Southern Mongolia is an expansive region, stretching from the stunning Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountains to rugged semi-desert plains. Known for its striking red rock formations, rolling “singing” sand dunes, and the iconic two-humped Bactrian camels, this region also holds ancient secrets—housing 80-million-year-old dinosaur fossils in its wide terrain.
This land of open skies and dramatic landscapes is ideal for days of exploration, whether driving across vast plains with endless horizons, hiking through secluded areas, or visiting local camel-breeder families. Simply called as the “Gobi” by locals, the area encompasses diverse terrains, from treeless, snow-capped mountains and eroded hills to lush green valleys, shrubland, and arid semi-deserts.
Visitors may spot dinosaur fossils, argali wild sheep, ibex, Eurasian lynx, gray wolves, wild asses, rare wild camels, and endangered black-tailed gazelles. This captivating region invites travelers to immerse themselves in Mongolia’s wild beauty, rich history, and thriving ecosystem.
The Gobi, Central Asia’s expansive semi-arid desert, is a unique landscape where vibrant ecosystems thrive and human life flourishes. Introduced to the world by explorer Roy Chapman Andrews in the 1920s, the Gobi is the fifth largest and coldest desert globally, covering 1.3 million square kilometers across southern Mongolia and parts of northern China, and rising 1,500 meters above sea level. Contrary to popular belief, only 5% of the Mongolian Gobi is sandy. Instead, the desert features lush valleys, rolling sand dunes, oases, rivers, lakes, historic sites, and iconic mud cliffs teeming with dinosaur fossils.
Known for its extreme weather, the Gobi experiences intense temperature shifts. Winter lows can plummet to -38°C, while summer highs reach up to +42°C. Night temperatures drop sharply under star-filled skies, making the Gobi one of the best destinations for stargazing. The desert’s raw beauty is enhanced by dramatic cliffs, like the Flaming Cliffs, where the discovery of dinosaur eggs transformed paleontology. Today, the Gobi remains the world’s second most significant site for dinosaur fossils, with ancient bones often surfacing after rare rainfalls. With just 7 inches of annual rainfall, the Gobi maintains an arid climate that preserves its history and opens endless, unobstructed vistas. Wherever you roam, the Gobi promises an unmatched 360° panorama, where barren steppes meet an endless horizon, creating a setting as timeless as the stars above.
Yol Valley, one of the Gobi’s natural wonders, is renowned for its striking and unusual landscape—a canyon within the Gobi Desert that retains thick ice nearly year-round. Located within the breathtaking Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, this deep canyon, sculpted by centuries of water erosion, is a marvel of narrow rock cliffs and dramatic scenery. Named after the bearded vulture, or “Yol” in Mongolian, Yol Valley translates to “Gorge of the Bearded Vultures” and is situated in the Zuun Saikhan Mountains at an elevation of 2,500 meters.
The gorge, with its tight passages allowing only two people through at a time, is home to a river that forms small waterfalls and sustains thick ice at the canyon’s floor. Despite abundant sunshine in the region, the gorge remains so deep and shaded that ice lingers throughout the year. At its wide entrance, the canyon narrows gradually, leading explorers to a vast and scenic open valley at its end.
Yol Valley’s surrounding mountains are a haven for wildlife, including argali wild sheep, ibex, bearded vultures, and small Gobi-specific rodents. A local museum at the entrance to the protected area offers insights into the region’s petrified trees, unique flora and fauna, and rare species such as the Siberian ibex and argali. Snow leopards and other elusive predators also inhabit the valley, making it an extraordinary destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers.
The Flaming Cliffs, known for their fiery red sandstone cliffs and canyons, are one of the world’s most renowned paleontological sites. Named by American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews, these cliffs glow in a brilliant orange hue at sunset, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle. In 1922, Andrews made history here with the groundbreaking discovery of the world’s first dinosaur eggs, a revelation that put the Flaming Cliffs on the global map of paleontology.
