Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
You'll arrive in Ulaanbaatar and meet your tour leader for an evening briefing followed by a welcome dinner. If you get in early, there's time to walk around city landmarks on your own, including Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum, and the State Department Store.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Trip briefing with tour leader
- Welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Sukhbaatar Square
- Visit National Museum
- Visit State Department Store
Landmarks Sukhbaatar Square National Museum of Mongolia - Day 2
Ulaanbaatar to Terelj National Park
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Terelj National Park, about 2 hours away. First stop is the Genghis Khan statue, a 40-meter tall stainless steel equestrian monument that's the world's tallest. You'll then explore rock formations and wildflower meadows before visiting Aryabal Meditation Temple for views across the park. Following lunch at camp, you'll visit a local nomadic family to learn about their lifestyle and try homemade dairy products like yogurt, cheese, curds, and traditional salty milk tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at camp), Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Terelj National Park
- Visit Genghis Khan statue
- Explore rock formations and meadows
- Visit Aryabal Meditation Temple
- Lunch at camp
- Visit local nomadic family
- Tasting of homemade dairy products (yogurt, cheese, curds, traditional salty milk tea)
Landmarks Genghis Khan Statue Aryabal Meditation Temple Terelj National Park - Day 3
Terelj to Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
An early morning flight takes you to Dalanzadgal, then you'll head into Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. The landscape here shifts between rocky and sandy desert plains, cliffs, and ravines. You'll drive about 1.5 hours each way to Yolyn Am, a narrow canyon so deep that ice stays on the valley floor even during summer. Wildlife roaming this region includes wild asses, ibex, argali sheep, and snow leopards. After exploring the canyon, you'll settle into a ger camp for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight to Dalanzadgad
- Drive to Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
- Visit Yolyn Am canyon
- Explore canyon
Landmarks Yolyn Am (Vulture's Mouth) Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park - Day 4
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park to Bayanzag
A 70-kilometer drive gets you to Bayanzag, better known as the Flaming Cliffs for its red, yellow, and orange sands. You'll hike among the cliffs exploring this dinosaur fossil site that paleontologists discovered in the 1920s, and you may spot fossils while walking around. After a picnic lunch, you'll return to camp for the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
- Hiking among colored sands
- Dinosaur fossil exploration
- Picnic lunch
Landmarks Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) - Day 5
Bayanzag to Khongoryn Els
You'll spend five hours driving 200 kilometers to Khongoryn Els, a spectacular sand dune field stretching 200 kilometers with heights reaching 300 meters. Locals call them the Singing Dunes because of the sound that echoes through them on windy days. You'll arrive at camp in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Khongoryn Els (Singing Dunes)
Landmarks Khongoryn Els (Singing Dunes) - Day 6
Khongoryn Els
This full day is yours to explore the dunes and surrounding area. You'll visit a camel-breeding family to learn about nomadic herding life and how people adapt to living here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Khongoryn Els dunes
- Visit camel-breeding family
- Learn about nomadic herders' life
Landmarks Khongoryn Els (Singing Dunes) - Day 7
Khongoryn Els to Bichigt Khad
Today you'll travel through typical Gobi scenery across Khatan Suudal Steppe with flat stony plains, rocky outcrops, and patches of sand. A picnic lunch breaks up the journey, then you'll continue to Bayan mountains to see Bichigt Khad petroglyphs, rock inscriptions dating to 3000 BCE showing ibex, argali, and horsemen. You can view some from vehicles with binoculars or hike up for closer inspection (the main cliff involves a steep 60-meter climb using walking poles, though easier accessible cliffs are also available). Expect around 385 kilometers of driving throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Khatan Suudal Steppe
- Picnic lunch
- View Bichigt Khad petroglyphs
Optional Activities
- Hike up to petroglyphs for closer inspection
Landmarks Bichigt Khad Petroglyphs - Day 8
Bichigt Khad to Arvaikheer
You'll drive to Tsagaan Agui and cross Taats River with views of Ikh Bogd mountain, the highest peak in the Gobi Altai range, visible in the distance. After a picnic lunch, you'll skirt around Ikh Bogd's eastern edge and continue to Arvaikheer, the capital of Ovorkhangai province on the Gobi's northern edge. This involves approximately 415 kilometers over around 11 hours of driving.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tsagaan Agui (White Cave)
- Pass Taats River
- View Ikh Bogd mountain
- Picnic lunch
- Drive to Arvaikheer
Landmarks Tsagaan Agui (White Cave) Ikh Bogd Mountain - Day 9
Arvaikheer to Kharkhorin
