14 days in Mongolia: Gobi & Khangai Mountains
This 14-day fascinating trip covers the top two highlights of Mongolia, the Gobi Desert and the Khangai Mountains.
The tour kicks off with the Ulanbator city tour. After that, we will travel via the undulating steppe to the enormous Gobi Desert, away from the modern crowds. The Mongolian Gobi will astound you with its singularly huge and lovely environment, the last remaining nomadic culture, Bactrian camels, and the many endangered animals.
We continue our expedition to the Khangai highlands after seven days of Gobi exploring. We will travel to the stunning Orkhon River Valley. After spending two days with this family and touring around the area, we will visit Khustai National Park to look for the few remaining wild horses via the ancient Silk Road outpost and old capital city, Karakorum.
Services
Included:
- All accommodations, including two nights in Ulanbator
- Meals (except for meals in Ulanbator)
- Airport transfer on first and last day
- Daily drinking water
- Driver and gasoline
- English-speaking tour guide
- Three times of horseback riding and camel riding
- Local guides (for horseback riding and camel riding)
- Entrance fees to national parks, protected areas and museums that are specified in the itinerary
- Camping table and chairs
- Sleeping bags for nights
Excluded:
- Travel insurance
- Extra meals
- Meals in Ulanbator
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Any excursion related cost not listed in the itinerary (e.g., photography cost for dressing up national costumes)
Optional:
- Local sim card
Itinerary at a Glance
Ulaanbaatar
Welcome to Mongolia
Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Hiking in Baga Gazriin Chuluu National Park
Tsagaan Suvarga
Otherworldly landscapes of the White Stupa
Yoliin Am
Ice-covered canyons
Khongoriin Els
Singing sand dunes
Khongoriin Els
Camel ride through the dunes
Bayanzag
The "Cemetery of Dragons"
Ongi Monastery
The magnificent Ongi Monastery
Orkhon Valley
Ride through UNESCO recognised Orkhon Valley
Tovkhon Monastery
Remote Tovkhon Monastery
Kharkhorin
Karakorum: Mongolia's ancient capital
Khustai National Park
Prehistoric horses
Ulaanbaatar
At leisure in Ulaanbaatar
Chinggis Khaan Airport
Farewell Mongolia
Detailed Itinerary
Ulaanbaatar
Day 1: Welcome to Mongolia
As you land at Chinggis Khaan Airport, a driver will be ready to take you to your hotel. Once you have settled in, you will meet your tour guide where your first stop will be Chinggis Khaan National Museum. Here, you'll unravel the rich tapestry of Mongolian history, spanning ancient states, the epic Mongol Empire era, and the legacy of the great Khan's descendants.
In the afternoon, stroll through Ulanbator's heart. Explore the vibrant city centre, where you'll discover the iconic Sukhbaatar Square and the grand Parliament House. Gain a fantastic overview of Mongolian history before embarking on your tour.
Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Day 2: Hiking in Baga Gazriin Chuluu National Park
Today you will visit the impressive Baga Gazriin Chuluu mountains with their imposing granite rock peaks.
Standing tall at 1751m, they form a maze of beautiful granite canyons offering wonderful hiking opportunities.
Tsagaan Suvarga
Day 3: Otherworldly landscapes of the White Stupa
Today you will visit one of Mongolia's most desolate regions.
Travel through a stone desert and semi-arid steppes to reach Tsagaan Suvarga (the White Stupa).
The Mongolians have worshiped this 100-foot-tall, rocky mountain in the shape of a stupa for generations.
The otherworldly lunar landscapes and abundance of fossils (this area was completely covered by the sea a few million years ago) make this a fascinating place to visit.
Yoliin Am
Day 4: Ice-covered canyons
Today you will trek through Yoliin Am Canyon, home of the bearded vultures.
You will trek to the bottom of the canyon, which is continually covered in snow except in August where the ice begins to melt. At points the gorge is so tight that only two people can walk through at points.
This area is home to permanent glaciers, indigenous plants, and animals such as wild sheep, bearded vultures and even extremely rare snow leopards.
Khongoriin Els
Day 5: Singing sand dunes
This morning you will travel to the most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia, Khongor Dunes.
Extending over 180km it really is a sight to behold seeing these great dunes stretch out before you.
On your first day in this area, you will trek to Duut Mankhan peak where it is said you can hear the sand dunes ‘singing’ as they slowly move in the wind.
Khongoriin Els
Day 6: Camel ride through the dunes
Experience the sand dunes from atop a camel’s back today.
Travel along the Khongor River on this traditional mode of transport and experience this ancient way of crossing these lands.
From the peaks of the hills, gaze over the expanses of the Gobi Desert like the generations of camel herders who explored these lands before you.
Even if the speed may seem sedate, do note that this can be quite physically strenuous.
Bayanzag
Day 7: The "Cemetery of Dragons"
After breakfast visit the ‘cemetery of dragons’ located on the Bayanzag cliffs, also known as 'flaming cliffs' today due to its ochre red colour.
It is here that paleontologist Roy Andrews Chapman discovered dinosaur bones in 1922.
As you wander around gazing up at the cliffs and the saxaul forests it is easy to imagine dinosaurs calling these otherworldly lands home.
Ongi Monastery
Day 8: The magnificent Ongi Monastery
Today you will visit Ongi Monastery, located in the province of Dundgovi.
Before it was demolished by the communist forces in 1939, this monastery was one of the biggest and most renowned monasteries in Mongolia. Built in the 16th Century, it had over 1,000 monks at its peak and was home to four Buddhist universities where religious philosophy, secret mantra meditation, medication, and numerology were taught.
Orkhon Valley
Day 9: Ride through UNESCO recognised Orkhon Valley
This morning you will visit the Orkhon Valley. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a popular summertime residence for nomads. Today you will trek through the valley and visit a local waterfall on horseback. You will be spending two nights here to fully immerse yourself in the nomad way of life.
Tovkhon Monastery
Day 10: Remote Tovkhon Monastery
Another monastery is on the agenda today, this time Tovkhon Monastery.
Only accessible on foot this monastery was built in 1654, by the 19-year- old Zanabazar, the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu and spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism for the Khalkha in Outer Mongolia. Zanabazar created many of his most famous works in the monastery making it a very special place to visit.
Furthermore, the views from this monastery are quite something to behold. It is easy to feel lost in the magnificence of nature while gazing out over the land from this monastery.
Kharkhorin
Day 11: Karakorum: Mongolia's ancient capital
Today you will visit the ancient capital of Mongolia, Karakorum.
Established in 1220 this was once a key city along the famous Silk Road and remained a bustling city until the capital was moved to Beijing by Kubilai Khan.
While here you will also visit Erdene Zuu which is thought to be the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and is surrounded by 108 sacred stupas.
Khustai National Park
Day 12: Prehistoric horses
Today you will visit the Khustai nature reserve where the Przewalski wild horses (takhi) reside. The takhi are direct ancestors of prehistoric horses and are widely believed to be the only true wild horse species left in the world. Here you will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch these few remaining wild horses and observe them in their natural habitat.
Ulaanbaatar
Day 13: At leisure in Ulaanbaatar
This morning you will travel back to Ulanbator. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this city as you please, perhaps relax in the hotel or spend a few hours shopping the city centre.
Chinggis Khaan Airport
Day 14: Farewell Mongolia
After breakfast, a driver will take you to the Chinggis Khaan international airport based on the time of your flight.
We hope to meet you next time. Have a safe journey.
