Epic Gobi & Orkhon Valley 12-Day Overland Mongolia Tour

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. After clear customs and claim your luggage, you will be greeted by your driver at the exit and then transferred to your hotel. After check-in, free at leisure for the rest of the day to refresh yourself from jet lag.

Accommodation: Hotel 3*.
Meals: not included this day

This morning at 9am, you will meet with your guide and driver at your hotel and head to Terelj National Park. This is one of the nearest and the most breathtaking sightseeing from the capital Ulaanbaatar. En route, visit “Genghis Khan Statue Complex” which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. You can go inside and enjoy museums, souvenir shops.

Next, see Turtle Rock – the symbol of the National Park. You can take a photo of rock and climb on the rock if you want. Also, visit the Ariyabal meditation temple - stand on the top of hill, you will be amused by the whole park view. Dinner and overnight at the beautifully located tourist Ger camp.

Accommodation: Hotel 3*.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning at 8am, we will drive towards Tsagaan Suvarga. We will drive through rolling hills and the steppe of the Middle Gobi province. Upon arrival at the Ger camp check in and have lunch. Tsagaan Suvarga is a steep, colorful limestone slope that was once an ancient seabed, featuring a sedimentary structure created over millions of years. Here you will stay interesting Gobi caravan Serai camp and you can do hiking and take photographs of the beautiful panoramic views.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

After relaxing breakfast, we will proceed to Yol valley (also called Yolyn Am & Eagle valley) in the hot Gobi Desert, which shows unusual scenery. On the way, we will visit Gobi museum in Dalanzadgad town. There you will do hiking to reach the end of the gorge with thick ice layers throughout the year. Surrounding mountains are home to eagles, elusive wild sheep and ibexes, and many birds of prey, as well as numerous small rodents.

Accommodation: Good local hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Today, our excursion will start at 8 am to the extraordinary Khongor sand dune the largest and most breathtaking sand dunes in Mongolia reaching as high as 100-300 meters (328,08 – 984,25 feet) above the ground. This is undoubtedly among the most spectacular of the country. The sand dunes make you feel extraordinary comfort and infinite peace. Reach the tourist camp around lunch time and relax until Gobi hot temperature decrease.

In the evening, visit local camel herder family in their ger, and experience their nomadic lifestyle and ride a camel to explore the area. Next excursion is to a beautiful green oasis of Seruun Bulag near the Khongor River and sand dunes. Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp. Dinner and overnight at the tourist camp.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

On this day, our trip will continue to Bayanzag, which means ‘rich in saxaul shrubs’, was once an ancient seabed. This amazing place is more commonly known as ‘Flaming Cliffs’ and place where a lot of Paleontological findings have been discovered. On the way, hike and see Khavtsgait Petroglyphs which depicts everyday lives of the people who lived in the Gobi thousands of years ago. Then have a lunch in a village of Bulgan and soon after you will arrive at Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs. Then you will explore around significant area, including the saxual trees and wander on the red hillocks. There is a good chance to gaze at the billions of stars in the evening.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Today, we will head to the Ongi Monastery and come around lunch time at Tourist camp. This bare steppe area along the Ongi River makes a good resting place to break a trip between Gobi Desert and Central Mongolian steppe. Ongi temple was once one of the biggest monastery. But it is today small museum. Refresh at the ger camp and take a walk among the ruins and visit the reconstructed temple museum. If you want, you can have pleasant massage and sauna at the camp. Rest of the day is yours to relax on your own.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

After breakfast, our excursion continues to Kharkhorin, a small village, and one of the country's major tourist destinations. Historically once was an ancient capital of Mongol Empire and the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, we will visit the museum of Karakorum and learn more about the Mongolian history. Continue the guided tour to the magnificent and the oldest Buddhist Monastery complex of Erdenezuu.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

This morning we will head to Lake Ugii which is located in the Orkhon Valley. This freshwater lake is 5km wide, 7km long, and surrounded by a steppe natural zone. The lake has lots of water birds and fish including perches and pikes for fishing. As the day winds down, we will ride a horse for 1 hour on the grassland. Relax and unwind at the tourist camp on the shore of steppe lake.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

In the morning at 9 am, drive to the Hustai National Park, where world’s last wild horse (never domesticated), Takhi inhabit. Upon arrival at Hustai, visit small Ger information center - shows some detailed information about the last truly wild horses. Enjoy lunch at the tourist camp. Rest and refresh until the afternoon, in the evening, go walking to see the horses in their natural habitat. There is a great opportunity to take photos of these endangered horses. You may be lucky to see fox, deer, roe deer, eagle, and more animals and bird.

Accommodation: Tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

At 9 am, you will meet with your private tour guide and driver at your hotel lobby and then the city tour starts with visiting the largest glorious Gandan monastery and capturing the monks’ daily rituals. Afterwards, we will visit Zaisan Memorial Hill, a popular tourist attraction and one of the highlights of Ulanbaatar because of its fantastic views over the city. After lunch at a good local restaurant, visit Sukhbaatar square which lies at the heart of the city. The Mongolian Parliament Building stands in the north of the square, displaying an astonishing sight of Genghis Khaan and his warriors’ sculptures. Continue to visit the Museum of Mongolian National History – It provides an excellent overview of the history and culture of Mongols from prehistory to the contemporary era. The evening is dedicated to visiting the “Folklore show”. It’s a great chance to hear Khöömii (throat singing) and amazing contortion.

Accommodation: Hotel 3*.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

As your memorable trip comes to end, then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to your next destination or home.

Meals: Breakfast