of them are very tiny crystal- clears lakes. The Khorgo crater is situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 and depth of 70 to 80 meters. Spend the night in a family ger.
Day 4: Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, Mongolia to Khorgo Mountain, Mongolia
We’ll go hiking around the area. Also, we’ll be able to go hiking from the lake to the volcano. We’ll spend the night in the same family ger.
Day 5: Khorgo Trekhiin Tsagaan Nuur, Mongolia to Tsenkher Hot Spring Resort, Altan-Ovoo, Mongolia
We’ll drive to the Tsenkher hot spring. We’ll have a relaxed evening taking a hot bath in the hot spring water. We’ll spend the night in the Ger camp at Tsenkher hot spring.
Day 6: Tsenkher Hot Spring Resort, Altan-Ovoo, Mongolia to Orkhon Waterfall, Mongolia
We’ll drive to Waterfall, which is great place for taking photos and go hiking through the gorge. We’ll arrange a couple of hours horseback ridinginthe area. We’ll stay in a family ger.
Day 7: Orkhon Waterfall, Mongolia
We’ll go hiking by the canyon and enjoy the day. You’ll be able to ride horse for a day. We’ll stay in the same family ger.
Day 8: Orkhon Waterfall, Mongolia to Ongi Monastery, Saikhan-Ovoo, Mongolia
We'll drive to Ongyn hiid, where you can see the ruins of a big monastery on the bank of the Ongiin River. This monastery has 28 temples and other buildings on the south slope of the Rocky Mountain like Balsa country and stupas which are not broken. This monastery had about 1000 lamas and it was destroyed during the Stalinist purges in 1930s. The Ongyn hiid was one of the biggest temples in Gobi’s area of Mongolia. We’ll spend the night in a family ger.
Day 9: Ongi Monastery, Saikhan-Ovoo, Mongolia to Bayanzag, Bulgan, Mongolia
We'll drive to Bayan-Zag(150kms). When we arrive at Bayan-Zag, spend the night in the Ger. Bayan-Zag means "rich in Saxaul Shrubs" is more commonly known as the "Flaming Cliffs" of Bayan-Zag, famous for its discovery of dinosaur fossils. We’ll stay in a family ger.
Day 10: Bayanzag, Bulgan, Mongolia to Khongoriin Els, Mongolia
After lunch we’ll drive to the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes (195kms). The Khongoryn Els is some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. We'll see beautiful views, huge sand dunes and a cold water spring with a creek that leads to two small ponds. We'll then spend the night in a family ger.
Day 11: Khongoriin Els, Mongolia
We'll climb and hike to the top of the biggest sand dunes. There is an oasis near Khongor creek at the northern edge of the sand dune. The dunes make sound like plane engine in a windy day so it’s named as “Singing Dunes”. Also, if you wish, you may walk alongside the creek for about 10 kms. We arrange a camel riding trip to the sand dunes for a couple of hours.
Day 12: Khongoriin Els, Mongolia to Yolin Am Ice Field, Mongolia
We'll drive to Yoliin Am in the middle of the Gobi desert National Park which is a strictly protected area, covering 70sq.kms. The mountains here are the highest in the Gobi Desert and the rocky scenery is quite interesting, especially the ice in a gorge remains till mid July. We'll walk 3kms through a narrow valley, then 3 kms back to the jeep. We’ll spend the night in a family ger.
Day 13: Yolin Am Ice Field, Mongolia to White stupa, Ulziit, Mongolia
We’ll drive to the scarp of Tsagaan Suvarga which is located in Ulziit soum, Dundgobi province. It is interesting to see the sheer slope, facing east, which is 30 meters high and 100 meters wide. Over thousands of years the wind has created this amazing structure. We’ll spend the night in a family ger.
Day 14: White stupa, Ulziit, Mongolia to Baga Gazariin Chuluu, Mongolia
We'll start our trip with a full day driving to the Baga Gazariin Chuluu Ruins (1768 m high granite Stone Mountain in the territory of Adaatsag soum, Dundgobi province. It’s a place with unique scenery that many tourists compare with lunar scenes. The mountain contains remains of old temples. They are not only rich in mineral and crystals, but also eye spring, old stone temple ruins related with 17th century. We'll spend the night in a nomadic family’s ger.
Day 15: Baga Gazriin Chuluu, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
We’ll drive back to UB.
What's included
Driver + 4WD vehicle + Gas English speaking tour guide/cook National park entrance fee Camel riding for an hour or longer regarding on guest’s request horseback riding Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary 1.5L drinking water a day per person All meal ( breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Accommodation in UB Travel insurance Personal items Tips for the driver and the guide Visa fee Travel insurance Alcohol drinks
What to know
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Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi), Mongolia