The Mongolian Gobi is a combination of randomly seen huge sand dunes, vast open sandy and vegetated steppes, Gobi tree groves, high cliffs appear, marvelous rugged mountains rich in flora, fauna, oasis, rivers and streams. Dinosaur excavations were held successfully at the majority of the cliffs. Prehistoric remains indicate that people have been using most of the area of the Gobi as grazing, hunting and gathering grounds ever since the Stone Age. The Mongolian Gobi is the least inhabited area of 0.3 people per square km. Even though there are more uninhabited and remote areas have even no nomads, but habitats of some wild animals and some of them endemic (wild ass, Saiga antelope, wild camel and the Gobi bear).
In the Gobi, you will feel a lot of space. On some days we will drive from the attraction to attraction without seeing a single nomad ger, but the natural scenery will always surprise you.
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Khongor Sand Dunes
“Khongoriin Els” is the largest accumulation of sand in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, with an area of over 900 km². Khongor Sand dunes has an extraordinary length of 180 kilometers and 6-12 km wide. Sometimes it is called “ Singing dunes” by locals. The sound arises from negative and positive charges of fine sand blown by the wind. When you climb the dune, you will see beautiful views of the surrounding area. In addition, do not forget to crash the sand to the north direction against the wind to hear the sand singing. It borders magnificent mountains in the south, a green-shored river in the north and vast steppes further north. The northern side of the sand dune is the main pastureland of nomads where you will see herds of camels, sheep, and goats. Except for the amazing natural beauty and the most photographed places, you can have an opportunity to ride a two-humped camel through the sand dunes and visit a camel herding family.
Gobi Gurvan Saihan Mountain National Park
Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain or Three Beautiful Mountains of the Gobi desert rises 2200-2800 m above the sea level and the mountain itself is a national park. It has been protecting since 1965. The Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountains are three separate mountains named East Beauty, Middle Beauty and West Beauty those continue over 100 km. The mountains are home to many rare and endangered species including mountain sheep, ibex, snow leopard, deer, wolf, lammergeier or bearded vulture. Gurvan Saikhan Mountain is one of the attractions we head to be refreshed and fascinated by natural beauty at the same time enjoy and love wild nature after traveled a country of emptiness and amazing endless landscapes edged with the horizon.
Yoliin Am – Bearded Vulture’ s Valley (Lammergeier)
Yoliin Am is a narrow canyon of a river which flows through Zuun Saikhan Uul (the Eastern Beauty Mountain – 2815 meters), 62 kilometers north-west of Dalanzadgad town. The gorge has sheer rock walls with a height about 200 meters in the central part. Bottom of the sheer canyon does not accept sunlight. Therefore, the valley has ice even in the mid of June.
It has been protected since 1965 and has an area of 70 square kilometers. Today it is a Strictly Protected Area.
The bearded vulture (Lammergeier), “Yol” in Mongolian, has given the valley its name: “Yoliin Am” means “Bearded Vulture Gorge”. There is a rich avifauna of about 240
species in the park. If you are lucky you will hear the cackle of the rare Altai snowcock (Tetraogallus altaicus) in the late afternoon.
National Park is a cradle of rare wildlife species including snow-leopard (Uncia uncia), lynx, Red fox, Grey wolf, Argali-wild sheep (Ovis ammon), Asiatic Ibex-wild goat (Capra sibirica), Khulan-Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus luteus). Following the canyon to the high rock walls has breathtaking dramatic scenery, and no doubt is one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Flaming Cliff – Ulaan Ereg
Flaming Cliffs is located 90 km northwest of the Dalanzadgad city of Umnugobi province. Flaming Cliffs is one of the most famous paleontological sites in the world. The area was so named by the American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews due to its outstanding orange color seen at sunset. In 1922, American paleontologist and researcher Roy Chapman Andrews traveled Mongolia expecting to find a trace of the human ancestors. On the way back home, Roy Chapman Andrews team found a cemetery of dinosaurs in Flaming Cliffs except for they found human settlement camp dating back to The Stone Age. People of the Gobi knew the bones laying everywhere but they thought those bones are of dragons. There are many cliffs contain dinosaur bones in the Gobi and the cliffs attract thunder more compared to the surrounding area made people think of dragons. Flaming Cliff is a picturesque natural formation and a nice place to go hiking.
