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Central Mongolia and Gobi 12 days

Embark on a comprehensive 12-day journey through Central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, ideal for travelers who want a deep and immersive experience. Explore the rolling mountains, vast grasslands, and peaceful valleys of Central Mongolia with horse trekking and wildlife encounters. Continue to the Gobi Desert to witness stunning sand dunes, desert plains, unique rock formations, and enjoy camel riding and hiking. This extended tour allows more time to connect with nomadic families, experience traditional Mongolian life, and fully appreciate the country’s natural beauty, culture, and history at a relaxed, unhurried pace.

Itinerary

Day 1. Travel to Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Baga Gazriin Chuluu is located at Mongolian granite rock zone in the Dund Gobi province. Chuluu means stone .Baga Gazriin Chuluu, is a 15km long and 10 km wide stone massif, and it is located 30 km far  from  south east of Adaatsag soum. This stone massif is also part of the Mongolian granite stone zone. The highest point is Tahilgat Mountain /1758 m/ in the Northwest part of the stone massif.This place is popular at inhabiting the  wild sheep, ibex and marmots. Surtiin am is one of many beautiful places in Baga Gazriin Chuluu. This is a narrow canyon with asp, birch, white whicker and elm tree, as well the ruin of a stone temple and the site of 2 yurts where monks lived and meditated since the seventieth century. There is a 20 m long cave near to the Surtiin Am. Crystals can be found around the cave. Life size paintings of deer are painted on a granite stone and another yurt shaped stone called Ger chuluu. According to scientists, 64 tombs and tumuli dated back to Khugnu tribe have been found around Baga Gagriin Chuluu .Also, there is a spring water which comes from under source is good for eye illness. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 2. Travel to Tsagaan Suvarga

Continue to travel to Tsagaan Suvraga, is located in Dundgobi province. Tsagaan Suvraga, is located  in the Dund Gobi province. It’s 90 degree of straight, consists of many colors of clay deposits. In ancient times, there was a big sea in Khevtee and Bosoo valleys of Tsagaan Suvarga. After dried up the sea, this area became a valley with many glacis and escarpments, covered by many different sedimentary deposits. Tsagaan Suvarga is a big escarpment with 200m height and 400m long. This place has been protected since early times by local nomads . Stay over night in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 3. Travel to Yol valley

Travel to Yol valley is situated in east north part of Zuun Saikhan Mountain. Yol valley is one of the natural wonder of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and beautiful deep canyon with many rocky cliffs, has been created by many years of water erosion. The Yoliin Am, a protected site in 1965, is 62 km north west of Dalanzadgad. Very wide at the entrance, it narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. A spring 2 or 3 km long winds its way through the defile and in July, freezing into a thick corridor of ice that stretches along a considerable distance. In earlier times, the blocks of ice rarely melted, being protected from the vicious sunlight. This, however has changed in recent years, partially because of the multitudes of tourists that walk on the ice. You can still see ice here in July but it is almost completely melted by August. Following the canyon to the very end, one emerges into a beautiful wide valley. Surrounding mountains are home to argali, ibex, and many birds of prey, as well as numerous small rodents particular to the Gobi. A small museum marks the entrance to the protected zone and provides information on the petrified trees, fauna and flora of the Gobi. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad  family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 4. Travel to Khongoriin Els sand dunes
 Travel to Khongoriin Els sand dunes. Khongoriin Els sand dunes are some of the largest and most impressive sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the DuutMankhan( singing dunes ). Hongoriin Els stretch for more than 180 km  with majestic heights of 15-30 m. The largest dunes are north west of the range. You can climb to the top of the sand dunes and slide down : simultaneously the dune begins to make an amazing sound : similar to singing. From the top of the sand dunes the view of the desert is amazing. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/  


Day 5. Stay in a nomad family and camel riding
This day you will get opportunity to ride camel through the sand dunes. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/


Day 6. Travel to Bayanzag

Continue to drive for 170 km to Baynzag. Bayanzag is the place where famous explorer and dinosaur hunter Roy Chapmen Andrews’ expedition discovered first time complete skeletons , eggs and hatchlings of the Cretaceous Period in 1922 , the world ever found. Imagine something unique in the area where dinosaurs were lived 70 million years ago. Here also you will see sakaul forest grown in hard condition of the Gobi and red flaming cliffs formed by the erosion of the sand and rock over many thousand of years.Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/


Day 7. Travel to Ongi Monastery
Drive to Ongi Monastery. Today you will go a round of Ongi Monastery and will discover that what happened there during the communist regime time. Ongi monastery is formerly one of the largest monasteries in Mongolia .Ongi monastery was founded in 1660 and consisted of two temple complexes on the north and south banks of the Ongi River. The older southern complex consisted of various administrative buildings as well as 11 temples. The northern complex built in the 18th century, consisted of 17 temples-among them one of the largest temples in all Mongolia.The Ongi monastery grounds also 4 religious universities and could accommodate over one thousand monks at a time. But during 1930s the monastery was completely destroyed and over 200 monks were killed by the communists. After democracy of Mongolia in 1990, monks returned to Ongi monastery where they had begun their Buddhist education as young children some 60 years prior. These monks started laying new foundation upon the old ruins, with a vision to restore Ongi monastery and revitalize Buddhism in Mongolia. Ongi River is one of the longest river in Mongolia has 435 km length and flows into UlaanNuur. A river takes source from the Khangai Mountain range in Ovorkhangai Aimag. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 8. Travel to Orkhon waterfall (Ulaan tsutgalan)
Travel to Orkhon waterfall. Orkhon waterfall ( Ulaan tsutgalan), is over 25 m high Ulaantsutgalan is the biggest waterfall in Mongolia and one of the most attractive destination in Orkhon river valley, UNISCO World heritage site The waterfall  is located on the Orkhon River in Bat-Ulzii, Uvurkhangai province. Its width is about 10 m. The surrounding areas of the waterfall was formed by volcanic activities dated back approximately 20,000 years. When a smaller river named Ulaan (meaning Red) flows into Orkhon river the water drops over the edge with height over 25 and makes the waterfall. That is why, locals called it Ulaan tsutgalan which meaning Red's Flows. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/

Day 9. Visit waterfall and horse riding
Today you will ride Mongolian horses and do some warm up ride through wide open steppe. Stay overnight in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/


Day 10. Travel to Kharakhorum

Visit Erdene Zuu monastery and Kharakhorum museum which was established in 2011. Kharakhorum is one of the most important attractions of Mongolia. The town is located about 370 km in the west of Ulaanbaatar, at the river Orkhon. The Kharakhorum was founded in 1220 by Genghis Khan and had been  the capital of the Mongolian empire for 32 years. Erdene Zuu monastery is the most ancient Buddhist monastery inthe  Mongolia. It is located in the Uvurkhangai Province. It is part of the World Heritage Site entitled Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. The monastery was built in 1585 by Abtai Sain Khan, upon the introduction of Buddhism into Mongolia as the state religion. Stones and ruins of the Kharakhorum had been used to  the construction. It is surrounded by a wall featuring 108 stupas, 108 being a sacred number in Buddhism, and the number of beads in a Buddhist rosary. The monastery was damaged by warfare in the 1680s, but it was rebuilt in the 18th century.  Stay overnight in a Ger of nomadic family./Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 11. Khogno Khan Nature Reserve

Khogno Khan National Park (also Khugnu-Tarna) is a stunning, accessible reserve in central Mongolia's Bulgan Province, famous for its "Mini Gobi" landscape where desert dunes meet mountains, steppe, and forests, offering unique scenery and activities like camel riding, hiking to ancient monasteries (like Ovgon Khiid ruins), and experiencing diverse wildlife, all within a short distance from Ulaanbaatar. It's a protected area showcasing a rare mix of taiga and steppe ecosystems, featuring granite peaks, sand dunes (Elsen Tasarkhai), and historical Buddhist sites. Stay over night in a Ger of nomad family. /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ 


Day 12. Travel Khustai National park and Ulaanbaatar

Today we will go to Khustai National Park. Visit small museum of the national park, watch a short movie about wild horses and the national park. We will have opportunity to see wild horse in the nature. Khustai National Park is located in 110 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar city. Hustai was protected as a national park since 1993. It covers 50,000 hectare area and national park was known as the area of Mongolian wild horses Takhi. The Takhi is the last surviving ancestor of the modern Mongolian horses. Also known as Przewalski's wild horse, the species once roamed the steppe of Central Asia and Europe, but since 1968 it has been extinct in the wild. The Takhi re-introduction project is one part of a world-wide initiative to return the highly endangered species to its Mongolian homeland. Now there are 300 populations have been breeding in this area. Takhi is now only true wild horse left in the World The park has a bio-diversity of other rare wild animals and plants. The quantity of various ecosystems within the park assures an abundance of wildlife. After lunch we will go back to the Ulaanbaatar. End of the service /Breakfast, Lunch/  


Tour included

●Experienced guide service /English speaking/
●Experienced driver service
●Entrance fee for protected natural area
●Sightseeing costs
●Stay in a Ger of nomadic family /11nights/
●Transportation
●Fee for horse and camel riding 
●Petrol
●Drinking water
●Food /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/


Tour excluded:

Alchohol drinks

Personal toiletries

Tips for the driver & guide

Travel insurance