Inner and Outer Mongolia: Legacy of an Empire

From vast high grasslands dotted with horses and gers (nomadic dwellings) to the legendary Gobi Desert, this fantastic WT Expedition with veteran Trip Leader Roger Williams brings us from Beijing to seldom-visited Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China, and then crosses into Mongolia proper to explore all the way to its southern Gobi Desert. We enjoy an in-depth experience of the cultural heartland of Central Asia and link some of the most spectacular regions of a realm known for its thousands of square miles of unfenced land. Age-old traditions of nomadism are cherished here, and from our ger camp near the remote Khentii Mountains, we witness the Nomad’s Day Festival, a celebration of nomadic life complete with horse races. Our ger camps allow access to the farthest reaches of Inner and Outer Mongolia and a rare chance to savor a remote land where the rest of the world seems a million miles away.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-3
Beijing, China / Forbidden City

In China’s capital, we stroll down Ghost Street, explore Tian’anmen Square, see the splendor of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, and visit traditional neighborhoods, or hutongs.

Day 4-7
Inner Mongolia / Hohhot / Xilamouren

Crossing the northern Chinese region called Inner Mongolia, we visit Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum in Ordos, the “singing” sand dunes of the vast Kubuqi Desert, and Hohhot’s Dazhao Monastery. Crossing the Xilamouren Grassland, we enjoy our first ger (yurt) camp and meet local nomads.

Days 8-12
Hamriin Hiid, Mongolia / Gan Galuut / Nomad’s Day

Entering Mongolia, we head out across the grasslands to Hamriin Hiid and north to Gun Galuut, a nature reserve, for horseback rides, hikes, and the colorful annual Nomad’s Day Festival celebrating Mongolia’s nomadic traditions, including roping horses at full gallop.

Days 13-14
Ulaanbaatar

In the capital, we visit marvelous Gandan Monastery, seat of Buddhism in Mongolia, and the dinosaur halls of the Natural History Museum.

Days 15-17
Gobi / Three Camel Lodge

We fly south to the Gobi and visit the legendary Flaming Cliffs, where in 1923 Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews found the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. We enjoy sunrise over the Gobi, a hike in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, and a visit to Turgrigiin Shiree, where the famous Fighting Dinosaurs fossil was discovered in the 1970s. Overnights are in the comfortable Three Camel Lodge.

Days 18-20
Ulaanbaatar

Back in the capital, our explorations include Zanabazar’s Fine Arts Museum, named in honor of Zanabazar, the first Buddhist leader of Mongolia and a renowned sculptor. Depart on Day 20.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 3, Moderate. Although there is only minimal hiking, this trip involves rugged travel conditions in remote locations, simple accommodations in gers (yurts), and rough roads. Roads outside of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, are unpaved and often bumpy and dusty. In most cases, travel on these roads will be done in four-wheel drive vans, which are not up to western SUV standards but are reasonably comfortable. In Beijing and Ulaanbaatar, our overnights are in a well-located hotel with modern amenities. Our ger camps are simple two-person yurt-style tents with beds, sheets and blankets, and small stoves for heat. Toilet and shower facilities are separate from the gers and shared by all participants. The weather can be unpredictable. We’ll have many beautifully clear and sunny days with bright blue skies, but come prepared for at least some rain, wind, and some very cold nights and mornings. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 30F! A dusting of snow is not uncommon here at this northern latitude, even in the summer. It is expected that each participant be in excellent health and physical condition.

Explanation of Trip Levels