Ultimate Gobi Explorer
About this tour
Mongolia’s Gobi Desert revokes an image of empty, barren lands stretching for hundreds of miles. In reality, it is one of the most versatile, rich and unique ecosystems of the world. From dinosaur fossils to Gobi’s saxual trees (Haloxylon ammodendron), from argali sheep to snow leopard, it offers wide and lush habitat places for natural science history and ecosystem. From Sven Anders Hedin to Roy Chapman Andrews, explorers from different parts of the world were intrigued with the unknown Gobi Desert, who opened its wonders to the outside world. This unique program will take you on the footsteps of these 19-20th century explorers and bring out the best of the Gobi Desert in front of you.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Ulaanbaatar to Arrive the Chinggis Khan International Airport
Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Built as a ger capital over 350 years ago, the modern-day Ulaanbaatar is surrounded by white ger districts and newly built skyscrapers in the downtown area. After resting in your hotel room, enjoy a brief city tour including of Zaisan Hill where you can get a magnificent bird’s eye view of the city. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Mongolian performance featuring the “throat” or khoomii singing which also features dancer girls with colorful traditional Mongolian clothes. We will then enjoy a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant. Overnight at hotel. (Hotel Shangri La Ulaanbaatar; LD)
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar sightseeing to Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing
Today, explore some of the city’s best-known museums and historical sites. Begin with the visit to Gandan, Mongolia’s largest Buddhist Monastery. Visit the temple of Megjid Janraisag, where a 90 feet tall Buddha stands. Reconstructed in early 90s, the statue stands as the symbol of Mongolia’s revival of religious freedom after the communist regime that fell over. The temple itself used to be the largest building in Ulaanbaatar early 1900s. Also, visit the main temples were monks chant Buddha’s sutra’s on daily basis. Then, visit the National History Museum which showcases Mongolia’s best collection of traditional tools, art crafts and other exhibits presenting different periods of Mongolia’s history. Among the museum highlights is the collection of traditional costumes of different tribes, hall of the 13th century Mongolia and section which showcases a typical Mongolian ger and various nomadic tools. Also, visit the Zanabazar’s Fine Arts museum with excellent collection of Mongolia’s arts including golden Buddha statues of 17th century and some of the best preserved tankas in the world. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (Hotel Shangri La Ulaanbaatar; BLD)
Day 3: Fly from Ulaanbaatar to Fly to Dalanzadgad
In the morning, fly by a scheduled flight over the vast Gobi Desert to Umnugobi province. Upon arrival, drive to Mongolia’s largest national park Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, stretching over 2.7 million hectares. It is home to the elusive snow leopard, Ibex Mountain goat, Gobi bear (Mazalai), Havtgai wild camel, goitered gazelle, Argali sheep, the Bearded Vulture, and Mongolian Jay. We will explore one of the most famous gorges in the park, Yol Valley, named after the rare Lammergeyer or Bearded Vulture, who are known for their ability to break big bones to get marrow. Next, drive to a centrally located ger camp near the mountains. Overnight in suit tourist class gers. (Ger camp; BLD)
Day 4: Drive from Suit class gercamp to to Ayaldai Valley
After breakfast, drive through the Gurvansaikhan mountains to the picturesque and secluded Ayaldai Valley and stay overnight in a tent camp at the secluded part of the valley. Enjoy dinner with camel wranglers this evening. (Glamping; BLD)
Day 5: Camel Ride to to Hongoryn Els sand dunes
After breakfast, mountain your camels and set out for a full day camel riding adventure in the middle of nowhere. Camel wranglers will lead your camel on a leash for a certain period of time after which you will have the chance to pilot on your own. For those who prefer hiking, we will provide optional hiking grounds in the area. Reach your camp site and overnight in tents. (Glamping; BLD)
Day 6: suit Tourist gercamp to Hongoryn Els Gercamp
Hongoryn Els After a leisurely breakfast, drive to reach your ger camp located at the Hongoryn Els sand dunes, Gobi’s largest of the dunes. Here, you will enjoy climbing the tallest dune and visiting a camel herder family to sample ride Bactrian camels. Overnight at a tourist class ger camp. (Approx. 3 hours driving; Ger Camp; BLD)
Day 7: Khongor Els, Mongolia to Hongorïn Els, Mongolia
Hongoryn Els sand dunes Spend one full day for various photography sessions including for the endemic Saxual tree forest, the incredible landscape and Mongolia’s two humped camels and friendly Mongolian herders. Travel to the lesser visited part of the dunes and learn about Gobi’s ecosystem. Overnight in gers. (Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 8: Hongoryn Els, Mongolia to Nemegt Mountains
In the morning, fly by a private helicopter over the Gobi’s vast basins to reach the remote mountains of Nemegt basins. This secluded and out-of-worldly place is a site for potential MARS exploration training grounds with the NASA and is known for the world’s largest meat-eating dinosaur, the Tarbosaours bataar. Overnight in tents. (Camping; BLD)
Day 9: Nemegt Mountain
For one full day, spend prospecting for rare dinosaur fossils under the guidance of Mongolian paleontologist where some of the best discoveries of large carnivorous dinosaurs have been made in the past 80 years. Overnight in tents. (Camping; BLD)
Day 10: Havtsgait Valley to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, Mongolia
More of Gobi’s wonders await you. In the morning, fly by the helicopter to the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and visit Havtsgait Petroglyphs site, where hundreds of pre-historic rock drawings are found on a mountain top. Next, fly to you ger camp and enjoy lunch. In the late afternoon, drive to the Flaming Cliffs, a red cliff stretching about 3 km in wide, where hundreds of dinosaur fossils have been found. Paleontological expeditions from many countries, including from U.S, Poland, Japan and Russia have worked here in the last 80 years. Each year rain and wind reveal yet more fossils and every summer new discoveries are made. We will equip ourselves with brushes and small cleaning materials and look for rare fossils hidden in the cliffs. Enjoy a sunset dinner at this majestic place before returning back to our ger camp. (Ger Camp; BLD)
Day 11: Helicopter flight to Ulaanbaatar
In the morning, fly by a private helicopter back to Ulaanbaatar, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day is independent. Overnight at hotel. (Hotel Shangri La Ulaanbaatar; BLD)
Day 12: Paleontological Institute, Ulaanbaatar to Farewell dinner
In the morning, visit the Mongolian Institute of Paleontology and meet its chief curator for fossil discoveries of the Gobi Desert. Here, you will have an opportunity to have a behind the scene tour at its laboratory where fossil cleaning operations take place. The afternoon is free for last minute sightseeing and shopping. In the evening, enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and hoomi (throat) singers followed by a farewell dinner at the Sky Resort complex located on the foothills of Bogd mountain. Overnight at hotel. (Hotel Shangri La Ulaanbaatar; BLD)
Day 13: Depart Ulaanbaatar to Fly home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure. (B)
What's included
Private helicopter flights
Personal needs
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Fly to Ulaanbaatar to Arrive the Chinggis Khan International Airport