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Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip Overview
Are you short of time? Nevertheless, do you want to discover much of the famous Gobi desert highlights?
If yes, definitely, you landed in the right place. On our Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip, you will spend 7 activities and experiences packed days at the same time traveling the most scenic places of the Gobi desert, Orkhon Valley, and part of central Mongolia.
To name just a few, you will travel colorful Tsagaan Suvatga cliffs, hike in serene and verdant Eagle Valley, challenge yourself climbing the tall Khongor dunes, which provides fascinating scenery of the Gobi desert. Additionally, explore ancient monasteries, historical relics, visit nomads, ride horses, and camels.
Day 1: Tsagaan Suvarga colorful mud cliffs
Your guide and driver pick you up from the downtown hotels between 7:30 and 8:30. Start the Gobi desert group trip driving on a paved road heading Tsagaan Suvarga, meaning White Stupa, one of the most famous highlights in the Gobi desert. Tsagaan Suvarga is a spectacular natural formation of colorful, massive mud cliffs that look like stupas. Hike through the colorful cliffs to see its various angles and photo opportunities.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 420 on the paved and rough roads takes 7-8 hours
Day 2: Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, hiking in Eagle Valley
After breakfast, we travel more to the south heading the Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain Range National Park, the end of the Altai Mountains. There are numerous amazingly picturesque lush green valleys, canyons, and crystal clear streams.
You will check-in at a ger camp and have lunch. A short tour to attractive Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley. The valley was named after its main habitat Bearded Eagle or Lammergeier. After reaching the parking area, we gently hike along the mountain creek, which leads the way into the depths of a sheer rock canyon. The canyon does not accept sunlight. Therefore, it has ice until the end of June. The hiking continues for 2.5 to 3 hours in two ways. Return to the ger camp before dinner and free evening.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 230 km driving on the paved and rough roads
Day 3: Climb Khongor Sand Dunes, visit Gobi desert nomads and camel riding
The journey will continue to the huge Khongor dunes. After reaching the dunes, check-in a ger camp and have lunch, followed by a visit to a nomad family to ride camels. Next, climb the Khongor dune. If you can climb one of the tallest dunes, spread the sand against the wind to find the reason why locals call the sand dunes “Singing Sand.” The views are fantastic from the top of the dunes.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 190 km driving on the rough roads
Day 4: Flaming Cliffs – the famous paleontological excavation site
First, we travel to the Khavtsgait Valley in the West Saikhan Mountain of the Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park to explore some rock drawings dates back to the Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Seeing the rock drawing requires us 1 km hiking in a return way. Continue to travel to a ger camp located just 1 km from the Flaming Cliffs. After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon, the 360° views of the steppe, and make your discovery. We will travel to the Flaming Cliffs late afternoon for good photo moments when the sun goes down. Flaming Cliffs are red sandstone cliffs and canyons, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found the cemetery of dinosaurs and the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered in the world. Thus, Flaming Cliffs are one of the most famous paleontological sites in the world. You also see the Gobi tree grove named “Bayanzag.” Bayanzag means “rich in saxaul trees.” This tree only grows in Central Asian Gobi.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 230 km driving on the rough roads – 4 to 4.5 hours
Day 5: Drive to Ongi Monastery on the open steppes
Drive first through slate mountains and next on 80 km Ongi steppes heading Ongi Monastery. Ongi Monastery was one of the biggest seven monasteries in Mongolia. There were two separate monasteries consisted of more than 30 temples on the shores of the Ongi River, surrounded by the Gobi desert mountains. The communists destroyed the monastery in the 1930s purge. Now the ruins of the monasteries involve a vast area. Visit a new active temple, a ger museum, explore the monastery ruins. Climbing a nearby mountain to see views of the surrounding areas is an option.
Accommodation: Tourist Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 160 km driving on the rough roads – 4 to 4.5 hours
Day 6: Kharkhorin, Erdenezuu Monastery
Today’s tour takes place in the transition zone from the Gobi desert to the mountain steppes. The Kharkhorin and Erdenezuu tour will give us the insight to unravel a history of the Great Mongol, the largest land empire the world has ever known, except for exploring the country from the religious side. Kharkhorin and Erdenezuu are part of the World Cultural Heritage Site Orkhon Valley. You will see some valuable religious articles in Erdenezuu temple museums, visit an active temple, observe the religious locals, and view the stunning architecture of the monastery. You also visit the Kharakhorum Museum display remnants of the ancient city, besides seeing some historical relics on site.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 260 km driving on the rough roads
Day 7: Visit nomads, horse riding and drive back Ulaanbaatar
Today is the last day you will spend in the beautiful countryside of Mongolia. On your way to Ulaanbaatar, visit a horse herding nomad family and ride horses. You also join the nomads for nomadic lunch. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Driving distance: 360 km mainly on the paved roads takes 6 – 6.5 hours
TOUR PRICE PER PERSON
Group tour price: 862$ per person
Single supplement: 120$
DISCOUNTS
- For children of a family trip
- One free space for every 16 pax (Regards private group tour)
- Early booking discount 10%
- 6 nights in ger camps
- Breakfast -6, lunch – 7, dinner – 6
- English speaking guide
- Transfer service
- 0.5*2 bottled water per person per day
- Entry fees to national parks and museums
- Horse & camel riding
- Departure transfer
The tour includes:
- Items of personal use
- Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar
- International travel
- Visa fee
- Travel & medical insurance
- Single supplements
- Optional activities & additional services
The tour excludes:
Is the Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip suitable for you?
