At a Glance
Explore the hidden treasures in the remote Mongolian steppe, the spectacular Gobi Desert and its nomadic traditions. Delve deep into the wilderness and off the beaten path to where the nomads are on this 13-day raw and thrilling adventure. Your experience is heightened with 9 nights in traditional nomadic ger camps taking you back to basics and a simpler time to connect you into the deep heart of nature.
Your adventure begins in the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar. Over the next few days your time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape as you delve into Mongolia’s remote wilderness. There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the ‘singing’ sand dunes, Vulture canyon or the ‘Flaming cliffs’, and more. Begin with visiting the ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 12 nights accommodation on a twin share basis including 3 nights in comfortable hotels and 9 nights in traditional nomadic ger camps
- All meals as specified
- All transport including 4WD Jeeps and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
Itinerary
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Making your own way from Chinggis Khaan International Airport, your adventure begins at your hotel in the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar at Bayangol Hotel. Depending on your arrival, today is yours to explore at your own leisure. Venture into the city's wonders such as the Sukhbaatar, its main square, a national history museum, and national park, before returning to the hotel for the trip briefing and official group reception by the hotel. Alternatively, unwind at the hotel in the comfort of your cosy room with wi-fi, and city views. Relish the taste of mouth-watering cuisines at its restaurants, and enjoy treatments in facilities like a sauna, fitness centre, and a beauty salon (all at your own expense). |
Bayangol Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
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Today, we depart UlaanBaatar, but not without visiting the Gandan Monastery, the hub of Buddhist studies and Mongolia's biggest functioning lamastery. Here we might see monks praying and the 20m gold and bronze statue of Migjid Janraisig. We drive to Karakorum afterward, pausing at the Khustain Nuruu National Park on the westside of Ulaanbaatar to behold the Mongolian wild horses. Once extinct in the 20th century, they were reintroduced into the park and became its highlight. The horse is named Takhi, and courtesy of efforts by international organisations and other Mongolian concerned bodies, the wild horses now roam on the steppes, and we'll take a hike to see them, before spending our first night on the ger camps, traditional Mongolian felt tents. |
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These traditional camps take you back to a simpler time with their rustic charm and intriguing architecture. Breathe in the crisp, fresh air as you’re surrounded by nature where its sound will lull you to sleep. This experience seamlessly connects you into the deep heart of nature. Tonight, is the first of the many camp experiences that await us through the entire adventure. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Today, we proceed on a long journey towards Karakorum, cruising along an asphalt road, and stopping at our first magical destination, the Little Gobi Desert, marked by sand dunes on the steppes. On arrival at noon, we'll check into our new ger camp and explore the surroundings to sight camels roaming the desert dunes and grazing horses on a steppe. Our next stop is at Mount Khogno Khan, including a small temple at the mountain's foot. Wildlife is abundant here, including birds such as the steppe eagle for our viewing pleasure, before our hearty retreat back to camp. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Today, we complete the final lap of our journey (90km) to arrive at Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. This former capital was formed by Ogedei Khan before Khublai Khan moved it to Beijing. The Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is probably the oldest surviving and largest monastery in Mongolia sits nearby. The monastery was built by the orders of Abtai Khan on the ancient ruins of the capital. Although a significant part of the monastery fell to the Stalin purges of the early 19th century, there's still a great number of temples and stupas existing. We will explore them after lunch, including a museum and the ambiance of this historic site. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We venture further on our journey through the asphalt to Arvaikheer, the capital of Uvurkhangai Aimag province in the central part of Mongolia and at the edge of the Gobi Desert to the North. While en route, we will make a stopover at Shankh monastery, which is also the former home of Zanabazar, a spiritual leader of Khalkha Mongols and a Mongolian theologist. We'll probably arrive in Arvaikheer at noon and check into our hotel, the Arvaikheer Palace, or a similar one. After settling, we tour a local museum filled with artefacts and visit a local market if time permits. The Arvaikheer Palace is a simple yet charming hotel and one of the best in the city. Settle in and rest your body in preparation for the thrilling adventure tomorrow. |
Arvaikheer Palace Hotel, Arvaikheer or similarBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We embark on a long road trip today, off the beaten path and deep into the Gobi Desert, where the stony plains are vast. The journey begins after an early breakfast, and as we progress, the scenery on our way gradually transforms, looking mountainous and we can sight the Ikh Bogd Mountain from afar, which is the highest point on the Altai Gobi Mountain range. This mountain surrounds the Bayan Gobi region alongside desert stretches. After 9 hours of travelling, with stopovers, we finally rest at our ger camp. Despite the travelling distance (the longest of our expedition), the trip is rewarding, with fascinating views of some of Mongolia's enchanting landscapes. Gobi Desert is also the sixth largest in the world, and its natural endowments are worth every hour spent in admiration. |
