Self Drive to Gobi Desert & Orkhon valley

Your first destination will be 250 kilometers south, in the beautiful region of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. This area features a large granite formation right in the heart of Mongolia's sandy plains.

On this expansive plain, you'll discover the remnants of a small monastery known as Delgeriin Choir Monastery. Upon entering a Ger for the first time, you will be welcomed by a grand 12-walled structure. Monks utilize this intricately decorated and carved Ger to chant during the colder months when the stone monastery becomes too chilly. In the late afternoon, you can drive and hike around the region. You will wander through towering granite hills that appear to stretch endlessly. As you explore, you'll stumble upon scenic ruins of a small monastery nestled in a serene, protected valley. Additionally, Baga Gazriin Chuluu is home to a spring known for its eye-healing qualities, where locals harness the magical water for eye ailments.

• Explore the Choir Monastery
• Discover the stunning rock formation of Baga Gazar
• Visit the ruins of the solitary monk's monastery

After breakfast, we will set off on an adventure to the Gobi Desert. The scenery will shift dramatically from lush green grasslands to rugged, lifeless terrain. We expect to arrive at Tsagaan Suvraga by the afternoon. This impressive cliff rises 30 meters high and stretches 100 meters wide, with the wind having intricately shaped this extraordinary formation over millennia.

From a distance, Tsagaan Suvraga resembles the remnants of an ancient town, complete with crumbling structures. Ancient illustrations capture scenes of people hunting ibex with long bows, while petroglyphs of wild animals and cattle are etched into the rocks. Additionally, the caves in this area showcase various Turkic inscriptions, seals, and images.

A fissure stretches from east to west, cutting down from the upper slopes of a mountain into the steppe. Through this crack, one can observe strong mud columns rising from below. The vast chasm resembles the gaping jaws of a mythical creature. Some caves feature multiple chambers, including one that extends over 70 meters in length.

• Explore the majestic Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs

Today we will be driving to the South Gobi province town Dalanzadgad. The Gobi Desert extends through Mongolia and China, measuring 1,610 kilometers from southwest to northeast and 800 kilometers from north to south. It covers an area of 1,295,000 km2, making it the world’s fifth largest desert and Asia’s largest although most of the Gobi is coated in bare rock rather than sand.

During the winter months, the Gobi is a cold desert with frost snow on its dunes. In addition to being far north, it is situated on a plateau between 910 and 1,520 meters above sea level, which leads to the cold temperatures. The Gobi receives around 194 millimetres of rain per year on average. In the winter, snow blown from the Siberian Steppes enters parts of the Gobi, providing additional moisture. The Gobi experiences temperature extremes ranging from –40°C in the winter to +50°C in the summer due to these winds.

We'll take a trip through the majestic Altai Mountain Range's breath-taking gorges. The Yolyn Am located in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, will be visited. Those green valleys were carved by ancient rivers.

Wild Argali sheep, Ibex, desert gazelles, and Golden Eagles are also possible sightings.

• Visit small museum of the park
• Visit Yolyn am gorge
• Hike through the gorge

After enjoying a substantial breakfast, we will journey 180 kilometers west to the Khongoryn Els. This location boasts Mongolia's largest sand dunes. Reaching heights of up to 275 meters in some spots, these dunes stretch over 100 kilometers from east to west. The sands exhibit alluring curves that culminate in sharp points, creating beautiful wave patterns. Behind the dunes, the striking black rocky formation of Sevrey Mountain stands majestically. The Gobi Desert holds the title of the world's coldest desert, where frigid winds sweep across the plains throughout autumn, winter, and spring. With little shelter available, inhabitants must rely on extreme survival techniques to endure the harsh conditions. Gobi nomads are renowned in Mongolia for their unwavering commitment to hard work. We will encounter families who breed two-humped camels and discover their simple, humble, industrious, yet remarkable lifestyle.

• Explore the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
• Hike to the tallest dune for those who are interested.
• Visit a family that breeds camels.

Our journey today will take us to Bayanzag, commonly known as the "Flaming Cliffs." This extraordinary site is where the renowned palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur bones and eggs. The scenery showcases a breathtaking mix of red sand, rugged formations, and greenery. We will wander around the cliffs, explore the area, visit the museum, and learn about the discoveries and expeditions from the early 20th century.

• Explore the Bayanzag cliffs, the site where dinosaur skeletons and eggs were unearthed

Today, you will visit Ongi Monastery in northwest Mongolia, where the monasteries lie along the Ongi River. The tranquil Delger Khangai Mountains enhance the area's beauty. You'll explore the southern complex with various administrative buildings and 11 temples, while the northern complex, established in the 18th century, had 17 temples and four Buddhist universities. Originally built in the 17th century, these monasteries were destroyed in 1937 and once housed over 1,000 monks. A small monastery now stands among the ruins, with remnants displayed in the Ger Museum.

• Explore the remnants of the Ongi Monastery

Today, we’ll journey west into the Orkhon Valley, where the Orkhon River winds through a landscape rich in history and natural beauty. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the valley is home to ancient relics that date as far back as the 6th century and earlier. It was also the site of Karakorum, the capital of the great Mongol Empire during the 12th and 13th centuries. The traditional nomadic lifestyle continues to thrive here, preserving a way of life deeply connected to both history and nature. During the Quaternary period, a volcanic eruption near the mouth of the Tsagaan Azarga, or White Stallion River, sent lava flowing down the valley, forming a basalt layer around 10 meters thick. Over time, the Orkhon River carved through this basalt not once, but twice shaping the dramatic canyon we see today.

