Explore the Mysterious Gobi Desert on Camels - 9 days
DAY 1: Baga Gazriin Chuluu
DAY 2: Yolyn Am & Dungenee Canyon
DAY 3: Khongoryn Els
DAY 4: Camel Riding to Red Hill
DAY 5: Camel Riding to Chono Kharaikh
DAY 6: Camel riding back to Red Hill
DAY 7: Camel riding back to the Singing Sands
DAY 8: Drive to Bayanzag or Flaming Cliffs
DAY 9: Flight back to Ulaanbaatar
Detailed description
Baga Gazriin Chuluu
After breakfast in our hotel restaurant, we will leave for the Mongolian countryside. Our first stop will be 250 km southward in the beautiful region of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. It is a huge granite formation in the middle of the Mongolian sandy plane. On open plain we will visit the remains of a small monastery named Delgeriin Choir Monastery. You will be entering first time in a Ger, huge impressive 12 walls Ger richly decorated and carved used by monks to chant during colder season when the stone monastery gets too cold to be inside. End of the afternoon we will drive and hike around in the area. We will visit the picturesque ruins of a small monastery that are hidden in a nice little protected valley and wander between huge endless piled granite rocky hills as if they were put.
(Ger Camp, B, L, D)
Yolyn Am & Dungenee Canyon
Today we will drive to South Gobi province town Dalanzadgad. The Gobi Desert measures over 1,610 km from southwest to northeast and 800 km from north to south and stretches over Mongolia and China. It occupies an arc of land 1,295,000 km2 in area, making it fifth largest in the world and Asia’s largest. Much of the Gobi is not sandy but is covered with bare rock. The Gobi is a cold desert, with frost snow on its dunes during the winter months. Besides being quite far north, it is also located on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 meters above sea level, which further contributes to its low temperatures. An average of approximately 194 millimetres of rain falls per year in the Gobi. Additional moisture reaches parts of the Gobi in winter as snow is blown by the wind from the Siberian Steppes. These winds cause the Gobi to reach extremes of temperature ranging from –40°C in winter to +50°C in summer. We will take a ride through the beautiful gorges of the imposing Altai Mountains Range. We will pass through the Yolyn Am and the Dungenee Canyon both located in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Ancient rivers carved those green valleys.
We may catch a glimpse of the wild Argali sheep, the Ibex, the desert gazelles or the Golden Eagles. We will also pay a visit to the little museum of the park where you can admire a collection of dinosaur bones and local flora and fauna.
(Ger Camp, B, L, D)
Khongoryn Els
After a good morning breakfast, we will drive 150 km westwards to the Khongoryn Els. These are Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. Those impressive dunes of 275 meters high in some places, stretch from East to West over more than 130 km. Behind the sand dunes we will see the impressive black rocky mass of the Sevrey Mountain. Once you reach the top of Duut Mankhan known as the “Singing Sands” the whole environment looks full of mysteries, and you get amazed how possibly the landscape can be. The sands have attractive curves which end in a sharp edge, making wave like patterns on the sand. We will visit our host camel breeding family. It is our tradition to offer food and drinks without asking the visitors.
(Ger Camp, B, L, D)
Camel Riding to Red Hill
In the morning we will reach family where we load our luggage on the camels and start camel riding along the dune. We will be guided by experienced camel man from the host family during our 4 days camel journey. The Gobi is rich of antelopes and black-tailed gazelles. We might catch a glimpse. We will start to know how to water the camels and take care of them little bit as nomads do. We will have enough time to wander around the area and then set up our first camp site. Enjoy your evening as the sun sets the desert cools rapidly.
(Tented Camp, B, L, D)
Camel Riding to Chono Kharaikh
We will continue the camel riding journey through rolling sand dunes of Gobi desert. The first change of landscape will be a stream called Chono Kharaikh flows between sand dunes. There will be no sign of life except for us, camels and small animal tracks. With a breeze which is unavoidable in Mongolia it is a perfect place for overstressed city brain. At stream with a little chance we might observe some species of birds and antelopes as the latter one serves the main water supply for the many yet mostly unobserved wild animals in Gobi desert.
(Tented Camp, B, L, D)
Camel riding back to Red Hill
Today we will ride to the Red Hill going the same way back. Take in the beauty of Gobi Desert. The dunes continually change shape due to wind and reflect yellow-white colours as the intensity of light changes during the day.
(Tented Camp, B, L, D)
Camel riding back to the Singing Sands
Our last day of the camel riding we will be heading back to the camel breeding family at the “Singing Sands”. We will get there in the afternoon and bid farewell to the family members and leave to our Ger camp where we stayed last time.
(Ger Camp, B, L, D)
Drive to Bayanzag or Flaming Cliffs
Today our drive will take us to Bayanzag also known as the “Flaming Cliffs” is the worldwide renowned place where paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews found dinosaur bones and eggs in 1920s. The surrounding landscape is a beautiful combination of rocks, red sand and scrubs. Here we will spend some time exploring the cliffs.
(Ger Camp, B, L, D)
Flight back to Ulaanbaatar
One and half hour early morning flight will take us to Ulaanbaatar. You may enjoy the free afternoon to catch up all the places you haven’t visited yet. You might as well check the beautiful cultural show enjoy the colourful and rhythmic Mongolian dance, throat singing & admire the contortionists.
(B, L)
INCLUDED
- Land transportation
- 5 nights Ger camp stay
- 3 nights tented camp stay
- Meals 8B, 9L, 8D
- Tour guides
- Camping and kitchen equipment
-
National park entrance fees/Museum
and Monasteries entrance tickets - Camels to ride
- Local flight
- Local airport transfer
NOT INCLUDED
- Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- City touring
-
Medical, trip insurance and
evacuation costs -
Local flight excess
baggage charges. - Alcoholic and soft drinks
- International airport transfer
