Gobi Desert Khorgo Terkh Altai Tavan Bogd
About this tour
Hongor sand dunes, Tsagaan suvraga, Yoliin am, Bayanzag, Tsenher hot spring, Khorgo volcano, Terkh lake, Zavkhan trek, lakes surrounded by sand dunes, Nomadic families visit, Hyrgas lake, Mongolian Great lakes depression, Eagle hunting, Kazakh tribe, Altai Tavan Bogd National park.
Mongolian Gobi desert and Green Mountainous part and Altai Mountain peak in 18 days, you will visit main Mongolian beautiful regions. Tour has mostly off-road, daily off-road drive limit is 250 – 400 km.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, Mongolia
Day 1: Ih Gazryn Chuluu – Natural Reserve, National park Hike in National Park. Relaxing in Ger camp, drive-350 km Ih Gazriin Chuluu is a nature reserve which is the homeland of wildlife, flora and fauna. It is a very peaceful and refreshing place for walking, surrounded by endless granite rock mountain ranges and valleys. This place is a peaceful home for eagles, wild goats, and wild sheep. Nomadic families live in the surrounding area. We hike searching for eagle nests and wild animals. There will be caves and interesting rock creatures' shapes. In the evening we will stay in a Mongolian Ger camp and have dinner.
Day 2: Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, Mongolia to Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa), Mongolia
Day 2: Tsagaan Suvarga This morning we will pack our luggage and drive to the next quiet impressive destination of Gobi desert. We will visit Tsagaan Suvraga landscape. We will have lunch in a luxury restaurant in the middle of the nowhere in Gobi steppe. We will stay in a luxury camp/hotel with free time after dinner. Black Gobi – Rock painting – Shamanic performance, workshop W e will drive to Bronze age rock paintings. This area is a place of black rocks, empty and remote. Still, there are some camels, sheep, goats and nomadic families. Some people say this place is like the another planet. You will see carved messages of the primitive people who lived here. There are rock painting mountains from 3000 years ago.
Day 3: Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa), Mongolia to Yolin Am Ice Field, Mongolia
Day 3: Yolyn Am valley – Altai mountain gorge After breakfast, we will drive to South Gobi through Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Altai mountain’s to get Yolyn Am valley. We will visit a small Gobi museum at the valley entrance. This is a valley named after the ? bearded eagle – Yolyn Am. It is a green valley with high sharp rock gorges. There we may see yaks, horses, camels, eagles, mountain goats and other animals. We will hike through narrow gorges with small streams. We will have lunch in camp and stay Ger Camp . 220 km drive
Day 4: Yolin Am Ice Field, Mongolia to Hongor Els Camp, Mongolia
Day 4 Hongor Sand Dunes, camel ride, Nomadic family visit We will drive between Altai mountains and Hongor Sand dunes. The view is beautiful natural combination, Gobi’s vegetation, camels nomadic families on the way. Over 3 hours’ drive, we will arrive at the Tourist Ger camp. After lunch, you will ride a camel in front of the dunes. Afternoon or evening, when the bright sun gets down, we will climb to the sand dune. The top of the dune is over 200 meters high. It is steep and loose. Climbing up to the top will need a little bit of effort. After the little challenge, you will see brilliant sightseeing from the top of the dune. Sand dunes and rocky mountain locate simultaneously in the endless lush steppe. Going down is more easy and fun. Relax in the tourist Ger camp.
Day 5: Hongorïn Els, Mongolia to Bayanzag, Bulgan, Mongolia
Day 5: Bayanzag(Flaming Cliffs) Ongi mountain temple After breakfast, we will drive to visit the Bayanzag red cliffs. These cliffs were the bottom of the sea 60 million years ago. . This silent, peaceful place offers wonderful hiking. The far off empty steppe and Gobi trees can seen from the cliffs. After lunch we will drive to Ongi monastery. (Here is river bank named by Ongi). Drive through barren black mountains, lush steppe, the ground covered with wind-eroded black pebbles. There are Black mountains and hills along the river - Ongi. We will visit a ruined Buddhist temple. You will learn about the of the buddist influence in Mongolia Stay in camp nearby.
Day 6: Flaming Cliffs, Mongolia to Tsenkher Hot Spring Resort, Altan-Ovoo, Mongolia
Day 6: Tsenher Hot Spring Today, we will drive north to the green, Mountainous part of the region. Drive 280 km by off-road, and 70 km by paved road means a long driving day. After the drive and Gobi tour, relax in a mineral hot spring in the Mountain. The spring is 86 Celsium hot from underground and it has Sulfur, Hydrogen, and Silicon. It is good for rheumatism, relieves muscles. Good for tiredness and it refreshes us for our Altai Mountainous tour. Relax in Ger Camp.
Day 7: Tsenkher Hot Spring Resort, Altan-Ovoo, Mongolia to Khorgo Trekhiin Tsagaan Nuur, Nariin Hüryee, Mongolia
Day 7: Khorgo Volcano, Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake After breakfast, we will drive to the volcano 270 km. Have a picnic lunch in nature. Hike to a volcano and see it from top. 2210 m high Khorgo volcano is one of the 10 volcanoes in the national park, became extinct about 8000 years ago. The larch tree forest covers the northern slope of the volcano while its crater is 200 m in diameter, with a depth of 70-80 m. Visitors climb the volcano on stairs and trails, and upon reaching the top, walk along the volcano rim with outstanding views of surrounding areas; a small village can be seen from the volcano as well as a bird’s eye view of Terhkiin Tsagaan Lake. Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake area is extremely rich in wildlife and flora, which was designated as a national park to protect the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species. The national park is packed with nomads and their fenceless grazing herds of livestock including countless yaks.
