Tour overview

This 14-day adventure crosses Mongolia from the green Orkhon Valley to the Gobi Desert by 4WD, with every passenger at a window seat. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen. You stay thirteen nights in a city hotel and simple ger camps, with nearly all meals included.

From Ulaanbaatar you drive to Hustai National Park to search for Przewalski's wild horses, then visit a herding family in the mini-Gobi below Khogno Khan. Erdene Zuu Monastery at Karakorum and the mountain-top Tovkhon Monastery lead to two nights in the Orkhon Valley, where you can ride or walk and meet a nomadic family.

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Heading south, you reach the ruins of Ongii Temple and cross the Gobi to the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag, famous for dinosaur finds. You climb the singing dunes of Khongor, walk the Yol Valley and visit the White Stupa cliffs and Baga Gazriin Chuluu, before returning past the giant Chinggis Khan statue.

The physical rating is medium, with long drives. This trip suits travellers who want the full sweep of Mongolian landscapes.

Trip highlights

  • Wild horses in Hustai (Day 2)
  • Erdene Zuu Monastery (Day 4)
  • The Orkhon Valley (Days 5–6)
  • The Flaming Cliffs (Day 8)
  • The Khongor dunes (Day 9)
  • The White Stupa cliffs (Day 11)

Your route

14 stops from Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar

14-day route: Ulaanbaatar – Hustai – Karakorum – Orkhon Valley – Ongii – Bayanzag – Khongor – Yol Valley – Ulaanbaatar
  1. Ulaanbaatar Day 1
  2. Hustai National Park Day 2
  3. Khogno Khan Mountain Day 3
  4. Karakorum Day 4
  5. Tovkhon Monastery Day 5
  6. Orkhon Valley Days 5–6
  7. Ongii Temple Day 7
  8. Bayanzag Day 8
  9. Khongoryn Els Day 9
  10. Yolyn Am Day 10
  11. Dalanzadgad Day 11
  12. Tsagaan Suvarga Day 11
  13. Baga Gazriin Chuluu Day 12
  14. Ulaanbaatar Days 13–14

Why choose this tour

Steppe, valley and desert in two weeks. Window seats for everyone in 4WDs.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers
  • Nature lovers
  • Photographers
  • Solo travellers and couples
The tiled roofs of Erdene Zuu Monastery

Day-by-day itinerary

14 days from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

  1. Day 1 · Sukhbaatar Square Ulaanbaatar

    An orientation walk.

    Hotel
    Bayangol Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Hustai National Park Hustai

    Wild horses.

    Hotel
    Ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Khogno Khan Khogno Khan

    A herding family.

    Hotel
    Ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Karakorum

    The old capital.

    Hotel
    Urguu Ger Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Tovkhon Monastery, Orkhon Valley Orkhon Valley

    A mountain-top monastery.

    Hotel
    Blue Sky eco camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Orkhon Valley Orkhon Valley

    Nomadic life.

    Hotel
    Blue Sky eco camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Ongii Temple Ongii

    Into the Gobi.

    Hotel
    Ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs

    Dinosaur country.

    Hotel
    Ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Khongor Sand Dunes Khongor

    The singing dunes.

    Hotel
    Gobi Erdene Ger Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Yol Valley Yol Valley

    Vulture gorge.

    Hotel
    Khan Bogd Ger Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Dalanzadgad, Tsagaan Suvarga White Stupa

    Cliffs and a museum.

    Hotel
    Ger camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Baga Gazriin Chuluu Baga Gazriin Chuluu

    Granite formations.

    Hotel
    Erdene Ukhaa Ger Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Chinggis Khan Statue, Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar

    A giant statue.

    Hotel
    Bayangol Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  14. Day 14 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Sand dunes in the Gobi Desert

Where you stay

  • Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Bayangol Hotel
  • Hustai (1 night) Ger camp
  • Khogno Khan (1 night) Ger camp
  • Karakorum (1 night) Urguu Ger Camp
  • Orkhon Valley (2 nights) Blue Sky eco camp
  • Ongii (1 night) Ger camp
  • Bayanzag (1 night) Ger camp
  • Khongor (1 night) Gobi Erdene Ger Camp
  • Yol Valley (1 night) Khan Bogd Ger Camp
  • White Stupa (1 night) Ger camp
  • Baga Gazriin Chuluu (1 night) Erdene Ukhaa Ger Camp
  • Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Bayangol Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in a hotel and ger camps
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 11 dinners
  • Private 4WD vehicles with drivers
  • Hustai, Karakorum and the Orkhon Valley
  • Flaming Cliffs, Khongor dunes and Yol Valley
  • Gobi museum and herding family visits
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Optional camel and horse rides
  • Meals not included 2 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Red rock formations in the Gobi Desert

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want comfortable hotels
  • You dislike long drives
  • You need private bathrooms
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–14 · Lunch: Days 2–13 · Dinner: Days 2–12
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Mongolia
A ger with sheep on the grassland

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,095 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Mongolia?

UK citizens can currently visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the latest advice before travel.

What are the ger camps like?

Traditional felt tents with beds and bedding, with shared toilets and showers; hot water can be intermittent.

How long are the drives?

Up to seven hours on some days, often off-road.

Can I ride a camel?

Yes, camel and horse rides are available as optional extras.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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