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A landscape from Gobi Mongolia, the setting for the Gobi and Central Mongolia · 10 days.

Gobi Mongolia · 10 days

Gobi and Central Mongolia · 10 days

Ten days combining the full Gobi loop with the full Central Mongolia core – Karakorum, Tovkhon, Tsenkher Hot Springs, the Orkhon Valley.

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Overview.

This 10-day Gobi and Central Mongolia tour is the most complete combined trip we run – the full Gobi loop (Tsagaan Suvarga, Yoliin Am ice canyon, the Khongor Singing Dunes with camel riding, the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs) followed by the full Central Mongolia core (the Orkhon Valley with the 24-meter Orkhon Waterfall, Tovkhon Monastery on its 2,312-meter peak, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Khugnu Khan / Elsen Tasarkhai dunes). It is the most popular two-week Mongolia trip we offer: enough time in each region to do justice to the highlights, without the daily-grind feel of trying to see too much in too little time. Travel is by Toyota Land Cruiser; group size is two to six guests.

Region
Gobi Mongolia
Duration
10 days
Best season
May – September
Group size
2–6 guests

Pricing is tailored to your dates and group size. Final quote in USD, sent within 24 hours.

Departures

Departures run on request through the season, tell us your dates and we hold a date for you.

Quick facts

Total distance
2,800–3,000 km
Driving days
9 of 10
Longest single drive
5–6 hours
Maximum altitude
~2,300 m (Yoliin Am)
Start / end
Ulaanbaatar
Group size
2–6 guests
Languages
English (Buya); driver speaks working English

Day by day.

Day 1: Baga Gazariin Chuluu – Granite Mountains

Drive from Ulaanbaatar south into Dundgovi province to Baga Gazariin Chuluu, a granite-rock formation rising from the steppe to 1,768 meters. Explore the cave springs, the ruins of the early 19th-century monastery, and the walking routes through the rocks. Stay overnight in a ger camp.

Day 2: Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park

Drive south to the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan (“Three Beauties of the Gobi”) National Park. Explore Yoliin Am, a narrow rock canyon shaded steeply enough to keep ice on the canyon floor into late June. Hike 2 to 2.5 hours into the valley along the stream, home to ibex, the endangered Argali wild sheep, and the rare lammergeier. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 3: Khongor Sand Dunes

Drive to the Khongor Sand Dunes – 180 kilometers along the foot of the Altai, 80 meters at their highest. Visit a nomadic camel-herding family. Ride a two-humped Bactrian camel to the base of the dunes and climb one of the high faces. Spread sand against the wind from the dune top to hear the dunes sing. Overnight at the family ger camp.

Day 4: Off-road adventure & camel riding

A free day at the Khongor Dunes. Optional activities include longer camel rides, walking the dune ridges, an off-road excursion to less-visited sections of the dune chain, or rest at the camp. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 5: Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag)

Drive to Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs. In 1922, Roy Chapman Andrews led the expedition that found the world’s first known dinosaur eggs here. The red sandstone cliffs glow at sunset – the source of the English name. Walk the rim and explore the fossil grounds. Overnight in a ger camp.

Day 6: Orkhon Valley & Ulaantsutgalan Waterfall

Drive north into the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Orkhon Waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan), formed by volcanic activity around 20,000 years ago, dropping 24 meters into a basalt gorge. Surrounded by forested mountains and open pastureland; yaks graze the valley floor. Stay overnight in a ger camp.

Day 7: Tovkhon Monastery & Tsenkher Hot Springs

In the morning, hike up to Tovkhon Monastery on a 2,312-meter rocky peak surrounded by dense forest. Founded in 1651 by Zanabazar (the first Bogd Gegeen of Mongolian Buddhism). Explore the meditation caves and enjoy panoramic views from the mountaintop. Afterward, drive to Tsenkher Hot Springs to relax in natural outdoor hot pools. Overnight at a ger camp.

Day 8: Erdene Zuu Monastery & Karakorum

Drive to Kharkhorin and visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, founded in 1586 on the ruins of the ancient capital Karakorum. Wander among 108 gleaming white stupas. Visit the Karakorum Museum for archaeological finds from the imperial city. Stay overnight in a ger camp near the monastery.