Bayanzag
5 km to the north of Flaming Cliffs is a Saxaul tree (Haloxylon ammodendron) grow known as Bayanzag. The saxual tree grows only in the Central Asian Gobi. The tree has very long roots and remains green even in dry summer. It is spectacular to see the green grove covers pretty much area in the middle of the wide open Gobi. In some dry summer, many nomads stay around the grove to use the green tree leaf as an emergency feed for their animals. The tree grows 1.5 m up to 4 m in height. The tree prevents the Gobi desert soil from wind erosion and reduces the expansion of desert sands.
Ikh Gazariin Chuluu
Ikh Gazariin Chuluu is an area of granite stone mountains continues 30 km and a width of 15 km in the middle of wide, open steppes of Gurvansaihan soum, Dundgobi province. The highest peak rises up 1706 m above sea level. The mountains are rich in wild animals and birds including mountain sheep, ibex, gazelle, wolf, fox, eagle, vulture, falcon, and bustard. The area has different kinds of minerals such as crystal, chalcedony, jade, fluorspar, ferum, copper, grindstone and slate. Also, there are many ancient tombs. The wind and rain blown over thousands of years created the amazing artworks in nature. Almost all rock formations look sculpture like artistic creations. The granite mountain valleys are a calm and suitable area for hiking while enjoying the surrounding nature. If you wish, you can see the Gobi sunrise and sunset up and down the ground.
Baga Gazariin Chuluu
A zone of granite stone mountains, 1768 m above sea level, covering an area of 300 sq.km surrounded by flat plain in Delgertsogt soum, Dundgobi province. Many streams flow through the mountain valleys; some of them have aspen groves between gorges. The mountains have been keeping some historical remains such as ancient tombs, burial mounds, rock drawings, rock inscription and monuments dating back to The Bronze Age, Huns State, Turkic State, the Great Mongol Empire and the 16th to 17th century. Also, you can see ruins of meditation temples of the 17th century, a crystal cave, and eye treatment spa. The mountainous area is home to wild animals. Particularly wild mountain sheep and ibex.
The Ongiin River and Ongi Monastery
The site of the Ongiin River, where the ruins of Ongiin Monastery is the halfway point between the two major travel destinations-the South Gobi and Karakorum. A number of travelers tend to spend a night on this spot in this area, during their journey between the southern Gobi desert and Central Mongolia.
Ongi Monastery was one of the largest monasteries consisted of two complexes of temples on the north and south banks of the Ongi River. Ongi is the biggest river of the Gobi. A monastery on the southern bank of the river had 11 temples and has a history over 300 years while the temple complex on the north bank built 230 years ago. The monastery housed 1000 monks at the time. Ongi monastery is surrounded by five sacred mountains have elm trees in their valleys. During the 1930s socialist purge, the monastery was destroyed, monks killed, arrested and sent to a labor camp in Siberia. Now there is a small active temple and a ger museum displays religious items used by the monks of the ancient monastery.
Khermen Tsav
Khermen tsav located 250 kilometers from the Khongor sand dunes, 450 km from the provincial center Dalanzadgad and 120 km northeast of Gurban Tes soum of Umnugobi province.
Beautifully carved red mud cliffs once were the ancient sea bed, as well as home to the dinosaurs is located in the extreme remoteness of the Gobi desert. The 100-200 m deep massive mud cliffs and gorges stretch 15-20 km. Among the canyons are many attractive oases edged by reeds and broom-grass.
Truly off the beaten place, travelers should expect to experience an expedition, not a tour. There are no nomads, no people, no water, and no birds for the last 250 km to reach Khermentsav from Dalanzadgad or Khongor sand dunes. Therefore, we
recommend choosing a great driver, abundant food, and water. The American archaeologist Roy Chapman Andrews named Khermen Tsav “The end of the World.”
Not only the foreign visitors, but the Gobi desert locals also amaze it and say it the real Gobi. Fossilized dinosaur skeleton, insects, birds, tortoises, and plant species found here made the Gobi desert renowned.
Tsagaan Suvarga
Tsagaan Suvarga is located 420 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar city, 85 kilometers from Ulziit soum in Dundgobi province. Tsagaan Suvarga is 30-60 m high, 400 m long, colorful limestone formation, once was the ocean bed where the visitors find marine fossils and clamshells. Its colors are outstanding early morning and evening. Tsagaan Suvarga was named after its shape resembles the Buddhist relict stupas or pagodas.
Tsagaan Suvarga is a beautiful photo shooting spot both day and night. There are some trails to hike down and up through the cliffs. Except for the cliffs, 50m-long Khevtee Bosoo Cave is worth a visit. People have abundant time may spend a day exploring ancient rock drawing gallery in mountains located 32 km from Tsagaan Suvarga.