Ger Camp Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We explore Bayan Gobi on this day, going over a desert pass and beholding the stunning sights of a white cave, earning its crystal white due to the abundance of quartz in its formation. We forge on to the picturesque desert scenery of Bayan Gobi, hosting vast stony plains, including rocky outcrops and small batches of sand across the Khatan Suudal Steppe. At noon, we pause for lunch by the wayside, with the perks of viewing the Arts of the Bogd Mountains on the north. Lunch prepares us for the highlight of the expedition with the energy to travel to Khongoriin Els Sand dunes for a late afternoon arrival. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
The entire day is dedicated to exploring the singing dunes in the South Gobi Desert, which is the largest dune in Mongolia, stretching up to 200km and rising up to 300m in some areas. The dunes are within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park and are named 'singing dunes' due to the whistling sound they make when the wind blows. Over 100,000 camels are resident here and used as a mode of transportation by herders for their gers. As a closing act for the day, we visit a local camel breeding to partially immerse in the nomadic herder's lifestyle. |
Ger Camp Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
In the morning, we take a vehicle tour of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, which lies on the eastern end of the Gobi Atlai Mountain Range. The park, named after Gurvan Saikhan Mountains (translated as three beauties), is the largest national park in Mongolia and home to some rare wildlife species such as snow leopard, argali sheep, Siberia Ibex, and Gobi Camel. The park's landscapes are diverse and beautiful, featuring rocky and sandy desert plains, ravines, cliffs, pans, salts, and oases. Next, we visit an astonishing natural sight of the region, Yolyn Am, meaning Vulture’s Mouth— a canyon so deep and narrow that even in the height of summer, winter ice can still remain on the valley floor. This region is also well known for its wildlife diversity and home to many endangered species including Khulan, Ibex, Argali and elusive snow leopards. We visit a local museum and explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby camp for a dinner featuring authentic Mongolian delights before turning in for the night. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, we drive to Banyanzag (70km) after relaxing in our comfortable ger camp. At this location, we enjoy views of the flaming cliffs named because of their red coloration and further satiate our eyes by hiking through the colorful sands of red, yellow, and orange that characterize this magnificent site. The experience gets thrilling when we explore the Banyanzag region further and luckily sight dinosaur fossils because the site is a region of dinosaur fossil exploration uncovered by paleontologists in the 1920s. After the hike, we retire to the comfort of our ger camp. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We bid farewell to the iconic Gobi Desert and fly back to Ulaan Baatar. Our arrival depends on when the flight leaves but we are certain to embark on a tour of the Tereji National Park on landing in UlaanBaatar. A bus will pick us up on arrival for a 60 km drive to the national park, which might prolong due to traffic. Exploring the Tereji National Park is blissful as we behold the conserved region of green mountain meadows hosting an army of wildflowers, including edelweiss, and strange rock shapes created by wind. Flowing rivers, streams, and wildlife in the forest at the mountain's depth are highlights of this park. The experience here comes on a sensational note, way different from the Gobi Desert life, and marks the end of our ger camp accommodation. |
Ger CampBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Rising from our ger camp at the Tereji National Park in the morning, we visit a Tibetan-style Aryabala temple. The temple is a meditation centre sitting by the mountain overlooking charming views of the national park. The pathway to the temple is flanked by placards with inspirational quotes and sayings. Brace up for the ascent to the temple, which is filled with many steps but isn't as difficult as you would discover. Another major highlight of the park is the Equestrian Statue of Ghengis Khan, situated on the Tuul River Bank at Tsonjin Boldog. The stainless steel monument is the world's tallest Equestrian Statue at 40m. The statue is of a Mongolian ruler on his horse at the top of the visitor's centre of the park. If you are daring enough, you can climb to the statue's top to see the face of Ghengis Khan. We return to UlaanBaatar for a night of dance and songs at the National Academic Drama Theatre, which is optional (US $10). Afterwards, we enjoy a last rewarding dinner before drawing the curtains on our nomadic adventure. |
Bayangol Hotel or SimilarBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Savour a relaxing breakfast, a perfect time to reflect on your incredible journey before you bid farewell and make your own arrangements for your onward travel. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.
More Info
- The departure and finish point is Ulaanbaatar
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Ulaanbaatar. The closest major airport is Chinggis Khaan International Airport and is 14 km from the center of Ulaanbaatar.
- Airport transfers are not included. Joining location starts in your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar making your own arrangements there. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us.
