12-day Gobi Desert Group Tour: Dinosaurs, Dunes, & Saddles
12-day road trip adventure to the must-see sights of the Gobi: Flaming Cliffs, Khongoryn Els, White Stupa, and more. End the trip with a nomadic family homestay and horseback riding.
Experience the best of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert during this 12-day small group tour.
- Start your journey in the Gobi Desert with sunrise at the White Stupa. From there, awe at dinosaur footprints at Shar Tsav and the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where the world’s first dinosaur eggs were discovered.
- Ride Bactrian camels across the Singing Dunes. Listen to the sands whistle at sunset and explore the ruins of monasteries lost to history.
- Continue north into Arkhangai’s lush valleys where you’ll live alongside nomadic families and experience the rhythms of daily herder life.
- Learn traditional Mongolian ways by helping with chores, practicing horse riding, and preparing Khorkhog, a feast cooked with hot stones.
- Sleep in gers (yurts) under Mongolia’s famous dark skies, where on a clear night you can see the Milky Way stretch overhead.
Table of Contents
Come experience the beauty of the Gobi with us on this 12-day small group tour.
The Gobi Desert is one of our favorite places in Mongolia for so many reasons.
First, it’s absolutely stunning!
The diversity in the Gobi is unlike anywhere else in Mongolia. One minute you’re admiring cliffs that look like they’re on fire and the next you’re walking through a valley covered in ice. It’s wild!
Traveling here changes you and the way you look at the world on a fundamental level. It’s a feeling you’ll understand after traveling here yourself.
Second, this is the land of dinosaurs! Really.
Not only are there dinosaur fossils scattered everywhere, but the dino footprints you’ll discover at Shar Tsav will blow your mind.
The Flaming Cliffs are famous for being the first place a fully intact nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered. This area was once a breeding ground, and it continues to be one of the most important areas in the world for fossil discoveries.
Beyond the beautiful natural wonders of the Gobi, this tour also gives you the chance to immerse in and experience authentic Mongolian culture. You’ll spend three nights with one of our favorite nomadic families before you head back to Ulaanbaatar.
During this homestay you’ll get to know the family by helping them with chores, riding horses alongside them, and cooking up a khorkhog feast together on your last night.
What Makes Our Tour of the Gobi Different
We know this is one of the most popular tourist routes in Mongolia and you have plenty of options when it comes to booking a tour to the Gobi. However, the details and tiny touches we’ll be offering during this trip will be what sets it apart from what other tour companies are doing.
Also, other tour companies also cram in their days. This means long days driving from one place to another, only spending an hour or two at each site before being rushed to move on.
While it’s impossible to shorten driving distances, our tour takes this into account. We’ve tried to create a slower, more thoughtful itinerary that is well-rounded while still giving you the best experience possible exploring the Gobi. This is the itinerary that as locals even we want to do! It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
We promise this will be the adventure of a lifetime with a fantastic group of like-minded travelers.
This trip is limited to 8 travelers. Be sure to sign up early to secure your spot.
The Itinerary: 12-Day Gobi Desert Group Tour
This trip starts and ends in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. You will drive from Ulaanbaatar on a loop, returning back to the city a different way than you came.
If you’re looking for an adventure in one of the last truly wild and remote places on earth, this is it.
Most travelers choose to land in Ulaanbaatar a few days before the tour officially begins.
Landing early helps with jetlag and getting acclimated to being 1,307 meters (4,432 feet) above sea level. If you choose to do this, there are plenty of things to do in Ulaanbaatar before the itinerary starts. Book one of our Ulaanbaatar tours and take advantage of this extra time in the capital.
As part of this trip, there will be long driving days. If you are someone who gets carsick, please let us know so we can tell you what other travelers have done in the past to help with this. (Like purchase these anti-carsick glasses!)
Once you leave Ulaanbaatar, hot running water, electricity, and western toilets won’t always be available. Getting out of your comfort zone is part of the fun!
Cell phone service and data will also be limited. This is your chance to put your phone away and be present.
Drinking water will be provided from an 18.5 liter LifeSaver Water Purifier. Please bring a reusable water bottle with you that you can fill up each morning.
Below you’ll find a day-by-day breakdown of this adventure and what it includes. To book this tour please fill out the Google Form linked below.
Meals included in this tour are indicated as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D).
All hotel and ger camp accommodations are double occupancy. The homestay will include sleeping in a shared ger. You will need a sleeping bag and sleeping bag for this part of the trip.
Day 1 / May 24, 2026: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar & Welcome Dinner
You will need to arrive in Ulaanbaatar on or before today to join this tour.
