Buddhist Monastery
Ongiin KhiidThe bend in the river here marks the remains of two ruined monasteries which are today considered one vast complex known as Ongiin Khiid. Bari Lam Khiid…
Image by Tim Makins / Getty Images
The Gobi
The Gobi reveals itself in pockets of amazing scenery, bridged by vast stretches of desolation where smartphone signals die and silence saturates. It can be daunting to be this far out in such harsh conditions, but this is where desert foliage shimmers in greens and golds, and where Tibetan lamas etched ancient messages on red rock cliffs. You’ll watch horses romp and gazelles sprint, hear goats and sheep cry, and commiserate with camels huddling in fierce winds that gather and roll across the steppe. At night galaxies erupt on the domed sky.
No wonder it's one of Mongolia's top-draw regions, promising colossal sand dunes, ice-filled canyons, dinosaur fossils, camel treks, and hospitable nomadic herders who will shower you with warmth, and more than a little milky tea. So choose one of those criss-crossed two-wheel tracks and follow it ever deeper into the mystery.
Explore The Gobi
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout The Gobi.
Nature Reserve
Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature ReserveThis 670-sq-km nature reserve, only a four-hour drive from Ulaanbaatar, at an elevation of 2200m, is home to hundreds of ibexes (mountain goats), argali …
Dunes
Khongoryn ElsKhongoryn Els are some of the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the Duut Mankhan (Singing Dunes – from the sound they…
Gorge
Yolyn Am GorgeA pleasant 2km path leads from the parking area to this gorge filled with blue ice, one of the park's can't-miss sights. You can hike, bike or hire a…
Buddhist Site
ShambhalaIn 1853 Danzan Ravjaa told the local people that he would die in three years but that they could forever come to this place and speak to his spirit…
Desert
BayanzagThe so-called Flaming Cliffs are a Gobi highlight and an important palaeontology site first excavated by Roy Chapman Andrews in 1922. Even if you are not…
Area
Yolyn AmYolyn Am was originally established to conserve the region's bird life, but it’s now more famous for its dramatic rocky cliffs and narrow, heavily shaded…
National Park
Gurvan Saikhan National ParkGurvan Saikhan National Park (20,000 sq km) offers a wealth of sand dunes, canyons, dinosaur fossils and mountainous terrain. Desert wildlife includes…
Natural Feature
Tsagaan SuvargaA 400m-long jigsaw of white-sand cliffs, striped pastel shades of purple, orange and red. That's the scene awaiting you at Tsagaan Suvarga, a sight…
Monastery
Tsorjiin Khureenii KhiidAn unusual sight is the half-hidden stone ruins of the 200-year-old monastery, Tsorjiin Khureenii Khiid. Concealed among the rocks, and shaded by a grove…
National Park
Great Gobi Strictly Protected AreaSplit in two for management purposes, but considered one protected area, together they form the fourth-largest biosphere reserve in the world. It protects…
Natural Feature
Baga Gazryn ChuluuLike a miniature Joshua Tree National Park, this granite-rock formation in the middle of the dusty plains sheltered Zanabazar during conflicts between the…
Nature Reserve
Ikh Gazryn ChuluuTravellers descend on this remote Gobi nature reserve to wander the boulder-strewn moonscape scenery, clamber around and over abstract rock formations and…
Canyon
Khermen TsavWay off the beaten track; you are likely to have this complex of canyons all to yourself. Some say they are even more spectacular than Bayanzag. Be sure…
Rock Art
Sevrei PetroglyphsThese petroglyphs depict herds of animals including deer, ibexes and gazelles; 20km from the town of Sevrei.
Rock Art
Khavtsgait PetroglyphsIf you take the main route from Dalanzadgad to Khongoryn Els, keeping the mountains to your left as you go, you can stop and hunt the hills for this…
Ruins
Süm Khökh BurdThe ruined 10th-century temple Süm Khökh Burd sits on an island in the middle of a seasonal lake, and was built from rocks that can only be found more…
Buddhist Monastery
Khamaryn KhiidThe main hall at this new-build compound that rises from blonde desert sands is an impressive ger-like structure with a golden tower. It can be reached by…
Park
Byamba's Tree NurseryRetired forest engineer and local conservationist Byamba Tseyen helped establish, and now maintains, this small tree-planting nursery on the edge of town,…
Gorge
Dugany AmIf you are headed from Yolyn Am to Khongoryn Els, an adventurous and rough alternative route takes you through the Dugany Am, a spectacular and narrow…