Compare Wild Mongolia by Wilderness Travel vs Nomadic Mongolia by G Adventures
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 7,195 | $ 2,559 |
| Price Per Day | $ 553 | $ 183 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners |
| Description |
Our rare “back of beyond” adventure brings you from the fascinating Kazakh culture of the Altai Mountains in Mongolia’s wild west to the epic setting of the vast Gobi Desert in the south. In the Altai, you’ll witness the thrilling Golden Eagle Festival as Kazakhs come from afar on horseback to attend this friendly competition and show off the skills of their majestic trained eagles—a truly spectacular sight. The opportunity to meet and mingle with them, watch their amazing horsemanship, and visit local families is an unforgettable experience. Heading to the Gobi, you’ll walk on the golden Moltsog Els sand dunes and in the glacier-carved Yol Valley, and watch a blazing sunset at the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were found. |
Long after the reign of Genghis Khan, nomadism remains a way of life in modern Mongolia. But with so much to see and do here, it’s only natural that people would want to move about and explore. This adventure taps into the nomadic lifestyle embraced by almost 40% of the local population, travelling through ruggedly beautiful gorges and sandstone mountains in search of golden eagles, desert gazelles, and the Mongolian horse. And when you’re not moving, you’ll experience local customs up close, exploring rural villages and sleeping in traditional ger tents. |
Days 1-6: Ulaanbaatar / Gobi Desert / Flaming Cliffs / Three Camel Lodge
In the capital, our visits include fascinating Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia, and the Paleontological Laboratory, where we get a behind-the-scenes tour. We fly to the Gobi Desert, with our overnights at the celebrated Three Camel Lodge. Out in this remote land, we walk in the golden Moltsog Els dunes and have an opportunity to ride a magnificent two-humped Bactrian camel. Our hikes bring us to rock art sites and into the habitat of argali mountain sheep and soaring lammergeiers. Some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century were made in the Gobi, and we’ll explore the Flaming Cliffs, where in 1923, Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his team from the American Museum of Natural History found dinosaur eggs and transformed our understanding of these prehistoric giants.
Days 7-12: Ulgii / Golden Eagle Festival / Ulaanbaatar
A flight brings us to Ulgii, capital of Mongolia’s far west, land of the Kazakhs. The Kazakhs of Mongolia are culturally distinct, speaking the Turkic language of their forebears and famed as the traditional nomadic herders of Central Asia. Their heritage of falconry goes back thousands of years. Out in the snow-dusted High Altai, we’ll witness the wildly colorful Golden Eagle Festival, with Kazakh hunters in traditional dress parading on horseback with their trained golden eagles. Kazakh families arrive from villages far away to enjoy the pageantry, and during competitions, awards are given to hunters with the most elaborate dress and to eagles that have demonstrated the most skill and agility. Archery and the fast-paced equestrian game of kukbar are part of the festival’s closing ceremony, and it’s a thrill to watch. Our accommodation is a ger camp in a beautiful riverside spot. Depart on Day 12 via Ulaanbaatar.
Day 1 Ulaanbaatar
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2 Ulaanbaatar
Enjoy a free day exploring the city. Opt to take a morning city tour including visits to Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers.
Spend a free day exploring this fascinating capital city. Enjoy the sights of UB and opt to visit to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace, and Zaisan Hill.
Day 3 Ulaanbaatar/Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu
Drive to the Dungobi Aimag region – Middle Gobi – stopping at the Choir Monastery on the way. Spend the night at the first Mongolian ger camp.
Leave the capital and head south through the steppe to the Middle Gobi. Visit the Choir Monastery before continuing on to a small ger camp not far from Mandalgovi, the regional centre.
Gers are traditional Mongolian tents made with wooden frames and layers of felt. The camps we stay at will have 4 beds per ger with mattresses, linens, and extra blankets. They have a central stove to keep the place cozy and a small table and chairs.
Day 4 Baga Gadzrïn Chuluu/Yolyn Am
Arrive at Yolyn Am — a narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikan mountains. It's an amazing place for hiking. Bring stable shoes and warm clothes, as some places are covered in thick ice year round.
Day 5 Yolyn Am/Khongoryn Els
Drive to Khongoryn Els. En route, stop by a local natural history museum. Enjoy the unique activities the Gobi Desert has to offer.
Day 6 Khongoryn Els
Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Gobi Desert. This morning, visit the biggest sand dunes in the western Gobi, then meet a nomadic camel-herding family. Opt to hike along other nearby sand dunes, and try riding a camel.
Day 7 Khongoryn Els/Bayanzag
Explore the Flaming Cliffs - a world renowned archaeological site for the vast amount of dinosaur bones and eggs found here.
Made of red sandstone, these cliffs and canyons offer visitors a scene of breathtaking beauty. Take some time to explore.
Day 8 Bayanzag/Ongiin Hiid
Drive through western parts of the Gobi Desert. In the surrounding mountains, visit the ruins of the Hoshuu and Ongiin Khiid monasteries.
Drive to the Delger Khangai Mountains area. Explore the ruins of the monasteries in the area.
Day 9 Ongiin Hiid/Nomad Camp
Leave the Gobi Desert and drive through the Mongolian grasslands. Spend the next two nights with a local nomadic family, observing how they live. Enjoy a traditional meal with them.
Enjoy a long drive northwest, leaving the Gobi desert area and heading into the Mongolian steppe. The nomads here live simple lives and move their cattle along the same routes their great-grandparents travelled hundreds of years ago. In the evening, have dinner together with your hosts. One of the best things to try is the famous Mongolian barbecue.
Depending on the size of the nomadic family and their gers, accommodations can be very basic, with minimal to no facilities. In case if nomads can’t provide enough space for our group, we will camp nearby (camping gear is provided).
Day 10 Nomad Camp
Learn more about nomadic life in the steppes. Get to know your hosts and opt to participate in traditional activities such as milking a yak and preparing fresh dairy products. Discover what it takes to handle a Mongolian horse, and if the season is right, try airag (fermented mare's milk) - long important to cultures across Central Asia.
Day 11 Nomad Camp/Kharkhorin
Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. En route to tonight's ger camp, stop by the Karakorum Museum.
Journey to Kharkhorin, stopping at the beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery. Destroyed during the Communist era, this monastery is slowly being rebuilt.
Day 12 Kharkhorin/Khustai National Park
Stay in Khustai National Park—home of Mongolian wild horses. Here, look for Takhi horses in their natural habitat.
Day 13 Khustai National Park/Ulaanbaatar
Drive back to the capital for last minute sightseeing. Opt to see a local cultural show, an excellent display of dancing and Mongolian throat singing.
Day 14 Ulaanbaatar
Depart at any time.