Once you arrive in Ulaanbaatar, you will have a free day to explore Ulaanbaatar on your own. Settle into Mongolian time, exchange cash, and visit the city’s museums.
In the evening, you’ll meet the group and have a special Welcome Dinner together.
- Day at Leisure
- Welcome Dinner
Stay: Best Western or Similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 / May 25: Steppe into DUNE Country
Today is the day! Your Gobi road trip officially begins.
Get an early start this morning and leave Ulaanbaatar behind. Today is a long driving day, so be sure to bring books, download playlists and podcasts, and be ready to settle in for an adventure.
During this long drive south watch as the green steppe slowly shifts into drier, more rugged terrain.
By late afternoon, arrive at your futuristic-looking desert camp, a secluded spot that feels straight out of DUNE.
Once checked in, head out to see the largest petroglyphs in Mongolia and explore a nearby cave before returning to camp. The evening is yours to settle into the desert climate, listen to the stillness, and gaze up at a star-filled night sky.
- Driving Day
- Check into Your Futuristic-Looking Desert Camp
- See the Largest Petroglyphs in Mongolia
- Admire the Milky Way and Look for Shooting Stars
Stay: Gobi Caravanserai
Meals: B/L/D
Day 3 / May 26: Sunrise Walk to the White Stupa
Wake before dawn for a walk to the White Stupa.
Locals believe greeting the first rays of the sun here helps strengthen the spirit. Your guide will lead a short meditation, giving you a chance to soak in the stillness and connect with this ancient landscape, once the floor of a prehistoric ocean.
After soaking in the stillness of the White Stupa, return to camp for breakfast and pack up for the next leg of the journey.
Drive deeper into the desert as you head towards Shar Tsav, one of Mongolia’s most important dinosaur track sites. Here, thousands of fossilized footprints are preserved in stone, offering a rare chance to literally walk where dinosaurs once roamed.
- Sunrise at the White Stupa
- Morning Meditation
- Travel to Shar Tsav
- Walk in the Tracks of Dinosaurs!
Stay: Ger Camp near Shar Tsav
Meals: B/L/D
Day 4 / May 27: Danchog Temple and Gobi Museum of Nature and History
After breakfast, start the day with a visit to Danchog Temple, one of the main energy centers of the Gobi. Surrounded by stark desert hills, this peaceful temple has long been a place where locals come to restore balance and strength.
From here, drive on to Dalanzadgad, the growing capital of the desert region.
Stop at the Gobi Museum of Nature and History, where fossils and artifacts bring the desert’s story to life.
In the afternoon, tour the city and see how Dalanzadgad is shaping up to be the cultural and administrative capital of the Gobi.
- Morning at Danchog Temple (one of Mongolia’s 7 Energy Centers)
- Gobi Museum of Nature and History
- Experience Life in the Cultural Capital of the Gobi
Stay: Ger Camp in or around Dalanzadgad
Meals: B/L/D
Day 5 / May 28: Yolin Am Ice Valley to Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
This morning, head into the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains to explore Yolin Am, the famous ice valley. Towering canyon walls create a cool microclimate where ice lingers well into summer. Keep your eyes open for ibex, argali sheep, and bearded vultures as you walk through this dramatic gorge. (Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!)
In the afternoon, continue driving until the first golden waves of the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes appear on the horizon. Stretching more than 100 kilometers and rising up to 300 meters high, these dunes are among the Gobi’s most iconic sights.
Arrive at your ger camp nearby and settle in with the evening free to relax and watch the sunset.
- Explore Yolin Am Ice Valley
- Look for Ibex, Argali Sheep, and Bearded Vultures
- First Glimpse of Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
Stay: Ger Camp near Khongoryn Els
Meals: B/L/D
Day 6 / May 29: Ride, Slide, & Sing with the Sands
Today is dedicated to the magic of the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes. Start the morning with a camel ride led by local herders. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch sight of the small oasis tucked at the base of the dunes, a green jewel in the desert.
The afternoon is for adventure. Climb the towering dunes for panoramic views, sled down the slopes, and listen to the eerie and mesmerizing whistling songs of the sands.
End the day watching the dunes shift colors as the sun sets.
- Camel Ride with Local Herders
- Climb the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
- Listen to the Singing Sands
- Sled Down the Dunes to the Oasis Below
Stay: Ger Camp near Khongoryn Els
Meals: B/L/D
Day 7 / May 30: Channel Your Inner Indiana Jones at the Flaming Cliffs
Leave the dunes and Gobi behind as you begin the drive north.
