Wildlife Safari · WS-GGWS

Great Gobi Wilderness Safari

Mongolia wildlife safari in the pristine wilderness of the great

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Duration: 16 days; Duration
Group size: Max 4; Group size
From, per person: $4,150; From, per person

Overview

Mongolia wildlife safari in the pristine wilderness of the great Gobi Desert and dramatic Gobi-Altai Mountains

This is a trip which a few had done before. Visit the most remote areas of the Mongolian Gobi where almost no human being lives.

This tour gives you the great chance to view the iconic and least studied mammals including Bactrian Wild Camel, Asiatic Wild Ass, Goitered Gazelle, Gobi Bear, Siberian Ibex, Argali Wild Sheep and the elusive Snow Leopard and more. Be the first one who professionally photographed Mongolian Gobi wildlife specialties and explore the wilderness.

Highlights:

Expect more than 40 species of mammals and 200 species of birds during the trip depending on a season.
Search for the enigmatic Snow Leopards in the world’s biggest Snow Leopard nature reserve.
Explore the wilderness in the untarnished Mongolia Gobi Desert and Gobi-Altai Mountains.
Stay in the wilderness away from human settlements.
Globally uncommon Bactrian Wild Camel, Asiatic Wild Ass, Goitered Gazelle, Gobi Bear, Siberian Ibex, and Argali Wild Sheep.

At a glance

Duration: 16 days
Group size: 4 - 14 persons
Price: from $4,150 per person
Departures: Sep 10 - 26, 2023
Physical rating: Moderate/Hard
Trip code: WS-GGWS

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Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Our crew picks you up at the Chinggis Khaan international airport upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia and transfer to the reserved hotel. Optional rest at the hotel for few hours. After lunch (in case you arrive before lunch), visit Tuul river valley for introduction birding at the wetland and a beautiful mix of cherry, elm, willow, and popular. Interesting birds here include uncommon Black Stork, Black-eared Kite, Demoiselle Crane, Pied Avocet, Mongolian Gull, ‘black-billed’ Common Tern longipennis, Horned Lark brandti, Barn Swallow tytleri, White-cheeked Starling, Blyth’s Pipit, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline-Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch and probably world endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Welcome dinner at one of the better restaurants in Ulaanbaatar. Food: Optional lunch and welcome dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km paved road (30 minutes).

Day 2. Yolyn Am (Gobi-Altai Mountains)

We will fly over 1 hour to the Gobi and land at the Gurvan Saikhan Airport near Dalanzadgad, capital of Umnugobi Province. Our crew meets you at the airport and then drive straight to the reserved tourist ger camp near the beautiful mountain gorge Yolyn Am. Following lunch at the ger camp, we will drive to the mountain gorge and do another exciting bird walk along the path. The interesting birds in the valley are Chukar, Bearded Vulture and Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Accentor, Beautiful and Common Rosefinches, Twite, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Wallcreeper, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Northern House Martin, Eurasian Crag Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, and probably Barred Warbler, Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings and many others. Altai Snowcock is one of the challenging species in this area but we will give it a try. In the evening we will be back to the ger camp at the dinner time.

Next morning, we will visit the same spot as the last evening and look for the missing species along with some mammals including Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Pika, Red Fox, and possibly Argali Wild Sheep. The afternoon we will visit Mukhart shiver valley to see some missing species. And we will drive north of the ger camp to find Oriental Plover on the wide desert steppe. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 50 km paved road (Fly 1 hour & drive 30 minutes).

Day 3. Khongoryn Els (The Massive Sand Dune)

After breakfast, we start driving to the famous Khongoryn Els, which is a beautiful singing sand dune located on the rear side of a high mountain and borders with endless desert steppe. The views of camels grazing in the miracle of the desert steppe, in front of the High Mountain, and picturesque sand dune in the sunrise, will be one of the best moments of the trip. We have a long drive to reach the place but will make stops for any interesting birds or sceneries along the way. We take lunchbox from the ger camp and have picnic lunch in the beautiful mountain valley. While driving on the endless steppe, we will see Long-legged Buzzard, Desert Wheatear, and possible mammal will be the magnificent Goitered Gazelle. On the boiling ground of the Gobi, we will find Tuva toad-head agama and Mongolian racerunner. At the dinner time, we will arrive at our tourist ger camp. The remainder of the day is free to relax following the drive.

Next morning will visit saxaul forest to see breeding Saxaul Sparrow, Long-legged Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline Shrike, Crested Lark, and Desert Wheatear, and also visit a small pond to see Pallas’s Sandgrouses drinking water. Afternoon relaxes at the ger camp due to boiling hotness. In the evening, we will observe night mammals of the Gobi desert including Gobi Jerboa and Long-eared Hedgehog. Stargazing is beautiful during the nights. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road:Total coverage 50 km paved and 100 km dust road (5-6 hours)

Day 4-6. Tost and Toson Bumba

We will visit the country’s first dedicated Nature Reserve Tost for snow leopard and is the world’s largest continuous protected snow leopard habitats. For these days, we will give it our best shot to find the Snow Leopard, Pallas’s Cat, and Steppe Polecat, Argali and Siberian Ibex and many more exotic wildlife. We will visit the headquarter of the Snow Leopard Trust which aims to protect this endangered cat through community-based conservation projects, and get acquainted with the team and their works. In this wilderness, we will stay in tented camps visiting oases, wastes, and mountains. We will do night drives to find the strange-looking mammals such as jerboa, pygmy jerboa, and hamsters, and the illusive Pallas’s cat. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 200 km dust road.

