3-Day South Gobi Fly-In Express
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Fly to Dalanzadgad β Yol Gorge β Khongor Sand Dunes
We pick you up from your accommodation (pickup time confirmed with your flight) and take you to the airport for the 1-hour flight to Dalanzadgad, the capital of Umnugobi Province. Your local guide and driver meet you there and drive about 50 km (1 hour on a paved road) to Yol Gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan mountains. 'Yol' means bearded vulture in Mongolian, and the gorge stretches for more than 10 km. At its narrowest point only three or four people can walk side by side, and the high rock walls shade the valley floor from direct sun, so ice formed by its small stream in winter often survives until mid-July. Enjoy an hour's hike through the gorge and visit the small natural history museum. After lunch, drive about 190 km (5 hours on dirt roads) to Khongor, the largest sand dune field in the Gobi: nearly 100 km long and 5 to 10 km wide, with crests rising 80 to 300 m. On windy days the moving sand makes a deep booming sound, which is why locals call them the 'Singing Sands,' and a green oasis along the Khongor River lines their northern edge. Spend the night near the dunes.
Khongor Sand Dunes β Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
After breakfast, ride Bactrian camels to explore the base of these massive dunes, and if you're feeling energetic, climb one of the crests for an unforgettable view across an endless sea of golden sand. The climb is steep and the sand gives way underfoot, but the reward at the top is worth every step. After lunch, drive about 150 km (4 hours on dirt roads) to Bayanzag. American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews named this place the 'Flaming Cliffs' in the 1920s, and many important dinosaur finds were made here, including Protoceratops skeletons and the first dinosaur eggs ever discovered. The red cliffs are imposing from a distance and glow especially fiery in the light of the setting sun. Walk around the site, then spend the night nearby.
Bayanzag β Dalanzadgad β Fly to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, drive about 100 km (2 hours on dirt roads) to Dalanzadgad and take the 1-hour flight back to Ulaanbaatar, watching the desert give way to steppe from the air. After you land, our driver meets you and takes you to your accommodation. The tour usually ends in the morning, depending on the flight time.