An overland journey through the expansive Gobi Desert, and the green pastures of Central Mongolia. The trip mixes diverse wilderness landscapes of the steppes, desert plains, rock formations, and dunes of the Gobi, and rolling green pastureland of the nomad-filled valleys of the heartland. Joining this tour of discovery you can explore the nomadic traditions that form the backbone of Mongolian culture, learn about the traditional lifestyle, enjoy sleeping in a ger, and explore some beautiful, varied landscapes, cultural heritage, and historical sites.

Day 1 - Travel to Yol Valley & Hiking

In the morning we will drive to Yol Valley (Lammergeier’s Gorge) about 220 km. This picturesque place is nestled between the beautiful peaks of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountain and shelters rich wildlife. Visit the Gobi museum and trekking through the valley. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 2 - Wild Horses – Wildlife Tracking

Travel to Hustai National Park for 260 km. Hustai National Park encompasses an area of 50.620 hectares and is the habitat of resurrected wild Mongolian horses, popularly known as Takhi (Przewalski’s Horse). Explore the park to see the Takhi horses in the wilderness. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 3 - Travel to Khongor Sand Dune – Ride Bactrian Camel ride

Today you leave the paved road and venture deeper into the Gobi desert, to the largest dunes of Mongolia, Khongor Els. Known as Singing dunes, they are up to 300ms high, 15kms wide, and 180kms. Watch out for gazelles and birds of prey as you drive – the scenery is beautiful and populated by a plethora of wildlife. After the traditional lunch, we will walk through the Golden Dunes. The view is incredible from the top of the dunes. Before breakfast, if you didn’t see the sunset last night, drive a short distance to the dunes for the spectacular sunrise. Otherwise, enjoy breakfast in the camp’s restaurant and drive a short distance to mount up for a few-hour ride alongside the dunes. In the afternoon, the schedule is flexible: Alternatively, you may want to go for a longer hike in the area, along the river or to the dunes and take amazing photos, or just rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery – discuss your preferences with your guide. Stay overnight in Ger camp.BLD

Day 4 - Travel to Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Your service team will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 am then board the vehicle and drive south towards the Gobi. Rock formations of the Baga Gazriin Chuluu is a picturesque mountain at an elevation of 1,751 meters in the Granite Belt of Mongolia. After a 5-hour drive, enter first your ger camp where you will be staying tonight and have lunch, then venture to explore the caves, streams, and shrines that dot this sacred site. The scenery is beautiful and the area has abundant wildlife unique to the Gobi, both flora and fauna. Enjoy hiking for 2-3 hours through the mountain. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 5 - Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex – Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast travel to the remarkable Chinggis Khaan Statue complex. Once you arrive, climb up inside until you reach the exterior staircase which runs up the mane of the horse to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River, Terelj & the hills of the Khan Khentii. Then have lunch at the cosy restaurant of the nearest resort. After lunch, board the vehicle and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, where you will be dropped off at a location to suit you (we can do multiple drop-offs if required). End of the service.

Day 6 - Travel to the temple ruin of Ongi & Walking

Travel to Ongi temple ruins for 140km. Walk along the area where the ruins are situated. Ongi is a ruined and partially rebuilt monastery founded in 1760 to commemorate Dalai Lama’s first visit to Mongolia, It’s available to see the stupa displaying the names of the victims and perhaps meet the local monks. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 7 - Travel to Orkhon Valley – Nomad family stay – Horse ride

Today you will travel to Orkhon Valley. Enjoy beautiful scenery over the valley which is a UNESCO-listed heritage site and the ancestral nomadic heartland of Mongolians. Arrive at a local yak herder family where you will be staying tonight in an authentic guest ger a just mile from the Orkhon Waterfall. Enter the gers and experience the nomadic hospitality – you will have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional Mongolian cooking, learn how to prepare Buuz (steamed dumplings) or Huushuur (fried meat-filled pastry) and socialize with your hosts over mare’s milk and milk tea in the evening. After a home-cooked breakfast, saddle up on a horseback excursion to the nearby Orkhon Waterfall. The Orkhon waterfall is a scenic cascade on the Ulaan Tsutgalan River, 20m high and 10m wide. After exploring the area return to the family encampment for lunch. In the afternoon get involved in the activities of your family – help with milking yaks and watch the nomads making curds, yoghurts or distilling vodka from milk. Alternatively, you may want to just put up your feet, rest read a book, and enjoy the beautiful scenery – discuss your preferences with your guide, you can be as active or relaxed as you wish. Stay overnight Ger alongside yak herding nomad family

Day 8 - Explore ancient petroglyphs and Bayanzag

Continue travel to Bayanzag for 170 km. On the way, you will stop at an ancient sacred site of Khavtsgait, where on top of a rocky hill there are hundreds of ancient stone engravings, called petroglyphs. Some of them are as old as 3000 BC and were painted by hunters while waiting for prey. The site also offers wonderful views over the desert. Soon you will arrive at Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs. It was here that the first dinosaur eggs were discovered by an American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, and the area remains one of the most famous paleontological dig sites in the world. Here you will see the Saksaul forest in the Gobi Desert and red flaming cliffs, which were formed by the erosion of the sand and rock over many thousands of years. That is the place where dinosaurs lived 70 million years ago and are internationally famous for their dinosaur remains of complete skeletons, eggs and hatchlings of the Cretaceous Period. After lunch at the camp, stroll for an hour or two among the flaming-red cliffs and explore this unique area where the dinosaurs once roamed. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 9 - Travel to Orkhon Valley – Nomad family stay – Horse ride

Today you will travel to Orkhon Valley. Enjoy beautiful scenery over the valley which is a UNESCO-listed heritage site and the ancestral nomadic heartland of Mongolians. Arrive at a local yak herder family where you will be staying tonight in an authentic guest ger a just mile from the Orkhon Waterfall. Enter the gers and experience the nomadic hospitality – you will have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional Mongolian cooking, learn how to prepare Buuz (steamed dumplings) or Huushuur (fried meat-filled pastry) and socialize with your hosts over mare’s milk and milk tea in the evening. After a home-cooked breakfast, saddle up on a horseback excursion to the nearby Orkhon Waterfall. The Orkhon waterfall is a scenic cascade on the Ulaan Tsutgalan River, 20m high and 10m wide. After exploring the area return to the family encampment for lunch. In the afternoon get involved in the activities of your family – help with milking yaks and watch the nomads making curds, yoghurts or distilling vodka from milk. Alternatively, you may want to just put up your feet, rest read a book, and enjoy the beautiful scenery – discuss your preferences with your guide, you can be as active or relaxed as you wish. Stay overnight Ger alongside yak herding nomad family

Day 10 - Travel to Khongor Sand Dune – Ride Bactrian Camel ride

Today you leave the paved road and venture deeper into the Gobi desert, to the largest dunes of Mongolia, Khongor Els. Known as Singing dunes, they are up to 300ms high, 15kms wide, and 180kms. Watch out for gazelles and birds of prey as you drive – the scenery is beautiful and populated by a plethora of wildlife. After the traditional lunch, we will walk through the Golden Dunes. The view is incredible from the top of the dunes. Before breakfast, if you didn’t see the sunset last night, drive a short distance to the dunes for the spectacular sunrise. Otherwise, enjoy breakfast in the camp’s restaurant and drive a short distance to mount up for a few-hour ride alongside the dunes. In the afternoon, the schedule is flexible: Alternatively, you may want to go for a longer hike in the area, along the river or to the dunes and take amazing photos, or just rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery – discuss your preferences with your guide. Stay overnight in Ger camp.BLD

Day 11 - Travel to Tsagaan Suvarga

In the morning it’s back on the road – today you head further south for 240km to the imposing cliffs of Tsagaan Suvarga, translated into English as “White Stupa”, named after its looks. This stunning area is a 30-meter-high white limestone formed by natural wind over thousands of years. After arriving, have lunch and stroll to venture into the rock formations for some great opportunities for photography. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

Day 12 - Travel to Kharakhorum

Travel for 120 km to Kharakhorum. Kharakhorum is the ancient capital of Mongolia where Chinggis Khaan established his headquarters in 1220. In 1235, his son and successor, Ogodei built a palace enclosed by walls. You will visit an interesting local museum which showcases the Mongolian past and Erdene Zuu Monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of 16th-century Kharakhorum city. Then we will visit a local cooperative to attend a workshop for making felt items by hand. Stay overnight in Ger camp.

GER CAMP STAY (9 NIGHTS), GER ALONGSIDE NOMAD FAMILY(2 NIGHTS) IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE SERVICE, ENTRANCE FEES TO PROTECTED AREAS AND SIGHTSEEING COSTS, TRANSFERS BY 4WD JAPANESE/KOREAN MINIVAN IN THE CITY AND COUNTRYSIDE. MEALS OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH /PICNIC/ AND DINNER AS MENTIONED PER DAY ITINERARY

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MONGOLIA, HOTEL STAY IN ULAANBAATAR, TRAVEL INSURANCE, MINERAL (BOTTLED) WATER AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, TIPS AND GRATUITIES, LAUNDRY AND ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE