Gobi Desert

Overview

The Mongolian Gobi is not all dunes: gravel plains, steppe and sand hills interweave. The Khongoryn Els in the south rise as high as 300 metres and hum in the wind, earning the name singing dunes. Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs, is known for its orange-red walls and dinosaur egg discoveries, while Yolyn Am and the Chuluut canyon extend the route.

History

Its Cretaceous strata hold abundant dinosaur fossils excavated by international expeditions from the 1920s, making it a landmark in palaeontology and a heartland of Mongolian nomadic culture.

Highlights

• •The singing dunes of Khongoryn Els
• •The Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag
• •The Yolyn Am ice canyon
• •Gobi herders and their camels

Practical tips

• •Distances are large — allow four to seven days
• •Day-night temperature swings are extreme; bring layers and windproof gear

Practical information

Best time

May-September

Tickets

Sites charge separately; tours usually include vehicle and guide

Opening hours

Open all day; by arrangement

Local food

Boiled mutton, milk tea, dried curd

Getting around

Fly from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, or drive across; usually four to seven days.

Visa

Visa-free for stays up to 30 days with a valid passport.

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