THE ICONIC GOBI – 9 DAY TOUR

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your Steppe Elite Travel guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy some free time to relax and recover from your journey. After lunch, we will take a leisurely walk to Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of Ulaanbaatar, located in front of the Government Palace. The square features impressive statues of Chinggis Khaan, Ögedei Khaan, Kublai Khaan, and Chinggis Khaan’s two famous generals.

We will then visit the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, where you can discover Mongolia’s fascinating history and learn about the life and legacy of Chinggis Khaan.

Accommodation: Hotel Meals: L, D

After breakfast, we will be transferred to Chinggis khaan international airport to have a flight to Dalanzadgad city. After landing, we will stop in Dalanzadgad, the capital of South Gobi Province, to visit the local museum and enjoy lunch before continuing to the valley. Our journey will continue to Yol Valley, also known as Eagle Valley, within Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Yol Valley is one of the most beautiful and surprising landscapes of the Gobi Desert. Surrounded by towering cliffs, the valley is home to wildflowers, small animals, and diverse birdlife. Enjoy a scenic walk through the valley, listening to the sound of the flowing stream and taking in the dramatic mountain scenery. Keep your eyes open for birds of prey and, with some luck, Siberian ibex and wild sheep moving along the rocky cliffs.

Accommodation: Tourist camp Meals: B, L, D

Today, we venture deeper into the Gobi Desert toward the spectacular Khongor Sand Dunes, one of the most impressive landscapes in southern Mongolia. Along the way, we will stop at a scenic location for an outdoor picnic lunch, surrounded by the vast beauty of the Gobi.

In the afternoon, we will visit a local camel-breeding family and learn about their traditional nomadic lifestyle. Guests will have the option to experience a camel ride through the surrounding desert. Later, we will climb the famous singing dunes, one of the highlights of the Gobi. stretching for more than 180 km, the dunes create a spectacular sea of golden-white sand, with some sections reaching around 300 meters in height. From the top, enjoy magnificent panoramic views and watch the sunset over the endless dunes.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D

Today, we continue our journey to Bayanzag, famously known as the Flaming Cliffs, one of the world's most important dinosaur fossil sites. The area is renowned for its dramatic red sandstone cliffs and formations, which glow like flames under the desert sunlight. Bayanzag is also famous for the discoveries made by American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, whose expedition uncovered dinosaur eggs and fossils in the area. We will visit the local museum and watch a short film about the history of these remarkable discoveries. Afterward, explore the Flaming Cliffs on foot, walking among the red formations and the distinctive saxaul forest of the Gobi.

Accommodation: Tourist camp Meals: B, L, D

This morning, journey south across the vast steppe, where the horizon shimmers, to reach the tranquil river valley. Here we will visit the nomad family, explore simple nomad life spirit and have lunch. Afternoon we will drive to Sangiin Dalai lake, explore the birds and admire the sunset in the lake. We eat Mongolian barbeque for dinner, in the evening sitting next to fire staring the stars, staying overnight in tent along the Sangiin Dalai lake. You will be close to the wild nature and nowhere in the world.

Accommodation: Tent. Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, our journey continues to the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mongolia’s most important historical and cultural regions. The valley is home to numerous archaeological remains reflecting centuries of nomadic civilizations and Mongolia’s rich history. We will hike to the spectacular Orkhon Waterfall, exploring the surrounding landscape and hiking along the banks of the Orkhon River. Later, we will visit a local yak-breeding family and learn how traditional Mongolian dairy products are made from yak milk. Guests can taste freshly made cheese, yogurt, and other traditional dairy products while experiencing the hospitality of a nomadic family.

Accommodation: Tourist camp Meals: B, L, D

In the morning, we will travel to Kharkhorin, the modern settlement located near the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum. Founded by Chinggis Khaan in 1220, Karakorum once stood at the heart of the Mongol Empire and played an important role in Mongolian history. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Karakorum Museum, where you can learn about the ancient capital and the history of the Mongol Empire. We will then explore Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, one of the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery complexes in Mongolia. Founded in the 16th century, the monastery is surrounded by 108 stupas and represents an important part of Mongolia’s Buddhist heritage. Guests may have the opportunity to hear monks chanting Buddhist sutras and experience the peaceful atmosphere of this historic site.

Accommodation: Tourist camp. Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, we will begin our journey back to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way, we will stop at the scenic Small Gobi, located near Burd soum in Övörkhangai Province. Here, you can enjoy beautiful sand dunes and the surrounding steppe landscape. We will have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Ulaanbaatar. In the late afternoon, upon arrival in the capital, we will attend a traditional Mongolian folklore performance featuring talented singers, musicians, dancers, and contortionists. The performance offers a wonderful introduction to Mongolia’s traditional performing arts, including the unique sound of Mongolian throat singing (khoomei). After the show, we will transfer to the hotel and enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel J. Meals: B, L, D

You will be free at leisure in your hotel or wander around on your own until being transferred to the Chinggis Khaan international airport for your departure flight to home. End of service. Meal: Breakfast.