The GobiPoP 310,300 / AreA 612,000 sq km
Why Go?The Gobi is a bleak place; vast, harsh and silent, and there are many who will question your sanity if you choose to travel here. But it is the profound emptiness and terrible isolation that draws adventurers to its fold. In a world of smartphones, social media and 24/7 cable news, there are few places on the planet where it is still possible to fall com-pletely off the radar like you can do in the Gobi.
This is, nevertheless, one of Mongolia’s top-draw regions. Colossal sand dunes, ice-filled canyons, dinosaur fossils and the promise of camel treks ensure that almost every tour company in the country runs trips out here. And a recent explosion of Gobi ger (traditional yurt) camps means you’ll never have to rough it if you don’t want to, although staying with a camel herdsman in a simple guest ger is half the fun.
Best for Staying with Herdsmen¨¨ khongoryn els (p195)
¨¨ Bayanzag (p197)
¨¨ Yolyn Am (p193)
Best Off-the-Beaten-Track¨¨ khermen Tsav (p201)
¨¨ Bayangiin Nuruu (p201)
¨¨ road to Biger (p204)
¨¨ eej khairkhan Nature reserve (p205)
¨¨ khavtsgait Petroglyphs (p194)
When to Go
Mar Bulgan celebrates its camel festival; usually on 6 and 7 March. Bring your woolies, though.
Apr–May Wind-storms increase and airborne sand can get vicious.
Jun–Sep Most ger camps will now be in full swing for the tourist season.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Dalanzadgad°C/°F Temp
-30/-22
-20/-4
-10/14
10/50
30/86
20/68
0/32
0
0.8/20
2.4/60
4/100
3.2/80
1.6/40
Rainfall inches/mm
Dundgov ..................... 181Mandalgov .................. 181Ikh Gazryn Chuluu .... 186Dornogov ....................187Sainshand ..................187Ikh Nartiin Chuluu ..... 189Ömnögov .................... 191Dalanzadgad .............. 191Gurvan Saikhan National Park .............193Bayanzag ....................197Bayankhongor City ... 199Gov-Altai ....................202Altai ...........................203
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s ba
ck o
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e aw
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nd d
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of
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gory
n El
s (p
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o fo
ssil
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ing
at
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ch in
din
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gs.
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ook
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or ib
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thro
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nyon
of Y
olyn
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vul
ture
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ove.
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amp
by th
e riv
er b
efor
e pi
ckin
g yo
ur w
ay th
roug
h th
e m
onas
tery
ruin
s of
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iin
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5).
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him
my
up a
gra
nite
face
or
just
cla
mbe
r ove
r bou
lder
s
in th
e ee
rie, m
oons
cape
-like
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h G
azry
n Ch
uluu
(p18
6).
6 S
earc
h fo
r the
Kha
vtsg
ait
Petr
ogly
phs
(p19
4); r
emot
e,
preh
isto
ric ro
ck c
arvi
ngs
that
ov
erlo
ok th
e de
sert
.
7 G
et tr
uly
off th
e be
aten
tr
ack
and
vent
ure
sout
h to
Kh
erm
en Ts
av (p
201)
, a
cany
on s
ome
insi
st is
mor
e sp
ecta
cula
r tha
n B
ayan
zag.
The
Gob
i Hig
hlig
hts