10 Days Ultimate Mongolia Private Tour: Gobi Landscapes & Ancient Empire Adventure

On this day, you will take your scheduled flight to Mongolia, landing at the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport (also known as Chinggis Khaan International Airport). After clearing customs and collecting your luggage, our local driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore Ulaanbaatar city at your own pace.

Later in the evening, at 7 pm, we’ll gather in the downtown area for a delightful welcome dinner at a local restaurant. During this gathering, your guide will provide a comprehensive tour briefing, ensuring you are fully prepared and informed for the exciting adventures ahead.

Arrival Options for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: International flights to Ulaanbaatar are available from major cities including Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow, Singapore, Istanbul, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.

Useful Travel Tips:

1. The best time to come to Mongolia is the summer season, during June-August. The temperature will be 20°C ~ 30°Cfor the period. You will have great fun for grassland tour, Naadam Festival. We strongly recommend booking your tickets 1-2 months in advance.
2. The airport is located 18 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar city center, approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour by car.
3. Standard hotel check-in time is 2:00 PM. Early check-in may be available upon request for an additional fee.

On this day, you will travel from Ulaanbaatar to Tsagaan Suvarga, a journey of about 420 km that takes 6-7 hours by car. Along the way, you will stop for lunch in Mandalgovi town. Upon arrival at the Ger camp, you will check in and prepare for an exciting adventure.

The name "Tsagaan Suvarga" means "White Stupa" in Mongolian. It is named after its appearance - this geological formation has white, pink, and reddish-brown layers of rock that look like a giant white stupa (Buddhist monument) when viewed from a distance.

The cliffs are up to 30 meters (98 feet) tall and stretch over 400 meters (1,312 feet), providing stunning views from every angle. Their colors change throughout the day, shifting from white to pink, orange, and reddish-brown.

In the afternoon, you will take an excursion to the Tsagaan Suvarga scarps, where you can enjoy an unforgettable hike through the colorful cliffs. Climb to the top for breathtaking views. At sunset, the cliffs glow in golden and pink hues, making it a dream spot for some awesome photos.

After this refreshing adventure, we will return to the ger camp, enjoy a tasty dinner, and relax for the night in comfort.

On this day, after breakfast, we embark on an exciting adventure to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. As Mongolia's largest national park, it is renowned for its diverse desert landscapes, unique wildlife, and iconic landmarks such as Yolyn Am Gorge. The drive will take about 4-5 hours, offering picturesque views of the Gobi Desert along the way. There will be ample opportunities for scenic photography stops to capture the beauty of the vast and open landscapes.

Our journey will make a stop in Dalanzadgad, a charming town in the heart of the Gobi. Here, we will visit the newly constructed Umnugovi Province Museum and enjoy lunch.

At the Umnugovi Province Museum, you’ll have the chance to explore a fascinating collection of dinosaur fossils and learn about the unique flora and fauna of the Gobi Desert. Highlights include displays of rare animals such as the snow leopard, ibex, and the critically endangered Gobi bear (Mazaalai).

After exploring Dalanzadgad, we will continue with a short drive to the breathtaking Yolyn Am Gorge, also known as Eagle Valley. This natural wonder is nestled within Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park and is renowned for its towering rock walls, which rise 200-300 meters (650-980 feet) high, creating dramatic and enclosed atmosphere. In some sections, the gorge is so narrow that only one person can pass through at a time, adding to its sense of mystery and beauty.

Once we arrive, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy one-hour hike from the parking area. The hike will immerse you in the gorge’s stunning natural beauty, with its cool, shaded paths and diverse wildlife. Take a moment to appreciate the serene atmosphere, the sound of running streams, and the incredible views.

After our exploration of Yolyn Am, we will transfer to the ger camp. Enjoy your dinner here. Relax under the vast Mongolian sky and prepare for the adventures ahead.

In the early morning, we set off on 3 to 4-hour drive to the magnificent Khongor Sand Dunes, crossing vast desert badlands that stretch endlessly toward the horizon, adorned with the silhouettes of distant mountains.

Along the way, the landscape offers a surreal beauty: solitary gers dot the terrain, while nomads travel on camelback or horseback, creating mirage-like scenes. The desert floor is scattered with colorful rocks and rare minerals, showcasing the Gobi at its most rugged and striking. The journey provides countless opportunities to pause, capture the stunning landscapes, and connect with the people who call this place home. We may even stop to visit a Gobi family along the way.

The Khongor Sand Dunes, one of the world’s natural wonders, are among Mongolia's largest and most breathtaking sand formations. Often called the "singing" or "booming sands", these dunes stretch approximately 180 kilometers in length, measure 15-20 kilometers in width, and rise to heights of 80-100 meters at their tallest points. Their golden-yellow sands shimmer in the sunlight, creating a truly spectacular landscape. When the wind blows or the sand shifts, the dunes emit a low, rumbling sound, earning them their famous name.

Upon reaching our ger camp, we will enjoy a satisfying lunch. Later in the afternoon, as the desert heat softens, we will meet a local camel herder and embark on a serene one-hour camel ride. As the day draws to a close, we’ll ascend the towering dunes to witness a mesmerizing sunset from their summit, a moment that will leave you in awe. After this unforgettable experience, we’ll return to the camp for dinner and a peaceful night’s rest.

Hello travelers, you will wake up amidst the vast Khongor Sand Dunes. Start your day early to witness the enchanting sunrise in the heart of the wilderness, followed by a hearty breakfast at the camp.

This morning, our journey takes us to the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs, nestled within the Dund Saikhan Mountain. Here, we will trek to the mountain and explore a captivating natural gallery of Bronze Age rock paintings.

Continuing our journey north, we head to the renowned Bayanzag, also known as the Flaming Cliffs. Famous for its stunning red sandstone landscapes, Bayanzag is one of the most significant dinosaur fossil sites in the world. Its vibrant red cliffs and hills, glowing under the rising or setting sun, earned it the name "Flaming Cliffs." In the 1920s, American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered a remarkable collection of dinosaur fossils here, including the world’s first fossilized dinosaur eggs and skeletons of species such as Protoceratops and Velociraptor.

Upon arrival, visit the information center to gain deeper insights through exhibits and a documentary. Immerse yourself in the wilderness by hiking along designated trails to explore the unique natural formations. You’ll also encounter distinctive desert plants, like the Saxaul tree, a remarkable drought-resistant species.

As the day ends, we’ll settle at our camp, enjoy a delicious dinner, and relax with a comfortable overnight stay.

After enjoying breakfast, we embark on a northbound journey to the Ongi Monastery ruins, located by the scenic Ongi River. This picturesque drive takes approximately 4-5 hours, crossing the expansive and breathtaking Ongi steppe.

Upon arrival at our ger camp, we will gather for satisfying lunch. In the afternoon, we will explore the remnants of the historic Ongi Monastery. Once a thriving Buddhist center, the ruins now serve as a hauntingly beautiful reminder of Mongolia's rich religious and historical heritage. Nestled by the river and surrounded by the stark yet striking landscape of the Gobi Desert and gentle hills, the monastery provides a rare oasis of greenery in this arid region.

Founded in the 17th century, the monastery grew to become one of Mongolia’s largest and most significant. At its peak, it featured two main complexes on opposite sides of the river, with over 30 temples and more than 1,000 monks.

After exploring the ruins, enjoy delicious dinner and spend the night at the ger camp.

Today, our journey takes us further north into central Mongolia. We’ll embark on a scenic 4-5-hour drive, crossing the vast Gobi steppes before transitioning into the central Mongolian steppe.

