Gobi Desert and Orkhon Valley

In the morning, we will travel to the Mongolian Gobi desert, which covers one third of the country. Along the way, we will make a stop at the Tsagaan Suvarga mud stone nature formation. Once there, we will explore the various rock formations while hiking. We will spend the night in a ger.

We will begin our journey to Yolyn Am, also known as ‘Vulture Valley’, and the Dungene valley. This beautiful and scenic location is famous for its icy conditions even in the summer, and is enclosed by steep rock formations that create stunning canyons. Take a leisurely walk and capture the extraordinary landscape and wildlife through photography. Afterwards, we will explore the Gobi museum. These destinations are part of the "Three Beauties of Gobi Mountain National Park", which encompasses the southernmost areas of the Altai Mountains. Spend the night camping in the mountain valley.

We will embark on a journey to Khongoryn Els, also known as the Sand Dunes. These impressive dunes are among the largest in the country, stretching 125km in length, 20km in width and reaching heights of 400m. Climbing to the top will be a challenging but rewarding experience, offering stunning photo opportunities. Afterward, we will have the chance to ride camels on the sands before visiting a nomadic family. We will then transfer to a nearby camping area to spend the night in a ger near the sand dunes.

In the morning, we will embark on a 4-hour drive to the renowned Bayan Zag, also known as the Flaming Cliffs, where significant fossils have been unearthed, including the first dinosaur remains. This site gained fame following the exploration of American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews in the 1920s. Additionally, there is a charming saxaul forest and vibrant rock formations. We will spend the night camping near the cliffs.

We are going to travel to Central Mongolia and watch as the Gobi desert gradually fades from view. Our next stop will be the Ongi monastery ruins, situated between the Gobi desert and grassland. This monastery was once home to 500 monks and was constructed in the late 18th century to commemorate the Dalai Lama's inaugural trip to Mongolia. After being damaged by the socialist regime, the monastery was restored in 1990, and the current Dalai Lama paid a visit in 1992. We will spend the night in a ger by the Ongi riverside.

We will reach the stunning Orkhon Valley national park and encounter a dramatic shift in scenery as we journey through grassland. The park's main attraction is the Orkhon waterfall, the highest waterfall and gorge in the country. Later, we will meet our horseman family and their charming horses before spending the night in a tent near the Orkhon river.

Our horse adventure will begin by exploring the renowned Orkhon Valley national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over the course of two days, we will have the opportunity to ride through the park, witnessing numerous horses, yaks and nomads. We will also take a break to visit a nomadic family, immersing ourselves in their lifestyle and enjoying some milk tea and food. Each day, we will cover a distance of 30-35km on an easy and picturesque riding route, and spend the nights in tents.

Riding through the park, witnessing numerous horses, yaks and nomads. We spend the night in tents.

The next morning, we will resume our horseback riding across the open landscape and reach the renowned city of Kara Korum. This city served as Mongolia's political capital for approximately 40 years in the 13th century until it was relocated by Khublai Khan. We will spend the night in a ger (yurt) by the riverside.

We continue riding in Kara Korum. During our visit, we will explore a local museum and the first Mongolian Buddhist monastery, 'Erdene zuu', which was constructed following the city's destruction. 

Our horseback journey will conclude there, and we will bid farewell to our wonderful horses and guides. We will spend the night in tents by the riverside.

In the morning, we will return to Ulaanbaatar by car and make a stop at Hustai national park to observe the Mongolian wild horses, known as Takhi or Przewalski, and other wildlife. This is a unique chance to see the Takhi horses in their natural habitat. We have the option to camp overnight in a tent or head straight to our camp and stay in a ger.

Transfer to Ulaanbaatar and farewell.