MONGOLIA Gobi Desert Jeep Tours: Sand to Green Sea

MONGOLIA GOBI DESERT JEEP TOUR ITINERARY

For those truly wishing to see a diverse spectrum of culture and geographic landscapes that Mongolia possesses, from the internationally famous Gobi Desert and its massive sand dunes to open vast valleys across the country – the our Mongolia Highlights Jeep Tour is perfect fro you! This jeep tour covers a broad range of spectacular geographic and cultural highlights that include: Gobi Gurvan Saihan National Park, Vulture Canyon, Gobi Desert, Khongorin Els Sand Dunes, Bayanzag’s Paleontology, Waterfall, Ulaanbaatar city and more! This is a genuine jeep adventure that combines the best of on and off the path travel, community based tourism, etc., for those who crave non-stop exploration, immersion and adventure.

Day One – Overland jeep to White Cliff (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Desert Jeep Tour and Overnight at Ger Camp): In the morning we will start the overland journey to the White Cliff (Tsagaan Suvraga ger camp) where you will have your afternoon lunch. After lunch, we will journey to Tsagaan Suvraga and Ulaan Suvraga cliffs – the sheer slopes facing east are amazing! This is a great time to pull out your camera and do some creative photography and videography e.g. timelapse, etc.

Day Two – Overland Jeep to Yoliin am (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Desert Jeep Tour and Overnight at Ger Camp): In the morning we will drive to the “Khanbogd“ tourist camp in the South Gobi. After lunch, you will start the excursion to Yol Valley (Vulture Canyon) National Park. The area is an oasis, attracting wildlife with its water, good grazing, and sheltered canyons. The wonder of this beautiful valley is the river of ice stretching across the canyon floor (locally referred to as the Gobi Glacier), which survives the desert heat well into the month of August. A hike down the valley offers a great opportunity to observe wildlife, as well as enjoy the cool waters of the stream. In the evening back to camp and have a dinner and overnight in the gers.

Day Three – Overland jeep to Hongor Els (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger Camp): In the morning you will begin your overland drive to the internationally famous Hongor Sand Dunes that stretches an extraordinary length of 180 kilometers by 15-20 kilometers wide. The huge sand dunes are apart of the desert zone which makes-up 2.7% of the Mongolia’s territory. Upon arrival at the desert camp, you will have a late lunch before starting the on-foot exploration of the towering dunes. The rugged Gobi Desert vegetation at the edges of the sand dunes are beautiful in their own sculptural way, and if the breeze is blowing just right, we may hear the dunes sing to us.

Day Four – Overland jeep to Bayanzag (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight at Ger Camp): After breakfast we will journey to Bayanzag that is internationally famous for the discovery of dinosaur fossils, dinosaur eggs and hatchlings, of the Cretaceous Period. Bayanzag is also famed for its red sandstone cliffs which take on a beautiful red and orange hues during sunset with its Sculptural Saxaul trees that grow in the arid rocky soil.

In 1921, the American Explorer, Roy Chapman Andrews had made the internationally famous Paleontological discoveries of the last century in Bayanzag. Since then, hundreds of archeological expeditions have come to this remote desert location in search of dinosaur eggs with a diameter between 10 to 15 centimeters; eggs found in Mongolia were the first ever discovered in their record size. Upon arrival in Bayanzag, we will visit a nearby desert camp where we will have lunch before starting the excursion that will last until the evening dinner, at one of Mongolia’s top eco-lodges.

Day Five – Visit the largest monastery ruins in Gobi Desert (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight at Ger Camp): After breakfast we will begin our overland drive to Ongi Monastery where we will have our lunch near the monastery at a local desert ger camp. After your meal, we’ll start the afternoon excursion into the ancient ruins of Ongi Monastery – upon arrival you’ll feel like you are on-set at an Indiana Jone’s flick. The Ongi Monastery was the largest monastery throughout the Gobi Desert Region that didn’t survive the 1930s oppression that completely destroyed it as well as the 300 monks that were subsequently killed by revolutionists.

Day Six – Overland jeep to Orkhon Waterfall (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger Camp): After breakfast, we will continue the journey towards Orkhon waterfall. Ulaan Tsutgalan, a waterfall on the Ulaan River, cascades from an impressive height of 20 meters and has a width reaching is 10 meters that extends for 100 meters from the Orkhon River which flows through basalt rocks from Gyatruu Range to Karakhorum.

On the way we will stop by Arvaikheer town for lunch before reaching the ger camp located near the Orkhon waterfall. Today you will have a wonderful opportunity to pull out your camera during the 10-15 kilometer round-trip walk to the waterfall and back – before returning in the evening for dinner at the camp.

Day Seven – Overland jeep to Tuvkhun Monastery and hot springs (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger Camp): After breakfast we will continue our overland travel to Tuvkhun Monastery that is located on the peak of Undur Shireet at an altitude of 2312 meters above sea-level in-between Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai Provinces. It was established by Zanabazar, the first religious head of state, in 1654 and erected on the south slope surrounded by steep angle rocks ranging 20 meters high with 14 small temples. In 1680s, at this location, is where he created the famous letter “Soyombo” to which the temple has enjoyed state protection since 1998 and has been registered by UNESCO as a world heritage site “The most wonderful valuable object” in 1996. After having a picnic lunch near the monastery, you will continue overland to Arkhangai Province that is commonly referred to as the ‘horse breeders’ paradise’, as its pastures are geographically rich in vast green fields and clear river valleys. Some travelers refer to Arhangai Province as little Switzerland with its amazingly beautiful mountains, cliffs, rapid rivers, and green forests. Tonight and tomorrow you will enjoy the natural bounties of Tsenher Hot Springs where the hot spring water flows out of the ground at 82° C, and overnight at the ger camp.