Along the way, we’ll pause for lunch at a convenient spot along the main highway leading to the western province. Afterward, we’ll continue for another 1-2 hours, possibly making a stop to visit a nomadic family, before reaching Karakorum. It was the ancient capital of the Great Mongol Empire during the 13th century for about 30 years. Located in the central part of Uvurkhangai Province, Karakorum is now a small provincial town. It was founded in 1220, in the valley of the Orkhon River, by order of Genghis Khan. However, in 1388, after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty founded by Kublai Khan, soldiers of the Chinese Ming Dynasty sacked the city, massacred its population, and destroyed it.

Once in Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, we’ll visit the Karakorum Museum, which offers a fascinating overview of the region’s history and introduces us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Orkhon River Valley.

After the museum visit, we’ll head to our ger camp, where we’ll check in and enjoy a delicious dinner. The evening will conclude with comfortable overnight stay, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the rich cultural and historical heritage of this remarkable region.

Note: Today, travelers joining the Northern Mongolia portion of the tour will arrive, while some group members who completed the Southern Mongolia journey will depart the next day.

Following breakfast, our day begins with a visit to the renowned Erdene Zuu Monastery, a historic landmark founded in 1586 and recognized as Central Mongolia's very first Buddhist monastery. Using materials from the ruins of Karakorum, Abtai Sain Khan established the monastery, which became the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and remains the country’s oldest preserved monastery. At its peak in the 18th century, Erdene Zuu boasted 62 temples, lush gardens, and housed 1,000 lamas.

However, during the communist purges of 1937, much of the monastery was destroyed, with only the museum remaining operational, as Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar was the only one permitted to function. After the fall of communism in 1990, Erdene Zuu was reconsecrated and once again became a center of religious activity.

As you approach the monastery, the 108 white stupas, arranged in a rectangular wall, immediately captivate you. These stupas, symbolic of enlightenment and protection, create a stunning visual spectacle. Inside the monastery, you’ll find surviving temples adorned with intricate carvings, vivid thangka paintings, and ornate roofs. Take a moment to observe monks chanting and performing Buddhist rituals, and don’t forget to spin the prayer wheels to make your own wishes.

From there, we will continue our journey to Hustai National Park, with a brief stop at Elsen Tasarkhai and a lunch break at a roadside restaurant.

Upon reaching our ger camp in Hustai, we’ll venture into the park to observe the Takhi wild horses, peacefully grazing in their natural habitat, alongside other fascinating wildlife. After our exploration, we’ll return to the ger camp for a satisfying dinner, ending the day with a restful overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from our camp and embark on 2-3-hour drive back to Ulaanbaatar.

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, begin your city sightseeing tour with a visit to the National History Museum, where you'll gain fascinating insights into Mongolia’s vibrant history, from its ancient nomadic roots to the era of the Mongol Empire. Here, you can explore artifacts from different historical periods, including traditional clothing, nomadic lifestyle items, Buddhist art, and more.

Next, transfer to your hotel for check-in, followed by a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the iconic Genghis Khan Monument, a prominent symbol of Mongolia’s history and pride, located in the heart of Sukhbaatar Square.

Take a leisurely walk through Sukhbaatar Square, originally named after D. Sukhbaatar, the hero of Mongolia’s 1921 revolution. As you stroll through this historic space, feel its rich cultural significance while admiring landmarks such as the Damdin Sukhbaatar Statue, the State Palace. The vibrant surroundings, often bustling with activity, serve as the city’s central hub.

Later, immerse yourself in Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage with a captivating traditional folklore concert by the Tumen Ekh Ensemble, showcasing the country’s unique music, dance, and throat singing traditions.

The day concludes with a heartfelt farewell dinner, a celebratory way to reflect on your incredible journey through Mongolia.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure, or to the train station for your onward journey to explore other parts of Mongolia. If your flight is in the afternoon today, you will have some free time to explore Ulaanbaatar at your own pace.

It is time to end your 10 Days Mongolia Tour. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Mongolia Tour. We hope to see you again on your next journey!