Authentic Mongolia

Small Group - 4 to 16

16 Days

from

$6,799 pp

Single Supplement – $969

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Authentic Experiences

Discover the true spirit of Mongolia on this 16-day small group tour through vast desert landscapes, ancient monasteries and timeless nomadic traditions. Start in Ulaanbaatar exploring the Gandan Monastery and bustling city streets before heading deep into the Gobi Desert to see the Singing Dunes, Flaming Cliffs and hidden valleys alive with history.

Along the way, share tea with camel herders, learn to cook traditional dumplings, and lend a hand at a tree-planting project in the Gobi Oasis. From yak milking and sea buckthorn tastings to visiting Buddhist schools and the Herder’s Festival, this tour offers a genuine glimpse into everyday Mongolian life. With expert local guides and authentic ger stays, it’s an experience that connects you to the land, the people and their incredible stories.

  • Explore Mongolia‘s capital, Ulaanbaatar by foot
  • Visit the Gandan Monastery with its huge golden buddha
  • Explore the huge expanse of what the Gobi Desert has to offer
  • Volunteer at the Gobi Oasis tree planting nursery
  • Enjoy a Mongolian dumplings cooking class at a local house
  • Visit the impressive Tsagaan Suvarga rock formations
  • Explore Yolyn Am Valley by foot
  • Visit the Singing Dunes for a spectacular view and visit a camel herder family
  • Visit the Khavtsgait Petroflyphs and the Flaming Cliffs
  • Explore the temple complex of Ongiin Khiid
  • Attend the Herder’s Festival of the nomadic lifestyle
  • Visit the Tovkhon Monastery
  • Experience Yak milking and how the milk is made into products
  • Visit the Monument of the 3 Kings
  • Visit the Buddhist Lama school and learn about the lives of young monks
  • Visit a sea buckthorn farm and tastings
  • Plus so much more!

Journey Map

Fitness Level

Easy

Moderate

Challenging

Tough

Itinerary

Welcome to Mongolia!

Your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall at Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khan Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Explore some of Mongolia’s capital today, we’ll have a guide on hand to familiarise you with the city – walk down Peace Avenue, exchange money, anyone who would like can get a local sim card, we’ll pop into the State Department Store in case anyone wants some personal items for the upcoming trip, and there should be time to visit the charming Choijin Lam Temple Museum and/or the Chinggis Khaan Museum or the Dinosaur Museum.

At 5:15pm venture south towards Peace Bridge to a small theatre to experience an intimate performance of traditional music and dance by the Tumen Ekh Ensemble, followed by a welcome dinner at one of favourite Mongolian restaurants.

Accommodation: Tuushin Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Meet your guide at 9am for a morning visit to Gandan Monastery. Enter the temples, including that of the Migjid Janraisig with it’s huge golden buddha statue. In the old temple complex listen to the chanting ceremonies which happen mid-morning.
After lunch take a walk across the expansive Sukhbaatar Square to the National History Museum which is a great introduction to the country’s past.
There is flexibility in today’s schedule to weave in some extra local colour into the day. We’ll plan for one or two of the following (to be finalised closer to the time based on availability of locals, and also final group size.)
– Shaman visit
– Master Bowmaker visit
– Traditional Musical Instrument workshop visit
– local market

Accommodation: Tuushin Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 08:00 to make the most of the day. Head south to explore the rock formations Baga Gazriin Chuluu on a 1hr gentle hike (timing is flexible), including visiting Som Hoh Burd temple ruins. Afterwards, drive to Mandalgobi where you will be staying on the edge of this provincial town with Byamba and her husband Radnaa, who have run the Gobi Oasis tree planting nursery for over 35 years. She has been leading this conservation project by growing small seeds & branches, and nurturing them in harsh conditions, before replanting them in areas in desperate need of combating desertification.
Head to the nursery and plant some seedlings which will hopefully provide a lasting legacy of your time in Mongolia! By helping to plant & look after the trees you will contribute to:
– Offsetting CO2 emissions & reduce greenhouse gases
– Providing wildlife habitats & reduce dust and wind
– Protecting native Gobi trees & reduce desertification
– Support local labour & thus reduce urban migration
After planting the trees and perhaps a wander around town, return to Byamba’s home where you will have a Mongolian cooking lesson, preparing one of the traditional nomadic dishes – perhaps buuz (steamed dumplings) or huushur (fried dumplings).

Accommodation: Gobi Oasis shared Ger Homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 5hrs / 320kms

After breakfast head south to Omnogobi province. You will stay tonight at a ger camp near the impressive rock formations of Tsagaan Suvarga where you can explore the area on foot. You can visit 2 famous caves that lie 7 km to the east of the white stupa. They are called Khevtee Bosoo agui (Lie and Stand Cave). They are titled “lie and stand caves” because some parts of the cave are very small, you can only crawl but other areas are very large so you are able to stand up. You will also visit Del Uul to see the plethora of rock paintings here.

Accommodation: Gobi Caravanserai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 3.5hrs / 195kms

After breakfast, head to the provincial capital of Dalanzadgad. Upon arrival, you can visit the South Gobi Museum and the local market to stock up on supplies, plus have lunch. Then head to Yolyn Am- park up at the head of the valley and keep a lookout for birds of prey and ibex on top of the rocky outcrops above you as you wander down into the gorge. The walk here typically lasts around 1-2hrsdepending on distance ventured and one’s individual pace. As you walk further down the valley the steep rock faces close in and the stream that crisscrosses the path disappears under sheets of ice.

Afterwards, head to your ger camp on the vast desert plains and settle in for the night.

Accommodation: Gobi Mirage Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 5hrs / 250kms

Today you take a scenic desert drive west to the sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, stopping for photos, perhaps a local nomadic family stop-off/visit, and a picnic lunch. Depending on timings and preference, plus the advice of the guide and driver, you may take the back route through the Gurvan Saikhan hills and the Dungenee Pass. This will be decided on the day.
Reach the ger camp mid-afternoon, and there is normally plenty of time for the short drive to the Singing Dunes, and to climb up for a spectacular view. Visit a camel herder family, experience local hospitality in the family’s ger, and there will be an opportunity to saddle up for a Bactrian camel ride as well.

Accommodation: Gobi Erdene Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 4hrs / 180kms

After a leisurely breakfast, head back east, stopping at Khavtsgait to explore the petroglyphs. Walkup a rocky outcrop and search the surrounding rocks for ancient engravings that dot the area. You will be surprised by how many there are – one can spend a good half an hour exploring and discovering. From this vantage point there is a fantastic view over the surrounding plains.
Have lunch in the small village of Bulgan – perhaps also visit one of the Gobi’s few organic farms located here – before continuing onto Bayanzag for an exploratory walk around the spectacular sandstone formations, known as the Flaming Cliffs due to their deep red hue. You can either do this en route to the ger camp where you’ll stay tonight, or go to the camp first and then drive to the cliffs a bit later in time to catch the sunset. We advise spending up to an hour and a half strolling around this paleontological wonder – both atop the cliffs and down on the valley floor – before hopping back in the vehicles and back to your ger.

Accommodation: Gobi Tour Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 4hrs / 190kms

Start the journey north towards the heartland of Mongolia. The temple complex of Ongiin Khiid is a convenient stop-off point en route. Enter there constructed temple, see the stupa engraved with the names of the victims of the purges, and see the monks who run the monastery.

Accommodation: Ongiin Nuuts Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 4hrs / 180kms

Attend the Herder’s festival, which highlights nomadic lifestyle and culture, held in the Ongi temple in Saihan-ovoo soum, not far from your ger camp. Ift he festival does not happen we’ll replace with a day at Tsenkher Hot Springs or Khustai National Park.

Accommodation: Ongiin Nuuts Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

After breakfast, continue your north. As you drive you will see the open flat plains give way to greener undulating countryside, with more families and livestock. Pass through the village of Khujirt where you may stop for a pit stop, supplies and maybe lunch – depending on what time you have set off in the morning.
Arrive at the ger camp by around 3pm. There will be an opportunity in the afternoon to go for a walk or a horse ride to see the Uurtiin Tokhoi Canyon. Or, for those who are interested, and if river levels are suitable, this is a great place to do an hour or so of kayaking. We will need to know in advance if this interests you so we can pack one or two of our double inflatable kayaks.

Accommodation: Talbiun Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 6hrs / 250kms

Drive the short distance to Tovkhon Monastery. On arrival, walk up to the hilltop temples through the scenic forested countryside. It takes around an hour to reach from where you park the vehicle at the bottom of the hill, and slightly less to return downhill. There are great views of the surrounding Arkhangai Hills, and this is less ‘yet another Buddhist Monastery!’ trip, rather a good walk with great scenery and interesting hilltop temple architecture.
After a picnic lunch continue on to the Orkhon Waterfall, on the Ulaan Tsutgalan river. The waterfall is most impressive after heavy rains – so the ideal scenario is for it to have rained a few days previously, and for it to be dry when you are there! You will be staying tonight at a homestay in guest gers next to Galaa and his family.
In the evening enjoy a traditional feast of khorkhog – mutton and vegetables seared and steamed with red hot stones from the fire.

Accommodation: Shared Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 1hr / 30kms

The plan for today can be really flexible and will allow for you to get fully involved in the day to day life of Nomadic Families. This is Yak herding country, so there will be opportunities to help with milking the Yaks and seeing how the milk is made into a variety of foods. You will also have time to explore and relax in the beautiful surroundings.
During your time with Galaa’s family you will also get a chance to erect a ger – with a little help from the locals, of course! For those who would like to ride, today is the best day to saddle up and explore the local hills and valleys on horseback with your host Galaa or one his family members, on a 1-2hr ride.

Accommodation: Shared Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you head to Kharkhorin where you can visit the Monument of the 3 Kings overlooking the Orkhon River, and the fertility stone on the edge of town. Take a look around the town’s museum, and stroll around the local market – the hub of community life. You may then want to drive the 1hrnorth to see the Orkhon Monuments known as Khoshoo Tsaidam; early 8th century Turkic memorials to Bilge Khan and Kul Tigin – your guide will decide final logistics with the group depending on preference and timing, and anyone who prefers to relax at camp can do so.
Visit the Erdenesiin Khuree art exhibition and calligraphy centre (September opening-schedule dependent)

Accommodation: Anja Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 3hrs / 90kms

After breakfast drive the short distance to Erdene Zuu Monastery in time to hear the monks chanting, which takes place mid-morning. Take a guided tour around the main temples, and walkaround the grounds. Visit the affiliated Buddhist Lama school close by and learn about the lives of young monks.
In the afternoon head to the beautiful nature reserve of Khogno Khaan. Visit the lower temple complex of Uvguun Khiid where you can see the reconstructed temples, prayer-wheel and look around the ruins. Then we recommend taking the 1.5hr round hike up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills – the scenery is fantastic and there should still be some wildflowers. Head backdown to the valley floor, and continue to the lovely eco-camp near the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai. You can take a walk around the small lake nearby that attracts birdlife, or relax back at camp – perhaps a spot of archery. We shall send a traditional bow and arrow set with you for your entire journey, so you may be pretty expert by now!

Accommodation: Sweet Gobi Ger

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 4.5hrs / 195kms

Head back towards Ulaanbaatar stopping en route at a sea buckthorn farm – take a guided tour around the plantation, then taste some of the products made from the berries. You may want to do some shopping on your return – perhaps at the Gobi Cashmere outlet store on your way back into town, and then also at any of the decent craft outlets. Discuss your preferences with your guide. Enjoy a farewell meal at one of our favourite restaurants.

Accommodation: Tuushin Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Driving distance is 5hrs / 320kms

 

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Farewell Mongolia!

What’s Included?

  • 3 night’s hotel & 12 night’s Ger accommodation
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • All transfers throughout
  • All road transportation throughout
  • An English-speaking local guide
  • All tours and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Museum & park entrance fees
  • Water and snacks in the vehicle
  • Herder’s Festival Fee

Availability

Start DateEnd DateDurationAvailabilityPrice

  • Start Date

    August 31, 2026

    End Date

    September 15, 2026

    Duration

    16 days

    Availability

    Available

    Price

    8,499 AUD

Why Choose Mike Drew Travel?

Hand-crafted journeys & immersive experiences

Small group tours providing intimate connections to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection to the community, tribes, cultures and lands explored.

We’ve walked the walk

Exploring the world’s most remote reaches and challenging destinations requires a high level of expertise which can only be learned from first-hand experience. We know because we go.

Your safety first

In an ever-changing global landscape of rules, regulations and restrictions, rest-assured you are being looked after by those in the know. Given the remote regions that we explore, our passengers safety is our top priority.