Day Eight – Overland jeep to a nomadic family (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger): After breakfast at the hotsprings we’ll start our short journey for approx. 60 kilometers to our our nomadic family where we’ll have our afternoon lunch. For the rest of the afternoon you will have plenty of time to take it easy and enjoy experiencing nomadic lifestyle before the evening dinner with the family and overnighting in a ‘real nomadic ger’. 

Day Nine – Travel by ox-cart to Taikhar Rock (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger): After breakfast, you will have time to rest up or experience aspects of nomadic lifestyle before lunch with family members. Afterwards, you will start traveling to Taikhar Rock (approx. 20 kms round trip), Taikhar Rock is 18m high cliff of granite – this granite was formed by separating from the riverbank due to millions of years’ continual flow of Khoid Tamir River through granite cape on its northern bank. Over 150 inscriptions in various scripts including Turkic, Uyghur, Mongolian, Tibetan, Manchu and Chinese were engraved on the cliff, but most of them are not clearly visible owing to the passage of time. About 70 inscriptions are in Mongolian script and the 15th-17th century’s Mongolian state officials’ name such as Khuukhai Dayu of Oirad, Tsogt Huntaij of Kalkh can be seen. According to local legend/myth, it is believed that a giant snake passed the valley crossing over 3 open canyons of Eg Mountain pass moving along the Khangai range until it reached the site of current Taikhar Chuluu to which it then fell into a hole under the cliff. Subsequently, a well-known local wrestler knowingly covered the hole with a massive cliff, currently known as Taikhar Chuluu. In the evening you will return back to family and have a nomadic dinner before your retire in the family’s extra Ger. 

Day Ten – Travel by ox-cart to next nomad family (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger): After breakfast, depending on the local livestock situation, you may have an 18 kilometer ox-cart ride towards the next nomadic family. Upon arrival at the Mr. Batdelger’s nomadic family, you will be served a hot nomadic lunch and traditional tea. Afterwards, you ‘may’ learn how to make dried curds and fermented mare’s milk if they are already producing it – as well as helping out family to putting animals in a pen. In the evening you will have a nomadic dinner with the family before you retire to the family’s extra Ger. 

Day Eleven – Duut Nuur “Lake Racket” (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger): After breakfast, your host family ‘may’ show you the basics of milking mares, catching horses by rope and training them. After lunch, you will begin your 10-12 kilometers round trip to Lake Racket that translates in Mongolian as Duut Nuur. On the way, you will pass by the legendary military general Mr. Demid’s memorial monument where locals show their respects by celebrating Rural Naadam Festivals. Duut Nuur is a known pond for water birds, at least 10 different species of 50-60 birds which are swans, cranes, gooses, shell ducks etc., pass through. In the evening you will have a nomadic dinner with the family before you retire to the family’s extra Ger. 

Day Twelve – Next nomadic family and play traditional games with family (B, L, D – Mongolia Gobi Jeep Tour and Overnight in Ger): After breakfast, you will start a 15-kilometer journey towards the next nomadic family. As soon as you reach the nomadic family, they will prepare and invite you for a nomadic lunch and traditional tea. Afterwards, for the rest of day you have free time for relaxing, go out swimming in the river or if the locals are fee ‘you may’ try learning the traditional game ‘shagai’ with the family members or even assist with nomadic routines before you retire for the night.

Day Thirteen – Five Trees (B, L, D – Overnight in Ger): After breakfast, you ‘may’ learn some of the caretaking methods in relation to their horses with assistant of host. After lunch, you will start a 16 kilometer round trip to Tangad Five Trees. According to local legend, there were five brothers who were monks that used to meditate and heal locals at the temple. But during the revolution in the early 1900s, those brothers were executed, and subsequently the temple was completely destroyed. After the revolution, these five trees were grown at the exact place where monks used to meditate. Owing to this sensitive history, locals show respect to these trees. In the evening, you will return the host family and have a farewell dinner before you retire for the night.

Day Fourteen – Overland Jeep to Tsetserleg / Departure (B): After breakfast, you’ll start making your return journey to Ulaanbaatar city.

Included Services:

• Jeep, Van or Car (depending on number of travelers)
• Interpreter Guide
• All breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated on itinerary
• Herder guide service on route
• Horse riding, trekking according to itinerary
• Sightseeing
• Bottled water on route
• Private vehicle which stated on itinerary
• Nights at tourist camp as stated within the itinerary
• Night and/or Nights at nomadic family and/or families’ extra ger as stated in itinerary
• National park fees

Not Included:

• Camping equipment /sleeping bag and riding helmet/
• International airfare
• Travel insurance
• Gratuity to guide and driver
• Alcoholic beverages
• Finances for personal use