Day 8: Khorgo Trekhiin Tsagaan Nuur, Nariin Hüryee, Mongolia to Telmen Nuur, Mongolia
Day 8: Telmen village Stay in a Nomadic family Today, we will drive toward Zavkhan province. This is the most naturally beautiful province of Mongolia. Mountains are not high, bold mixed with rocks and colourful. Simultaneously it has sands, and green vegetation. The region has camel, yaks, sheep, goats and horses. Nomadic families live here very traditionally. We will see ancient stone burials complex. This is a non-tourist remote area. We will stay over in a nomadic family. Walking, enjoying tradition and nature.
Day 9: Telmen Lake, Mongolia to Ulaagchiin Khar Lake, Mongolia
Day 9: Ulaagchiin Khar Us lake We will drive through beautiful natural scenes. In Zavkgan province, this area is continues of the Great Lakes Depression. It has over 300 lakes, This lake is surrounded by sand dunes in front, in the back is surrounded by hills. It makes it very special and beautiful. Stay in Ger Camp
Day 10: Ulaagchiin Khar Lake, Mongolia to Bor Har Els, Mongolia
Day 10: Bor hyr sand dunes nomadic family Today we will get one of unique landscapes of Bor hyr Sand dunes. This dune is in a surrounding shape over 200 km high, in the middle, there is a very cold stream. The stream is quite big with trees and vegetated. This is one of the impressive nature creators. You can climb to sand dunes to see the view from high. Or just wander nature. Afternoon we will drive further to find some nomadic family to stay with.
Day 11: Bor Har Els, Mongolia to Khyargas, Mongolia
Day 11: Hyrgas Lake. We are still in Great Lakes depression it covers the area of over 100,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi) with elevations from 750 to 2,000 m (2,460–6,560 ft). Hyrgas lake has a white rock shore and it has a lot of fish. It is a salty blue lake with white rocks looks great. Today’s drive is 280 km by off-road. We will stay Ger camp here.
Day 12: Khyargas Lake, Mongolia to Ulgii, Mongolia
Day 12: Ulgii town Today, we will drive through a deserted area with mountains through Uvs province. Evening, arrive at Ulgii town, stay in hotel. Have dinner at a restaurant. Here live the Kazakh tribe people. They have muslim religion, the food, and culture is different from normal Gobi and Zavkhan, a central part area.
Day 13: Ulgii, Mongolia to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia
Day 13: Altai Tavan Bodg National Park Today, we will drive to Altai Tavan Bogd National park for 200 km by off rocky road. The road is very difficult in western part. We will cross a lot of river, stones and bumpy. On the way we will see animals like camel8 horse, sheep and goat. Mountains are very higher than central part. We will see white colored river, it lows from glacier. It is very cold and has very strong flow. In base camp we will register for border control. We are at the Mongolian western border with China and Kazakastan. Stay in guest house of Tuva ethnic family. Break fast, picninc lunch and dinner.
Day 14: Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia to Potanin Glacier, Mongolia
Day 14: Horse ride to Potanin Glacier and Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain Peak We will ride horse for 2- 3 hours in one side to reach a glacier and peaks. When we arrive at glacier, the bottom of the Peaks, we will hike through mountains and glaciers. It is very cold here even in July and August. The peak is always snowy and windy. When sometimes it is cloudy, it is not able to see the peaks. The highest is 4375 meters. The lowest is 4050 meter high. The Potanin glacier is 14 km long, 100-200 meters deep. It remained from Ice Age 2.
Day 15: Potanin Glacier, Mongolia to Khoton Lake, Mongolia
Day 15: Hoton, Hurgan lake, Eagle hunting nomadic family Morning, we will pack our luggage to car and drive to next destination Hoton and Hurgan 2 separate lakes connected underground. Drive 160 km by off, rocky road. And there are petroglyphs and Stone Monuments in surrounding area. And Visit Kazakh family to see how they feed and domesticate eagles for hunting. Mountain waterfall is in very peaceful beautiful natural area. We will stay here for 2 nights Engoying nature and culture.
Day 16: Khoton Lake, Mongolia
Day 16: Waterfall hike, nomadic family hike around See the eagle and some cultural introducing with Kazakh family and hike to waterfall. Today is relaxing, cultural and natural activities done.
Day 17: Khoton Lake, Mongolia to Ulgii, Mongolia
Day 17: Ulgii Today we will drive to Ulgii town drive foe 220 km by off-road. Having a lunch in local Kazakh canteen. And stay in hotel in Ulgii town.
Day 18: Ulgii, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Day 18 Early in the Morning, fly to Ulaanbaatar. From UB airport, the driver will pick you up and take you in your hotel.
What's included
Horse riding, accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner 4WD car, English guide.
Alcoholic drink and personal expense.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, Mongolia