Get ready for a unique small group tour around Mongolia, a land where ancient traditions coexist with modern life. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the local nomadic lifestyle and experience the vast natural landscapes that have shaped the way of life for its people.
Your adventure begins in fascinating Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Take a city tour to learn about traditional Mongolian customs, explore magnificent monasteries, savour lunch in Ger camp and more. Get a real taste of Mongolia’s fascinating landscape as you travel the Gobi Desert to experience a homestay with a nomadic family. Immerse yourself in true Mongolian culture from a traditional Ger camp nestled between spectacular valleys, cliffs and limestone formations. Venture into the heart of the desert to hike alongside a freshwater stream, photograph the ice-filled gorges of Yolyn Am and marvel at the Khongor Sand Dune, the largest in Mongolia. No journey to the desert is complete without riding a camel across the sand dunes and luscious grasslands of the Gobi Desert.
Travel to ‘The Flaming Cliffs’ in Bayanzag, renowned worldwide for the unbelievable discovery of dinosaur eggs and bones. Visit the UNESCO-listed 24-metre-high Orkhon Waterfall, unwind in the geothermal waters of Tsenkher Hot Springs and hike through the fascinating ruins of Ongi Monastery. Stop in Karakorum to uncover the secrets of the great Mongol, Stone Age, Bronze Age and ancient periods. Afterwards, you’ll head to Khustain National Park to search for wild horses, Mongolian gazelles, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, corsac foxes and more.
This unforgettable journey includes return international full-service flights, 12 nights of accommodation, 32 meals, English-speaking guides and more!
Want more? Add extra days to your itinerary with Arrive Early and Stay Behind in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia options.
Today you'll depart from Australia (or New Zealand) for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Please note: Some customers may be required to have a stopover on their way to Ulaanbaatar, depending on their departure location. Should you require a stopover, the cost of your hotel will be covered in your package. And your departure date will be regarded as Day 0.
Meals included: In-Flight
Upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, you will be met by your tour representative and transferred to the hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Platinum Hotel, Puma Imperial or J Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
Meals included: None
This morning, you will take a fascinating city tour to uncover the highlights of Ulaanbaatar. Your day starts by visiting Gandan where you can attend a Buddhist ceremony at the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar. You'll then head to the Zaisan Memorial before continuing to Eastern Mongolia to explore the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex with its 40-metre-tall statue of Genghis Khan. Visit two small museums and enjoy lunch in a Ger camp before driving back to Ulaanbaatar.
Afterwards, you'll have a chance to change and freshen up at your hotel before attending a traditional Mongolian concert. This is your chance to immerse yourself in traditional throat singing, folk dance and music, contortion, long song and Buddhist mask dance.
Overnight: Platinum Hotel, Puma Imperial or J Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch
This morning, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and you'll head to the Middle Gobi on an approximately 260-kilometre travel day. Prepare for excitement as you get your first taste of Mongolia’s fascinating landscape, a semi-arid steppe full of rare wildlife. You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Baga Gazriin Chuluu National Park where an iconic granite formation and ruins of a Buddhist temple await.
In the evening, you'll be completely immersed in the Mongolian culture as you enjoy a traditional meal and spend the night in a traditional Ger Homestay with a nomadic family in the steppe zone.
Please note:
• Approximately 3 or 4 guests are expected to share a Ger.
• Each Ger has a sink for washing your hands and face however no shower facilities are available at this Ger Homestay (this is for tonight only, shower facilities will be available at all other Ger camps during the rest of your trip).
• Hosts appreciate handy equipment so instead of leaving tips, it's customary to offer your hosts equipment such as headlamps, AA batteries, notepads, pencils, sewing kits or soap.
Overnight: Traditional Nomadic homestay
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
After breakfast this morning, you will journey to Southern Gobi on an approximately 240-kilometre travel day.
You'll have the chance to explore Tsagaan Suvarga, a mind-blowing colourful geological formation in the valley with cliffs shaped like a white stupa. Here you will take part in a moderate difficulty hike that's approximately 3 kilometres. This area is full of 30-metre-high white limestone formations that were part of the seabed floor millions of years ago. While there, feast your eyes on the mind-blowing colours of the desert floor below.
