The Secret of the Gobi Desert & the Winding Steppes of Mongolia

After breakfast, we’ll journey into the heart of the Gobi Desert, where the landscape dramatically shifts from green grasslands to stark, rugged terrain. By afternoon, we’ll reach Tsagaan Suvraga—an impressive 30-meter-high, 100-meter-wide cliff sculpted by wind over thousands of years.

From afar, it resembles the ruins of an ancient city, complete with weathered "structures." The area is rich in history, featuring petroglyphs of hunters, wild animals, and Turkic inscriptions carved into the rocks. A deep fissure slices through the terrain, revealing towering mud columns that evoke the jaws of a mythical beast. Some nearby caves even extend over 70 meters, with multiple chambers waiting to be explored.

Activities: 
Explore the majestic Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs.

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Today, we’ll head to Dalanzadgad, the main town in South Gobi province. As we travel, you’ll witness the vastness of the Gobi Desert—Asia’s largest and the world’s fifth largest desert—spanning 1,610 km by 800 km. Unlike typical deserts, much of the Gobi is covered in bare rock rather than sand.

The Gobi is a high-altitude cold desert, with temperatures ranging from –40°C in winter to +50°C in summer. It receives minimal rainfall, and in winter, snow from the Siberian Steppes brings extra moisture to the region.

Our journey will take us through the dramatic gorges of the Altai Mountains to Yolyn Am in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. These lush, narrow valleys were shaped by ancient rivers and are home to wildlife such as Argali sheep, Ibex, desert gazelles, and soaring Golden Eagles.

Activities: 
Visit the small museum in the park.
Explore Yolyn Am Gorge.
Hike through the gorge.

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll drive 180 km west to Khongoryn Els, home to Mongolia’s tallest dunes—rising to 275 meters and stretching over 100 km. Shaped by the wind, these golden dunes ripple like frozen waves, backed by the dark, rugged slopes of Sevrey Mountain.

The Gobi, the world’s coldest desert, is a land of extremes where fierce winds sweep across vast plains. Life here is tough, and the nomads who call it home are known for their resilience. We’ll visit camel-herding families and gain insight into their remarkable way of life—marked by hard work, humility, and a deep bond with the land.

Activities:
Discover the breath-taking Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes.
Optional hike to the highest dune for panoramic desert views.
Visit a local camel-herding family and experience nomadic life first-hand.

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Today, we’ll travel to Bayanzag, famously known as the "Flaming Cliffs." This iconic site is where renowned palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews unearthed the first dinosaur bones and eggs. The landscape is striking, with fiery red cliffs, rugged rock formations, and patches of greenery. We’ll explore the area on foot, visit the local museum, and delve into the fascinating history of early 20th-century discoveries and expeditions.

Activities: 
Explore the Bayanzag cliffs, famous for the discovery of dinosaur skeletons and eggs.

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Today, we journey to Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire. Founded in 1220 in the Orkhon Valley, the city flourished under Ögedei Khan and became a vibrant centre of politics, trade, and culture, known for its diversity. The famed silver tree from Möngke Khan’s palace symbolised its grandeur. Karakorum lost its capital status when Kublai Khan moved the seat to Beijing in 1260, becoming a lesser administrative hub until it was destroyed by Ming troops in 1388. Later, in 1588, Erdene Zuu Monastery was established on the ruins, initiated by Abtai Sain Khan with guidance from the 3rd Dalai Lama. Once home to over 1,000 lamas and 100 temples, the monastery now preserves three main temples—Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha, and Lavrin—within its ancient walls.

You’ll also explore the Karakorum Archaeological Museum, a compact yet rich collection of artefacts from the 13th–14th centuries and earlier, including tools, coins, sculptures, and inscriptions. Highlights include a kiln set into the floor, a model of the city based on William of Rubruck’s writings, and a Turkic noble’s tomb with paintings and treasures.

To round out the visit, you can see the famous Turtle Rock and Phallic Rock and browse a small market featuring local artists' crafts.

Activities:
Explore the Erdene Zuu monastery
Discover the Karakorum Archaeological Museum

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

Today, we journey to Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire. Founded in 1220 in the Orkhon Valley, the city flourished under Ögedei Khan and became a vibrant centre of politics, trade, and culture, known for its diversity. The famed silver tree from Möngke Khan’s palace symbolised its grandeur. Karakorum lost its capital status when Kublai Khan moved the seat to Beijing in 1260, becoming a lesser administrative hub until it was destroyed by Ming troops in 1388. Later, in 1588, Erdene Zuu Monastery was established on the ruins, initiated by Abtai Sain Khan with guidance from the 3rd Dalai Lama. Once home to over 1,000 lamas and 100 temples, the monastery now preserves three main temples—Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha, and Lavrin—within its ancient walls.

You’ll also explore the Karakorum Archaeological Museum, a compact yet rich collection of artefacts from the 13th–14th centuries and earlier, including tools, coins, sculptures, and inscriptions. Highlights include a kiln set into the floor, a model of the city based on William of Rubruck’s writings, and a Turkic noble’s tomb with paintings and treasures.

To round out the visit, you can see the famous Turtle Rock and Phallic Rock and browse a small market featuring local artists' crafts.

Activities:
Explore the Erdene Zuu monastery.
Discover the Karakorum Archaeological Museum.

Hotel/Other Details: Ger Camps

Meal Plan: Breakfast lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, drive back to Ulaanbaatar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast