Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
You'll arrive in Ulaanbaatar and check into your hotel. The day is unstructured to accommodate different arrival times, so if you get there early, you can walk through Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum, or browse the State Department Store on your own. This evening there's a trip briefing and welcome dinner with your group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Optional Activities
- Explore Sukhbaatar Square
- Visit the National Museum
- Visit the State Department Store
Landmarks Sukhbaatar Square National Museum of Mongolia - Day 2
Ulaanbaatar to Khustain Nuruu National Park
After leaving Ulaanbaatar heading west, you'll stop at Khustain Nuruu National Park about 2 hours away. There you'll visit the Project Information Centre and take a guided hike to see the Takhi horses (Przewalski's horses) that were reintroduced to the Mongolian steppes. Later that evening you'll settle into a traditional ger for your first night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Project Information Centre
- Guided hike to see Takhi wild horses
Landmarks Khustain Nuruu National Park - Day 3
Khustain Nuruu to Mongol Els
You'll continue westward on an asphalt road toward Karakorum, arriving at Mongol Els (the 'Little Gobi Desert') by lunchtime. After checking into a ger camp and having lunch, the afternoon is free to explore the area with its sand dunes, Bactrian camels, grazing horses, and Mount Khogno Khan with its small temple. You might also spot steppe eagles in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Mongol Els sand dunes and surrounding region
- Visit Mount Khogno Khan temple
Landmarks Mount Khogno Khan Mongol Els - Day 4
Mongol Els to Karakorum
You'll make a 90km transfer to Karakorum, the 13th century capital of the Mongol Empire. The main stop is Erdene Zuu Monastery, meaning 'Hundred Treasures', which was built in 1586 and stands as the largest monastery in Mongolia. Though it suffered damage during Stalin's purges in the 1930s, the impressive wall with 108 stupas and several temples are still standing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery
Landmarks Erdene Zuu Monastery Karakorum 
- Day 5
Karakorum to Arvaikheer
You'll drive on a paved road to Arvaikheer, the capital of Ovorkhangai Aimag, stopping en route at Shankh Monastery where the great Mongolian theorist Zanabazar once lived. You'll arrive in the middle of the afternoon and check into your hotel. Later, the local museum is worth a visit to see nature collections, stone figures, and Turkic scripts from the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Shankh Monastery
- Visit local museum
Landmarks Shankh Monastery - Day 6
Arvaikheer to Gobi Camels Ger Camp
Starting early after breakfast, you'll head toward Orog Lake via Bayanteegsoum, a coal-mining centre. The route takes you over Taats River with views of Ikh Bogd Mountain, the highest peak in the Gobi Altai range. You'll stop for a picnic lunch, then continue 80km southwest to the Gobi Camels Ger Camp, skirting the eastern edge of Mount Ikh Bogd.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Landmarks Ikh Bogd Mountain - Day 7
Gobi Desert to Kongoriin Els
A short 2-3 hour drive takes you south to the Bayan Mountain Range to see petroglyphs at Bichigt Khad. These rock inscriptions and paintings dating back to 3000 BC show ibex, argali, and men on horses. You can view them from vehicles or hike up for a closer look (the main cliff is a steep 50-60m climb with walking poles required, though an easier smaller cliff is also available). After a picnic lunch and more Gobi desert scenery, you'll reach Kongoriin Els sand dunes ger camp by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- View petroglyphs at Bichigt Khad
Optional Activities
- Hike up to cliffs for closer inspection of petroglyphs (requires walking poles; steep 50-60m climb on main cliff or easier smaller cliff option)
Landmarks Bichigt Khad Bayan Mountain Range Bogd Mountain - Day 8
Kongoriin Els
You'll spend the full day exploring Khongoriin Els sand dunes and the surrounding area. These dunes stretch for 200km and reach heights of 300 meters, earning the name 'Singing Dunes' for the sounds they make on windy days. Later you'll visit a camel breeding family to learn about nomadic herder life and how they use about 100,000 camels in the South Gobi to transport gers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Khongoriin Els sand dunes
- Visit camel breeding family
Landmarks Khongoriin Els - Day 9
Kongoriin Els to Bayanzag
A short 70km drive brings you to Bayanzag, known as the Flaming Cliffs. You'll hike through the colorful sands of red, yellow, and orange at this dinosaur fossil site discovered in the 1920s by Mongolian and American paleontologists. You're free to explore and might spot dinosaur fossils yourself. After a picnic lunch, you'll return to camp for the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
Optional Activities
- Explore for dinosaur fossils
Landmarks Bayanzag 
- Day 10
Bayanzag to Yolyn Am
You'll drive through Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, which marks the eastern end of the Gobi Altai mountain range and translates to 'Three Beauties of the Gobi'. The landscape shifts between rocky and sandy desert plains, cliffs, ravines, salt pans, and oases. The highlight is Yolyn Am (Vulture's Mouth), a spectacular canyon so deep and narrow that winter ice can remain on the valley floor even in summer. The region is known for wildlife like Khulan, Ibex, Argali, and Snow Leopards.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Yolyn Am canyon
Landmarks Yolyn Am Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park - Day 11
Gobi Gurvansaikhan to Terelj National Park
After breakfast you'll transfer to the airport for a mid-morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar (flight times vary by airline). Once in the capital, you'll head to Terelj National Park and spend the day checking out fascinating rock formations, visiting the meditation temple, and walking through green meadows with wildflowers. Later you'll visit a local nomadic family to learn about their way of life and try homemade dairy products like yogurt, cheese, curds, and traditional salty milk tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Terelj National Park rock formations
- Visit meditation temple
- Visit local nomadic family
- Tasting of homemade dairy products
Landmarks Terelj National Park - Day 12
Terelj National Park to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast you'll drive to the giant Chinggis Khan Statue, a 40-meter tall stainless steel monument. You'll spend time exploring the statue and surrounding area before returning to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, there's an option to attend a live performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance by the famous Tumen Ekh dance troupe, featuring throat singers, contortionists, and Tsam dancers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chinggis Khan Statue
Optional Activities
- Attend live performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance by Tumen Ekh troupe
Landmarks Chinggis Khan Statue - Day 13
Ulaanbaatar to Olgii
You'll fly to Olgii in western Mongolia and then drive off-road for about an hour to Sagsai village to visit Kazakh families. The day involves seeing their daily routines and sampling traditional food including homemade yak cheese and yogurt. It's a genuine chance to experience nomadic family life and their hospitality. In the afternoon you'll return to Olgii and stay overnight at a ger camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Kazakh home in Sagsai village
- Experience daily life of Kazakh people
- Taste traditional Kazakh food including homemade yak cheese and yogurt
Landmarks Sagsai village - Day 14
Eagle Festival Day 1
You'll attend the first day of the Eagle Festival and see competitions for the best Kazakh costume, horse racing, and archery events. In the evening, there's a cultural performance in the local theatre featuring traditional music and dance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Eagle Festival - Kazakh costume competition
- Eagle Festival - Horse racing
- Eagle Festival - Archery
- Cultural performance at local theatre
- Day 15
Eagle Festival Day 2
Another day at the Eagle Festival brings more competitions and events. You'll see eagle demonstrations from the hunters, a camel race, and the lively Kukhbar competition, a fighting match on horseback where two riders compete over a goat skin. After enjoying the festivities all day, you'll return to camp for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Eagle Festival - Eagle and hunter demonstration
- Eagle Festival - Camel race
- Eagle Festival - Kukhbar competition
- Day 16
Olgii to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast you'll transfer to the airport for a mid-morning flight to Ulaanbaatar, arriving around midday. You'll head to your hotel to freshen up and have a light lunch. The afternoon is free for last-minute sightseeing or picking up souvenirs around Ulaanbaatar like cashmere, leather goods, and traditional handicrafts. If you're interested in the local scene, the nightlife is worth checking out.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch)
Optional Activities
- Last-minute sightseeing
- Souvenir shopping (cashmere, leather goods, traditional handicrafts)
- Nightlife of Ulaanbaatar
- Day 17
Tour End
The tour ends after breakfast today. If your flight is included, you'll be transferred to the airport in Ulaanbaatar in time to catch the group flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