Visitors can explore a small ger museum nearby, displaying fossil fragments found in the area. For a closer look at the full fossil collection, including those excavated here, the Dinosaur Museums in Ulaanbaatar and other major exhibitions worldwide showcase the Flaming Cliffs’ most significant finds.
Surrounded by a vast grassy desert steppe, the Flaming Cliffs offer a stunningly open landscape with uninterrupted views perfect for sunrise and sunset. Nearby, on the steppes, ger camps provide unique accommodations that immerse visitors in the tranquility of the Gobi Desert.
Just 5 km north of the Flaming Cliffs lies Bayanzag, a grove of Saxaul trees, an incredible example of Gobi Desert resilience. These hardy trees, growing up to 4 meters, survive the extreme aridity of the Gobi and serve as emergency fodder for camels and fuel for desert nomads. Additionally, Saxaul trees play a crucial role in preventing wind erosion and limiting desert expansion, helping preserve the Gobi’s delicate ecosystem.
Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, known as “Great Rock Formation” Mongolia’s largest granite region, is a stunning rock formation in the Gobi Desert located in Gobi-Ugtaal soum of Dundgovi province. Known for its rugged beauty, this area is ideal for hiking, featuring over 40 accessible caves, including Olgii Cave, which locals believe once housed mysterious ancient books and scriptures.
At its highest point rises 1,706 meters, offering spectacular views over this unique landscape. Ikh Gazriin Chuluu is rich in geological and botanical treasures, with minerals like pure crystal, jade, chalcedony, and fluorite found here. The area also hosts approximately 30 types of medicinal plants, such as roseroot, silverweed, and locoweed, and supports over 20 species of wildlife, including the whiskered bat and common bat.
In 2003, Ikh Gazriin Chuluu was designated a government-protected area to preserve its distinctive landscape, spanning nearly 600 square kilometers. Located just 80 km southeast of Mandalgovi, the capital of Dundgovi province, it offers a remote and awe-inspiring destination for travelers seeking Mongolia’s natural wonders.
Baga Gazriin Chuluu, or the “Little Rock Formation,” is a captivating landscape of granite stone mountains reaching up to 200 meters high and spanning 300 square kilometers across Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. Towering at 1,768 meters, Takhilgat Peak marks the highest point of this region in Dundgovi Province, where valleys weave through the granite layers, dotted with flowing streams and aspen groves nestled within scenic gorges.
This natural wonder is a time capsule of ancient Mongolian history, preserving tombs, burial mounds, rock carvings, and inscriptions from eras as early as the Bronze Age through to the Huns, Turkic State, Great Mongol Empire, and the 16th and 17th centuries.
The 15-kilometer-long, 10-kilometer-wide mountainous area is home to wild mountain sheep, ibex, and a wealth of unique wildlife. Its wind-polished granite canyons and striking rock formations offer exciting opportunities for hiking, scrambling, and camping. Several nearby ger camps offer visitors a comfortable stay amidst the rock formations and the sweeping plains surrounding Baga Gazriin Chuluu, creating an unforgettable experience of Mongolia’s rugged beauty and rich history.
Mongolia, with its sweeping steppes, rugged mountains, and vast deserts, is a land brimming with natural marvels and historical treasures. Among its remarkable landscapes stands Tsagaan Suvarga, known as the “White Stupa”—an awe-inspiring geological wonder sculpted over millions of years by natural forces. This formation, composed of layered clay and limestone, showcases dramatic cliffs and valleys that reveal the mesmerizing colors of an ancient seabed. These layers, ranging in hues from white and yellow to red and pink, create a captivating visual tapestry that changes with the light and seasons.
Located in Ulziit soum of Dundgobi province, Tsagaan Suvarga rises as a 400-meter-long, 60-meter-tall scarp with a striking 90-degree brink. After rain, the formation transforms, with water streaming down its edge like a massive natural waterfall. Just seven kilometers east lies Hevtee Bosoo Agui, an intriguing 50-meter-long cave where narrow passages require crawling, while other areas open for easy exploration.