After spending last night at a Ger homestay, tonight you will enjoy your first evening in a traditional Ger camp.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today you will venture into the heart of the Gobi Desert on an approximately 270-kilometre travel day. Arrive at camp and breathe in the crisp, cool air of Vulture Valley (Yolyn Am) before enjoying a moderate hike of approximately 5 kilometres along a flowing stream. You'll end up at an ice-filled gorge where you can marvel at the metres-thick ice that lines the valley.
Afterwards, you'll visit a small museum displaying a collection of dinosaur eggs, bones and exotic stuffed animals before returning to the camp for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
• Good trekking shoes are recommended for today's hike.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Leaving Vulture Valley this morning, prepare for an incredible 180-kilometre journey west through the Gobi Desert to Khongor Sand Dune. This is easily the most spectacular and largest sand dune in Mongolia so let your mind wander as you travel through the spectacular landscape full of extremes.
You'll then have the chance to ride a Bactrian camel across the 300-metre-high sand dunes, visit a tropical oasis and immerse yourself in the luscious grasslands before relaxing with a traditional Mongolian dinner before bed.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today you’ll travel approximately 200 kilometres to Bayanzag to learn about the incredible site, 'The Flaming Cliffs'. This area was home to late Cretaceous dinosaurs from more than 65 million years ago. First excavated in 1922, the area is renowned worldwide for the dinosaur eggs and bones discovered in the classic desert of rock and red sand.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today you will travel to the heart of the desert to marvel at the Ongi Monastery. Formerly one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia, Ongi was ruined during a period of political repression and restored by the residing monks. You'll enjoy hiking through the fascinating ruins and taking in the scenery of the Ongi River that runs past the ancient site.
Afterwards, you can enjoy an evening under the stars and the comfort of your Ger after an approximately 170-kilometre travel day.
Please note:
• The Traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today you will travel approximately 360 kilometres to the Orkhon Waterfall, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. The waterfall is 24 metres high and provides the opportunity for hiking and swimming, so make sure to pack your swimsuit. On the way to the waterfall, you will meet with a yak herding family that lives nearby to learn about their way of life and traditions.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Take the chance to unwind today with a trip to the Tsenkher Hot Springs, where domestic and foreign tourists choose to spend their summer vacation. The geothermal water is naturally heated up to 86°C degrees (~180°F) however, nearby camps and health resorts get spring water through pipes and use it after cooling it down. The water includes traces of sodium carbonate, hydro-carbonate, sulphate, fluorite, and hydrogen sulphide which is believed to have healing properties.
Afterwards, you'll spend the night at a local Ger camp next to the springs after an approximately 220-kilometre travel day.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
After breakfast, you'll drive approximately 100 kilometres to Karakorum, the site of the 13th-century Mongolian capital. Enjoy the chance to visit the Karakorum Museum to learn about the Great Mongol, Stone Age, Bronze Age and ancient periods. Tour through the ancient city before moving onto the beautiful ruins of Erdene Zuu Monastery. Surrounded by huge 400-metre walls and built from the ruins of Karakorum, the Erdene Zuu was the first and the biggest Buddhist monastery of the 16th century.
Please note:
• The traditional Ger camp will host 2 travellers per Ger with single beds.
• Showers and Western-style toilets are located in a separate building with shared facilities.
Overnight: Traditional Ger Camp
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
This morning, you'll travel approximately 350 kilometres to Khustain National Park. You'll have the chance to visit a small museum displaying a collection of photos and videos about wild horses before taking a small hike to discover the hundreds of wild horses that inhabit the area. Other animals that live in the area include Mongolian gazelles, wild boars, ibex, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx and corsac foxes. Take in every last bit of the unique scenery as you savour your last traditional lunch before ending this incredible adventure back in Ulaanbaatar.
Overnight: Platinum Hotel, Puma Imperial or J Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight back home after one adventure of a lifetime!
Please note: Some flights may arrive +1 day later due to flight times and schedules.