Mongolia: The Gobi Desert

• Expedition Type [ Desert Expeditions ]
• Difficulty [ Moderate ]
• Activities [ Bicycling, Camel Riding, Hiking ]
• Duration [ 7 Days ]

Expedition Timeline

The Gobi Desert stretches for 1,000 miles from east to west, squeezed between the remoteness of Siberia to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. But this massive expanse of semi-arid desert is anything but featureless, and it simply begs to be explored from the ground up. Discover the Gobi's many terrains as you hike, bike and camel ride through gargantuan sand dunes in Hongoryn Els, the juniper-clad peaks of the Gobi Altai and the depths of the Yol Valley.

Day 1

Arrival Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia

Upon your arrival, your expedition guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Ulaan Baatar is a mix of old and new Mongolia, boasting both ancient Buddhist monasteries and modern buildings. After settling in at your hotel, visit the Museum of Natural History for a look at Mongolia’s natural riches. Stop in the dinosaur hall, with its many displays of spectacular fossils found in the Gobi Desert, including of the fierce tarbosaurus and the duck-billed hadrosaur. Later tonight, attend a welcome dinner.

Chinggis Khaan Hotel [ D ]

Day 2

Ulaan Baatar/Gobi Desert

In the morning, fly over vast steppe land to the Gobi Desert, in Mongolia’s southernmost province. The Gobi is a semi-arid desert, and a place of shifting sand dunes, rocky terrain and snow-dusted plateaus. Its varying landscapes hold the secrets to a primordial earth, and some of the world’s most important paleontological discoveries have been made here. Today you begin exploring this mysterious, timeless destination with a hike at the foothills of the Altai Mountains. An ancient river carved this surprisingly green valley, which is so deep, its floor typically remains frozen up until July due to the lack of sun. As you hike through this beautiful valley, your guide points out some of Mongolia’s unique wildlife, such as the bearded vulture, ibex and the argali (mountain sheep). In the evening, travel to the legendary Flaming Cliffs, so named for the red-orange sandstone that turns even more vivid at sunset. It was in this region 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. Hike through this fossil-rich region, watching as the sun turns the rocks a blazing red, contrasted against the endless blue skies.

Three Camel Lodge [ B L D ]

Day 3

Havsgait Valley/Ayaldai Valley

In the morning, bike to the Havsgait Valley, the site of ancient rock drawings left by early Gobi settlers. The challenging hike to the top of a mountain is the perfect opportunity to view the petroglyphs that adorn rocks scattered at its peak. After lunch, drive to Ayaldai Valley, stopping en route for a visit with a nomadic family.

Desert Tented Camp [ B L D ]

Day 4

Ayaldai Valley/Hongoryn Els

In the morning, venture off on camelback to the towering sand dunes of Hongoryn Els. Hongoryn Els runs for 60 miles alongside the Gobi Altai Mountain range. Often referred to as the "Singing Sands," these magnificent, remote dunes can reach upward of 900 feet.

Ger (tent) camp [ B L D ]

Day 5

Hongoryn Els/Three Camel Lodge

Spend the morning further exploring the sand dunes on foot. Climb the tallest dune for an unsurpassed view of the dunes as they spread out in every direction and into the horizon. In the afternoon, drive back to the Three Camel Lodge.

Three Camel Lodge [ B L D ]

Day 6

Gobi Desert/Ulaan Baatar

Bid farewell to the great Gobi and fly to Ulaan Baatar in the morning. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Mongolia for a look into the country’s culture and history.

Chinggis Khaan Hotel [ B L D ]

Day 7

Depart Ulaan Baatar

After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

[ B ]

Departure Dates & Pricing

Prices are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy. Alternate Departure Dates can be arranged. Prices are subject to change.