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The Gobi is a general Mongolian description of the entire South, one third of the country. It is not a complete desert, as often perceived by Westerners. It is claimed to hold 33 different ecosystems of which only 3 per cent is sand desert. Most of it is semi-desert, the end of Altai mountain range, Gobi's Three Beauties National Park, Great Gobi National Park and Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes. Also you will see the biggest Zag Saxaul grove and Bayanzag, Khermen Tsav, Nemekht cradles of Dinosaur fossils, and Yol Valley with permanent ice river and Takhiin Tal and many others. Here you will have chance to observe wild asses, goat, sheep, lammergeyers and other Gobi birds. In the Southern Mongolia you will visit camel breeding families taste thinned camel milk and ride camels.Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert is one of the most interesting and mysterious places in the world. Travelers are interested in the area not only for its spectacular scenery and camel treks, but for its trove of dinosaur fossils. The site of an ancient inland sea, the Gobi is a treasure chest of fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs.
The Gobi holds many attractions such as the Flaming Cliffs, Hongoryn Els Sand Dunes and the Yol valley.
Flaming Cliffs - Bayanzag (Rich Saxaul)
The large dinosaur skeletons on display at the Natural History Museum in Ulaanbaatar, where found at this Neolithic site. In the west, it is better known as the Flaming Cliffs, so named by explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, in the same area he also discovered petrified forests, remains of mammals, and in particular the skeleton of a hornless rhinoceros, the largest known mammals in the world. Bayanzag, a desert zone in Bulgan soum, is strewn with saxaul bushes, as its name suggests.
Yolyn Am (Vulture Valley)
Gurvan Saihan (Three Beauties) Mountain National Park has a surface area of 4,100 square kilometers and stretches over 100 kilometers including the strictly protected area of Yolyn Am. The Yolyn Am become a strictly protected area in 1965 and is 62 kilometers northwest of Dalanzadgad. Its wide entrance narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. A spring two three kilometers long winds it was through the opening and even in July freezes into a thick corridor of ice. Following the canyon to the very end, one will emerge into a beautiful wide valley.
The Hongoryn Els (Sand Dunes)
This is one the few areas of sand dune formations. Up to 200m tall and very long, the Khongoryn Els are a popular tourist destination. These dunes are located north of the Baruunsaikhan Mountains in the northern part of the Servrei and Zuulun Mountains about 200kms west of Dalanzadgad in Servei soum. They extend for 185 kilometers and include dunes that can reach 20 meters in height. The sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar and airplane. Hence, their name "singing sands" or "musical sands". Near the Hongor Gol (Hongor River) at the northern edge of the dunes is an oasis.
Ekhiingol, southern Gobi, Bayankhongor Province
Ekhiingol is a small, isolated oasis in the Southern Gobi, surrounded by barren desert. In communist times this used to be an important agricultural research station, but now only about 20 families remain. Here grow tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, peppers and some fruit, which are sold locally. Getting the produce to other markets is nearly impossible, as there are no flights, and the provincial capital is 400 km away along a rough dirt track.
Gobi Lakes
The Khangai Mountains causes precipitation, and the run off to the south empties into the Gobi, eventually creating the Gobi lakes of Buun Tsagaan Nuur and Orog Nuur. These are prime birding locations for the Southern Mongolia.
How to Travel there:
In the Southern of Mongolia you travel by a jeep, mini-van, motorcycle and on two humped camels for 3-21 days staying in comfortable Ger camps or fully served tents. Special tours can be like camel trekking, bird watching and motorcycle tour. The Great Gobi Desert is in the territory of Umnugobi province and it takes just 90 minutes to fly there from Ulaanbaatar. To the Bayankhongor province there are flights three times a week. Overland drive is far, but possible. We visit this area on our bird watching tours.
The Gobi Desert is one of the most interesting and mysterious places in the world. Travelers are interested in the area not only for its spectacular scenery and camel treks, but for its trove of dinosaur fossils. The site of an ancient inland sea, the Gobi is a treasure chest of fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs.
The Gobi holds many attractions such as the Flaming Cliffs, Hongoryn Els Sand Dunes and the Yol valley.
Flaming Cliffs - Bayanzag (Rich Saxaul)
The large dinosaur skeletons on display at the Natural History Museum in Ulaanbaatar, where found at this Neolithic site. In the west, it is better known as the Flaming Cliffs, so named by explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, in the same area he also discovered petrified forests, remains of mammals, and in particular the skeleton of a hornless rhinoceros, the largest known mammals in the world. Bayanzag, a desert zone in Bulgan soum, is strewn with saxaul bushes, as its name suggests.
Yolyn Am (Vulture Valley)
Gurvan Saihan (Three Beauties) Mountain National Park has a surface area of 4,100 square kilometers and stretches over 100 kilometers including the strictly protected area of Yolyn Am. The Yolyn Am become a strictly protected area in 1965 and is 62 kilometers northwest of Dalanzadgad. Its wide entrance narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. A spring two three kilometers long winds it was through the opening and even in July freezes into a thick corridor of ice. Following the canyon to the very end, one will emerge into a beautiful wide valley.
The Hongoryn Els (Sand Dunes)
This is one the few areas of sand dune formations. Up to 200m tall and very long, the Khongoryn Els are a popular tourist destination. These dunes are located north of the Baruunsaikhan Mountains in the northern part of the Servrei and Zuulun Mountains about 200kms west of Dalanzadgad in Servei soum. They extend for 185 kilometers and include dunes that can reach 20 meters in height. The sound produced by the masses of moving sand can be heard from afar and airplane. Hence, their name "singing sands" or "musical sands". Near the Hongor Gol (Hongor River) at the northern edge of the dunes is an oasis.
Ekhiingol, southern Gobi, Bayankhongor Province
Ekhiingol is a small, isolated oasis in the Southern Gobi, surrounded by barren desert. In communist times this used to be an important agricultural research station, but now only about 20 families remain. Here grow tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, peppers and some fruit, which are sold locally. Getting the produce to other markets is nearly impossible, as there are no flights, and the provincial capital is 400 km away along a rough dirt track.
Gobi Lakes
The Khangai Mountains causes precipitation, and the run off to the south empties into the Gobi, eventually creating the Gobi lakes of Buun Tsagaan Nuur and Orog Nuur. These are prime birding locations for the Southern Mongolia.
How to Travel there:
In the Southern of Mongolia you travel by a jeep, mini-van, motorcycle and on two humped camels for 3-21 days staying in comfortable Ger camps or fully served tents. Special tours can be like camel trekking, bird watching and motorcycle tour. The Great Gobi Desert is in the territory of Umnugobi province and it takes just 90 minutes to fly there from Ulaanbaatar. To the Bayankhongor province there are flights three times a week. Overland drive is far, but possible. We visit this area on our bird watching tours.