Gobi Desert Bike Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival in Ulaanbaatar and tour briefing at welcome dinner

   Upon arrival to the Mongolian capital you will be transferred to a centrally located hotel. Time permitting you may consider exploring the downtown city and feel the atmosphere of vibrant changes of recent years. Meet with the rest of the group at the welcome dinner and get an informal introduction to the great cycling adventure ahead of you. Overnight at the hotel.

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Fly to Gobi desert and cycle to Flaming Red Cliffs

   Take a short flight to the Gobi, a vast desert of arid plains, rugged mountains, and sweeping sand dunes. It’s the world’s third-largest desert, covering a third of Mongolia and extending deep into China. After fine-tuning your bike, you begin your cycling adventure right from the desert airport.
   
   From the moment you start riding, you’ll feel the enormity of the landscape—wandering camels, the occasional goat herd, and shimmering mirages are your only companions. Since this is a warm-up day, you’ll finish by early evening and settle into a cozy hotel made up of traditional Mongolian yurts, known locally as yurt camps.
   
   Later, you’ll visit the Flaming Red Cliffs, a famous paleontological site where American explorers unearthed the world’s first dinosaur eggs in the 1920s, along with previously unknown dinosaur species and fossilized mammals. As you reach the cliffs rising sharply from the endless plain, you’ll take in the stark, dramatic beauty of this iconic landscape.

   • 31.1 miles
   • Yurt camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Cycle to Dundus Valley

   Today’s ride is a bit more challenging as you pedal along the inner slopes of the Gurvan Saikhan mountain range, a summer grazing area for local herders thanks to its elevation and cooler air. The terrain is mostly smooth, with a few short sandy stretches to navigate. Along the way, you’ll pass large herds of goats, sheep, and even horses, as well as the nomadic tents of families whose lifestyle has remained unchanged for centuries.
   
   By late afternoon, you’ll reach a spectacular campsite surrounded by unusual rock formations and softly lit mountain ridges. Here, a comfortable wilderness camp will be set up for you, complete with dining, shower, and bathroom tents, along with delicious meals prepared by a camp chef.
   
   

   • 42.9 miles
   • Tented Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Ride to Khongoryn Dunes

   You begin the day navigating a tough 3 km stretch of dry riverbed filled with loose gravel. Once you push through this challenge, the ride becomes more enjoyable as you cross rolling hills on firm, smooth terrain, surrounded by dramatic rift valleys, rugged ridges, and colorful geological formations.
   
   Soon, the Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes appear on the horizon. Stretching nearly 100 km and spanning 3 to 15 km in width, these towering dunes rise up to 200 meters from base to crest. Locals call them the “Singing Dunes” for the low, resonant sounds they make on windy days.
   
   From here, you’ll load the bikes and drive to a yurt resort near the dunes. Later, as the heat eases, you’ll head out for an excursion into the dunes. Climbing the highest ridge is a cherished “ritual,” giving you a powerful sense of the desert’s vastness and offering sweeping, bird’s-eye views of the dunes and distant ridges. The landscape is especially stunning in the evening light. After several nights of camping, you’ll enjoy relaxing in comfortable yurts.

   • 21.7 miles
   • Yurt Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Camel riding excursion

   This morning, you’ll have the chance to ride camels along the massive dunes. Unlike dromedaries, Mongolia’s “ships of the desert” are stockier and have two humps. These Bactrian camels take their name from an ancient region in Central Asia.
   
   You’ll also visit the yurt of a camel-herding family to learn how they live and adapt to the harsh desert environment. Afterwards, you’ll travel along the Gurvan Saikhan mountains and spend the night in a yurt camp not far from the desert airport.
   
   

   • Yurt Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Return flight to Ulaanbaatar

   Take a brief flight back to Ulaanbaatar and use the rest of the day by taking optional visits to city sights, shopping or exploring lively vibes of the bustling city. At a good-bye dinner in a traditional Mongolian restaurant, you will be able to taste some of the incredible treats Mongolian cuisine has to offer.
   

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Breakfast and Dinner
7. Day 7Departure transfer

   You will be transferred to Chinggis Khan International Airport for your onward journey.
   

   • Breakfast