9 Days • 8 Nights
Classic Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar, Terelj & the Gobi
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll explore Ulaanbaatar's monasteries and museums, stand beneath the colossal silver statue of Chinggis Khaan, ride horses across the Terelj steppe, and fly to the Gobi Desert for the singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, the flaming cliffs where dinosaur eggs were found, and the ice canyon of Yolyn Am. Ger camps, camels and star-filled skies fill the nights.
With comfortable hotels and ger camps, private guides and the flights arranged, all you have to do is lose yourself in the vast, wild beauty of Mongolia.
Trip Highlights
- Ulaanbaatar's Gandan Monastery and National Museum
- The colossal Chinggis Khaan equestrian statue
- Horse riding across the Terelj steppe
- The singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els
- The Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs' of dinosaur fame
- The Yolyn Am ice canyon
- Nights in traditional ger camps under the stars
- A camel ride in the Gobi
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.
Arrive in Mongolia's capital and settle in. A welcome dinner introduces Mongolian flavours as your journey into the steppe begins.
Explore the capital — the Gandan Monastery with its giant golden Buddha, Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum and a Mongolian cultural show of throat singing and dance.
Drive out to the giant silver Chinggis Khaan equestrian statue, then into the beautiful Terelj National Park, settling into a ger camp amid rock formations and steppe.
Explore Terelj — the Turtle Rock, the hillside Aryabal meditation temple and a horse ride across the steppe, visiting a nomad family in their ger.
Return to Ulaanbaatar and fly south to the vast Gobi Desert, settling into a ger camp beneath enormous skies.
Visit the towering singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, riding a Bactrian camel among them and climbing a dune for sunset over the desert.
Explore the Bayanzag 'Flaming Cliffs', where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered, and the dramatic Yolyn Am ice canyon deep in the mountains.
Fly back to the capital for a final evening, with time for the cashmere shops and markets.
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, 2N Terelj ger camp, 3N Gobi ger camps, 1N Ulaanbaatar
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at all ger camps
- An Ulaanbaatar city tour with Gandan Monastery and the National Museum
- The Chinggis Khaan statue and horse riding in Terelj
- Gobi touring — Khongoryn Els dunes, the Flaming Cliffs and Yolyn Am
- A camel ride and a nomad family visit
- A domestic flight to and from the Gobi
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.
Why fly to the Gobi rather than drive?
The Gobi is a very long way south of Ulaanbaatar, so a short domestic flight saves days of rough driving and gives you far more time in the desert itself. We include the flight.
Will we meet nomadic families?
Yes — visiting a nomad family in their ger, sharing tea and learning about herding life, is a warm and genuine highlight, arranged respectfully through your guide.
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