Overview

Traveling through the Mongolian Gobi desert and exploring the Orkhon River Valley is an eye-opening yet challenging experience for adventurers. The Mongolia Gobi will amaze you with its unique vast beautiful landscape, and the last surviving nomadic culture within the home for many endangered animals including the Gobi bear Mazaalai, snow leopard, mountain sheep, ibex, and Mongolian Khulan – The Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus).

In this small-group tour, we smoothly begin with exploring the nomadic modern-day capital – Ulaanbaatar city, and then drive off to the Gobi to explore its landscape and nomadic herders’ life near the Gobi and Orkhon valley. In the course of the tour, we will see the nomadic Naadam festival in rural areas.

Mongolian Adventure tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar city, our driver and English-speaking guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in downtown. After you settled in, we will start a sightseeing tour including a visit to Sukhbaatar’s square. The Square is in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, in front of the Mongolian Parliament House. Across from the central square, we will visit the National Museum of Mongolia, the biggest museum with over 54000 exhibitions from the prehistoric period to the 21st century. Our next stop will be the Gandan Monastery. The monastery is the largest and most significant Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar city with over 200 years history. If time permits, we will visit Zaisan Hill memorial, the hill provides a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. Overnight in a hotel.

  • Transfer to Hotel from Ulaanbaatar New International Airport, about 35 km, and Ulaanbaatar City tour
  • Meal(s): Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based. Also, if you prefer a different type of accommodation, we have more options from a 5-star hotel to a home-stay.
Day 2: Travel to Tsagaan Suvarga Cliffs - White Stupa in Mongolian Gobi Desert

After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up and begin our journey to the Mongolian Gobi. Today we will visit Tsagaan Suvarga. En route to the Tsagaan Suvarga, we will drive through Baga Gazryn Chuluu, a granite stone formation with an ancient stone temple and a cave and will continue our journey to the Tsagaan Suvarga. Once was an ancient sea, different minerals giving rise to different colours form the face of the cliffs. Enjoy hiking through the colourful natural cliffs. The Gobi sunset offers you an opportunity to shoot incredible photos and take an advantage of the moment. Overnight in a ger camp near the Tsagaan Suvarga Cliffs.

  • Travel: 280 km on the asphaltic road and 60-70 km on a dirt road. Approximately 6-7 hours of driving.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: Stay in a local nomadic camel breeder family, one of our long term cooperative families The family offers 3-4 extra “gers” to guests. You will share a ger with 2 guests. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower facilities
Day 3: Travel to Yolyn Am - the Jevel in the Gobi desert

Today we will head to Dalanzadgad, a provincial town in southern Mongolia. Upon arrival in Dalanzadgad, we will explore ‘Yolyn Am Valley’, a jewel in the middle of the Gobi. The valley has a narrow canyon with a stream that flows through the Zuun Saikhan Mountain. The sheer rock walls stand 200 m, and the canyon has stunning green meadows with a thick glacier layer that is deeply set between the walls. Then we will trek along the canyon, and you may get a glimpse of rarely seen Argali – a mountain sheep, Ibex – wild goat and Lammergeier. After visiting the Yolyn Am, we go to Bayanza – the Flaming Cliffs, a classic desert of rock, red sands, scrub, and unbelievable emptiness that has become known to the world as the “Cemetery of Dinosaurs”. The red sandstone cliffs and canyons of Bayanzag are where the American palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews first discovered fossil beds of dinosaur bones and first-ever recorded dinosaur eggs in 1922 – discoveries that made world headlines.

  • Travel time: 210 km on the asphaltic road and 60 km on a dirt road. Approximately 5-6 hours of driving. Short photo stops and tea breaks are available en route to the Yolyn Am Valley
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a classic Mongolian eco-friendly ger camp with a low-pressure shower and western toilet.
Day 4: Explore Khongoryn Els - Mongolian sand dunes

This morning, we will have breakfast at the ger camp, and continue our Gobi journey to Khongor sand dunes. En route to the sand dunes, you will enjoy the stunning backdrop as you drive around 5 hours west, towards the vast Gobi landscape. Witness the remarkable desert landscape and explore the sand dunes both by 4WD and on foot. We will visit a camel breeder family and familiarize ourselves with their nomadic lifestyle. Once we visit, we will do a camel trekking through the Khongoryn Els dunes and Khorngyn River. There will always be time for climbing and exploring the dunes – best at sunrise or sunset.

  • Travel time: Approx 160 km on a dirt road. Approximately 5-6 hours of driving, Short photo stops and tea breaks are available en route to Khongoryn Els. 
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a traditional camel breeder nomadic family, our long term cooperative family The family offers 3-4 extra “gers” to guests. You will share a ger with 2 guests. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. An option for a (brilliantly engineered) cold shower.
Day 5: Visit Bayan Zag - the Flaming Cliffs in Gobi desert

On this day, we will expand our Mongolian adventure tour to Bayanzag, the place is world-renowned for its paleontological remains. Here we will explore the clay hills and saxaul forest, and you can walk around where dinosaurs once roamed. Overnight in a ger camp near the clay cliffs.

