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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 (-20C)
- day pack
- head lamp/flashlight
- spare batteries/bulb
- personal medications
- towel
- hiking boots
- windproof jacket with hood
- windproof overpants
- fleece jacket or wool jumper
- cotton t-shirts
- long sleeve shirts
- comfortable trousers
- warm hat
- long underwear
- socks
- underwear
- sun hat
- gloves
- sun glasses
- sun cream
- spare glasses
- walking shoes
- 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 - Gobi Wildlife – Places of Stone
Day 1. Ulaanbaatar (D)
Arrival to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. Depending on time of
arrival, you may have a short city sight-seeing tour. Evening welcome
dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2. Ulaanbaatar/Choir Mountain (B,L,D)
We drive from Ulaanbaatar to Choir Mountain, arriving in camp in the late
afternoon. Fox, steppe fox, and other small steppe mammals can be seen
in the early evening, with a spotlight. These are difficult to photograph
in daylight conditions, but are easily found at night. Camping overnight.
Day 3. Choir Mountain (B,L,D)
We explore Choir Mountain from the jeep and on foot, in order to locate
Argali sheep. The mountain itself is small, allowing us to spot the sheep
and photograph them with minimum amount of hiking and scrambling. Camping
overnight.
Day 4. Choir Mountain/Ikh Gazariin Chuluu (B,L,D)
We drive across open steppe to Ikh Gazariin Chuluu, looking for white
and black tail gazelle along the way. Arriving in Ikh Gazariin Chuluu,
a massive rocky outcropping that rises from semi-arid steppe, you are
likely to see Ibex and Argali sheep backlight on the tops of the rock
formations. Marmots are also to be seen near this desert oasis. Overnight
in a ger camp.
Day 5. Ikh Gazariin Chuluu/Gurvansaikhan (B,L,D)
In the early morning, we take time to get some photographs of Ibex and
Argali, and after an early lunch we drive into the Gurvansaikhan area
to look for herds of gazelle and wild ass. Camping overnight.
Day 6. Gurvansaikhan/Mandalgovi (B,L,D)
After an early morning tracking gazelle and wild ass to get some photos,
we will drive to Mandalgovi, stopping on the way to visit with a nomadic
family. Overnight in local hotel.
Day 7. Mandalgovi/Baga Gazariin Chuluu (B,L,D)
From Mandalgovi it is a short drive to Baga Gazariin Chuluu, another rocky
oasis in the desert where Ibex are to be seen in abundance. Here you will
have a chance to photograph wildlife as well as the spectacular rock formations
in the oasis. The first day will be spent locating animals, and we will
also visit a small local monastery. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 8. Baga Gazariin Chuluu (B,L,D)
We will spend the morning and late afternoon hours in the rock formations
where you should be able to observe the animals and capture photographs
in the excellent light of these hours. In the middle of the day we will
have lunch with a local family, and take a short hike to explore some
of the more spectacular rock formations.
Day 9. Baga Gazariin Chuluu/Tavangyn Els (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we head north towards the Tavangyn Els, across steppe
where it is possible to see herds of wild ass and large birds of prey.
After crossing the Tuul River we arrive in Tavagyn Els, where we make
camp for the night. Wolves are normally numerous in this area. Camping
overnight near the sand dunes.
Day 10. Tavangyn Els/Hustaiin Nuruu (B,L,D)
After breakfast we drive to Hustai National Park. Hustai and the surrounding
area is the only place where one can photograph Przewalski’s horses in
their natural habitat. The park was established as part of a unique project
to reintroduce the world’s last surviving wild horses back to their natural
environment. On the brink of extinction during the last century, only
a very few Takhi or Przewalski’s horse were left in zoos around Europe.
This graceful steppe horse was returned to Mongolia, and today, thanks
to this special project, two herds again roam the Mongolian steppes. We
spend the day at the park, where we will go out with one of the park rangers
to see the herds of Takhi as well as the Elk, Moose, and other wild inhabitants
of the park. Many wolves roam here, and they are not shy of humans, so
this is a good opportunity to photograph them. Overnight in a ger camp
at Hustai.
Day 11. Hustaiin Nuruu (B,L,D)
We will spend the day at the park to photograph the Takhi, or Przewalski’s
horse, and other wildlife including Moose, Elk, and wolves. You can also
see marmot and many other small mammals in the park, as well as a wide
variety of bird life. Overnight in a ger camp at Hustai.
Day 12. Hustaiin Nuruu/Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)
After breakfast at our ger camp, we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar, arriving
around lunch time. After checking in to our hotel, we will visit the Museum
of Natural History, where much of Mongolia’s flora and fauna is on display,
including some excellent examples of dinosaur skeletons excavated in the
Gobi Desert. Free time in the late afternoon for sightseeing and souvenir
shopping. Farewell dinner. Overnight in 4 star hotel.
Day 13. Departure (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure.
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