Highlights
- Camp in a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt)
- Learn about the history of the Mongolian Empire
- Ride a camel over massive sand dunes in the remote Gobi Desert
- Look for wild horses in the mountains
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Ulaanbaatar | Ulaanbaatar |
| Day 2 | Spot Birds at Ugii Lake | Ger camp |
| Day 3 | Sightsee in Kharkhorin | Ger camp |
| Day 4 | Visit Ongi Monastery | Ger camp |
| Day 5 | Go for a Camel Ride on Sand Dunes | Homestay |
| Day 6 | Explore the Yol Valley | Ger camp |
| Day 7 | Depart Ulaanbaatar |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Welcome to Mongolia! Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city. You will be met by an English-speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel in the city center.
The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore. You'll go on a guided city tour at the end of the itinerary, but in the meantime, you could head out to see a few sights this afternoon if you're up to it. Consider stopping into the National Museum of Mongolia for an overview of the country's history and culture, or wander around the colorful temples in the Choijin Lama Temple Museum complex. Then have dinner in a local restaurant before getting some rest.
Day 2: Spot Birds on Ugii Lake
After breakfast, continue your journey through Mongolia, traveling southwest from Khustai to the beautiful Ugii Lake. Popular with Mongolians and international tourists alike, the lake is a wildlife hotspot that's home to flocks of migrating birds throughout the year. In spring and summer, the shores are dotted with colorful wildflowers.
Tonight you will stay overnight in a traditional ger camp right on the shores of the lake. First, you'll be able to spend the afternoon relaxing next to the water. Opt to go fishing or on a boat trip, or if you're feeling up to it, brave the water and go for a quick swim!
Day 3: Sightsee in Kharkhorin
Today you'll uncover some of Mongolia's history and culture as you head south to the ancient city of Kharkhorin. Also known as Karakorum, Kharkhorum, Qara Qorum, and Harhorum, this was the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire between 1235 and 1260. While none of the original city stands above ground today, there is a UNESCO museum onsite that explains the history of this important site and showcases some of the most exciting archaeological discoveries.
Next to the museum is the 16th-century white-walled Erdene Zuu Khiid Monastery, which still functions as a working center for Lamas and Buddhists from around the world. Nowadays, Kharkhorin itself is a rather nondescript Soviet-style town, but visiting the museum and the monastery will make you feel like you've taken a step back in time.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Visit Ongi Monastery
This morning you'll set off on a long journey to Ongi Monastery in Saikhaan-Ovoo. Founded in 1600, the Ongi Temple was once the world's largest Buddhist university, with four separate colleges sitting on the banks of the River Ongi. Today, the ruined temples are a haunting reminder of the anti-religious purges of the 1930s. Take a tour through the ruins along the river and in the surrounding hills, then visit the newly founded temple to learn about the four Lamas who are reviving the ancient traditions that were lost here when the original temples were destroyed by Communist armies in 1939.
This afternoon, you will learn to build your own traditional ger. For dinner, enjoy a hearty supper of khoorhog (roasted goat) under a starry night sky in this beautifully wild and rugged landscape.
Day 5: Go for a Camel Ride on Sand Dunes
You'll have a long but memorable travel day today as you head south across the immense Altai Mountain range on your way to the legendary "singing sand dunes," the Khongoryn Els in the south Gobi Desert. It's also known as the Hongorïn Els. You'll be following in the footsteps of the famed Italian explorer, Marco Polo, who visited these dunes during the height of the Mongolian Empire in the 13th century.
Just before sunset, you'll take a camel ride through the shadows of the huge dunes and the mountainous sandy landscape. Then settle in for dinner at a local camp and enjoy another night under an amazingly starry sky.
Day 6: Discover Yolyn Am Gorge
After breakfast, make your way back along the southern side of the Altai Mountains in the southern Gobi Desert until you reach the Yolyn Am Gorge. Meaning "Vulture's Mouth," the Yolyn Am is a deep rocky ravine. The center is frozen solid throughout most of the year. Between June and September, the majority of the ice around will be melted but even in the height of summer, you'll still be able to see patches of snow and ice outside the valley walls.
You'll go on a guided excursion that takes you most of the way out to the gorge, partly on horseback and partly on foot. Enjoy one last night of camping before heading back to civilization the next day.
Day 7: Depart Ulaanbaatar
Squeeze in some more sightseeing or souvenir shopping before heading to the airport. The trip has come to an end! Safe travels!
More Mongolia Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Mongolia? Check out these other Mongolia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.
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