One can cross the border between Dundgovi and Ömnögovi without even noticing, as the roads are not marked. We set out from Tsagaan Suvarga towards Dalanzadgad, the hometown of our guide. Travel to Ömnögovi requires a knowledgeable driver, as it involves some off-roading.
After visiting Dalanzadgad and eating lunch, we went straight to the Gurvan Saikhan National Park to try to visit before the rain became too heavy. We still got caught in the rain, so it was a cold and windy hike. In fact, it was so cold that the river was still frozen and we could not continue past a certain point. The views were beautiful and the sun started to come out as we were leaving. For those who don’t want to hike, there are horses around too.
Arriving at the Ger camp was great because we could dry off and warm up. Then it was time to relax for awhile in the peaceful nature before dinner. We found some ankle bones and played games after dinner. I found the games to be very creative with found objects!
Highlights
- Dalanzadgad city gate
- Three beautiful ladies, symbols of the three mountains of the Gobi
- Nomin hypermarket, like Costco!
- Mongolian Post Office- quite the experience to get stamps
- Gobi Museum of Nature and History
- Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, Yol Valley with mountains, frozen river, horses
- Walking in the hills near Khanbogd Ger Camp and visiting the animal statues
Before you go
- There are very few cash machines in the Gobi, so ensure to get your cash in Ulaanbaatar
- Weather can be warm during the day and cold at night. Rain is also possible especially by the hills. Dress in layers
- Mobile data is sporadic and there is no wifi
- If you would like to try local spirits, Chinggis Gold or White Vodka is tasty
- Dalanzadgad is a fairly large city to stock up on snacks and other supplies
- Bring earplugs as the wind can be noisy at night
Transport
- For travel around the rural areas, you must go with a driver who knows the area. We booked via Agate Travel which then used a local company called Amicus Travel. Luckily, we had an excellent guide and driver!
Accommodation
- We stayed at Khanbogd Ger Camp, which was a medium-level accommodation with comfortable beds and hot water! It was a luxury to have 24-hour electricity
- Since there are few websites reviewing Ger camps, I wrote my own Mongolia Ger Reviews.
Food
The Crown restaurant in Dalanzadgad was quite a treat because it had some Western food options, clean bathrooms and wifi. There were also some cute camels that rolled around the floor and they came in both kid and adult sizes.
Interestingly, I ordered the spaghetti which was meant to be vegetarian, and it was full of bacon. Luckily I can eat meat, but it was still a lot of meat!
At the Khanbogd Ger Camp, we enjoyed a delicious three- course dinner. First, we had a salad with lettuce and cheese. Then we had beef, stir-fried vegetables and pasta. For dessert, we each received a packaged cake called Raund, which was kind of like a chocolate Twinkie.
Breakfast the next morning was an excellent buffet! We enjoyed pancakes, waffles, fried eggs, sausages, cereal, oranges, vegetables and juice. It was a very hearty meal to start the day.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: Yes, you need a driver and preferably a guide to reach this area and see the nature
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Most people at the Ger camps speak a little English, but we relied a lot on our guide
Q: Is it a walkable area?
A: It is not walkable to get to the area, however there were some lovely walks around the camp with views from the hills.
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