The Gobi Desert tour continues for 6 days. Get in touch with your inner nomad as you hike, horse ride and camel ride through the Gobi Desert. On this journey, you will see desert steppe, tremendous sand dunes, deep gorges with rivers running through them, Mongolia’s own “Grand Canyon,” and the infamous “Flaming Cliffs” of Bayanzag.
The word Gobi means “desert” in Mongolian. The Gobi is made up of several distinct ecological and geographic regions, based on variations in climate and topography. The Gobi is most notable in paleontology and history as part of the great Mongol Empire, and as the location of several important cities along the Silk Road.
Once you are in the countryside exploring Mongolia it is our preference to stay with local nomadic families if they have an extra Ger. Gers will be shared by 4-5 people (only travellers) when we stay with a local family. As a Mongolian company we prefer to support these families financially, and help support their livelihood. We are sure this resonates with our travelers who enjoy engaging with their culture and way of life on the steppe. As well as directly supporting local herders, you can experience this rich traditional way of life first hand. Also, given the remoteness, western style comforts may not be available.
Western style and luxury options are available in some parts of Mongolia in the form of Tourist ger camps. Ger camps have comfortable beds, hot showers and western style amenities. These are not included in the price quoted in this itinerary. However, if you think that you would prefer to have access to these western style comforts then please let us know and we can adjust the quote for your itinerary.
Tour departure times can be flexible, however due to heavy traffic 7 am on the morning of departure is recommended. The driver and guide can pick you up from the airport, train station, or your accommodation to suit your requirements.
Most of the meals on this tour are included in the tour price including breakfast in the hotel in Ulaanbaatar. All included meals will be prepared from fresh local produce. The majority of the shopping for food will be done before the trip departs, and fresh goods, such as meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, will be bought en-route during the trip from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally consist of breads and cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Many lunches will be provided en-route and will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads or local restaurants. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals, and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. Our GUIDE will organize the meal preparation and lead the way here. Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements can be catered for but need to be specified prior to arrival.
Summer months in Mongolia are from early June to mid-September. Although the Mongolian summers are hot and dry with occasional rain, the temperature can fluctuate as much 16-20 degrees centigrade between day and night. So be prepared for all weather conditions.
Sleeping bag (we can provide clean sleeping bags if you prefer), sunscreen, long and short underwear for travel in the high mountains, comfortable footwear, lip balm, sanitary hand wipes, sunglasses, prescription medications (if needed), rain gear, flashlight and sleeping bag liner.
My family and I spent a week travelling with Meg through the Gobi desert – we bumped in our little van across the vast terrain between the Gers where we stopped to stay the night and experience our nomadic hosts’ great hospitality. We saw the Red Cliffs, the Singing Sand Dunes, the Vultures Canyon, and much more. We were fed well and catered for in every way. Beyond all that, however, we also made great friends with Meg and with our driver, so that we left the trip with more than just memories. A great experience.
