The Gobi Desert is undoubtedly a unique winter travel destination, incomparable to other deserts because the Gobi Desert is the coldest desert on earth if we do not consider the polar deserts. This seasonal Gobi Desert tour is distinctive whether you travel in autumn, winter, or spring. Autumn will show you the Gobi Desert color, breeze, and freshness on top of the attractions and activities. In winter and spring, you will witness the coldest desert that accepts snowfall.
Dedicated solely to the Gobi Desert explorer, you will walk along a frozen river to the depths of the Eagle Valley, see the frozen waterfall, admire and climb Mongolian highest loose dunes, explore the world-known paleontological site Flaming Cliffs, colorful canyon Tsagaan Suvarga and ride two-humped camels when the camels are in their winter beautiful coat which let them look huge and entertaining. The Gobi Desert landscape's vastness, the Gobi Desert sky blueness, and stargazing are everyday scenes you will enjoy.
As a bonus, we added a tour of the giant statue of Genghis Khan, the most renowned attraction near Ulaanbaatar.
Itinerary
Day 1: Genghis Khan Statue and Mandalgobi
Your guide and driver will meet you at your accommodation and start the tour to Genghis Khan Statue, built in a historic place. This 40 m tall statue is considered the tallest equestrian statue in the world. The horse statue observation deck helps you overlook Genghis Khan's birth land Khan Khentii Mountains, and the Tuul River Valley. You also photograph the large traditional shoe and a whip in the lobby and visit the information hall. Continue the journey through the mountain steppes and vast open plains, heading to the Gobi Desert town Mandalgobi.
Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, hiking in Eagle Valley
Depart early morning to the remoteness of the Gobi Desert to visit Gobi Gurban Saikhan National Park. The Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain is a beautiful national park rich in wildlife and scenic places. Among the picturesque valleys, Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley is accessible by car. After our vehicle brings us to a designated parking area, we will walk through the attractive valley into the depths of a sheer rock canyon, which accepts no sunlight, allowing the Gobi Desert stream to remain frozen till May. The trekking lasts for 2.5 to 3 hours. Bearded eagles, elusive wild sheep, and ibexes are indigenous to the valley.
Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Mukhar Shivert Ice Valley, Khongor Sand Dunes and two-humped camel riding
In the morning, you will trek in Mukhar Shivert Valley, where the small river of the Eagle Valley flows over the rocks and freezes as a waterfall. The journey continues to the tallest solid dunes Khongor. Upon reaching Khongor, visit a nomad family, ride two-humped camels, and climb one of the dunes, depending on how much physical challenge you wish to face. The Gobi Desert views are fantastic from the top of the dunes.
Accommodation: Guest ger
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Flaming Cliffs and Bayanzag
Your today's destination is an important paleontological site Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found the remains of dinosaurs, including the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered in the world. You will enjoy exploring the cliffs and taking photographs of the fantastic landscapes and vastness of the Gobi Desert steppe edge with the horizon. You also visit the Gobi Desert tree grove named “Bayanzag,” which means “rich in saxaul trees.” This tree only grows in the Central Asian desert. Continue to drive to Dalanzadgad and stay at a hotel.
Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Tsagaan Suvarga Cliffs and Mandalgobi
Tsagaan Suvarga is another renowned picturesque natural formation in the Gobi Desert. These colorful massive mud cliffs look like stupas. Hiking through the cliffs offers the chance to take amazing photographs. Drive to Mandalgobi town and stay in a hotel.
Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Return to Ulaanbaatar
Return to Ulaanbaatar after 5-6 hours of driving and transfer to your accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Background
Is this odd season Gobi Desert tour suitable for you?
It is a moderate tour that includes guest ger stay and local hotels. This seasonal Gobi Desert Tour does not contain any challenging physical activities. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes and on steppes. However, we planned the trip to have equal and appropriate driving of 5.5 to 6 hours every day. The itinerary includes some light activities; 1-3 hours of soft hiking and camel riding with the help of local wranglers. One this trip, you will have a guest ger experience for 1 day. The guest ger does not have running water or WC. Stove fire heated ger stay would be an experiential part of the adventure.
Winter Tour Meals
All meals are authentic and native because you will eat in the local restaurants and food courts where the locals eat. Mongolians consume a lot of meat, especially in winter, to gain enough protein to struggle against the cold temperature and high elevation. If high meat consumption is a problem, or if you have any dietary restrictions, please inform us before arrival in Mongolia.
Accommodation
Mongolian tourism depends highly on the season and seasonal accommodation ger camps. The ger camps operate between 15 May and 20 September. The tour includes 1 night in a centrally located hotel in Ulaanbaatar and 10 nights in regular gers of ger camps. More detailed information about Mongolia Ger camps
Guides
The majority of our company's guides are English-speaking. German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese-speaking guides are available upon request. All of our guides are friendly and helpful. The majority of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia. During camel riding, local equestrians will support you.
Transportation
Regarding land transport, most of our tours were designed for four-wheel drive Japanese off-road vehicles driven by experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable mechanic drivers. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation
When is the best time to travel along this itinerary?
We tailored this itinerary for travelers who visit Mongolia from 10 October to 30 April.
October and November are autumn in the Gobi Desert, and the weather is milder.
October's highest temperature is +18 C, and the lowest temperature is +5 ͦC.
November is much colder; the warmest temperature fluctuates between +3 to +10 ͦC. Late November temperature drops to -15 ͦC.
December to late February are winter months, temperatures swinging from -15 ͦ C to -28 ͦC.
March and April weather is relatively inflexible, though the temperature will not drop below -7 ͦC. Mid-March and April daylight temperatures are usually above 0 ͦC. To prepare for your winter vacation, please check the winter tour packing list.