• Explore the Orkhon Valley
• Discover the stunning Orkhon Waterfall
• Engage with a nomadic family that breeds horses and yaks
• Enjoy the opportunity for horseback riding

Tovkhon Monastery, established in the 1650s by Zanabazar—one of Mongolia’s most revered spiritual figures—is a serene retreat nestled near a hilltop. Its wooden buildings blend seamlessly with a network of natural caves, offering sweeping views of the Orkhon Valley and surrounding pine forests. At the summit, a sacred stone cairn known as an Ovoo stands in tribute to the mountain god, adding spiritual significance to the site.

Following our visit, we’ll continue our journey westward into the majestic Khangai Mountains. These ancient peaks, reaching elevations between 2,500 and 3,000 meters, are primarily formed from Paleozoic granite, intrusive chert, and sandstone. Stretching roughly 800 kilometers from Zavkhan to Tuv provinces, the Khangai range acts as a continental divide, shaping the flow of the world’s water systems.

By evening, we’ll arrive at the Tsenkher Hot Spring resort, home to a large open-air pool fed by natural springs that remain over 80°C. An advanced pipeline system ensures a comfortable soaking temperature, making it the perfect place to unwind. Guests can relax in the warm waters under the stars, enjoying the peaceful ambiance and sharing stories amidst the serene nightscape.

• Hike 7 km to Tovkhon Monastery, which takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
• Unwind at the hot spring spa (don’t forget to bring your swimsuits).

We’ll arrive in the town of Tsetserleg in the morning and begin our day with a visit to a local museum showcasing Mongolian traditions and Buddhism from the early 1800s. Once a prominent Buddhist temple, the building was dismantled during the Soviet era but has since been preserved as a monastery-museum, offering a unique glimpse into Mongolia’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

After exploring the museum, we’ll continue our journey to the breathtaking Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. Formed by lava flows from an ancient volcanic eruption, the lake is surrounded by extinct volcanic craters and dramatic black lava rock formations. Stretching about 15 kilometers in length and reaching depths of up to 20 meters, the lake is one of Mongolia’s natural treasures. The surrounding landscape, with its rolling hills and a mix of steppe and woodland steppe vegetation, creates a truly picturesque and serene atmosphere.

• Explore Tsetserleg Town
• Discover the Zayiin Gegee Museum
• Experience Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Lake

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake offers the perfect setting for a relaxing day. In the morning, we’ll set out on an excursion to the summit of Khorgo Uul Volcano, located about 4 kilometers from the lake. This impressive volcanic peak features a crater approximately 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep, framed by trees around its rim and back.

South of Khorgo, you’ll encounter fascinating basalt formations known as “Gers,” created as lava cooled and solidified. Some of these natural structures include openings and door-like features, standing over 1.7 meters high. We’ll also visit the Single Man Cave—a modest-looking entrance that leads into a surprisingly spacious interior.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy optional activities, such as trekking through scenic valleys, boating or swimming in the lake, horseback riding, or visiting a local nomadic family for a deeper cultural experience.

• Hike to the Khorgo extinct volcano
• Possibility of optional horseback riding

Today, we explore Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan's Mongolian Empire in the 13th century. Established in 1220 on the ruins of Turug and Uigur cities in the Orkhon Valley, it was completed 15 years later under Ugedei Khan, known for its multiculturalism. The silver tree from Möngke Khan’s palace became a symbol of the city, which thrived from 1220 to 1260 as a political, trade, and cultural hub.

However, from 1260 to 1380, it lost its capital status when Kublai Khan moved the capital to Beijing, reducing Karakorum to an administrative center in the Yuan Dynasty.

After the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty collapsed in 1368, the government returned to Mongolia, allowing Karakorum to regain some significance. However, in 1388, Ming troops destroyed the town, leaving no trace of it. In 1580, Abtai Sain Khan and Lord Tumenkhen sought the 3rd Dalai Lama's counsel on building a temple, leading to the restoration of the Main Zuu temple in Erdene Zuu monastery in 1588.

Erdene Zuu Monastery, once a large complex with 100 temples and over 1,000 lamas, now comprises three remaining temples: Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha, and Lavrin Temple, all within 400 m X 400 m walls. Visitors can explore the monastery grounds.

The Karakorum Archaeological Museum, though small, features a well-designed space with good lighting and clear English labels. It showcases hundreds of artifacts from the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as prehistoric tools, pottery, bronzes, coins, religious sculptures, and stone inscriptions from various archaeological sites.

A half-excavated kiln is set into the museum floor, alongside a scale model of ancient Karakorum from the 1250s, inspired by William of Rubruck's descriptions. Another chamber features a Turkic noble tomb with wall paintings, gold objects, and jewels, accompanied by a short video of the burial site.

You can also visit the Turtle Rock and the Phallic Rock, as well as a small market that showcases local artists’ work.

• Explore the Erdene Zuu monastery
• Discover the Karakorum Archaeological Museum

It’s time to depart and head back to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure. Later, you’ll enjoy a mesmerizing cultural performance, featuring skilled contortionists, powerful throat singers, and vibrant traditional dances that capture the essence of Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage.

• Attend a folklore show featuring throat singers
• Shop for souvenir or cashmere.