Day 9: Khugnu Khan & Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes

Drive east to Khugnu Khan and the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes – a small desert at the edge of the Khangai mountains, with a contrast of sand, forest, and steppe. Optional walks and camel rides. Overnight at a ger camp.

Day 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar in the morning, with a stop for lunch on the way. Arrive in the city in the afternoon. End of the tour.

Why this trip.

This 10-day Gobi and Central Mongolia tour is the right itinerary for travelers with two weeks in Mongolia who want both regions covered properly. Most travelers who reach Mongolia have a clear sense that the Gobi is the desert south and the Central region is the imperial-capital cultural core; the question is how much time to give each. The 10-day answer: roughly five days in the Gobi (Tsagaan Suvarga, Yoliin Am, two days at the Khongor Dunes, the Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag) and four days in Central Mongolia (the Orkhon Valley, Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Karakorum and Erdene Zuu, Khugnu Khan). One day for the return drive. The pacing is steady: long Gobi driving days at the start, then a slower Central rhythm with shorter transfers and more time at each site.

For travelers comparing options: the 6-day Gobi covers just the desert; the 5-day Central covers just the cultural core. The 8-day Gobi-and-Karakorum hits both regions but skips the Orkhon Valley and Tovkhon Monastery. The 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum adds Terelj at the start. The 10-day is the full picture – the only combined option that includes the entire Gobi loop AND the entire Central core in one trip. If you have two weeks and you want both regions in their proper depth, this is the right tour. If you have less than two weeks, choose one region. If you have more than two weeks, talk to us about adding Khuvsgul Lake or the Altai.

What's included.

Included

  • Private Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent vehicle for all transfers
  • Experienced local driver and English-speaking guide (Buya)
  • All accommodation on tour: ger camps and one or two nomadic family overnights
  • All meals during the tour (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • All entrance fees: Baga Gazariin Chuluu, Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, Bayanzag, Khongor dune access, Orkhon Valley, Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum
  • Bottled drinking water throughout
  • Bactrian camel ride at the Khongor Sand Dunes

Not included

  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Optional one-way domestic flight Ulaanbaatar–Dalanzadgad (available on request)
  • Pre and post-tour Ulaanbaatar hotel nights (we can recommend or arrange)
  • Mandatory travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
  • Optional activities not in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, laundry
  • Gratuities for guide and driver (appreciated but not required)

Travel insurance is required. We recommend SafetyWing or World Nomads, see the Before-you-go guide.

Where you stay.

Eight of your nine nights on this 10-day Gobi and Central Mongolia tour are at established ger camps – traditional Mongolian felt tents at tourist camps with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet blocks. One or two nights are with nomadic families – at the Khongor Dunes (camel herders) and optionally at Khugnu Khan – simpler, no shower, but the most authentic experience of the route. The Central Mongolia ger camps (Orkhon Valley, Tsenkher, Karakorum area) are higher-spec than the more remote Gobi camps. Bedding is provided. The first and last nights of the trip are at your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

What to bring.

After booking, we send a detailed packing list customized to your dates. The Gobi essentials: layered clothing for warm days and cold nights (the desert drops sharply after dark), strong sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF, brimmed hat, sunglasses, lip balm), a wind-and-dust shell for afternoons on the dunes, sturdy walking shoes for the Yoliin Am canyon and the Khongor climb, a small daypack, headlamp or torch (ger camps have limited lighting), a reusable water bottle, hand sanitiser, and any personal medications. For shoulder-season trips (May or September), add a warm fleece, gloves, and a hat – nights can drop below freezing. A power bank is useful as backup; most ger camps have power outlets but not always reliable.

See packing notes in our Before-you-go guide →

Common questions.

What does the 10-day Gobi-and-Central Mongolia tour cover?

Two regions in their full depth. The Gobi half (Days 1 to 5) covers Baga Gazariin Chuluu (granite mountains), Yoliin Am ice canyon, the Khongor Sand Dunes (two days, with Bactrian camel riding and dune climbing), and Bayanzag's Flaming Cliffs. The Central half (Days 6 to 9) covers the Orkhon Valley with the Orkhon Waterfall, Tovkhon Monastery on its 2,312-meter peak, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Erdene Zuu Monastery and the Karakorum Museum, and Khugnu Khan / Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. Day 10 is the return to Ulaanbaatar.