Stop first at the legendary Flaming Cliffs, famous both for their fiery red glow and for the discovery of the world’s first dinosaur eggs here in 1921. They say Roy Chapman Andrews, the man leading the expedition when the discovery was made, was the inspiration for Indiana Jones!
Walk among the cliffs, visit the small museum, and imagine what it was like to make history in this remote place.
By early evening, arrive at the ruins of Ongi Monastery, once one of Mongolia’s largest Buddhist centers. Built in the 17th century and destroyed during the 1930s purges, its ruins remain a haunting but inspiring reminder of Mongolia’s spiritual heritage.
Settle into a nearby ger camp along the Ongi River.
- Discover the Flaming Cliffs
- Learn Who Roy Chapman Andrews Was
- Drive north to Ongi Monastery
Stay: Ger Camp near Ongi Monastery
Meals: B/L/D
Day 8 / May 31: From Desert to (Green) Dreams
After a night of quiet rest near the heavy but historical ruins of Ongi Monastery, continue your journey north. Today the desert will gradually give way to rolling green hills, winding rivers, and the fertile valleys of Arkhangai, often called the heart of Mongolia.
By evening, arrive at your host nomadic family’s ger, where you’ll be welcomed with traditional tea and snacks. Spend the evening getting to know your hosts and settling into life in the countryside.
- Enter the Heart of Mongolia
- Meet your Nomadic Family Hosts
- Settle into Ger (Yurt) Living
- Savor Mongolian Milk Tea & Traditional Snacks
Stay: Nomadic Family Homestay
Meals: B/L/D
Day 9 / June 1: Ease into the Rhythm of Nomadic Life
Wake up to the rhythm of nomadic life. As the sun comes up, join your hosts as they milk the animals, including their prized yaks.
After milking, help the family let their herds out. Once the morning chores are complete, prepare breakfast in the family ger. During these days with the family learn the everyday tasks that keep life moving on the steppe.
In the afternoon, practice horse riding with guidance from your herder family. These tough, spirited horses have carried nomads across Mongolia for centuries. If horse riding isn’t for you, this activity is optional.
Spend the evening sharing stories and enjoying a meal together.
- Milk Yaks at Sunrise
- Horse Riding (Optional)
- Share a Traditional Mongolian Meal with the Host Family
Stay: Nomadic Family Homestay
Meals: B/L/D
Day 10 / June 2: Traditional Khorkhog Feast & Bonfire
Ride out with your hosts this morning, exploring the open valleys on horseback and stopping to visit neighboring families for tea.
In the afternoon, visit the legendary Taikhar Rock, a massive granite boulder covered in ancient inscriptions and wrapped in folklore.
Back at the family ger, gather around for a special dinner: Khorkhog, Mongolia’s traditional way of barbecuing a whole sheep with hot stones. It’s both a feast and a cultural ritual, the perfect way to celebrate your final night in the countryside.
If the weather allows, sit around the bonfire sharing stories with the family and learn traditional Mongolian dances.
- Horse Riding (Optional)
- Hear the Legend of Taikhar Rock
- Traditional Khorkhog Feast with the Family
- Bonfire
Stay: Nomadic Family Homestay
Meals: B/L/D
Day 11 / June 3: Ulaanbaatar or Bust
We’re not going to lie. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to your nomadic family hosts.
Following breakfast, and heartfelt and tearful goodbyes, leave behind the quiet valleys of Arkhangai and start the long drive back to the capital. Watch the landscape change once more, from fertile pastures to open steppe, until Ulaanbaatar comes into view.
Arrive back to Ulaanbaatar by early evening and have the rest of the day at leisure. After ten days of dinosaurs, deserts, nomads, and horses, your Mongolian journey comes to an end, but the stories will stay with you forever.
- Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
- Check into a 4* Hotel in the City Center
- Evening at Leisure
Overnight: Best Western or Similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: B/L
Day 12 / June 4: See you Soon
We’ll arrange your transfer to the airport today to begin your journey home.
This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a ‘see you again soon’!
Meals: B
What's Included
- An English-speaking licensed guide.
- All airport transfers.
- Transportation during the trip dates.
- All accommodation during the trip dates, double occupancy unless otherwise indicated.
- All activities listed on the itinerary.
- Meals* (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as outlined on the trip itinerary.
*Please let us know of any dietary restrictions before booking.
What's Not Included
- International flights.
- Visa costs and fees.
- Travel Insurance that covers medical evacuation and cost of participation (required).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, optional activities, and meals which are not included in the trip itinerary.
