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A landscape from Gobi Mongolia, the setting for the Gobi and Karakorum · 9 days.

Gobi Mongolia · 9 days

Gobi and Karakorum · 9 days

Nine days combining Terelj, the full Gobi loop, Karakorum, and Khugnu Khan – the most varied of the Gobi-Central combinations.

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Overview.

This 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum tour expands on our 8-day version with a Terelj-and-Chinggis-statue start, an additional day at the Khongor Sand Dunes, and a longer stay at Karakorum and Erdene Zuu. Day 1 visits the 40-meter Chinggis Khan equestrian statue at Tsonjin Boldog and Terelj National Park. Days 2 to 6 are the full Gobi loop – Tsagaan Suvarga, Yoliin Am ice canyon, the Khongor Sand Dunes (two days), the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs. Days 7 and 8 cover Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery (Mongolia's oldest standing Buddhist monastery) plus Khugnu Khan and the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes. The 9-day is the most varied of our Gobi-and-Karakorum combinations and the right choice for travelers who want both regions plus the rocky-formation park near Ulaanbaatar.

Region
Gobi Mongolia
Duration
9 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
2,400–2,600 km
Driving days
8 of 9
Longest single drive
6–7 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.

Experience the best of Mongolia’s landscapes, history, and nomadic culture, from the Gobi Desert to the ancient capital of Karakorum.

Day 1: Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park

After breakfast, visit the Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex at Tsonjin Boldog, 54 km from Ulaanbaatar. The 40-meter stainless steel statue depicts Chinggis Khaan holding a traditional whip (tashuur). Next, explore Terelj National Park, part of the Khentii Mountains. Hike to the Ariyapala Meditation Center and see Turtle Rock, a 24-meter formation symbolizing peace and longevity in Mongolian culture.

Day 2: Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa)

Visit Tsagaan Suvarga, meaning “White Stupa,” a 30–60 meter high and 400-meter-long colorful limestone cliff. Once an ancient ocean bed, marine fossils and shells can still be found here. Hike among the unique mud cliffs for unforgettable photography.

Day 3: Gobi Gurban Saikhan National Park & Yoliin am

Explore Gobi Gurban Saikhan National Park (“Three Beauties of the Gobi”) and hike through Yoliin Am, a deep, narrow canyon that remains icy until late June. The valley is home to ibex and endangered Argali wild sheep. Hiking takes 2.0-2.5 hours.

Day 4: Khongor Sand Dunes & Camel Riding

Drive to the Khongor Sand Dunes, also called the Singing Dunes for the humming sound created by the wind. Climb the dunes early in the morning or late evening for spectacular views.

Day 5: Camel Riding & Free Exploration

Enjoy riding two-humped Bactrian camels and explore the surrounding desert. Spend the day experiencing traditional nomadic life and the vast Gobi landscapes.

Day 6: Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag)

Visit Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, famous for the 1922 discovery of the first dinosaur eggs by Roy Chapman Andrews. Walk through the red sandstone cliffs where dinosaurs roamed 60 million years ago.

Day 7: Karakorum & Erdene Zuu Monastery

Visit Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Great Mongol Empire. Explore the Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia’s oldest Buddhist monastery, and its active temples and museum. Also visit the Karakorum Museum, shows artifacts from the ancient city.

Day 8: Khugnu Khan & Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

Travel to Khugnu Khan Natural Reserve, located at the border of Uvurkhangai, Tuv, and Bulgan provinces. Explore Elsen Tasarkhai, part of the Great Mongolian Sand Dunes, stretching 80 km. Enjoy the dramatic combination of desert, mountains, rivers, and green grasslands. Stay overnight at a ger camp.

Day 9: Return to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, enjoy a horse ride before driving back to UB.

Why this trip.

This 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum tour is the right itinerary for travelers who want the full Gobi loop, two days at the imperial capital, and the rocky-formation landscape of Terelj National Park near Ulaanbaatar – all in a single trip. Terelj on Day 1 is the most accessible national park from Ulaanbaatar (granite outcrops, larch forest, the dramatic Turtle Rock). The Chinggis Khan equestrian statue at Tsonjin Boldog – 40 meters tall, completed in 2008, the world's largest equestrian statue – is on the way. The Gobi half (Days 2 to 6) covers the four landmark sites with two full days at the Khongor Sand Dunes for the camel ride, the dune climb, and free exploration time. The Karakorum half (Days 7 to 8) covers Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Karakorum Museum, and Khugnu Khan / Elsen Tasarkhai on the way back.

