14 Days • 13 Nights
Grand Mongolia: Gobi, Central Steppe & Nomads
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll explore Ulaanbaatar, fly to the Gobi for its dunes, cliffs and canyons, journey overland through central Mongolia to Kharkhorin and the Orkhon Valley, seek the wild takhi horses of Khustai, and ride across endless grassland, staying with nomad families throughout. Gers, camels, horses and star-blazing skies fill the nights.
With comfortable ger camps, private guides and the flights arranged, it is Mongolia in full — an unforgettable, wild adventure.
Trip Highlights
- The singing dunes and Flaming Cliffs of the Gobi
- The Yolyn Am ice canyon and camel riding
- Kharkhorin and the great Erdene Zuu Monastery
- The UNESCO Orkhon Valley and its waterfall
- The wild Przewalski's horses of Khustai
- Days of horse riding and nomad-family stays
- The Chinggis Khaan statue and Terelj
- Nights in traditional ger camps
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 14-day journey.
Arrive and settle in, with a welcome dinner of Mongolian flavours.
The Gandan Monastery, the National Museum and a cultural show.
Fly south to the Gobi Desert, settling into a ger camp beneath enormous skies.
The Yolyn Am ice canyon and the red Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs' of dinosaur fame at sunset.
The towering singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, with a Bactrian camel ride and a herder visit.
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and drive west to Kharkhorin, site of the ancient capital of Karakorum.
The great Erdene Zuu Monastery and the monuments of the ancient imperial capital.
Travel into the UNESCO Orkhon Valley, settling into a ger camp by the river.
The Orkhon waterfall and the valley on horseback, with nomad-family visits and airag tasting.
Drive to Khustai National Park to see the wild takhi horses on the steppe, with a ger-camp night.
Drive to Terelj National Park, its granite crags and green valleys, settling into a ger camp.
The Turtle Rock, the Aryabal temple, a steppe horse ride and the colossal Chinggis Khaan statue.
Drive back to the capital for a final evening, with time for the cashmere shops.
A final breakfast before your transfer to the airport.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and 4WD driver throughout
- 2N Ulaanbaatar, 3N Gobi, 2N Kharkhorin, 2N Orkhon Valley, 1N Khustai, 2N Terelj, 1N Ulaanbaatar
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at all ger camps
- An Ulaanbaatar city tour and a domestic flight to and from the Gobi
- Gobi touring — dunes, Flaming Cliffs, Yolyn Am and a camel ride
- Kharkhorin, Erdene Zuu and the Orkhon Valley
- Khustai wild horses, Terelj and the Chinggis Khaan statue
- Horse riding and nomad-family visits throughout
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Any visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (essential, with evacuation cover)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional activities and horse riding where not stated
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Many nationalities can now visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. Your passport should be valid at least six months — we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik. Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but the countryside is a cash economy with almost no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip beyond the capital
- Best season: Mongolia is a summer destination — June to September brings warm days and green steppe. The famous Naadam festival is in mid-July; winters are extremely cold and most camps close
- Ger camp life: You stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) with beds and a wood stove. They are comfortable but simple, with shared or private bathroom blocks; bring layers, a headlamp and a sense of adventure
- Long distances: Mongolia is vast and roads are often rough tracks, so expect long, scenic overland drives, with domestic flights for the Gobi and the far west, all arranged for you
- Big temperature swings: Even in summer, days can be warm and nights cold, so pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Nomadic etiquette: When visiting a nomad family's ger, enter with your left foot, never step on the threshold, accept offered food or drink with your right hand, and move clockwise inside
- Connectivity: Mobile signal is limited or absent outside Ulaanbaatar and the main towns — embrace the digital detox and the vast, silent landscapes
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water, and note that facilities are basic in remote areas. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential
- Power: Ger camps often have limited, generator or solar electricity for a few hours a day, so bring a power bank and a universal adapter (Mongolia uses type C/E plugs at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the remote ger camps where there are no restaurants, plus a welcome dinner in Ulaanbaatar. It is hearty, home-style cooking.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own guide and a 4WD driver across the countryside, with domestic flights for the Gobi and far west, all arranged for you.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities now visit visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. We confirm the requirements for your passport before you travel.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is the season — warm days, green steppe and open camps. The Naadam festival falls in mid-July, and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October. Winters are extremely cold.
What is a ger camp like?
A cluster of traditional felt tents (gers) with real beds, rugs and a wood stove, plus a central dining ger and a shared or private bathroom block. Comfortable and atmospheric, if simple — a magical way to sleep on the steppe.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, regions, camps and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add the Naadam festival, eagle hunters, Lake Khovsgol or a luxury camp. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How much driving is involved?
Mongolia is huge with few paved roads, so expect long, scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe and desert, broken by stops. Domestic flights cover the longest legs to the Gobi and the west.
Is fourteen days too much for Mongolia?
Not at all — Mongolia is vast and rewards time, and fourteen days lets you experience the Gobi, the ancient capital, the sacred Orkhon Valley, wild horses and the steppe without rushing across the huge distances.
How rough are the overland drives?
Central Mongolia has few paved roads, so expect long, bumpy but scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe, broken by stops. A domestic flight covers the long Gobi leg. It is all part of the adventure.
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