  • Travel time: 160 km on a dirt road. Approximately 5 hours of driving. An average pace of 60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions. 
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a classic Mongolian eco-friendly ger camp with a low-pressure shower and western toilet.
Day 6: Visit Ongy Monastery

Today we will head for a long drive to the historical place named Orkhon River Valley. Once we reach the place, we will explore the biggest waterfall in Mongolia, and visit a nomadic family. We offer travellers to visit one of the nomadic families and experience their way of life in favour of learning about nomadic culture and traditions. You will be welcomed with open arms and you are invited to join in the milking, herding and general care of livestock. Overnight in a nomadic ger

  • Travel time: Approximately 5 hours of driving on a dirt road. An average pace of 60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Today we will be invited by our community-based tour programme member, our long-term cooperative nomadic family. The host family offers extra “gers”. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower facilities.
Day 7: Exploration in Orkhon River Valley

Today we will head for a long drive to the historical place named Orkhon River Valley. Once we reach the place, we will explore the biggest waterfall in Mongolia, and visit a nomadic family. We offer travellers to visit one of the nomadic families and experience their way of life in favour of learning about nomadic culture and traditions. You will be welcomed with open arms and you are invited to join in the milking, herding and general care of livestock. In the evening, we will do a short horseback ride exploration through the valley. Overnight in a nomadic ger

  • Travel time: Approximately 6-7 hours of driving on a dirt road. An average pace of 60 km/hour, depending on weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Today we will be invited by our community-based tour programme member, our long term cooperative nomadic family. The host family offers extra “gers”. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower facilities.
Day 8: Visit Kharkhorin town - the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire

Our team will head to Kharkhorin city today. The city had existed as a capital for the world’s largest contiguous empire for over 40 years. In Kharkhorin city, we will visit a museum, has many exhibitions which show the history of Mongolian nomadic life from hunter gatherers’ period till most powerful and consummate empire throughout the world. After the museum, we will visit Erdenezuu monastery, the biggest Buddhist Monastery Museum in Mongolia. Which has many expensive and precious Buddhist artworks from the 17th century including the mould deities of gold and silver, thankas, split paintings and manuscripts. In the evening before sunset, you have time to wander on the bank of the Orkhon River. Overnight in a ger camp.

  • Travel time: Approximately 4-5 hours of driving, but have photo breaks en route to Kharkhorin.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a traditional ger camp on the Orkhon River’s shore. The Ger camp has a western toilet & shower.
Day 9: Khustai National Park Exploration

Today we will drive out to visit a nomadic horse breeder family in Tuul Riverside, near Khustai National Park. Once we arrive at the host family, we will settle in the ger and spend the afternoon with this family. In the evening we will drive to Khustai National Park, and observe wildlife including Takhi the wild horse, roe deer, gazelles, wild sheep, and mountain goats.

 
  • Travel time: Approx 360 km on asphaltic road and approx. 80 km on dirt road to the host family near Khustai National Park.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay with a host nomadic family near Khustai National Park. The family does not have an additional ger for guests to stay in so you are invited to sleep in the family’s ger. However, if you prefer privacy, we always provide camping tents to our guests and these can be put up next to the family’s home. Asian style outside long-drop toilet. No shower.
Day 10: Drive back to Ulaanbaatar

In the morning, we will have breakfast at the camp and drive back to Ulaanbaatar city. En route to the capital city, we will behold the Mongolian pristine steppe landscape. We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar city in the afternoon, and you have time for visiting the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops or relax in your hotel until dinner. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.

  • Travel time: Approx. 3 hours of backseat driving. An average pace of 50-80 km/hour, depending on the weather and road conditions.
  • Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner 
  • Accommodation: You will stay in a centrally located 4-star hotel – Khuvsgul Lake hotel or similar. The accommodation is twin-based.
Day 11: Departure

Today is the end of the “ Mongolian Gobi Route” small-group trip. Our team will transfer you to the airport in time for your international flight. Have a nice trip back to your home and thank you for choosing Way To Nomads.

  • Meal(s): Breakfast
  • Transport: Transfer to the airport from the hotel by vehicle.

Group size: minimum of 4 & maximum of 6.

  • 4 Guests: $1825 US per person.
  • 5-6 Guests: $1640 US per person.
  • Accommodations: 2 nights at a 4-star hotel, 4 nights at superior ger camps, 3 nights at nomadic family’s ger.
  • Meals per itinerary: breakfast-10, lunch-10, dinner-10 + drinking water
  • Museums and cultural performance
  • Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks
  • Professional tourist guide
  • Vehicle: off-road monster 4×4 furgon with well experienced driver + fuel
  • Transportation; to/from airport.
  • Camping equipment: tent, matt.
  • International airfare(s) to/from Ulaanbaatar
  • Personal equipment
  • Optional activity cost
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Alcoholic drinks + soft drinks
  • Travel insurance

Personal Information (Lead Traveller)

Tour Information

2-12 years old
Under 2 years old
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Pictures from this tour

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