On this Gobi desert trip, you will travel approximately 1850 km driving both on the paved and rough roads. The daily driving duration is 4.5-6 hours. The longest driving happens on day 1 when you travel to the depths of the Gobi desert within a day – 420 km driving takes 7 to 7.5 hours.
The tour does not include demanding physical activities except for 1-3 hours of gentle hiking on some days. The group members could have an option to climb one of the higher dunes of Khongor, remain at the bottom, or climb lower dunes. Local equestrians will support the horse and camel riding except for your guide. If you are not comfortable with the riding, inform your guide that you will not ride the horse or request a helper to lead your reign.
Accommodation
On this Gobi desert group trip, you will stay in the ger camps for 6 days. All accommodation is based on twin share unless solo travelers pay extra and requesting a single supplement. We always choose the best location, best service ger camps available in the budget. The ger camp is a traditional dwelling located close to the main attractions.
The ger camps have restaurants that serve western and Mongolian cuisines.
Regarding bathrooms, the western WC and showers are in a separate block to share with other travelers. Few of the ger camps have private bathroom gers available at an additional fee of 35$-45$ per person per night.
Some of the ger camps connected with central electricity while the other half sources the electricity from the generator, solar and wind. Learn more about the ger camps and see pictures at What is a ger camp in Mongolia?
What meals will I eat during Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip?
The tour includes 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners. In the countryside, ger camps serve some European and Mongolian meals. Meat is the main recipe for lunch and dinner and is served along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals.
Breakfast; A typical breakfast consists of tea, coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs, sausage, cookies, cheese, and cereals.
Lunch: They serve some salads, Mongolian soups, main courses (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers, traditional meal), and dessert with tea.
Dinner; Salad, a main course, dessert, and tea will be served.
Are you a vegetarian or have a dietary restriction? If you are a vegetarian or have dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance. We will arrange the meals accordingly.
Water; Bottled water is provided daily.
Meals with the nomads: On Day 8, you will try authentic Mongolian lunch with the nomads.
Guides
An English speaking guide will serve the group. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. During the camel riding, a local guide will support you.
Transportation
Full-time Japanese van Toyota Hiace is the main vehicles serve for the group tour. Depending on the group size, Mitsubishi Delica and 4WD Hyundai Starex may serve.
What is the best time to take the Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip?
The best time to take the Orkhon Valley & Vastness of the Gobi Desert Trip is between 15 May and 5 October. Therefore, the group tours are available between the above period.
We recommend May, the beginning of June, September, and the beginning of October for travelers who prefer cooler weather and less crowd. Expect daytime weather between +8°C to +25°C and night weather 0°C to +20°C. Snowfall may occur in May and September.
The beginning of August and July is the hottest and wettest. As well as busiest due to the traditional holiday Naadam festival. Expect +22°C to +38°C daytime and +16 to +25°C at nights.
The second half of June and August is a perfect time to travel the Gobi desert in terms of weather. Not too hot, not cool, and not rainy. Expect +14°C to +30°C daytime and +8°C to +15°C at nights.
What to bring and wear?
As Mongolian weather is inflexible and fluctuates a lot, not regarding the month, we suggest you pack according to below
• Torch/headlamp will be useful when going to bathrooms in the evenings and at nights while staying at the ger camps
• Lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket
• Lightweight travel trousers that can be unzipped into shorts would be ideal for most summer days.
• T-shirts and long-sleeved t-shirts will be comfortable and help you protect your arms from the sun and stay warm on chilly days.
• Sturdy pair of walking sandals and boots will be useful when you hike. If not the hiking shoes, bring sneakers and sandals. Some of the ger camps do not have slippers in their gers
• Pajamas/tights or something similar to stay warm at night.
• Shorts and whatever suitable at high up to +38°C during daytime in summer months and +8 to + 18°C in the evening/night temperature. The temperature drops sharply when it rains
• Bringing your eyeglasses is preferable instead of lenses on dusty roads
• Sun cream, lip balm, sunglasses, and a sunhat are vital
• Some pills for common symptoms such as travel sickness pills, allergies pills (there is a vast expanse of grasslands), Pepto-Bismol for the inevitable upset stomach, Antibiotic cream for cuts, scratches, and insect bites, etc. The pills should be carried in the original, clearly labeled container, in your handbag, and should be checked with the Mongolian Embassy if necessary
• A watch or alarm clock can be useful if your mobile phone does not have enough charge or you do not want to use your phone
• Both backpack and suitcases work. The bell boys and service staff of ger camps will help you transfer your luggage between the ger and the parking area
• Shampoo, lotions, deodorant, and toothpaste are all available extensively in Ulaanbaatar. However, they are not available at ger camps. Therefore, bring your supply
• The ger camps provide big and small towels. Bringing dry/wet tissues, and hand sanitizer will be handy. Particularly, during some important stops in the countryside (call of nature)
• Travel and medical insurance, passport, and other documents
• Camera with a spare battery or with a mobile charger.
• Check the allowed power bank Wh with your flight operator and make sure you carry it in the handbag.
• Resealing (Ziploc) plastic bags – to protect your documents, money, camera, binoculars, and other items from wetness, sand, and dust
• Check here vaccinations and health information needed to travel to Mongolia
• If you do not mind, bring small gifts for nomad children, but not mandatory. The gift ideas are some candies, biscuits, or school stationaries.
