Home to one of the world's last surviving nomadic cultures, Mongolia’s sense of heritage and tradition runs deep. Traditional yurts, or gers, dot the high plains of Central Asia, stretching from expansive grasslands to unexpected corners of Ulaanbaatar.
The spirit of the steppe permeates daily life, where guests are welcomed with kumiss (fermented mare’s milk) and byaslag (yak cheese), and crowds gather in stadiums to cheer on horse-racing, wrestling and archery. While Mongolia is evolving, it remains a land of wild horses, red deer, Gobi bears and snow leopards, where Buddhist rituals and Shamanic practices all take place under vast star-studded skies.
1 Arrive Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaIn the heart of Central Asia, Ulaanbaatar stands as a frontier town straddling past and present. Nestled in a narrow valley, its dusty streets hum with activity as modern buildings rise beside traditional markets.
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2 Gobi Desert | Nomadic Traditions Meet Endless HorizonsIn the vast Gobi Desert, ancient nomadic traditions endure amid sweeping landscapes, from the undulating dunes of Moltsog Els to the rugged canyons and cliffs of Yol Valley. See the dunes on the back of a Bactrian camel, settling into a hypnotic pace and soaking in the sight of an endless ocean of sand. Sleep over in a tented ger camp, and stargaze from your canvas-lined accommodation.
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3 Gobi Desert | Rugged Yol ValleySet out by 4x4 to the Yol Valley, a narrow, craggy chasm of the verdant Gurvan Saikhan Mountains. In the afternoon, choose from activities offered at your lodge, including biking, hiking around Bulagtai mountain, horse riding and archery.
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4 Gobi Desert | Flaming CliffsExplore the Flaming Cliffs, named for their striking reddish-orange hue that glows at sunset, where a local expert will guide you through jaw-dropping paleontological discoveries, including the first complete dinosaur eggs ever unearthed.
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5 Ulaanbaatar | Spiritual ResurgenceBack in Ulaanbaatar, discover Gandan Khiid Monastery’s majestic 75-foot Buddha statue, see replicas of Genghis Khan’s armor and ancient weaponry at the Chinggis Khaan Museum, the country’s largest museum, and stroll Sukhbaatar Square, home to the Great Khan’s Memorial. Finally, take in a traditional Mongolian cultural performance featuring dancers and khoomei throat singers.
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6 Depart UlaanbaatarMeals: