Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Your guide will meet you at 08:30 at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar. From there, you'll drive south for about 5-6 hours covering 280km to reach Baga Gazriin Chuluu, a rocky landscape in the Gobi. Once you arrive, you'll settle into a ger, grab lunch, and then explore the caves, streams, and shrines at this sacred site before heading back for dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore caves, streams, and shrines at Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Landmarks/POIs Baga Gazriin Chuluu - Day 2
Baga Gazriin Chuluu to Tsagaan Suvarga
After breakfast, you'll continue driving south for another 4-5 hours covering 240km to Tsagaan Suvarga, which means 'White Stupa'. The imposing cliffs here are quite striking. Following lunch upon arrival, you'll spend time checking out the rock formations and taking photographs of the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore rock formations at Tsagaan Suvarga
Landmarks/POIs Tsagaan Suvarga - Day 3
Tsagaan Suvarga to Yol Valley
You'll have a relaxed breakfast before heading south for 2 hours to Dalanzadgal, the main town in Southern Gobi. There you'll see the Gobi Museum of Nature and History and walk through the local market before lunch. Later, it's another 50km to Yol Valley where you'll park the vehicle and hike on foot to see the deep ice field and spot ibex and birds of prey along the cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Dalanzadgad including Gobi Museum of Nature and History
- Visit local market in Dalanzadgad
- Explore Yol Valley ice field and canyon on foot
Landmarks/POIs Gobi Museum of Nature and History Yol Valley - Day 4
Yol Valley to Khongor Els
This day takes you deep into the Gobi on unpaved roads to Khongor Els, Mongolia's largest sand dunes. The off-road drive runs 4-5 hours covering 180km, and during the journey you might see gazelles, wild asses, and birds of prey. There's a stop for a picnic lunch and photos along the way. After settling into camp, you'll have a brief rest and then head out to the sand dunes to see the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on the way), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Khongor Els sand dunes
Landmarks/POIs Khongor Els - Day 5
Khongor Els
If you're interested, there's an optional early drive to the dunes to catch the sunrise before breakfast. Afterward, you'll have a home-cooked breakfast in the guest ger and then spend a few hours on a camel ride alongside the dunes. Your afternoon is flexible and up to you. You can do a longer hike in the area, walk along the river, go to the dunes for photography, or simply rest and take in the scenery. Just let your guide know what appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Camel ride alongside the dunes
Optional Activities
- Sunrise drive to dunes
- Longer hike in the area
- Hiking along the river
- Hiking to the dunes for photography
Landmarks/POIs Khongor Els - Day 6
Khongor Els to Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs
You'll travel off-road for 4-5 hours covering 170km to Bayanzag, watching for wild gazelles along the way. The route passes through Khavtsgait, an ancient sacred site where hundreds of petroglyphs dating back to around 3000 BC are carved into the rocky hill with great desert views. Late lunch happens at Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs, where you'll then walk among the iconic red formations where the first dinosaur eggs were found. In the evening, you'll hike to the saxual forest and overlook to watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Khavtsgait ancient sacred site with petroglyphs
- Explore Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs
- Sunset hike to saxual forest and overlook
Landmarks/POIs Khavtsgait Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs - Day 7
Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs to Ongi
You'll drive north for 3-4 hours covering 170km to the Ongi temple ruins, arriving in the afternoon. After lunch at the guest ger, you'll walk around the partially rebuilt monastery complex. This site was founded in 1760 and includes a stupa marking the Dalai Lama's first visit to Mongolia. There's a stupa displaying names of victims, and you might meet local monks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour Ongi temples and monastery ruins
- Visit stupa at Ongi
Optional Activities
- Meet local monks
Landmarks/POIs Ongi Monastery - Day 8
Ongi to Orkhon Valley
The journey shifts away from the Gobi plains into rolling steppes and pastureland, entering Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO heritage site. Your 5-6 hour drive covers 300km and includes lunch at a local eatery. You'll arrive at a yak herder family's guest ger situated about a mile from the Orkhon Icefall. There you'll experience nomadic hospitality and learn to prepare traditional Mongolian dishes like Buuz and Huushuur while tasting yak's milk and milk tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (With yak milk and milk tea)
Included Activities
- Learn traditional Mongolian cooking from host family
- Prepare Buuz steamed dumplings
- Prepare Huushuur fried meat-filled pastry
Landmarks/POIs Orkhon Valley Orkhon Icefall - Day 9
Orkhon Valley
You'll start with a home-cooked breakfast, then you have the option to ride horseback to the nearby Orkhon Icefall or walk if that's your preference. The Icefall is a scenic 20m high and 10m wide cascade on the Ulaan Tsutgalan River. Mongolian horses are small, and inexperienced riders will be guided by an experienced wrangler. After returning for lunch, you can help with family activities like milking yaks, watch vodka and yoghurt production, play games, or take a cooking lesson. Chat with your guide about what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Home-cooked), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Orkhon Icefall by horse or on foot
- Help milk yaks with family
- Watch vodka and yoghurt production
Optional Activities
- Horseback riding to Orkhon Icefall
- Walking to Orkhon Icefall
- Cooking lesson with host family
- Games with host family
Landmarks/POIs Orkhon Icefall - Day 10
Orkhon Valley to Kharakhorum
After an early breakfast, you'll leave your hosts and drive off-road for 3-4 hours covering 120km to Kharakhorum, the ancient Mongol capital. You'll tour Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's most important monastery complex built in 1586, and hear monks chanting in late morning. Following lunch at your hostel, you'll visit a local museum showcasing Mongolian history, stroll along the Orkhon River, and explore the local market. If time allows, you can also check out the felt cooperative workshop or an art gallery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Erdene Zuu Monastery temples
- Experience monks chanting at Erdene Zuu
- Visit local museum in Kharakhorum
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the Orkhon River
- Explore local market
- Visit felt cooperative workshop
- Visit art gallery
Landmarks/POIs Erdene Zuu Monastery - Day 11
Kharakhorum to Hustai National Park
You'll have a relaxed breakfast before driving east for around 3 hours covering 250km to Hustai National Park. At the park's information centre, you'll learn about the wildlife living there. Lunch is at the ger camp where you're staying at the park's entrance. Later, you'll head into the park to see wild Takhi horses. Your guide works with park rangers to find the animals, and you have a high chance of seeing them close up. You can hike deeper to track other wildlife like deer or foxes. Later you'll return for a hot shower and hearty dinner in your gers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Hearty dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Hustai National Park information centre
- See wild Takhi horses in Hustai National Park
Optional Activities
- Hike deeper into Hustai National Park to track wildlife
- Track wild deer or foxes
Landmarks/POIs Hustai National Park - Day 12
Hustai National Park to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, you'll travel to the remarkable Chinggis Khaan Statue complex. You can climb up the exterior staircase that runs up the horse's mane to reach a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River and the Khan Khentii hills. Lunch is served at the complex's restaurant. Afterward, it's a 1-hour drive back to Ulaanbaatar where you'll be dropped at your chosen location.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At complex restaurant)
Included Activities
- Climb Chinggis Khaan Statue to viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Chinggis Khaan Statue
