THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Traverse Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes on a 17-day overland and trekking journey that mixes dune walks, canyon hikes, ancient ruins and nights in family yurts. Expect long drives, short to full trekking days, camels and yaks to carry gear, and authentic nomadic hospitality.
Traverse Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes on a 17-day overland and trekking journey that mixes dune walks, canyon hikes, ancient ruins and nights in family yurts. Expect long drives, short to full trekking days, camels and yaks to carry gear, and authentic nomadic hospitality.
Dawn spills cold light across a broad, wind-sculpted ridge as camels stand patient like slow-moving sentinels. You shoulder a daypack, hear boots sink into soft sand, and a minivan becomes a moving window across steppe, cliffs and lakes — this is the rhythm of a combined trekking and driving route through Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes region.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Traveling to Mongolia · Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar
Dawn spills cold light across a broad, wind-sculpted ridge as camels stand patient like slow-moving sentinels. You shoulder a daypack, hear boots sink into soft sand, and a minivan becomes a moving window across steppe, cliffs and lakes — this is the rhythm of a combined trekking and driving route through Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes region.
The route threads geological extremes: granite tors at Baga Gazaryn Chuluu (1,768 m), the bleached scarp of Tsagaan Suvraga, the narrow icy canyon of Yoliin Am, and the towering Khongoryn Els dunes. Centuries of nomadic culture and 17th-century temple ruins at Baga Gazaryn Chuluu and the destroyed Ongi monastery punctuate the landscape; Kharkhorin recalls Mongolia’s imperial past at Erdenezuu. Local families host nights in spare yurts, and hiring camels and yaks supports traditional livelihoods.
Practical essentials: the full program covers roughly 2,070 km by vehicle and about 80 km of trekking over 16 nights (17 days). Trekking days vary from 3–8 hours across sand, gravel tracks and short rocky ascents; heavy packs are carried by camels and yaks. Expect basic tented or yurt accommodation, some shared facilities in small-town hotels, and meals included (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Prepare for wide temperature swings and wind; layered clothing, sturdy boots, sun protection and a reliable water system are critical. Travel with cash for small purchases, respect local customs when visiting family yurts, and follow leave-no-trace rules — desert vegetation and oases recover slowly. Time your trip for late spring to early autumn for the most accessible conditions.
Yes — camels and yaks are used to transport group luggage during the Gobi dune trekking sections; participants typically carry just a daypack.
Meals listed include breakfast, lunch and dinner; many meals are prepared by guides or local hosts and may feature traditional Mongolian dishes.
High fitness is recommended: several trekking days range from 3–8 hours over sand, gravel and gentle ascents; participants should be comfortable with back-to-back active days.
Accommodations alternate between family spare yurts, basic hotels with shared facilities, tented camps and dedicated yurt camps—comfort is rustic and local.
Traveling to Mongolia operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Dawn spills cold light across a broad, wind-sculpted ridge as camels stand patient like slow-moving sentinels. You shoulder a daypack, hear boots sink into soft sand, and a minivan becomes a moving window across steppe, cliffs and lakes — this is the rhythm of a combined trekking and driving route through Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes region.
Dawn spills cold light across a broad, wind-sculpted ridge as camels stand patient like slow-moving sentinels. You shoulder a daypack, hear boots sink into soft sand, and a minivan becomes a moving window across steppe, cliffs and lakes — this is the rhythm of a combined trekking and driving route through Mongolia’s Gobi and Eight Lakes region.
The route threads geological extremes: granite tors at Baga Gazaryn Chuluu (1,768 m), the bleached scarp of Tsagaan Suvraga, the narrow icy canyon of Yoliin Am, and the towering Khongoryn Els dunes. Centuries of nomadic culture and 17th-century temple ruins at Baga Gazaryn Chuluu and the destroyed Ongi monastery punctuate the landscape; Kharkhorin recalls Mongolia’s imperial past at Erdenezuu. Local families host nights in spare yurts, and hiring camels and yaks supports traditional livelihoods.
Practical essentials: the full program covers roughly 2,070 km by vehicle and about 80 km of trekking over 16 nights (17 days). Trekking days vary from 3–8 hours across sand, gravel tracks and short rocky ascents; heavy packs are carried by camels and yaks. Expect basic tented or yurt accommodation, some shared facilities in small-town hotels, and meals included (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Prepare for wide temperature swings and wind; layered clothing, sturdy boots, sun protection and a reliable water system are critical. Travel with cash for small purchases, respect local customs when visiting family yurts, and follow leave-no-trace rules — desert vegetation and oases recover slowly. Time your trip for late spring to early autumn for the most accessible conditions.