Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
You'll arrive in Ulaanbaatar and get settled at your hotel. After grabbing lunch, spend the afternoon walking through the city square and stopping by the National Museum of Mongolia to get a sense of the country's history going back to the Stone Age. This evening there's a traditional art performance and welcome dinner where you'll meet the other people on your trip.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Traditional art performance and welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- City square exploration
- National Museum of Mongolia visit
Landmarks National Museum of Mongolia 
- Day 2
Mongol Nomadic Camp
Following breakfast, head out to Mongol Nomadic Camp to see how traditional Mongolian nomads actually live day to day. You'll learn about their five types of livestock and watch how they use ox, yak, camel, and horse carts to move around. There's also a chance to see how a traditional ger gets built, plus antique items, furniture, pots, and clothing from the early 20th century Central Khalkha region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Traditional ger building process observation
- Livestock breeding experience
- Nomadic lifestyle learning
Landmarks Mongol Nomadic Camp - Day 3
Hustai National Park
After breakfast, drive to Hustai National Park where the Takhi horse lives. These wild horses are genuinely wild, the only ones of their kind on earth. They'd disappeared from Mongolia decades ago but were brought back through careful breeding and international efforts. Now there are around 250 in the park, with about 130 born in the wild here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hustai National Park visit
- Wild Takhi horse observation
Landmarks Hustai National Park - Day 4
Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes
You'll head to Elsen Tasarkhai, an 80km stretch of sand dunes that's unusual because it mixes mountains, forests, and desert-like terrain all together. People call it 'an isolated piece of sand' because it's this mini Gobi Desert sitting right in the middle of green steppe. Keep your eyes open for Maral stag, wolves, deer, and foxes. If there's time, you can climb the dunes, try a camel ride, or spend some time with a local nomadic family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes exploration
Optional Activities
- Dune climbing
- Camel ride
- Local nomadic family visit
Landmarks Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes - Day 5
Erdene Zuu Monastery
Drive to Kharkhorin, which was the ancient capital during Genghis Khan's era in the 13th century. Check out the Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in the 16th century from stones and materials taken from the old Kharkhorin ruins. The communist purges destroyed much of it, but several main monasteries and Tibetan-style buildings are still active. You'll have a chance to talk with the monks and learn about how they live in this remote area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Erdene Zuu Monastery visit
- Monk interaction and learning
Landmarks Erdene Zuu Monastery 
- Day 6
Naadam Festival Preparation
An early start takes you to Arvaikheer for pre-Naadam Day activities in town. You'll visit the local horse trainers' camping area where jockeys and trainers get ready for tomorrow's races. It's a great time to feel the building excitement and get a real sense of what Naadam Festival is all about before the official festivities begin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horse trainers' camping area visit
- Naadam Festival preparation experience
Landmarks Arvaikheer - Day 7
Naadam Festival Opening
The Naadam Festival opens with a grand parade full of color, energy, and skill. Watch traditional Mongolian sports like archery and ankle bone shooting, plus folk music and dance performances and wrestling matches. Later, head to the horse racing field to see the races and other equestrian competitions. Spend time talking with local people who can share stories and explain what this historic celebration means to them.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Naadam Festival opening ceremony and grand parade
- Archery and ankle bone shooting observation
- Folk music and dance performances
- Traditional Mongolian wrestling viewing
- Horse racing field visit
- Day 8
Ongi Monastery
Drive to Ongi Monastery and your next ger camp. The monastery actually consists of two separate complexes on opposite banks of the Ongi River. The Barlim Monastery is on the north bank and Khutagt Monastery on the south. Both were completely destroyed in 1939 during anti-religious purges, with over 200 monks killed and many others imprisoned or forced into the Communist army.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ongi Monastery ruins visit
Landmarks Ongi Monastery - Day 9
Khongor Sand Dunes
You'll drive out to Khongor Sand Dunes this morning, where white sand stretches across more than 180 km. The dunes themselves are quite something to see in person, rising up dramatically from the desert floor. After getting there, you'll climb to the top for views across the landscape and spot the Khongoryn River running through below. Later in the day, there's a camel ride before heading back to camp around evening, giving you time to wind down after all that time in the sun.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Khongor Sand Dunes
- Camel ride
Landmarks Khongor Sand Dunes Khongoryn River - Day 10
Khongor Sand Dunes Relaxation
Today's a relaxing one spent in the Gobi. The word 'Khongor' actually means palomino horse in Mongolian. You'll have time to take walks near camp and wander around the sand dunes. When it's windy, the dunes make a sound like a plane engine, which is why they're also called the 'Singing Dunes.'
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sand dunes walks
- Singing Dunes experience
Landmarks Singing Dunes (Khongor Sand Dunes) - Day 11
Dalanzadgad - Mukhar Shivert Gorge
This morning starts with a drive south to Dalanzadgad, the South Gobi's main town, and then you'll continue on to Mukhar Shivert Gorge. You'll hike through the valley once you arrive, moving through the narrow gorge formation while looking for wildlife. Keep your eyes open for Lammergeier vultures, ibex, and wild sheep moving around the rocks. About 40 minutes into the hike, you'll come across a waterfall, which is a nice break in the trek. After finishing the hike and heading back, you'll have the rest of the evening to relax at camp and recover from the day's activity.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Mukhar Shivert Gorge to waterfall (approximately 70-80 min total)
Landmarks Mukhar Shivert Gorge Yol Gorge Dalanzadgad - Day 12
Tsagaan Suvarga
After breakfast, drive through the Gobi toward Tsagaan Suvarga, which people also call the mini Grand Canyon. This steep slope was once an ancient seabed, and over millions of years different environmental changes created its famous colored layers. The formation reaches over 50 meters at its highest point and looks like the ruins of an ancient city when you see it from a distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa) visit
Landmarks Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa) - Day 13
Return to Ulaanbaatar
You'll return to Ulaanbaatar this morning and get transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, there's free time if you want to do some last-minute shopping or just relax. Later in the evening, there's a farewell dinner to wrap up your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Last-minute shopping opportunity
- Farewell dinner
- Day 14
Departure
The day is yours to spend as you like until it's time to head to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