How is the 10-day different from the 8-day or 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum tours?

The 8-day and 9-day variants combine the Gobi loop with Karakorum and Erdene Zuu, but they do not include Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, or the Orkhon Valley waterfall. The 10-day includes all of those Central Mongolia sites. If you want both regions and have ten days, the 10-day is the full picture; the 8 and 9 day variants are tighter combinations with the imperial capital but not the Central cultural core.

Is the 10-day tour the right choice for two weeks in Mongolia?

Yes – this is our most popular two-week tour. Roughly five days in the Gobi and four in Central Mongolia, with a final return day. The pacing is steady: long Gobi driving days at the start, then a slower Central rhythm with shorter transfers and more time at each site. If you have less than two weeks, choose one region (the 6-day Gobi or the 5 to 7 day Central tours). If you have more than two weeks, talk to us about adding Khuvsgul Lake or the Altai.

What is the best time of year for the 10-day tour?

June through August is peak season – warm days, all ger camps fully open, the Khongor dunes accessible, and the Orkhon Valley at its greenest. May and September are good shoulder months: fewer travelers, cooler nights, gold leaves in the Orkhon Valley in September. We do not run this tour from October through April.

How much driving on the 10-day tour?

Total driving is roughly 2,800 to 3,000 kilometers across ten days – long, but distributed over more days than the shorter combined tours so the daily averages are manageable. The longest single days are Day 1 (Ulaanbaatar to Baga Gazariin Chuluu, around 6 hours) and Day 10 (Khugnu Khan back to Ulaanbaatar, around 5 to 6 hours). Days 2 to 9 mix touring, walks, and shorter transfers.

Where do you stay on the 10-day tour?

Most nights are at established ger camps – traditional felt tents with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet facilities. One or two nights are with nomadic families (at the Khongor Dunes and optionally at Khugnu Khan); those nights are simpler but the most authentic experience of the route. The Central Mongolia ger camps are higher-spec than the more remote Gobi camps. The first and last nights of the trip are at your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

Can I fly to the Gobi to save driving time?

Yes – a one-way flight Ulaanbaatar–Dalanzadgad (around 90 minutes) is available on this tour as an option. Travelers can fly down on Day 1 and drive back, or vice versa, which trims roughly two long driving days off the route. The combined nature of the 10-day means flights are less common (most travelers prefer to see the country between the regions), but the option exists. We confirm availability and pricing at booking.

Can I climb the Khongor Sand Dunes?

Yes. The dunes run 180 kilometers along the foot of the Altai and reach 80 meters at their highest point. A short Bactrian camel ride takes you to the base; the climb itself is 30 to 45 minutes through soft sand, and the descent takes about ten minutes. The 10-day gives you two days at Khongor (Day 3 for camel riding, Day 4 as a free-exploration day) – more flexibility for the timing of the climb.

What is included in the 10-day tour?

Specific inclusions confirmed at booking; typically: private vehicle and English-speaking driver, all accommodation (ger camps and one or two family stays), all meals on tour, all entrance fees including Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Karakorum Museum, bottled drinking water, the Khongor camel ride. Excluded: international flights, Ulaanbaatar hotel nights, optional Dalanzadgad flights, gratuities. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing before any payment.

Can I extend this 10-day tour further?

Yes. The 10-day is the most complete Gobi-and-Central trip, but extensions are possible in two natural directions. Adding Khuvsgul Lake to the north extends the trip to 14 to 16 days (a long but reasonable round trip from Karakorum north). Adding the Altai Mountains to the west extends to 16 to 22 days (a much bigger commitment, typically with a return flight from Uliastai or Ulgii). For both, talk to us about a custom extension.

Book this trip.

Baska replies personally, in your language, within 24 hours. We can adjust dates, routing, and pacing.

Chat on WhatsApp Baska replies within 24 hours, Mon–Sat (UB time). Or email us

Not sure which tour fits your dates? See the planning guide.

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