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Trip Rating Details
Moderate: Hotels, lodges, or full service tent camping. Hikes of two to four hours on some days. Easy physical activities. May include one to three longer driving days.
Packing List
This is a suggested packing list, which you should feel free to adjust to suit your needs. Please refer to our travel guide for more detailed information.
- backpack or soft bag
- sleeping bag (-5C)
- day pack
- head lamp/flashlight
- spare batteries/bulb
- personal medications
- towel
- hiking boots/shoes
- rain jacket with hood
- fleece jacket or wool jumper
- cotton t-shirts
- long sleeve shirts
- lightweight trousers
- shorts
- warm hat
- socks
- underwear
- sun hat
- sandals
- sun glasses
- sun cream
- spare glasses
- insect repellent
- resealing (ziploc) plastic bags
- binoculars/camera
- wet tissues
- watch/ alarm clock
- money belt/ pouch
- insurance confirmation copy
- emergency contact number
See our packing tips for detailed information.
Trip Information - Discovering the Gobi
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar/South Gobi/Yolin Am (B,L,D)In the morning we fly to the southern part of the Gobi Desert, landing next to the Goviin Gurvan Saikhan (The Three Beauties of the Gobi) National Park, after which we will visit Yolin Am canyon. Located in the southernmost province of the Gobi Desert, Yolin Am is part of the Great Gobi National Park. The area is an oasis, attracting wildlife from the area all around with water, good grazing, and sheltered canyons. The wonder of this beautiful valley is the river of ice stretching across the canyon floor, which survives the desert heat well into the month of August every year, better known as the Gobi Glacier. A hike down the valley offers us a great opportunity to observe wildlife, and enjoy the cool waters of the stream that emerges from under the glacier. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 2. Yolin Am/Khongorin Els (B,L,D)
Approximately six hours of driving through the Gobi’s typical cold desert landscape, so called because the Gobi receives its moisture in the form of snow, brings us to the Khongorin Els (Singing Sands) sand dunes. After a late lunch at the ger camp where we will spend the night, we will go explore the towering dunes on foot. If the breeze is blowing just right, we may hear the dunes singing to us. The rugged desert plants of the Gobi at the edges of the sands are beautiful in their own sculptural way. Overnight in ger camp.
Day 3. Khongorin Els – The Desert Ship (B,L,D)
The Khongorin Els sand dune stretches for over 100 kilometers, and rises to heights of over 130 meters. Today you we will ride the desert ship, the Bactrian two-humped camel, through the spectacular Khongorin Els. Overnight in a ger camp
Day 4. Khongorin Els/Bayan Zag (B,L,D)
Known to westerners as The Flaming Cliffs, Bayan Zag (Rich with Saxaul) is famed for its’ red sandstone cliffs which take on beautiful red and orange hues during sunset. Sculptural Saxaul trees grow in the arid rocky soil. The area is also recognized as one of the world’s largest dinosaur graveyards. In 1921, the American Roy Chapman Andrews discovered here some of the most important Paleontological findings of the last century. Since then, hundreds of archeological expeditions have come to this remote desert location, and even today with the assistance of local people dinosaur fossils continue to be found in the area. We arrive at Bayan Zag around lunch time and spend the afternoon exploring the cliffs, then drive to the ger camp in the late afternoon. Overnight in ger camp.
Day 5. South Gobi/Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)
We catch an early flight back to Ulaanbaatar. After a late lunch, optional museum and art gallery visits or guided shopping. Mongolia is world renowned for its fine cashmere and you will find this and many other souvenir items in the city. Overnight in 4 star hotel.
Day 6. Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
Map
