7 days Gobi AND Karakorum Cultural Tour in Mongolia
We will be pleased to make you travel around the spotlight of the historical and the natural
Best season: June - September
Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Accommodation: Ger camp (Double occupancy)
Type: Cultural
Level: Moderate (Up to 4 hours drive on improved unpaved road a day)
Highlights: Zorgolkhairkhan Mountain, Ar Burd Sand dunes, Baga Gazriin Chuluu, Paleontological site for fossils, Yol Canyon, Mongolian highest Khongor sand dunes, Bayanzag flaming cliffs, Ongi Monastary, ancient city Karakorum, Erdene Zuu Monastary and Elsen tasarkhai. Visit nomadic family and learn from their culture and traditions.
Note: If you would like to upgrade hotel and Ger-camp accommodation range or stay in tent camp and add more activities in your itinerary please contact us. We would love to make customized tours just for you.
Itinerary
Day 1: UB – Zorgol Khairkhan – Baga Gazarin Chuluu
Our driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at an arranged time. Then we will drive south to the Gobi area from Ulaanbaatar. We will cross the steppe and arrive at the Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain. It’s about a 230km drive for the day and terrain is generally green with scarce scattered vegetation. It’s located in the Central province which is southwest of Ulaanbaatar and in the area of outstanding natural beauty comprising striking sand dunes, steppe and mountains where many wild flowers grow and rare animals roam. It is a low impact, eco-friendly camp which offers a real taste of nomadic life.
This granite rock high mountain is sacred and worshiped by the local people every year. There is Ar burd sand dunes in the 3 km from Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain. We will have a lunch on the road and drive farther to the Baga Gazarin Chuluu, natural protected area, which is an ancient sea bottom plus paleontological site for fossils.
Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: L, D
Day 2: Baga Gazarin Chuluu – Yol Canyon
After breakfast, we will drive for the South Gobi province and drive by several villages Delgertsogt, Mandal-gobi province center, and Tsogt –Ovoo. We will have lunch on the road at the Mandal Gobi town. Then we will drive to Yol Canyon, which is a deep and narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains of southern Mongolia. We will drive around 405 km for the day. The valley is named after the Lammergeier, which is called Yol in Mongolian. The Lammergeier is an Old World vulture; therefore, the name is often translated to Valley of the Vultures or Valley of the Eagles. In the valley, we can walk or ride a horse through it.
Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: BF, L, D
Day 3: Yol Canyon – Khongor Sand Dunes
Today we will drive to Khongor Sand Dunes (200 km away from the Ger-Camp).
At the Dunes, the activities will include hiking or riding a camel on the sand dunes. Khongor Sand Dunes are the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. It is also known as the ‘singing dunes’, they are up to 800m high, 20km wide and about 100km long. A hike to the top of the dunes will provide you indescribable views of the desert.
Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: BF, L, D
Day 4: Khongor Sand Dune – Bayan Zag
The next journey will be to the Bayan Zag - the paleontology site of late Crafeceous dinosaurs in the Gobi (145km driving), and optional activities would be a short hike to visit a nomad family and search some fossils on our own.
The flaming cliffs of Bayan Zag are a sightseeing destination of their own and provide a spectacular opportunity to view the amazing beauty of the Gobi Desert. We will stay in the Ger guest house provided by local nomad families.
Accommodation: Ger (Yurt) Meals: BF, L, D
Day 5: Bayan Zag – Ongi Monastery – Karakorum
After Bayan Zag we will drive to the north for Karakorum, ancient Mongolian capital site. Today the site is completely ruined and instead one of the major Buddhist Monasteries that were erected few hundred years ago.
We will drop by Ongi Monastery, which is also a historical site of Mongolia from 19th century. We will have a lunch break over there. We will drive around 320km for the day.
Accommodation: Ger (Yurt) Meals: BF, L, D
Day 6: Karakorum – Khogno Khan
After breakfast, we will go to the Erdene Zuu Monastery at the Karakorum ruins. We will be introduced to the history and to the monastery. After lunch, we will drive to the Khogno Khan, which is another historical and naturally beautiful area with a long strip of sand dunes called Elsen Tasarkhai. We will drive around 130km and stay at another Ger-Camp.
Accommodation: Ger camp Meals: BF, L, D
Day 7: Khogno Khan – Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, we will drive back towards to Ulaanbaatar and drive around 250km.
Meals: BF, L
3-15 person 1180 USD pp
2 person 1455 USD pp
1 person 2143 USD pp
(15person)+1 Free
0-2 age 100% DISCOUNT
3-5 age ONLY charge domestic flight ticket price
6-11 age 25% DISCOUNT
Price included:
• All ground transportation
• Ger – camp accommodations
• All meals
• Area Entrance fee
• English speaking tour guide
• SUV with driver
• Camel and horseback riding
• Airport picks up and drop off services
• Snack and water
Price excluded:
• All personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Additional tours to places out of the itinerary
• Extra horse and camel riding
• Alcohol beverage
• Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Note: If you would like to upgrade hotel and Ger-camp accommodation range or stay in tent camp and add more activities in your itinerary please contact us. We would love to make customized tours just for you.
Pre and post accommodation options:
• Guest house $20 per person
• Voyage, Zaluuchuud or similar hotel*** Standard twin/double room $75 per night
• Puma, Springs or similar hotel**** Standard twin/double room $145 per night
• Ramada, Kempinski or similar hotel***** Standard twin/double room $160 per night