Day 7. Oases In Gobi Desert

Number one rule of the trip will be ‘drive less and explore more’. That’s why we spend a day to reach the Great Gobi and explore the one-of-a-kind oases and the absolutely superb desert wastes and high mountains. Oases are the best places to capture the good photos of the Gobi animals and birds as they are the only water source within about 100 km radius. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 150 km dust road.

Day 8-12. Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area

Great Gobi “A” strictly protected area provides habitat to many endangered species such as the Siberian Ibex, Argali sheep, Gobi bear, Bactrian Wild Camel, and the elusive Snow Leopard. This SPA was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1990 as one of the largest biosphere reserves in the world (5.3 million hectares). The main targets in this land will be to photograph Wild Bactrian camel, Asiatic wild ass, Goitered gazelle, and possibly Gobi Bear and Snow leopard. In this wilderness, we will stay in tented camps visiting oases, wastes, and mountains. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 150 km dust road.

Day 13. Wildlife-rich Oasis

Almost whole day drive and we spend the night at the wildlife-rich oasis. Evening and morning try for the missing species. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 250 km dust road.

Day 14. Dalanzadgad

After breakfast, we will continue driving east for the Dalanzadgad town. En route we can see Upland Buzzard, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Asian Desert Warbler, Desert Wheatear and possibly the magnificent mammal Goitered Gazelle. Overnight in a local hotel. Food: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 200 km of dust road (5-6 hours’ drive).

Day 15. Ulaanbaatar

Fly to Ulaanbaatar. If time allows, visit Tuul River for missing species. City tour and shopping available. Overnight in a hotel. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Fly for an hour

Day 16. Departure

Transfer to the airport will be the end of our services in Mongolia.

Trip details

Physical rating: Moderate/Hard

The price includes: The price includes all transport and accommodations within Mongolia, and meals, expert guide, drinking water, nomad family visit, entrance fees to all protected areas, and road tolls.

Date & Duration: This tour will run from mid to late September. And it continues for 16 days including arrival and departure date in Mongolia.

Group Limit 4-14 participants, plus guides

Accommodation Please note that the hotels you are staying at are below the average of international hotels, but those are clean, comfortable, and has en-suite rooms.

You will stay overnights in permanent tourist ger camps, which have gers (yurts) for accommodation, and separate blocks with European style toilets and shower rooms, as well as the restaurant. Each ger is equipped with small wood or coal-burning stove, which fired by a worker of the camp. Deluxe en-suite gers are also possible in some sites, but it charges a little bit higher than the standard ones.

We will be camping in the field for a few days close to the wildlife-abundant sites. Tents, sleeping bags, and mattress will be provided. There will be a field table, chairs, and other equipment.

Meals All main meals are included in the price. The breakfasts will be very simple. We will have bread/toast, cheese, butter, jam, eggs, sausage and cereals for breakfast. Depending on the time possibilities, we will have picnic lunches packaged from the tourist ger camps or restaurants. Sometimes we will have lunches in local restaurants. Evening meals will be well prepared Mongolian and European-style dishes served in the hotel restaurants and at the ger camps. Food is generally good, it may lack a variety (e.g. meat, vegetables, rice, French fries).

Payment The deposit 30% of all cost per person should be paid by wire transfer before 3 months. Be sure that you have read our terms & condition on our website before you make payment. If you pay it through our website, our collaboration with the Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia has been taken care of the transfer security.

Includes:

Accommodation (2 nights’ hotel in Ulaanbaatar city; 1-night local hotel in Dalanzadgad; 10 nights’ in tented camp; 2 nights’ tourist ger camps)
Transport (Ground transportations by 4WD vehicles, including petrol)
Meals -15 breakfast, 15 lunch; 15 dinner
Entrance fees to all national parks and road tolls
English speaking expert guide
Drinking water will be provided. It will be appreciated if you could bring your refillable bottle.

Excludes:

International transportation
All types of insurance
Visas
Departure tax
Alcoholic drinks and items of personal nature
Binoculars, telescopes, and tripods
Extra luggage
Optional tours
We cannot warranty:
Occasional flight delays or cancellations
Poor road conditions
Items of personal nature
Adverse weather conditions

Physical Rating The tour requires the fitness to overcome long drives on bumpy roads.

We will mostly do easy to moderate walks during this trip. There will be optional hard walks in the mountains.

Road and Transport We will drive on the paved and dust roads during this trip. The longest drive on dust road will cover 250 km a day, which will take about 7-8 hours with shortstops. Mitsubishi Delica or Russian Furgon will be employed depending on the number of participants and their interests. 3-4 clients will occupy a car in case we do not hire a county bus. Our experienced and skilful drivers will drive safely on the occasion of the off-road journey.

Weather Temperature is generally warm during days in mid to late September, mostly being 10-25 degrees Celsius. In the mountains, it is slightly colder. You can check the weather forecast on http://www.tsag-agaar.gov.mn/eng while you are packing or staying at the hotels in Mongolia where it is possible.

Money You can change your US Dollar or Euro and other foreign currency into Mongolian tugriks (MNT) at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport just after your arrival. Alternatively, you can ask your guide and drivers to stop for changing money at any bank or official currency exchange offices in Ulaanbaatar. Remember it might be a problem if you try to change them outside of Ulaanbaatar as the banks there could have a limited amount of foreign currency. You can change the money only for your need for beers or any other alcoholic drinks, snacks, and personal items. A fine bottle of beer costs about 4000 -6000 MNT at the restaurants of tourist ger camps, but in the supermarkets, it will be cheaper. The official currency rate can be found at https://www.mongolbank.mn/.

For more information, please visit our website www.mongolica.org.

Destinations on this trip: Yolyn Am, Khongoryn Els, Ulaanbaatar, Dalanzadgad Town