Khongor Sand Dunes and Kharhorin Tour - 11 days

Day 1. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Visit to museums including Bogd Khaan Palace Museum, Traditional History Museum, Gandan Monastery -The Biggest Buddist Centre, Temple with 20-ton and 20 m gold and bronze statue of Avalokitesvara.

Day 2. Drive to Baga Gazriin Chuluu- granite rock formation in the middle of the dusty plains. In the 19 th century, two revered monks lived here in gers – remnants of their rock drawings can be found in the area. The rocks are worshipped by locals who sometimes make pilgrimages here. There is legend that says Chingis Khaan stayed there and once he kept his horses for battles in the big caves there.

Day 3. Drive to Tsagaan Suvarga in Dundgobi province – an area might be described as “ badlands or a painted desert”. The eerie, eroded landscape was at one time beneath the sea and is rich in marine fossils and clamshells.

Day 4. Drive to Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Walk to enter Yoliin Am (the “Lammergeyer’s Mouth.”. If you are quiet and lucky you will see ibex , Argali sheep and even wolves on the steep cliffs above. As the sun rises and heats the ground Pallas Pikas emerge out of their holes and lammergeyers and other birds take to the skies.

Day 5. To Khongoriin els /Khongor sand dunes/. It is the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the ‘singing dunes’, they are up to 800 m high, 20 km wide and about 100 km long. Top of the dunes can be climbed and the views of the desert from the top are indescribable.

Day 6. Free day in the desert to explore surroundings, enjoy camel riding and visiting camel breeding families.

Day 7. To Bayanzag. Camel riding possible to this remarkable canyon and explore one of the most famous dinosaur grave yards. The site was made famous by the explorer Roy Chapman Andrews in 1920’s when his team discovered the first dinosaur eggs. The area is particularly beautiful at sunset,which is why Andrews gave them the name “TheFlaming Cliffs”.There is an excellent camping area in the saxual shrub covered dunes to the best.The shrub called “zag” is a favourite food of camels and has very dense branches, which make it a prized source of fuel in this desolate area.

Day 8. Drive to Ongiin Khiid Ruins in Dundgovi province. To Ongiin Monastery. Once an important monastery and home to several hundred monks was destroyed by communists in the 1930’s.Today one of the temples has been rebuilt and it is a working monastery once more. Visitors are welcome to join the monks for the morning service and look around the small ger museum.

Day 9. To Kharkhorin. A stone tortoise (an ironic symbol of eternity.) is all that remains of the once great palace. Visit Erdene Zuu, the first monastery in the country .The compound walls ornamented by 108 stupas enclose both the working lamasery and the museum. The lavriin Sum is a Tibetan style temple and is a great place to sit and listen to the monks at prayer and watch the locals receive blessing. The museum houses some of the country’s most impressive Buddhist treasures.

Day 10. Drive to Ulaanbaatar.

Day 11. Departure. Transfer to airport or train station.