Overview

The great Gobi Desert covers one third of the Southern part of Mongolian territory. Known to be one of the harshest environments on the planet, with extreme temperature and sudden seasonal changes, the Gobi is surprisingly full of wild life, such as gazelle, wild ass, wild camel, antelopes, and the endangered Gobi Gobi-bear. The Gobi Desert was the site of a number of famous dinosaur fossil discoveries including the world's first dinosaur eggs, some of which can seen in the local museum.

The Gobi is the great physical barrier between Mongolia and China and long served to prevent Chinese encroachment onto Mongolian territory. However, it was also through the Gobi that the roads connecting the two civilizations lie, thus it is an area with may hidden secets and long lost tales of caravans, treasure and feats of daring.

 

In more recent times, the Gobi has been found to be one of the world's great treasure-troves of dinosaur fossils. The 20thC. saw many important expeditions to the area that uncovered fossils of huge scientific interest. Notable amoungst these expeditions were those of Roy Chapman-Andrews, and American scientist and adventurer held to have been the original inspiration for the Indiana Jones character.

 

Day 1

Fly from Ulaanbaatar to capital town of Govi province

We will fly from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad (capital town of Gobi). We will stay overnight at a ger camp near to an ice canyon. (40km driving).

Day 2 Yoliin am-Ice canyon

We will arrive at a valley in the middle of the Gobi Desert with metres thick ice almost all year round. The surrounding hills offer plenty of walking in this obscure region full of wild life including the rare ibex and argali-sheep. We will do some walking around the area and stay overnight at ger camp.

Day 3 Bayanzag-Flaming Cliffs

The eggs were found at an obscure site in the Gobi called Ulan Usu which the famous American explorer Andrews christened the ”Flaming Cliffs”. In 1918 Andrews recorded the first history of the area and found dinosaur eggs-nests some of which were single, whole and broken eggs, large ones and small ones, and eggs with smooth paper thin shells. Even if you are not a dino-phile the eerie beauty of the surrounding landscape is a good reason to visit.
We will drive 90 km from ice canyon to the Flaming Cliffs and stay overnight in the tent in the middle of red sands.

Day 4 Drive to Khongor Sand Dune

The Khongor Els (sand dune) are some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. They are 800m high, 12 km wide and about 100 km long. You can climb to the top of the dunes (if you are up to it!) and then slide back down. We will drive about 120km and stay at a ger camp near the sand dunes.

Day 5-7 Camel trekking around Khongor sand dune

Of the 700,000 Asian camels left in the world and about 500,000 of them are in the Gobi provinces in Mongolia. The Asian camel is more known as the Bactrian and has two humps. It is wonderfully suited to the deserts of Central Asia and can graze on the sparse pasture and live for three months on nothing but water and in emergencies survive up to a fortnight without drinking. What is more, it runs almost as fast as a horse. We will use camels for transportation to explore the sand dunes. We will ride camels about 60km in 3 days.

Day 8-9 Cross country driving from Gobi to Central Mongolia.

When we travel by car over hundreds of miles, the landscape changes dramatically, from the red glowing cliffs of the Gobi to lakes and pastures as the tour begins to make its way north. We will drive about 350km during these days.

Day 10 Arrive at Orkhon water fall

The waterfall located in the Orkhon valley has been a major center for Mongolians. The waterfall formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. Around the area there are many nomadic families breeding yaks and horses. We will visit a nomadic family and learn about their culture. Stay overnight with local nomadic family.

Day 11-13 Horse trekking to “ Eight Lake ” National park.

The “Eight Lakes” region is part of the Khangai Nuruu range. These are the second highest mountains in Mongolia .The range is well watered, so expect lovely forests, meadows and plenty of streams. We will ride horses about 70km in 3 days and use pack horses to carry the luggage.

Day 14 Drive to Kharkhorum-The ancient City and Erdene Zuu Monastery

Situated on the banks of the Orkhon river, the site of the imperial capital Karakhorum was chosen by Chingis Khaan in 1220.The capital city of the largest land empire the world has ever known. Today almost nothing remains of the once-great city. The nearby Erdene Zuu monastery was the first Buddhist monastery built in Mongolia, constructed using stones and bricks from ruins of the ancient city in 1586. During the communist purges of the 1930s, many of the temples were destroyed but the remaining temples and stupas are some of the best Mongolian Buddhist architecture.
After 3 days of horse riding, we will drive to Kharkhorum to visit Erdene Zuu monastery. (180km driving on most bumpy road)

Day 15 Drive to Khogno Khan natural reserve

There is the Lost monastery in a beautiful valley with rocky-mountains next to the sand dune. We will drive 90k m on paved road.

Day 16 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

We will hike around the rocky mountains in the morning .Afternoon drive back to Ulaanbaatar . (260km driving on paved road)

Costs Per Person

1 person $2872
2 person $1738
3 person $1363
4 person or more $1176