Ultimate Gobi

Upon arrival at the airport, you are welcomed by your Mongolian guide and transferred to a centrally-located hotel, within walking distance of various museums and shops.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room)

Begin the day with a visit to Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. Although Buddhist monasteries were either destroyed or converted into museums during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, Gandan Monastery continued to operate as a showpiece for government officials. Strolling through the monastery grounds, hear the low tones of the horns used to call the lamas to the temple and observe their daily rituals, including the reading of sutras, the teachings of the Buddha. Also visit the recently renovated Chenrezi and Kalachakra Temples, as well as the magnificent statue of Migjid Janraisig, “the lord who looks in every direction.” This 82-foot high statue, gilded in pure gold and clothed with silk and precious stones, completely fills one of Gandan’s temples.

Next, drive through downtown Ulaanbaatar to the National Museum for an excellent overview of Mongolia’s history and culture. The newly remodeled museum displays traditional implements of daily nomadic life including Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, historical costumes of Mongolia’s minority tribes, sacred religious relics, and agricultural, fishing, and hunting equipment.

After lunch, visit Choijin Lama temple. Located amidst the modern high rises, one of the architectural gems of Mongolia was originally built by the order of the last king of Mongolia the Bogd Khaan dedicated to his brother and the state oracle Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama. Choijin is an honorary title given to the high rank monks. Consisted of the group of 5 temples, the Choijin Lama Temple museum houses various Buddhist artifacts dating back to 1800–1900s including the masterpieces of the famous Mongolian sculptor Zanabazar, some fine thangkas and the best collection of the tsam masks for the religious ceremonies in the country.

In the evening, drive to Zaisan Memorial, built by the former Soviet Union to commemorate fallen soldiers of World War II. Those who climb the 300 steps will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the capital city, the Tuul River, and the surrounding countryside. Enjoy your welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L, D)

Today, continue with your journey south to the Gobi (1.5 hours), Mongolia’s southernmost province of semi-arid desert. Contrary to the sameness that the word ‘desert’ suggests, the Gobi is a fascinating and diverse region, and includes sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. For the next four days, explore the stunning landscapes of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, Golden Eagles, Saker Falcons, jerboas (similar to kangaroo rats), and many endemic reptiles. The Gobi is also home to some of the Northern Hemisphere’s most rare and elusive mammals, such as the dhole, snow leopard, wild camel, and Gobi bear.

Upon arrival, drive to Yol Valley National Park (45 mins), cradled in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. An ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley, and its remnant streams create ice formations that sometimes persist as late as July. A hike through the valley leads to the habitat of indigenous vulture-like Lammergeiers, Altai snowcocks, ibex, yaks, and Argali mountain sheep. After exploring the valley, visit the natural history museum for an overview of the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.

Next, drive to Three Camel Lodge ger camp (1.5 hours), located at Bulagtai Mountain on the edge of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure or explore the surroundings on your own. The lodge offers a wide variety of activities to travelers from reading a book on Mongolia to watching a documentary about nomadic culture, and from learning traditional Mongolian games to enjoying a relaxing massage. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Begin the day with a drive to the Gyalaan Valley (3.5 hours), passing through Haalgan Davaa Pass and the Hongoryn Els sand dunes. Spend the afternoon exploring the multicolored granite rocks of the Gyalaan Valley. Overnight in tents.

(Tent Camp; B, L, D)

In the morning, those who are interested will begin traveling by camel through the Ayaldai Valley to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els (approximately two hours driving or 5-6 hours of camel trekking). Ayaldai Valley is well-known for its unique features of both sand and mountainous topography. Many travelers over the years have praised its scenic beauty and its isolation. Though hard to believe, the sand looks somewhat similar to a towering wall. It is said that in the midst of a harsh sandstorm, this place stays relatively untouched.

Arrive at Hongoryn Els. Running about 60 miles alongside the Gobi Altai mountain range, the “Singing Sands” of Hongoryn Els reach upwards of 600 feet and are the Gobi’s most magnificent dunes.

For photographers, this is an ideal site for getting stunning pictures of the Gobi landscapes, including sand dunes with lush green patches of grass in the foreground and high mountains in the far background. The night will be spent at a local ger camp.

(Gobi Erdene Ger Camp - Wooden Cabin; B, L, D)

Explore the sand dunes on foot or on back of Bactrian camels. Camels are as important as horses for Mongolian people. Mongolian camels, also known as Bactrian Camels, have two humps and are the most well-known species in the Central Asian plateau. 60-70 percent of the Bactrian Camel population is in Mongolia.

In the afternoon, drive back to Three Camel Lodge (3 hours). Spend the evening at leisure or participate in one of the activities offered at the lodge such as a nature walk or horseback riding.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

In the morning, drive to Tugregiin Shiree, a white escarpment where the famous “Fighting Dinosaurs” fossil of a Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat was discovered in the 1970s by the Polish Mongolian Paleontological Expedition.

Next, drive to Alag Teeg, just 1.5 miles north of Tugregiin Shiree. Known for its findings of armored dinosaurs, this small but significant locality is worth the visit.

Return to the lodge (1.5 hours), stopping along the way to visit Bulgan, a town established near a natural spring. Bulgan has one of the only farms in the Gobi and is a prime example of sustainable ecotourism.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Drive to Havsgait Valley (25 minutes) to see the amazing artwork of our ancestors. Preserved at the top of the mountain are some of the precious petroglyphs of the Gobi, ancient and beautiful works of art that can be clearly seen as the sun hits the rocks from the right angle. From the depictions of these amazing petroglyphs, we can gain a better understanding of the everyday lives of the people who lived in the Gobi during the Bronze Age. Those interested are able to ride mountain bikes back to the lodge (2 hours). Return to the lodge for lunch.

Travel to the legendary Flaming Cliffs (1 hour), named for the orange glow of the rock at sunset. It was here in 1923 that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. Although not obvious to the untrained eye, the red sandstone of the Flaming Cliffs is rich with dinosaur fossils and paleontological expeditions continue to make significant discoveries at this site.

(Three Camel Lodge - Deluxe Ger; B, L, D)

Fly to Ulaanbaatar in the morning. In the afternoon, visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum, named in honor of the renowned 17th-century artist and politician, who was also the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia. The museum contains one of the best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts in the world, including many of Zanabazar’s original works.

In the evening, enjoy a performance featuring traditional Mongolian dancers and khoomi throat singers followed by a farewell dinner at a fine local estaurant. Overnight in hotel.

(Shangri-La Hotel - Deluxe Room; B, L, D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.

(B)