Gobi Desert Region.

• Picturesque sceneries of mountains and lakes of the western Altai Hills

• Travel across great vastness of south Gobi Desert

• Out-door camping experience near dunes

• Great photo-shooting spots and environment

• Spectacular night sky observation and shooting

Cultural Insights.

• Visit Mongolian nomadic families and experience their lifestyle

• Stay in Mongolian traditional gers in wild nature

• Visit Mongolian historical and cultural sites en route

• Mongolian camel/horse riding excursions in fresh air

Out-Door Activities.

• Great observation and photo shooting of night sky and Mongolian southern landscapes

• Out-door tent camping and dining in Mongolian eastern Altai Hills and Gobi Desert

• Expedition with expert associate Trip Leader in cosmology/astronomy from one of Mongolia’s leading universities

• Dedicated for photographing and longer stays in one location

Ulaanbaatar city.

• Attend Folklore music and dance concerts

• Visit Mongolian cultural and historical sites in Ulaanbaatar

The Itinerary

Day 1 | Ulaanbaatar City

Welcome to Mongolia-the Country of Eternal Blue Sky and the land of Nomads. Upon your arrival at Chinggis Khaan Airport, Laguna Stella Team will be waiting to welcome you!

Transfer to the hotel centrally located in downtown Ulaanbaatar and enjoy some walking chill-out around Sukhbaatar Square, the very center of Ulaanbaatar. After having dinner at a restaurant, stay overnight at your hotel.

Day 2-3 | White Stupa and Yurt camp

After breakfast, we drive out of the city and head to the west. The driving would take some 3-4 hours with a spectacular view of the northernmost section of the Mongolian Gobi desert. Today we will stay overnight near a gorgeous natural formation-White Stupa (locally Tsagaan Suvarga).

The scarp of Tsagaan Suvarga is located in Ulziit soum of Dundgovi province. It is interesting to see the sheer slope, facing east, which from a distance seems to be the ruins of the ancient city. The cliff is 30 meters high and 100 meters wide. Over thousands of years, the wind has created this amazing structure. Enjoy your dinner and stay overnight in your Mongolian yurt. At White Stupa, we have 2 evenings or nights for our choice and weather conditions.

Day 4-5 | Yol Valley

After breakfast, our journey continues southwest to Yoliin Am, the Vulture’s Valley, famous for its unusual rock formations and where ice regularly stays frozen through the summer and often to very high heights. Our trek through Yoliin Am will also give you the opportunity to observe wild ibex which habitually graze the cliffs as well as other wildlife such as ground squirrels.

We will also have time to visit the local museum near the valley en route. Either we can explore the valley today, or we can save it for tomorrow morning trekking in wild nature.

Day 6 | Khongor Sand Dunes

Take a caravan and wander over sand dunes in style. In the morning a long transfer to the highest dunes of the Gobi, the Khongoriin Els.

The Sand Dunes make spectacular sounds enjoyable due to immense tons of sands. Join our camel trekking with our local guide, who will take you deeper into the sand dunes on Mongolian two-humped camels.

Day 7 | Tent Camping

Camping near the immense sand dunes with your camels and crew makes an unforgettable memory and story of your journeys. If lucky enough, the night sky would shine with moonlight reflection on these vast sand dunes.

Enjoy the silence of the sand dunes. The height of the dunes arrives even up to 200 meters. The opportunity to capture this experience on your camera will present itself many times along the way.

Day 8 | Khermen Tsav

Khermen Tsav is a lost land of dinosaur fossils, however, conserved its natural formation untouched and undoubtedly. Settle with your tent camping and enjoy your meals in nature just how it is supposed to be out there.

Day 9 | Khermen Tsav and Observation

The further you wander into the Gobi Desert, the closer you are to nature now. Gobi desert would give you the imagination of how a cosmic journey would be so silent that you can only hear your inner voice, but beautifully.

Day 10-11 | Ikh Bogd Mountain

Bayankhongor Province is famous for its natural beauty as such a combination of great mountain ranges, steppe, and sand dunes. Our journey now heads north to reach our host nomadic family in the region.

Day 12 | Khangai-Steppe Region

As your travel further, now you are heading to the steppe and mountain landscape with more grasslands of Central Mongolia. We will reach our base camp near Arvaikheer and recharge our energy for another day with some leisure.

Day 13 | Erdene Zuu Monastery and Karakorum

Departure to Khangai-Kheer (steppe and mountain region) and an excursion to Erdene Zuu Monastery and the ruins of the Karakorum, the 12th Century capital of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history. Enclosed by a quadrilateral of imposing walls surmounted by 108 white Tibetan chortens, Erdene Zuu Monastery was one of the greatest centers of Lamaist Buddhism thought outside of Tibet. Erected in the 16th century, the most ancient of the Mongolian monasteries housed inside the city walls one hundred temples that were largely destroyed in the 1930s. Enjoy the sight around the Orkhon River at your camp and stay overnight.

Day 14 | Khustai National Park

Our journey continues to Khustai Nuruu National park which is home to Przewalski’s Horse or wild horses and many rare species as well as historical heritages. The driving takes around 3 hours with a spectacular view of the Mongolian grasslands of the Khangai-Steppe region of Bulgan Province. Our lunch is served at another tour camp at Khugnu Khan National park, which has also great scenery in the midst of rocky mountains. By the afternoon we reach our camp in Khustai National Park. Shortly after/before dinner, we drive up to Khustai mountains to observe Przewalski’s horses on their natural pastures.

Day 15 | Ulaanbaatar discovery

Today, we will visit Gandan Monastery which is the most respected spiritual center of Mongolia nowadays. After that, we also visit the Mongolian State Department store and Goyo Cashmere as the country is well known for its fine and quality cashmere products. In the evening, we will attend to Tumen Ekh Folklore Concert, famous for its wide variety of dance and singing performances.

We will have a farewell dinner at one of Mongolia's prestigious restaurants hosted by your Tour crew.

Day 16 | Departure

Your driver and Trip Leader/Guide will take you to the Airport for your departure.

​Accommodation

• 5 Star ★★★★★ Hotels in Ulaanbaatar (see more)

  (Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel Deluxe Rooms)

• 11/12 Days of Tent camping/Mongolian ger

• 2-3/4 Days of Tour camps (see more)

Tour Crew 24/7

• Lead Drivers with years of experience in tours and expeditions across Mongolia

• English speaking Associate Guide specializing in Cosmology/Astronomy (if required)

• English speaking Trip Leader

  (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese languages are offered upon availability)

Ground Transportation

• Lexus 470/Toyota Land Cruiser SUV (see more)

• Domestic Flights (as specified in the itinerary)

• Vans/Buses during Ulaanbaatar days

Dining and Facility

• On-site Cooking service during tour days (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, soft drinks, etc)

• Snacks and additional facilities

• 1x Host Dinner in Ulaanbaatar

• 12 inch Newtonian Sky-Watcher Telescope