The walking level on this trip is rated Level 2 Leisurely/Moderate.
Level 1 Leisurely: Experience is not necessary; anyone fit and healthy enough to complete a weekend walk will thrive. Walks are often optional. Trails are seldom flat, so expect a reasonable number of ascents and descents. You normally walk for two to five hours per day; daily ascents will likely be around 985ft to 1,640ft (300m to 500m), perhaps with the odd day around 1,970ft (600m).
Level 3 Moderate: Expect easy, medium-length walks or harder, shorter walks. Some experience is useful, but not essential. Good health and reasonable fitness are important. There will be walks at higher altitudes and some longer, harder days. Generally, though, the underfoot conditions will be fair. A walking day is normally five to seven hours; daily ascents will likely be around 1,640ft to 2,625ft (500m to 800m), perhaps with the odd day around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m).
Level 5 Challenging: Fitness is vital with extended walking in mountainous terrain. You might also experience high altitude, challenging climates and remote locations. Trekking experience is desirable, but not vital if you are confident in your physical condition. Walking days are usually between six and eight hours, although they may be longer for passes or peaks. Daily ascents can be around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3,940ft (1,100m to 1,200m).
Level 7 Tough: Trekking experience is essential and preferably at altitude. You need complete confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. You may encounter extreme altitude and weather conditions and may need to use ice axes and crampons. Stamina is essential as walking days last six to nine hours (sometimes more on occasions). Daily ascents will likely be around 2,955ft to 3,280ft (900m to 1,000m), perhaps with the odd day around 3,610ft to 3,940ft (1,100m to 1,200m).
Split and optional grades: Where a trip falls between two grades, an intermediate or ‘split’ grade is used. For example, Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). Occasionally there are optional ascents available; in this case, the grade will be highlighted.
July and August are summer months and daytime temperatures should be a pleasant 20’C in Ulaanbaatar and central regions. Temperatures can reach a maximum of 33’C in the capital and high 30s in the Gobi desert in July and although the average is lower, clients should expect some very warm weather. Evening temperatures are uniformly 15 to 20’C. Humidity is very low. These months are also the wet season and over a trip of this duration you should expect some rain but showers are not normally long lasting and the total rainfall during this period is very low. (June – 28mm, July – 76mm & August – 51mm).
Mongolia is 6.5 times larger than the UK but with a population 21 times smaller. Understandably this means that large tracts of the country do not have much infrastructure. Much of our time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape. On this trip we go further into the wilderness than the average visitor to Mongolia and whilst this allows us to travel through stunning parts of the country, encountering few people other than the odd nomad, it does mean that some days involve long and bumpy drives. These drives are balanced out with some downtime to relax and just take in the incredible surroundings or often, with the option of going for a walk or even, at times a horse or camel ride. There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Taki horses, visiting the Singing sand dunes, Vulture canyon or the Flaming cliffs, for instance. These are relatively short, no more than one or two hours on mostly flat or undulating terrain. The Flaming Cliffs hike may not be recommended if you have an acute fear of heights and can involve some scrambling, however it’s possible to still enjoy great views of the cliffs and opt out of the walk. The climate in central Mongolia is generally pleasant in summer when the trip runs. In the Gobi Desert, however, temperatures can get well above 30’C, even approaching 40’C. This is a trip that goes off the ‘tourist trail’ and comes to the encounter of local nomads. It takes us through spectacular and diverse wilderness and gives us an insight into a fascinating country unlike any other.
Ger camps: Gers are similar to yurts, generally airy and comfortable with beds and, normally, a stove (though in the summer the stoves are not normally needed). The bathrooms are normally shared and all have hot water (however due to the remoteness of the camps this can, at times be erratic). Many of the ger camps now have 24hr electricity in the ger itself for charging batteries. If there is no charging facility inside the ger itself then there are charging facilities in the common area (though this may during limited periods of the day only when the generator is turned on). There will normally be no more than two people per ger, however in some cases, due to availability issues we may need to have triples in the ger. There may also be rare occasions when a single cannot be guaranteed in a particular ger camp.
Single supplement from AUD 1,209
We travel around in a convoy of 4WD Jeeps (4 passengers per vehicle) as we make our way around central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert.
Driving in the wilderness can be hard going on minivans/larger vehicles with punctures or the need to be cooled down from overheating common. We use Jeeps as they are much more reliable and able to navigate rough roads better than the larger seated minivans often used. Although rare, punctures/issues can occur so please come with an open mind.
We may also use a coach for getting around Ulaanbaatar and Terelj National Park. We also use one internal flight.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement of 4 is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
In the genuine spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea and other conditions beyond our control.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