- A sleeping bag and sleeping pad are required for this trip. These items will not be provided and should be brought from home. If you would like to rent a sleeping bag and sleeping pad for the trip, the cost is $40 USD.
- Tips and additional gratuities.
Visit our tour cancellation policy page if you have any additional questions.
Want to extend your trip? Add-on these Experiences
🐴 Day Trip to Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue (Book for any day, it’s the perfect day trip to get into the spirit of Mongolia.)
🤝 Visit the Black Market with a Local (Book for any day except Tuesdays (closed), great for gear shopping, souvenir browsing, and feeling like a local.)
Meet Aagie, Your Local Guide & Trip Leader
My name is Aagie (short for Agarmaa) and I am a professional certified tour guide and the Head of Tours & Experiences at Meanwhile in Mongolia.
Born into a second-generation city life, I rediscovered my roots through travel and guiding. After three years and 30+ tours across the country, I’ve connected deeply with my heritage, from the Gobi to Mongolia’s diverse ethnic groups like the Kazakhs.
Along the way, I’ve encountered snow leopards, hunted with eagles, and explored Mongolia’s vast landscapes. I’m proud to share the beauty and traditions of my country while continuing to learn from it every day.
I will do everything I can to guide you on your adventures with what I’ve learned so far, but there’s also a good chance we’ll discover new things together along the way.
Is this trip right for me? (+ FAQS)
Do you consider yourself one of the following? (Be brutally honest.)
- Someone who enjoys road trips and doesn’t mind spending long hours in the car to get to beautiful destinations. It’s about the journey, not the destination, right?!
- I have an adventurous-spirit with a go-with-the-flow attitude and mindset.
- A believer in the best way to learn about a new culture is to jump right into it.
- Happy to be offline for a few days. Sure, you need to check in every once in a while with family, but you want to live in the moment!
If you said yes to any or all of the above, then great! Mongolia and this Gobi Desert tour is the right trip for you.
This trip requires a medium level of physicality.
Additionally, THIS TRIP REQUIRES A LOT OF DRIVING.
This tour involves long days in the car and there will be a good amount of off-roading during this trip.
We have done our best to create an itinerary that makes this unavoidable part of visiting the best parts of the Gobi as comfortable as possible. However, bumpy, remote dirt roads are inevitable in Mongolia.
If you are prone to car sickness, we advise you to invest in motion sickness glasses or consider joining another group tour.
Please let us know in advance if this is a potential issue.
This experience is designed for active, curious travelers who are open to everything Mongolia has to offer. Including outhouse and pit toilets, long days outside, shared sleeping arrangements, and meat and dairy heavy meals.
If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate accordingly.
Packing List for this Gobi Desert Itinerary
For this adventure you’ll need to pack a sleeping bag and sleeping pad for the nomadic homestay part of the tour.
Furthermore, packing the right clothes for this type of travel is extremely important. Please read our recommended packing list for ideas on what to bring with you.
When you sign up for this tour we send out a Welcome Packet that includes a full packing list of recommended gear and clothes to pack for this adventure. That packing list includes links to the specific gear we’ve field tested, love, and use ourselves.
Book Now
The price to book this 12-day Gobi Desert Group Tour is $3,500 USD per person.
- Exclusive experiences at the Gobi Desert’s most incredible natural wonders: White Stupa, Flaming Cliffs, Yolin Am, Khongoryn Els, Shar Tsav, and more.
- Ride two-humped Bactrian camels across the Singing Dunes.
- Live alongside nomadic families and experience the rhythms of daily herder life.
- Eat a traditional Mongolian feast.
- Sleep in gers (yurts) and see the Milky Way.
Join my Private Travel Group on Facebook
Proudly Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
© 2024 Meanwhile in Mongolia
If you’re looking for an adventure so far out of the realm of the conventional, Breanna’s trips are for you. She prioritizes getting to know her clients as individuals both before and during the trip, and has a special talent for getting to the core of what her clients are looking to get out of their travels. Our whole trip was a beautifully curated experience with just the right balance of rugged and luxurious.
A truly epic experience creating so many great memories. I went with a group of well-traveled friends which made it it even more special. Each site that we visited was very unique, and we learned so much from Breanna and Aagie along the way. This tour was a truly “in-it”, authentic experience with a great mix of activities. Breanna and Aagie clearly know what they are doing– an important point as this tour takes you far off the beaten path to explore so many wonders few will see. Many thanks!
Huge thanks to Breanna and Aagie for such a wonderful trip. We have so many great memories that we will cherish forever. This trip is for travelers and not tourists; people who want authentic local experiences and to truly immerse oneself in the Mongolian culture and way of life. Will be back again!!!