This vehicle based roundtrip is the one Mongolia classic which brings you to some of the most famous sights around the country. Yol Valley, Flaming Cliffs and Hongor Sands in South Gobi. And Karakorum and Högnö Khan Mountain in central areas. This journey will bring you to both desert steppe and mountain areas of the Gobi. A string of ger camps are dotted along its route. The Gurvansaikhan Mountains is an extension into the Gobi of the Altais. We will see the massive Hongor Sands, and Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag. The visit to will be on the site of the capital of the Mongol Empire, where now Erdenezuu Monastery is located.

This trip runs with a minimum of two passengers.

Countries visited

• Mongolia

Places visited

• Ulaanbaatar
• Jalman Meadows
• Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
• Högnö Khan Mountain
• Karakorum

Transportation

This journey is totally vehicle supported with 4WD expedition vehicles.

Included In Price

Local English speaking guide, all meals outside Ulaanbaatar, all overnights in ger camps in double occupancy, 2 nights accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. All surface transport and entrance fees.

Meals Included

This tour includes 27 meals; 10 breakfasts 9 lunches 8 dinners

Not Included In Price

Internal flights approx. Flight UB - South Gobi oneway: AU$ 238, Imported drinks. Air or train tickets. Transfers in Ulaanbaatar.

Important Information

For operational reasons, any of these trips may operate in the reverse direction ending with a return flight to Ulaanbaatar from Dalanzadgad.

Private departures: On request, and if available, the trip may operate on any day, at an additional cost of USD 400 pp for groups 2-5 people. Group discounts available upon request. Private departures may be customized adding days at Hongor Sands and Ongiin Monastery, even adding a several days trek supported by pack yaks caravan across Hangai Mountains. It is also possible to add Hustai National Park. Please ask for customized quote in such cases.

Naadam Games: Be sure to include this in your planning (July 10th - 12th) if you can travel in July.

Day 1-2: Arrive Ulaanbaatar and travel to Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

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Arrive Ulaanbaatar for overnight.

Pick up at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar, and transfer to the airport for 1½ hour flight to South Gobi. South Gobi (Ömnögobi) is the least populated province in all Mongolia. We will start our trip by going to our ger camp, in the proximity of Dalanzadgad and hike in the hills of Gurvansaikhan Mountains (Three Beauties). You may also join in Dalanzadgad as per our instructions.

Accommodation

Tourist class hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Nomadic Ger camp on day 2

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3: Yol Valley of Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

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A full day of exploration of the core of Gurvansaikhan Mountains and the gorge of Yol. Yoliin Am in Mongolian means the valley of Lammergeier. These majestic vultures are certainly present here as are Wallcreepers, Hoopoes, four species of Rose-finches and Kozlov’s Accentors. Altai Snowcock may be heard from the high ridges above. It is possible to hike the entire length of this ravine, which is snow covered and with ice well into summer. For a week or two a complete passage is not possible as the snow and ice might not bear you.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 4: Hongor Sands

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We will drive west, some 200km to the famous Hongor Sands, a giant sand dune stretching lengthwise some 180 km away in the distance. Sometimes it is just a couple of hundred metres wide, sometimes as wide as 7-20 km. We will check in at any of the ger camps located here. These are ordinary camps, but with an excellent location for our purpose. Almost next to this giant sand dune. It is high and has a small stream following the leeward side of the sand dune. Herdsmen also live nearby the sand dune. On this stretch of grass that resembles a lawn a kilometre or two between them separates the families. Late afternoon on the dunes for sunset.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Bayanzag

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We will explore some length of the Hongor Sands and go to a point where the sand reaches some 4-500 meters into the sky, and we will climb it for a superb view around the desert steppes. We are also likely to come across herdsmen who breed camels. You may as an optional use their riding camels for a couple of hours, and go for an extended ride along and on the sands. In the afternoon drive east 120km. In the late afternoon, visit Bayanzag – the famous Flaming Cliffs – at sunset. Roy Chapman Andrews expedition, the famous explorer of the American Museum of Natural History in New York unearthed the first ever fossilized dinosaur eggs here, in the 1920s and labeled the site the “Flaming Cliffs”.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Ongiin Monastery

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If you will like it, we can take another morning walk on the cliffs, and then return to camp for breakfast. Then we will drive half a day north to the Ongiin River, which usually is dried out. The Ongiin Monastery ruin is alongside the river near Saikhan Ovoo. Hike around the area in the afternoon.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Högnö Khan Mountain

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Depart in the morning for a full day north through Övörhangai province and on to southernmost Bulgan province and the scenic Högnö Khan Mountain area. There will be steppe landscape all the way, and upon reaching the Högnö Khan Mountain area, we will see Mongol Els sand dunes in the middle of the steppe. They are locally known as "Little Gobi" or “Elsen Tasarkhai”. Next to them there is a small lake where waders such as herons and ducks may be seen in the summer. Overnight in gers.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Högnö Khan Mountain

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The Högnö Khan Mountain is a giant rock formation in the middle of the steppe and in it is the small Erdenekhombo Monastery, now being restored. It was destroyed during the purges of the 1930s. An interesting countryside area where many nomadic herdsmen live surrounds it. We will explore the area on foot today. As easy hike until Övgön Monastery ruin, located in a green oasis in the middle of Högnö Khan Mountains.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9: Erdenezuu & Karakorum

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Full day excursion to Harhorin. We will drive 80km, which is 2 hours, to nearby Harhorin (Karakorum). Erdenezuu is nowadays a functioning monastery. n the past, 1000 monks used to inhabit Erdenezuu. It had some 100 temples within its 400 by 400 meters long walls. The monastery was sacked during the purges of 1937. Erdenezuu is still one of the most fascinating sites of Mongolia. Return to camp at Högnö Khan.

Accommodation

Nomadic Ger camp

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar

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Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Picnic lunch en route. Check into your hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 11: Tour ends Ulaanbaatar

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Your tour ends in Ulaanbaatar this morning after breakfast

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts