Gobi Desert 9-day tour: Flaming Cliffs & Singing Dunes

Nine days across Mongolia's desert: granite formations, red cliffs, singing dunes, and nomadic camps

A 9-day Gobi Desert tour from Ulaanbaatar combining iconic landscapes (the Singing Sand Dunes, Flaming Cliffs, Yolyn Am gorge) with stays in traditional ger camps and encounters with herder families. The route balances natural highlights with cultural sites including Erdene Zuu Monastery and the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, with an English-speaking guide throughout. Minimum age is 18. Moderate fitness required due to terrain and travel distances.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Baga Gazriin Chuluu

• Explore granite formations and caves
• Stay in traditional ger camp

Day 2: Visit Tsagaan Suvraga Cliffs

• Travel to Tsagaan Suvraga
• Walk along eroded cliffs
• Overnight in ger camp

Day 3: Discover Yolyn Am Gorge

• Journey to Yolyn Am gorge
• Walk or horseback ride canyon
• Overnight in ger camp

Day 4: Experience Khongoryn Els Dunes

• Visit Singing Sand Dunes
• Camel riding on dunes
• Climb dune ridge for sunset
• Overnight in ger camp

Day 5: See Flaming Cliffs

• Visit Flaming Cliffs site
• Stay near Flaming Cliffs

Day 6: Explore Ongi Monastery Ruins

• Visit Ongi Monastery ruins
• Relax by the river
• Overnight in ger camp

Day 7: Tour Kharkhorin and Monastery

• Travel to Kharkhorin
• Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery
• Stay near monastery

Day 8: Explore Terelj National Park

• Visit Turtle Rock and Aryabal Temple
• Enjoy scenic walks
• Overnight in ger camp

Day 9: Chinggis Khan Statue and Ulaanbaatar

• Explore Terelj National Park sites
• Visit Chinggis Khan Statue Complex
• Attend Hun Theatre performance
• Drive to Ulaanbaatar
• Enjoy dinner

The experience

The journey opens at Baga Gazriin Chuluu, where granite formations and hidden caves introduce the desert landscape before the route pushes deeper south. From there, the itinerary moves through Tsagaan Suvraga's eroded cliffs, then into Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park to walk or ride horseback into the Yolyn Am gorge. Each night settles into a ger camp with meals and the open steppe as the backdrop, a rhythm that repeats across all nine days.

The Singing Sand Dunes at Khongoryn Els anchor the middle stretch: camel rides across the dunes lead to climbing the ridge for sunset views. The Flaming Cliffs follow, famous for their deep red color and the paleontological finds, including the first dinosaur eggs, discovered there. Ongi Monastery's riverside ruins and Kharkhorin's Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's oldest Buddhist site surrounded by 108 stupas, add historical depth before the route turns north toward Ulaanbaatar.

The final days loop through Terelj National Park, visiting Turtle Rock and Aryabal Meditation Temple, then conclude at the Genghis Khan Statue Complex: a 40-meter equestrian statue with panoramic views from the top. A traditional Mongolian performance at Hun Theatre rounds out the cultural arc before the drive back to Ulaanbaatar and dinner.

What’s included

• Ger camp accommodation with meals for nine nights.
• English-speaking guide throughout.
• camel rides at the Singing Dunes.
• visits to Yolyn Am gorge, Flaming Cliffs, Erdene Zuu Monastery, Ongi Monastery, Genghis Khan Statue Complex, and Terelj National Park.
• traditional Mongolian performance at Hun Theatre.
• all ground transport between sites.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jun 2027

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Brave New Mongolia

Is this one for you?This tour departs from Ulaanbaatar and returns there at the end, so you don't need a car or separate transport to the starting point. The nine-day span lets you move at a measured pace through each region (enough time at the Singing Dunes and the Flaming Cliffs to absorb them, rather than rushing through), and still fit the cultural sites and nomadic encounters that make the Gobi distinct from a pure desert crossing.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Singing Sand Dunes, and what do you do there?

Khongoryn Els, Mongolia's largest sand dunes, gets its name from the sound the sand makes when disturbed. You ride camels across the dunes and climb the ridge for a view of the golden sunset over the Gobi.

Do I stay in hotels or something else on this tour?

You stay in traditional Mongolian ger camps every night, each with meals included and positioned near the day's main sites: near the dunes, the Flaming Cliffs, the gorge, and the monasteries.

What is the Flaming Cliffs and why is it famous?

The Flaming Cliffs are known for their striking deep red color and their paleontological significance. They're the site where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered. You visit them during the tour and stay nearby to catch the red sunset light.

How much walking and physical activity is involved each day?

The tour includes walks along cliff edges, hikes into gorges, and camel riding across dunes, with travel between sites by vehicle. Moderate fitness is needed due to the terrain and daily travel distances across the desert.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is with you throughout the entire 9 days, providing context on the landscapes, history, and nomadic culture you encounter.

How does the tour end, and do I return to Ulaanbaatar?

The final day includes Terelj National Park, the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, and a traditional Mongolian performance at Hun Theatre at 5:00 PM, followed by dinner and a drive back to Ulaanbaatar.