The Secret of Gobi Desert

Upon arrival at the airport, our team will greet you and escort you to your comfortable hotel, conveniently located in the city center. Ulaanbaatar, a rapidly growing metropolis with a population of over 1.5 million residents, is a blend of modernity and tradition. Depending on your arrival time, we will arrange a city tour, which includes a visit to the newly constructed Genghis Khan Museum. This is the largest museum in Mongolia, housing over 8,300 artifacts related to the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire, as well as the country’s history from the Xiongnu period to the end of the 20th century. The museum displays its artifacts across nine exhibition halls.
Another highlight of the day is the Bogd Khan’s Winter and Summer Palace, a stunning complex of traditional buildings where the eighth Living Buddha and the last king resided. It now serves as a museum, showcasing intriguing artifacts and costumes linked to the last king, along with his collection of stuffed animals.
We will also visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the largest and most significant monastery in Mongolia, where you can explore various shrines and admire the magnificent 82-foot statue of Migjid Janraisig, adorned in gold and draped in silk cloths.
To conclude the city tour, we will ascend Zaisan Hill for a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar. The city sightseeing tour will last approximately 5 to 6 hours.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: J Hotel 
Meals Included: Dinner

We will depart from Ulaanbaatar early in the morning for Terelj National Park, located 70 kilometers from the capital. Our journey will take us through a scenic valley surrounded by lush, forested hills and striking granite cliffs. The landscape is adorned with vibrant wildflowers and home to herds of peacefully grazing yaks, horses, goats, and sheep. With its dramatic rock formations, towering pine trees, and flowing river, this picturesque park is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, swimming, or simply relaxing and taking in the breathtaking views.
Our first stop will be the Genghis Khan Monument, an impressive aluminum statue of Genghis Khan on horseback. Visitors can climb to the top for stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, a small museum provides a comprehensive overview of the Great Mongol Empire’s history, including the lineage of the great Khans and their conquests.
We will also visit Turtle Rock and Aryaval Monastery, a peaceful meditation site at the base of the mountains, offering excellent opportunities for hiking, climbing, and horseback riding.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

After breakfast, we will embark on an adventure to the Gobi Desert, where the landscape will transform dramatically from lush green grasslands to rugged, arid terrain. By the afternoon, we will arrive at Tsagaan Suvraga, an impressive cliff rising 30 meters high and stretching 100 meters wide. Over millennia, the wind has intricately sculpted this extraordinary formation, giving it a unique appearance.
From a distance, Tsagaan Suvraga resembles the ruins of an ancient city, with its eroded structures appearing like crumbling buildings. Ancient illustrations depict scenes of hunters pursuing ibex with longbows, while petroglyphs of wild animals and cattle are etched into the rocks. Additionally, caves in the area contain various Turkic inscriptions, seals, and images.
A deep fissure cuts from the upper slopes of the mountain down into the steppe, revealing striking mud columns rising from below. The vast chasm resembles the gaping jaws of a mythical creature. Some caves feature multiple chambers, one extending over 70 meters in length, adding to the area’s mysterious allure.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Today we will drive to Dalanzadgad, a town in the South Gobi province. The Gobi Desert extends through Mongolia and China, measuring 1,610 kilometers from southwest to northeast and 800 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of 1,295,000 km². It is the world’s fifth-largest desert and Asia’s largest, though much of it is covered in bare rock rather than sand.
During the winter months, the Gobi is a cold desert, with frost and snow on its dunes. Due to its northern location and elevation between 910 and 1,520 meters above sea level, it experiences cold temperatures. The Gobi receives around 194 millimeters of rain per year on average, with additional moisture from snow blown from the Siberian Steppes. The temperature in the Gobi can range from -40°C in winter to +50°C in summer.
We will visit the majestic Yolyn Am, located in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. These green valleys were carved by ancient rivers and are home to wildlife such as Argali sheep, ibex, desert gazelles, and golden eagles.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

After breakfast, we will embark on a 180-kilometer journey to Khongoryn Els, home to Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. Towering up to 275 meters in some areas and stretching over 100 kilometers, these dunes create mesmerizing wave-like patterns. Behind them stands the dramatic black rocky formation of Servery Mountain, which contrasts sharply with the golden sands.
The Gobi Desert is known as the world’s coldest desert, with frigid winds sweeping across the plains throughout autumn, winter, and spring. Despite the harsh conditions, Gobi nomads have developed remarkable survival techniques. During our journey, we will meet local families who breed two-humped camels and gain insight into their simple yet industrious way of life.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Today, we will visit Bayanzag, commonly known as the “Flaming Cliffs.” This site gained worldwide recognition when renowned paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur bones and eggs here. The landscape features a stunning blend of red sand, rugged rock formations, and patches of greenery, creating a dramatic and picturesque setting.
We will take time to explore the cliffs, walk through the area, and visit the local museum, where we will learn about the groundbreaking discoveries and expeditions of the early 20th century.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Today, we will visit Ongi Monastery, located along the Ongi River and framed by the serene Delger Khangai Mountains. The monastery complex consists of two sections: the southern complex, which housed various administrative buildings and 11 temples, and the northern complex, established in the 18th century, which once featured 17 temples and four Buddhist universities.
Originally built in the 17th century, the monastery flourished as a major religious center until its destruction in 1937. At its peak, it was home to over 1,000 monks. Today, a small monastery stands among the ruins, preserving its spiritual heritage. Visitors can also explore the Ger Museum, where remnants of the original structures and artifacts provide insight into the monastery’s rich history.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Today, we will journey west into the Orkhon Valley, where the Orkhon River winds through a landscape rich in history and natural beauty. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, the valley is home to ancient artifacts dating back to the early 6th century and served as the capital of the great Mongol Empire during the 12th and 13th centuries.
A volcanic eruption near the mouth of the Tsagaan Azarga, or White Stallion River, caused lava to flow through the Orkhon Valley, forming a thick basaltic layer. Over time, the Orkhon River carved through this basalt, creating the striking canyon that remains today.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Today, we explore Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongolian Empire in the 13th century. Founded in 1220 on the ruins of Turug and Uigur cities in the Orkhon Valley, Karakorum thrived as a political, trade, and cultural hub until it lost its capital status in 1260 when Kublai Khan moved the empire’s center to Beijing.
After the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty collapsed in 1368, Karakorum’s significance briefly returned before it was destroyed by Ming troops in 1388. In 1580, Abtai Sain Khan and Lord Tumenkhen sought guidance from the 3rd Dalai Lama on building a temple, leading to the restoration of the Main Zuu temple in Erdene Zuu Monastery in 1588.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: Ger Camp with shared facilities
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

It’s time to depart and return to Ulaanbaatar, where you will have the afternoon free to explore the city at your leisure. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful cultural performance, featuring talented contortionists and vibrant, rhythmic dances of Mongolia.

Hotel Options
• Tourist Class: J Hotel 
Meals Included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for your departure.

Meals Included: Breakfast