Guide to the Gobi: Ultimate Gobi Desert Travel Guide
We’re answering the most commonly asked Gobi Desert travel questions. Is the Gobi Desert worth visiting? What is the best time of year to visit? Can you drive across the Gobi Desert? Plus, a Guide to the Gobi: Google Maps pin list.
For travelers thinking about visiting Mongolia, the Gobi Desert is usually the first place they start researching. In fact, that’s probably what brought you to this travel guide – you’re thinking about booking a trip to see Mongolia’s famous desert for yourself! That’s awesome.
When travelers ask me about the one place they shouldn’t miss on their first visit, the Gobi Desert is usually at the top of that list.
That’s because it has it all. The colors of the natural wonders at sunrise and sunset are a photographer’s dream. The legends of the dinosaur fossils and eggs discovered here are endlessly entertaining. And the infrastructure here is some of the best developed in the country. (Keep in mind that’s not saying much, I’ll touch more on that below.)
I’ve been lucky enough to spend time exploring the Gobi Desert on my own and with friends, and every time I go there, I discover something new. For example, the last time I was there, we hired a driver from the area who showed us petroglyphs and some other secret viewpoints that we would never have found on our own. Even though it was my sixth time there, I was still excited to see what new things we’d uncover each day.
It’s unexpected moments like this that always make me recommend people book an experienced guide and driver when planning a Gobi trip.
Good drivers and knowledgeable guides are worth their weight in gold. They’ll show you things you’d never find on your own and share local insight and legends that really add a depth to these trips that make them not just a tour, but a culturally rich immersion into Mongolian history and culture.
Below I go into some of the most frequently asked questions travelers have about visiting the Gobi. I’ll explain when you should visit, what to expect during your trip, and even suggest an ideal Gobi Desert itinerary so you don’t miss any of the famous sites.
If you have any questions about visiting the Gobi Desert that I don’t address here, leave a comment at the bottom of the page. I’m happy to share my local travel insight so you have an amazing journey through southern Mongolia!
Table of Contents
First trip to Mongolia? Start Planning
Understanding how things work in Mongolia can be confusing. Here are some things I’d book first for an upcoming trip.
🚕 Airport Transfer into Ulaanbaatar
Book your airport transfer before you land. Ulaanbaatar taxis are chaotic and this is worth the peace of mind.
🛌 Where to Stay
My picks at every budget, all within walking distance of the main square:
→ Hostel One: best hostel in the city for solo travelers
→ Urgoo Hotel: locally owned boutique spot, great value and location
→ H9 Hotel Nine: steps from Sukhbaatar Square, ideal for first-time visitors
→ Best Western Premier Tuushin: 4-star hotel next to Sukhbaatar Square, super comfortable
👉 Make the Most of Your Time in Ulaanbaatar
If you have extra days, these are the day tours and 1-day experiences that start and end in Ulaanbaatar I’d actually recommend:
→ Ulaanbaatar: Private Guided City Tour with Car
→ Cooking Class in a Local Home
→ Mongolian Traditional Dance & Music Concert Ticket
→ Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue & Terelj National Park
→ Ulaanbaatar: Private Nomad Horseback Ride + Homemade Lunch
Is the Gobi Desert worth visiting?
Yes, the Gobi Desert is worth visiting, especially if it’s your first visit to Mongolia.
Highlights of the Gobi Desert include:
- Tsagaan Suvarga (the White Stupa)
- The Gobi Museum of Nature and History
- Yolin Am Valley
- Khongoryn Els Singing Sands
- Bayanzag (the Flaming Cliffs)
A Gobi Desert tour is right for you if:
If you’re a photographer, the colors and details will blow you away.
If you’re an active traveler, you’ll walk through Yolin Am Valley, climb the dunes at Khongoryn Els, and explore the White Stupa and Flaming Cliffs by foot.
Budget solo travelers looking for a group to join to save on their travel costs. Book a hostel or guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar who put together groups to go out together with. This will be one of the cheapest tours you can book in Mongolia.
Families with children old enough to ride in the car for long periods of time. What child wouldn’t want to see the place where dinosaurs once roamed!
Luxury travelers who can afford private charter planes to cut down on driving time and $1,200 night stays at Three Camel Lodge, one of the best hotels in Mongolia.
For an idea on what to budget for a trip to the Gobi Desert, check out our Mongolia budget and travel costs guide.
A Gobi Desert tour is right for you if:
If you get easily car sick, Mongolia in general is going to be a hard place for you to travel. The route through the Gobi Desert is notoriously bad, with badly corrugated roads, long driving distances between sites, and not particularly comfortable vehicles (you definitely don’t want to travel in a furgon).
If you are disabled or have trouble walking, traveling through this part of southern Mongolia involves a lot of walking.
If you can’t stand hot, dry heat, avoid traveling to the Gobi Desert for mid-June to the end of August. Days can reach 40 C this time of year and most ger camps don’t have air conditioning.
Best time of year to visit the Gobi Desert
Most travelers book their tours to the Gobi in June, July, and August. They do this because summer is often recommended as the best time to visit Mongolia.
Personally, I avoid traveling to this area in July and August because temperatures can reach 40 C and the days are scorching. I don’t particularly enjoy really hot weather, so I prefer to travel to the Gobi Desert during the should season, from mid-May to mid-June and September.
Spring weather is a bit all over the place in Mongolia, so some days can be cold enough to need a puffer jacket while others might be t-shirt weather. Pack layers and it’s nothing you can’t handle.
I also really like traveling through this area from mid-May to mid-June because there are a lot of ovoo and mountain worshipping ceremonies at this time. (This is also where a knowledgeable guide and driver come in!)
This last May we were able to join a small ovoo worshipping ceremony and watch horse races and wrestling. We were invited to sit in the main tent where we met and chatted with some of the locals who live in the area and were given lots of local foods and drinks to try. It was one of the best days of that trip.
Can you drive across the Gobi Desert?
Yes! The Gobi Desert is meant to be driven across. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t drive into the sand dunes, you drive around them.
See the itinerary section for the most popular driving route.
Can you fly to the Gobi Desert from Ulaanbaatar?
Yes, domestic airlines MIAT and Chingis Airlines both fly to Dalanzadgad, the capital of Omnogovi (South Gobi) Province.
Summer flights are announced in March and seats are very limited and book out quickly. If you would like to fly to the Gobi Desert, you should book your domestic flights in March.
Because domestic flights are hard to come by, most travelers drive to the Gobi from Ulaanbaatar. Charter flights are also available to book, and cost around $6,000 USD each way.
Best Gobi Desert 10-day Itinerary (with Google Maps Pins)
You should plan to spend at least 10 days doing the loop from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert and then back up to Kharkhorin and Orkhon Valley. When you arrive in Orkhon Valley, plan to do a homestay with a local nomadic family to complete your experience (this is can’t miss thing to do!).
On day 10, return to Ulaanbaatar and end your journey.
This 10-day Gobi Desert itinerary includes everything you don’t want to miss on your first visit to Mongolia.
It is possible to do a shorter version of this itinerary, but I recommend spending the 10 days to get the most out of your time here. You traveled all this way, and it would be a shame to not get the most out of your time in Mongolia!
Day 1: Drive Ulaanbaatar to Baga Gazariin Chuluu (270 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: Baga Gazariin Chuluu
Day 2: Drive Baga Gazariin Chuluu to the White Stupa (260 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: the White Stupa
- Stay: Gobi Caravanserai
Day 3: Drive White Stupa to Dalanzadgad (200 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: The Gobi Museum of Nature and History
- Stay: Grand Gobi Resort
Day 4: Drive Yolin Am Valley to Khongoryn Els (220 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: Yolin Am Valley, Khongoryn Els at sunset
- Stay: Gobi Erdene Ger Camp
Day 5: Drive Khongoryn Els to Flaming Cliffs (200 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: Flaming Cliffs
- Stay: Big Sky Gobi Resort
Day 6: Drive Flaming Cliffs to Ongi Monastery (180 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: Ongi Monastery
- Stay: Secret of Ongi Tourist Camp
Day 7: Drive Ongi Monastery to Kharkhorin (300 kilometers)
- Don’t miss: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin Museum, Erdeneiin Khuree Calligraphy Center
- Stay: Secret of the Silk Road
Day 8: Drive Kharkhorin to Orkhon Valley Nomadic Family (depends on family)
- Don’t miss: Nomadic Family Homestay Experience
Day 9: Nomadic Family Homestay Experience
Day 10: Drive Orkhon Valley to Ulaanbaatar (estimate 400 kilometers)
Tours to the Gobi we recommend booking
Be sure to read through the details of each and don’t be afraid to ask questions from each tour company before booking. Safe travels and let us know which experience you end up booking!
⭐ Book our 8-day Gobi Desert Private Tour (Comfortable Ger Camps and Vehicles)
Other tours to book:
12-day Gobi and Central Mongolia Adventure
10-day Gobi Desert and Central Mongolia Highlights Tour
7-day Gobi Tour Mongolia with Dinosaur FossilsAre you visiting Mongolia for the first-time and stuck in the planning process?
Get my first-time visitor’s essential planning guide, Into the Steppe, now! Inside you’ll find everything you need to research, plan, and book the ultimate Mongolia adventure.
This Mongolia digital travel guide costs $9.99 and will help you answer the questions:
- When to visit and for how long
- Which region to visit and sample itineraries
- How to get there (including domestic flight info)
- Expert packing tips with gear recommendations
- Accommodations explained (hotel vs ger camp vs homestay)
- And who to book your trip with!
Author: Breanna Wilson
Hi! Sain uu! I’m Breanna, an American travel writer and adventurer living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for more than 9 years. I’ve written for and been featured in Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, Forbes, and the New York Times, among others. Read more of my Mongolia travel articles here.
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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!!!
Mongolia! I miss it every day and it is all thanks to the wonderful trip we did with Aagie and Breanna! You cannot experience a place like Mongolia if you don’t do a trip like this, just keep in mind this is traveling, not vacationing. Aagie and Breanna are not only great guides, but genuinely amazing people who are fun to hang out with. Every single day is an adventure on this trip with new surprises around every corner. Cant wait to go back and see our friends again!
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