This unique and colorful landscape is a must-see destination for photographers, adventurers, and those seeking the unparalleled beauty of Mongolia’s natural world. Tsagaan Suvarga offers an unforgettable glimpse into the ancient past and the powerful forces of nature that continue to shape Mongolia’s extraordinary terrain.
Located along the banks of the Ongi River in the Gobi Desert, Ongi Monastery was once one of Mongolia’s most significant monastic complexes. This historic site featured two separate monasteries, connected by a bridge across the river. On the southern bank stood the 320-year-old Hutagt Monastery, comprising nine main temples alongside smaller temples and stupas. On the northern bank, the Balim Monastery, built around 240 years ago, boasted 13 main temples. At its peak, Ongi Monastery housed over 1,000 monks and featured four religious institutions, embodying a rich legacy of Mongolian Buddhism.
The monastery complex was largely destroyed during the 1930s communist purges, leaving only a solitary stupa. However, the monastery began a revival in 1990 when a few monks returned, completing a small temple in 2004 to honor its historical and spiritual heritage.
Set amidst the stunning mountains of the Gobi, the monastery ruins offer a scenic midway stop between two major destinations—Gobi Desert and Kharkhorin. Travelers can explore a small ger museum showcasing recovered artifacts, wander through the expansive ruins, and hike a nearby hill for panoramic views of the site, the river, and the surrounding landscape. Ongi Monastery provides an unforgettable blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it a highlight on any journey through the heart of Mongolia.
Khermen Tsav, a stunning and remote rock formation, lies 250 km from the Khongor sand dunes and 450 km from Dalanzadgad in the north of Gurvantes soum. Along the journey, travelers pass through scenic sites like Zulganai, Narandaats, and Gurvan Tes. Known as the “Cracked Wall,” Khermen Tsav offers an extraordinary experience with no water sources or settlements within 300 km, creating an uninhabited frontier that feels like the last edge of the world.
This remarkable red mud cliff formation stretches over 10 km in length and descends 100-200 meters in depth, resembling the intricate red brick architecture of an ancient city. The vivid gradations of reds and ochres make it a paradise for photographers, evoking the sense of wandering through the ruins of temples and stupas from a bygone era. Khermen Tsav is an oasis of striking beauty and resilience, with rare elm, poplar, and pine trees growing nearby.
A paleontological treasure, Khermen Tsav contains fossils of ancient dinosaurs, mammals, birds, turtles, crocodiles, and diverse plants, marking it as one of Mongolia’s richest dinosaur sites. Geologists confirm that 200 million years ago, this area was covered by an ancient inland sea. Renowned American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews famously dubbed it “The End of the World,” and the barren, windswept landscape fits the term “Badlands” internationally, while Mongolians call it “Tsav.”
Even though Khermen Tsav is isolated and challenging to reach, visitors find it unforgettable. The cliff deposits, including yellow, red, and white limestone that resembles marble and crystal, date back to the Cretaceous Period, adding to the site’s allure. Listed by UNESCO as a place of natural wonder, Khermen Tsav stands as a testament to Mongolia’s ancient and untamed beauty.
Zorgol Khairkhan, a sacred mountain, rises in the Bayan-Unjuul sum of Tov Province, about 150 km from Ulaanbaatar. Standing 1,686 meters above sea level, this revered red granite mountain is believed by locals to be the home of a powerful, benevolent spirit. Zorgol Khairkhan offers a breathtaking natural landscape, with its rugged caves, freshwater springs, and diverse wildlife, including Argali wild sheep, Ibex, Red deer, and more.
Surrounding the mountain are ancient burial sites of Mongol warriors, adding a profound historical element to this remarkable location. According to shamanic customs, visitors are discouraged from speaking the mountain’s name aloud to honor its sacred essence. History holds that Chinggis Khan himself once hunted in the shadow of Zorgol Khairkhan. With its unique blend of natural beauty, spiritual significance, and rich history, Zorgol Khairkhan is a powerful testament to Mongolia’s cultural and natural heritage.
