This
exciting 10-day tour is an overland
adventure, starting from Ulaanbaatar and
travelling down through the Middle Gobi steppe to the real desert of South Gobi province. There are many amazing sights
along the way, including fantastic granite mountains, strange rock formations, massive sand dunes and mountain canyons.
These remote parts of Mongolia are the home of rare Gobi bears, wild camels and snow leopards. You are more likely to see ibex, black tailed gazelle, eagles and marmots.
All nights on this trip are spent in traditional ger camps where there are comfortable facilities and lovely surroundings.
We travel by jeep on rough tracks, rarely
on good paved roads. In the countryside nomadic people live in gers and we will surely be invited into their homes where we will see a
way of life which has changed little in
centuries.
17 Aug
Arrive
Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon free to see the city.
18 Aug
Set out from the city by jeep on dirt tracks through the green hills of Tov Province
to Bag Gazriin Chuluu, a remarkable
granite rock formation situated in the
central steppe.
19 Aug
Spend a little time exploring these amazing rocks before continuing our journey southwards through Dundgov (Middle Gobi). The landscape suddenly becomes more desertified, dry and rocky with far distant horizons.
20 Aug
Near our ger camp we visit Tsagaan Suvraga where erosion of limestone cliffs has created a dramatic pink and white canyon (the name means "White Stupa", which is what it looks like from a distance). Jeep
to South Gobi.
21 Aug
Jeep up into the mountains of the
Gurvansaikhan National Park and walk into Yoliin Am ("Vulcher's Mouth"), a canyon so narrow that the sun reaches for only a few minutes each day. Jeep west to Khongor Els.
22 Aug
Take a short ride on camels into the big golden sand dunes which are set against a backdrop of the black Gobi Altai mountain range. Jeep
to Bayanzag where there is a small forest of low-growing saxaul trees .
23 Aug
See the valley where Roy Chapman Andrews found the first ever dinosaur eggs in the 1920s. Then travel northwards
to a place on the Ongi river and stay at a ger camp near monastery ruins.
24 Aug
Jeep
to Zorgol Khairkhan, another granite mountain with bizarre rock formations standing out against the big sky. Across the valley is a mountain where fresh spring water comes from the rock and the trees have been decorated with hundreds of blue Khadag (silk scarves).
25 Aug
Jeep to Ulaanbaatar, hopefully arriving early afternoon in time to spend a few hours shopping in the city and enjoying the restaurants and bars. Overnight hotel.
26 Aug
Depart.
Price:Euro €1295
Package Includes:
All meals (except UB)
Hotel
Traditional ger camps
Special Permit
Hire of riding camel All transportation English interpreter