You'll check out Arvaikheer's local market and museum, which houses nature collections, stone figures, and Turkic scripts. After lunch, you'll head toward Kharkhorin with a stop at Shankh Monastery, where the great Mongolian theorist Zanabazar once lived. You'll arrive at camp in time for dinner, having driven about 150 kilometers over 4 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Arvaikheer local market
- Visit Arvaikheer museum
- Visit Shankh Monastery
- Drive to Kharkhorin
Landmarks Shankh Monastery - Day 10
Kharkhorin to Mongol Els
Kharkhorin was the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire until Kublai Khan moved power to Beijing. You'll explore Erdene Zuu monastery, built in 1586 on the ancient capital's ruins, which still has an impressive wall with 108 stupas and several temples despite Stalin-era damage. After lunch, you'll drive about 2 hours to Mongol Els, a unique sand dune belt in the steppe where Bactrian camels roam while horses graze on green grassland. You'll stay at a nearby ger camp and also visit Khogno Khan mountain with its small temple at the base. The region draws birdwatchers for steppe eagles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Kharkhorin (13th-century Mongol capital)
- Explore Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Drive to Mongol Els
- Explore Mongol Els (Little Gobi Desert)
- Visit Khogno Khan mountain and temple
- Wildlife viewing (Bactrian camels, steppe eagles)
Landmarks Erdene Zuu Monastery Khogno Khan Mountain - Day 11
Mongol Els to Khustain Nuruu National Park
A three-hour drive takes you 200 kilometers to Khustain Nuruu National Park, known for the successful re-introduction of Mongolia's wild horse. The Przewalski's horse nearly went extinct but now roams these steppes thanks to efforts by Mongolian and international organizations. You'll visit the Project Information Centre and take a guided hike to spot these magnificent wild horses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Khustain Nuruu National Park
- Visit Project Information Centre
- Guided hike to see wild horses (Przewalski's horses/takhi horses)
Landmarks Khustain Nuruu National Park - Day 12
Khustain Nuruu National Park to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, you'll drive back to Ulaanbaatar, about 210 kilometers taking 4 hours. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore the city. That evening, there's an optional chance to see traditional Mongolian song and dance performed by the Tumen Ekh troupe, featuring throat singers, contortionists, and Tsam dancers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Ulaanbaatar
Optional Activities
- Live performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance (Tumen Ekh dance troupe - throat singers, contortionists, Tsam dancers)
- Day 13
Ulaanbaatar to Olgii
You'll fly to Olgii in western Mongolia, then drive off-road for about an hour to Sagsai village. You'll spend the day at a Kazakh family home experiencing their daily life, helping care for and milk cows, goats, and sheep. You'll taste traditional food including homemade yak cheese and yogurt, and really get a feel for nomadic family hospitality and friendliness. You'll return to Olgii in the afternoon and overnight at a ger camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight to Olgii
- Drive to Sagsai village
- Visit Kazakh family home
- Experience daily family life (caring for and milking livestock)
- Sample traditional food (homemade yak cheese and yogurt)
- Day 14
Olgii (Eagle Festival Day 1)
You'll attend the first day of the Eagle Festival, watching competitions for best Kazakh costume, horse racing, and archery. The evening includes a cultural performance at the local theatre.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Eagle Festival - costume competition
- Eagle Festival - horse racing
- Eagle Festival - archery
- Cultural performance in local theatre
- Day 15
Olgii (Eagle Festival Day 2)
Another day of Eagle Festival events awaits you. You'll watch eagle demonstrations from the birds and their hunters, see camel races, and observe kukhbar, a lively sport where two horseback riders wrestle over a goat skin. After enjoying the festivities, you'll head back to camp for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Eagle Festival - eagle demonstrations and hunters
- Eagle Festival - camel race
- Eagle Festival - kukhbar (horseback wrestling)
- Day 16
Olgii to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport for a mid-morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar, arriving midday. You'll check into your hotel to freshen up before a light lunch. Your afternoon is free for last-minute sightseeing or picking up souvenirs around town—cashmere, leather goods, and traditional handicrafts are worth looking for, and your guide can point out the best shops. If you're a night owl, Ulaanbaatar has a decent nightlife scene to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch)
Included Activities
- Flight to Ulaanbaatar
- Transfer to hotel
- Light lunch
Optional Activities
- Last-minute sightseeing
- Souvenir shopping (cashmere, leather goods, traditional handicrafts)
- Ulaanbaatar nightlife
- Day 17
Ulaanbaatar (Departure)
Your tour ends after breakfast. You'll head home with stories and magnificent photos from your time in Mongolia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
