Gobi Desert Explorer — 7 Days
Overview
A week-long overland journey through the southern Gobi, from the singing Khongor sand dunes to the ice-filled Yoliin Am gorge and the fossil-rich Bayanzag cliffs.
The Gobi is far more than an empty sea of sand. Over seven days you cross one of Asia's great deserts by 4x4, discovering a surprising landscape of towering dunes, glacier-cut gorges, red sandstone cliffs and wide gravel plains where wild camels and gazelle still roam.
This overland route links the desert's most striking sights — the singing dunes of Khongor, the shaded ice canyon of Yoliin Am, and the flaming cliffs of Bayanzag where some of the world's first dinosaur eggs were unearthed. Along the way you stay with camel-herding families and sleep in traditional ger camps under exceptionally clear desert skies.
The trip is unhurried and small-group, with knowledgeable local drivers and guides. It is designed for travellers who want genuine landscapes and nomadic culture rather than a packaged resort experience.
Good to know
- Best season
- May–September
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Group size
- 2–12 people
Fitness: A reasonable level of fitness is needed for long drive days and short dune and gorge walks, but no technical experience is required.
Highlights
- Climb the towering Khongor sand dunes, known as the 'Singing Dunes', at sunset
- Walk into the shaded Yoliin Am gorge, where ice often lingers into early summer
- Watch the sun set over the red Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs', a famous dinosaur-fossil site
- Ride a two-humped Bactrian camel with a local herding family
- Spend nights in traditional ger camps under some of the clearest skies in Asia
- Travel by 4x4 with experienced local drivers across remote desert tracks
Itinerary
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. After settling in, your guide gives a short briefing on the days ahead and the realities of desert travel. The rest of the day is free to rest or explore the city centre. Overnight in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar. (Meals: D)
What's included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with experienced driver for the whole route
- English-speaking guide throughout the tour
- 6 nights' accommodation in tourist ger camps and one night in Ulaanbaatar hotel
- All meals as listed in the itinerary (B/L/D)
- Camel ride at the Khongor dunes with a herder family
- All park and protected-area entrance fees in the Gobi
- Bottled drinking water during driving days
Not included
- International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
- Mongolian entry visa, where required
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and bottled soft drinks at camps
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Gallery
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