For travelers comparing options: the 6-day Gobi covers the four landmark sites without Karakorum or Terelj. The 7-day Gobi-and-Terelj combines the Gobi with two days at Terelj but skips Karakorum. The 8-day Gobi-and-Karakorum is a tighter version of this 9-day – same Karakorum content but no Terelj day at the start. The 10-day Gobi-and-Central Mongolia replaces the Terelj day with two extra days in Central Mongolia (Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, the Orkhon Valley). The 9-day is the right balance for travelers who want the Gobi, the imperial capital, AND the rocky-formation park – the most varied of the Gobi-and-Karakorum combinations.

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: Terelj National Park, Aryabal Temple, Chinggis Khan statue museum, Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, Bayanzag, Khongor dune access, 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)
  • Optional horseback riding at Terelj

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

Where you stay.

Seven of your eight nights on this 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum 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. Terelj has good ger-camp infrastructure. 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 9-day Gobi-and-Karakorum tour cover?

Three regions in one trip: Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue on Day 1, the full Gobi loop on Days 2 to 6 (Tsagaan Suvarga, Yoliin Am, two days at the Khongor Sand Dunes with Bactrian camel riding, the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs), and Karakorum-area sites on Days 7 to 8 (Erdene Zuu Monastery, the Karakorum Museum, Khugnu Khan, the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes). Day 9 is the return to Ulaanbaatar.

How is this 9-day different from the 8-day Gobi-and-Karakorum?

The 9-day starts with a Day 1 at Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue – content the 8-day does not include. The Gobi loop and the Karakorum stay are otherwise similar. Choose the 9-day if you want the rocky-formation park as bookend; choose the 8-day if you want a tighter Gobi-and-Karakorum focus without Terelj.

How is this 9-day different from the 10-day Gobi-and-Central Mongolia?

The 10-day skips Terelj and instead extends the Central Mongolia portion with Tovkhon Monastery, Tsenkher Hot Springs, and the full Orkhon Valley – the cultural core that this 9-day does not reach. Choose the 9-day for the Terelj park bookend; choose the 10-day for the deeper Central Mongolia cultural sites.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

June through August is peak season – warm days, all ger camps fully open, the Khongor dunes accessible, and Terelj forest fully out in leaf. May and September are good shoulder months: fewer travelers, cooler nights. We do not run this tour from October through April.

How much driving on this tour?

Total driving is roughly 2,400 to 2,600 kilometers across the nine days – longer than the 8-day because of the Terelj add. The longest single days are Day 2 (Terelj area to Tsagaan Suvarga, around 6 to 7 hours) and Day 9 (Khugnu Khan back to Ulaanbaatar, around 5 to 6 hours). Days 3 to 8 mix touring, walks, and shorter transfers. Most of the Gobi route is on dirt and gravel tracks; the Land Cruiser handles them comfortably.

What is the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue?

The Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog is the world's largest equestrian statue – 40 meters tall, completed in 2008, located 54 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar on the way to Terelj. The statue depicts Chinggis Khan on horseback, holding a golden whip. Inside the base is a museum with archaeological exhibits from the Bronze Age and the Mongol Empire. You can take an elevator to the horse's mane and walk out onto the platform on top of the statue's head for panoramic views.

Where do you stay on this 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. Terelj has good ger-camp infrastructure. The first and last nights of the trip are at your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

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 9-day gives you two days at Khongor (Day 4 for camel riding and dune climbing, Day 5 as a free-exploration day) – more flexibility for the timing of the climb.

What is included in the 9-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 Terelj National Park, the Chinggis Khan statue museum, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Karakorum Museum, bottled drinking water, the Khongor camel ride. Excluded: international flights, Ulaanbaatar hotel nights, optional Terelj horseback riding, gratuities. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing before any payment.

Is this tour suitable for first-time visitors?

Yes – this is one of the most complete Mongolia trips for travelers with nine days available. It covers the country's three most-visited landscapes (the Gobi Desert, the imperial capital, the rocky-formation national park) in a single loop. Most first-time visitors do a Central Mongolia tour and save the Gobi for a return visit, but this tour gives you both regions plus the bookend at Terelj. Talk to us about your dates.

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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