DURATION:
9 Days
GROUP SIZE:
2-8 pax
January 31st until Feb 8th, 2026.
Join our team this winter for an unforgettable adventure to Mongolia’s South Gobi, where the vast desert comes alive with the Ten Thousand Camel Festival—a celebration of nomadic life, tradition, and the unique two-humped Bactrian camel.
First organized by local herders in 1997, the festival was created to honor Mongolia’s camels, protect their heritage, and share the spirit of desert culture with visitors from around the world. Today, it’s one of Mongolia’s most spectacular winter events, featuring camel races, herding contests, traditional music, and lively dance performances. Nomads arrive from far and wide, dressed in their finest deels and full of pride for their way of life.
In addition to the festival, we’ll spend five days exploring the highlights of the Gobi Desert—from the dramatic ice-filled canyons of Yolyn Am and the vast dunes of Khongoryn Els, to the ancient cliffs of Bayanzag, known as the Flaming Cliffs. You’ll experience the quiet beauty of winter in the desert and connect with local herding families along the way.
Begin your tour with an exciting day of Dog Sledding in Terelj National Park, then visit Hustai National Park, home to the endangered Przewalski’s wild horses—a great way to begin a journey that celebrates Mongolia’s wildlife, landscapes, and traditional life.
Our team will take care of every detail, so you can simply embrace the adventure, the warmth of nomadic hospitality, and the extraordinary spirit of Mongolia in winter.
Cost
Jan 31st - 8th Feb, 2026
Group of 4: USD $1650 per person
Day 1
Terelj National Park
Your driver and English-speaking guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Terelj National Park. You will visit Aryabala Monastery, explore the park, and enjoy an exhilarating dog sledding experience with your guide. In the evening, you will return to Ulaanbaatar and stay overnight back at your hotel. Enjoy a 'welcome dinner' together with your guide.
Day 2
Hustai National Park
Drive west of out UB, about 90 mins beyond the city limits out into the vast Mongolian countryside. Visit Hustai National Park, and stay overnight in the comfortable tourist ger camp there. Late afternoon and early morning tend to be the best times to see wildlife, but be guided by the national park rangers for the best times and locations. Drive into the national park, keeping your eyes open for the Prezwalski Wild Horses, but also marmots, foxes, deer, elk, and many birds of prey.
Day 3
Baga Gazriin Chuluu
Begin your drive into the Gobi Desert, driving 4-5 hours and stopping at a fascinating region of rocky outcrops called Baga Gazriin Chuluu. Visit the ruined monastery nestled in the rocks, and stay in traditional Mongolian gers by the national park.
Day 4
Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
Drive into the 'proper desert' and to Bayanzag (the Flaming Cliffs), an area famous for its rich paleontological discoveries, including some of the first dinosaur eggs ever found. If you are photographers, plan to capture images of the cliffs at sunset, when they glow in brilliant shades of red and orange. In the evening, stay with a nomadic for the night, and experience genuine nomadic hospitality
Day 5
Khongoriin Els (The Singing Sand Dunes)
Drive about 220km to Khongoriin Els, sometimes referred to as 'The Singing Sands'. Take a short detour to explore a fascinating outcrop with many petroglyphs (rock drawings) dating back to the bronze age. Take a guided camel ride up into the sand dunes. Climb the sand dunes and try to catch a sunset over the dunes. Stay at a basic tourist ger camp by the sand dunes.
Day 6
Yoliin Am - Dalanzadgad
Drive around 200kms to Yoliin Am, also known as Eagle Canyon or Ice Canyon. This dramatic gorge is home to many Bearded Lammergeiers—majestic vultures famous for being the world’s highest flying birds. The canyon is so deep that, even during the hottest desert summers, ice can often be found lingering at its base. It will be very well frozen in mid-winter when you visit. Drive into Dalanzadgad, a further 50kms or so, and check into a warm hotel for 2 nights.
Day 7
Ten Thousand Camel Festival
Enjoy a full day at the Camel Festival, where you'll witness and take part in many fascinating cultural activities. Experience the spirit of nomadic Gobi life, observe traditional competitions, and even try your hand at some winter customs and games. Return to stay in your hotel in Dalanzadgad.
Ten Thousand Camel Festival - Tsagaan Suvarga
Enjoy the morning at the Camel Festival, then in the afternoon drive 3-4 hours to Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa), a fascinating region which shows evidence of once being an inland sea. Stay with a nomadic for the night a few kms from the cliffs. Have an early night, ready to rise for the dawn in the morning.
Day 8
Day 9
Tsagaan Suvarga - Ulaanbaatar
Rise before the sun in the morning and drive a few kms back to the tops of the Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs to witness the sunrise over the cliffs. If you are photographers, this makes for amazing photographic opportunities. Return to the ger camp for breakfast, then drive 5-6 hours to Ulaanbaatar, and end your tour with a farewell dinner together.
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14