The Beauties of The Gobi

Day 1

Upon arrival in Mongolia's capital city, Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the Bayangol Hotel. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a leisurely program of sightseeing around the city and a visit to the Natural History Museum and view a variety of fossils from animals and dinosaurs living up to 70 million years ago. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodations at the Bayangol Hotel.

Day 2

We will enjoy a full day of guided sightseeing within the city of Ulaanbaatar. In the morning, we will visit Gandan Monastery which is the largest in the country. Additionally, it was the only monastery functioning during Socialist times and is now the religious center of the country. We will then visit the National History and Fine Arts Museums. Both museums house impressive displays of Mongolia's national and religious history. Our evening program will be a performance by the Ensemble of National Song and Dance at Ulaanbaatar's Drama Theater followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodations will be at the Bayangol Hotel.

Day 3

After breakfast, we will drive west of Ulaanbaatar and across the landscape for which Mongolia is most famous - the endless green steppe, with grazing herds of sheep accompanied by lone horsemen and white nomadic gers dotted over the countryside. Our destination is about a 6 hour (280 km on paved road) drive to the west to a place known as Khogno Khan Mountain. Here, we will stay overnight in a ger camp. The mountain is a rocky peak in the vast plains, with the ruins of an ancient monastery on its slopes. We will walk to the ruins of the monastery (ride by vehicle will be provided, if desired). Return to ger camp for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Day 4

This morning, we will drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Today, very little remains of the place from where Genghis Khan launched his mighty cavalry however, the massive walls of the Erdenezuu Monastery stand near the town. This monastery faced the onslaught of Soviet desecration during the 20th century but is now being slowly and lovingly restored. Time will be provided to do some art and antique shopping while in Karakorum. After a visit to the monastery, we will head on to a ger camp at the banks of the Orkhon River (approximately 100km drive on paved road). Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at the ger camp.

Day 5

We will head to the Gobi Desert with the day's final destination being Ongi Monastery. This monastery was erected about 250 years ago and at that time had almost 1,000 monks worshipping at this place daily. Now, you can locate just a few stupas and one temple that have not been destroyed. En route, we will also stop to visit Shank Monastery. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at a ger camp. (Total distance traveled by vehicle approximately 300km)

Day 6

We will head off in the vehicles to the south-deep into Gobi and make our way to Bayanzag, the red sandstone cliffs and canyons rich in Saxaul. Bayanzag is well known as the location where the American scholar Roy Chapman Andrews did dinosaur expeditions in the 1920’s. The dinosaur remains located in Mongolia through his expeditions are now kept in the Natural History Museum in the United States. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at a ger camp. (250 km)

Day 7

This morning we will drive to Khongoriin sand dunes, the largest in Mongolia. The drive is through some incredible desert scenery with flat, stony plains; outcrops of vegetation; hills of interesting rock formations; and herds of wild antelope racing across the plains. Meals and overnight is at the ger camp. (180km)

Day 8

This will be a day of leisure activities at Khongoriin sand dunes. We will hike along the sand hills, visit a local family, and ride two-humped Bactrian camels along the dunes that has length of 180km and 15-20m wide lies on the northern part of the mountains of Sevrei. Overnight accommodations will be at the ger camp.

Day 9

This morning we will drive to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain Range, which is part of the Altai Mountains, stretching from the northwest corner of Mongolia. We will reach the place known as Eagle Valley. This Valley is nestled deep within the hills and is a haven from the desert heat. Some areas of the valley are continually sheltered from the hot sun and house huge, blocks of ice that gradually melt away during the summer. This is the area perfect for hiking and if you are lucky enough you might spot ibex and wild sheep grazing high on the rocky walls of the mountains. In the late afternoon we will drive to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight. (Total distance traveled by vehicle approximately 200km)

Day 10

Today, we will begin our drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Our final destination of the day is a ger camp in the Middle Gobi province.(Total distance traveled by vehicle approximately 180km)

Day 11

We will drive until we reach Baga Gazriin Chuluu which is a area of rocky mountains in the desert plain with its highest peak reaching 1,751 meters above sea level. From our ger camp in the area, we will spend the afternoon exploring the natural surroundings. (Total distance traveled by vehicle approximately 250km)

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

In the morning, we will take a horseback ride (Western saddles will be provided for riders) through the meadows and in the forested hills to visit a meditation center. This is a small Buddhist temple building surrounded by high mountains and nature’s beauty. A local horseman will accompany you for the ride. Other options are available to travelers who do not wish to ride on horseback including leisure walk. After lunch at the ger camp, we will return to Ulaanbaatar. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at the Bayangol Hotel.

Day 15

Transfer to airport for departure flight.

Departure date:

Prices per person:
Group 2-3 people USD 2400
Group 4-6 people USD 2220
Group 7-10 people USD 2080
Group 11-14 people USD 1970
Single supplement USD165 (it refers only to hotel in Ulaanbaatar)

Tour prices include:
-All ground transfers in Mongolia
-Double accommodations at the Bayangol Hotel while in Ulaanbaatar
-Sightseeing and transportation on a private bus (in Ulaanbaatar) and 4 wheel drive Russian jeeps (in the countryside) with an English speaking guide throughout the trip
-All attraction and National Park entrance fees
-All meals
-Accommodations at ger camps while in the countryside
-Horse, camel and local herdsman hire