Essence Of Mongolia | Small Group Tour | 14 Days | Sept 13 2026 | Guaranteed Departure

Mongolia’s Gobi and central heartland are often defined by a handful of familiar images: the sand dunes, the Flaming Cliffs, the open steppe, the wide blue sky. These places are remarkable, but they do not tell the whole story of how this region is lived on the ground.

Our Essence of Mongolia journey has grown out of many years of travelling these roads, returning to the same families, and learning how different places fit together. It is designed for travellers who want a thoughtful first experience of Mongolia without rushing from highlight to highlight. Combining Ulaanbaatar, the Gobi, and the central heartland, it offers a clear sense of the country’s contrasts: city and steppe, desert and river valley, ancient sites and modern everyday life.

This is a road trip shaped by distance, changing landscapes, and the people and communities we know and work alongside. Along the way, you’ll stay at small, family-run ger camps and homestays linked to our long-standing partnerships, including families whose lives and livelihoods are closely connected to the places you travel through.

There is time built in to pause — to sit with a view, watch the light change, or simply experience the scale and quiet of the land. Essence of Mongolia is not about ticking off major sights or chasing social-media moments. It is about travelling at a considered pace through regions that work well together, with enough time to notice the landscapes, communities, and everyday rhythms that shape Mongolia today.

You’ll find the key locations below. For the full day-by-day flow (and the why behind it), please email us. We share the detailed itinerary by email so we can explain the pacing, driving days, and options in context. We also keep a few moments back as a quiet surprise.

• Sept 13th: Spend time :in Ulaanbaatar, gaining a sense of the capital beyond the main sights.
• Sept 14th: Find space among the granite rock formations of Baga Gazriin Chuluu.
• Sept 15th: Explore the sacred cliffs of White Stupa (Tsagaan Suvraga)
• Sept 16th: Experience the contrasts of small-town life in Dalanzadgad, the provincial capital of the South Gobi, including the Gobi Museum of Nature and History.
• Sept 17th: Walk through Yolyn Am, also known as Eagle Gorge, looking for lammergeiers overhead and Mongolian pika among the rock and climb the singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els.
• Sept 18th: Walk among the rich fossil landscapes of Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs and take in the wide Gobi views from the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs.
• Sept 19th & 20th: Stay with the Nergui family in the wide-open desert-steppe horizons of Erdenedalai.
• Sept 21st: Explore the sacred mountain landscape of Khogno Khan.
• Sept 22nd & 23rd: Experience the way of like of the Galaa yak herding family in the Khangai Mountains
• Sept 24th & 25th:Discover the history and culture of Kharkhorin & spend time with the Tumee family in the Orkhon River Valley and gain a window into their way of life.
• Sept 26th: A final road trip day back to Ulaanbaatar
• Enjoy a complimentary day trip to the Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, offering a gentle way to start or round off your time in Mongolia.

• US$ 3,015 pp

During this journey, you’ll experience a variety of accommodation styles, each offering insight into daily life in Mongolia and shaped by the season and setting:

We don't offer single supplements on our small-group trips. However, when staying in a hotel, you are welcome to pay the hotel directly for a private room if one is available.

Mongolian Family Ger Camps

Throughout the experience you’ll stay in a traditional Mongolian gers provided by our partnering families. Each family typically sets up 4–5 guest gers, thoughtfully adapted for the season. While the setup is simple, with each ger typically share with 2-3 group members,  you’ll always have your own bed and a comfortable personal space.

Facilities:

Showers: Running water is rare in rural Mongolia, so showers are limited. On this itinerary we use town shower houses—simple cubicles with plenty of hot water, which many travellers describe as a highlight! You will need to bring a towel.We also provide bowls and soap powder for hand-washing clothes if needed. Just to be clear: there are no washing machines.

Toilets: Think: a loo with a view! Mongolia has very few public toilets, so on drives it’s a case of finding a private spot in nature (your trip assistant will give what we call “the toilet talk”).

At host family homes, expect Asian-style squat or long-drop toilets.If squatting isn’t second nature, you may want to practice before travelling—several of our guests recommend it.

These toilets aren’t designed to shock you; they’re simply part of everyday rural life. We provide toilet paper (though not the aloe vera variety!).

Provincial Hotel

In provincial towns, we use modern local hotels, usually on a twin-share basis with another traveller of the same sex. Rooms typically have an en-suite bathroom with a shower, although hot water is never fully guaranteed in Mongolia, regardless of the hotel standard. Your team will always do what they can to help make it happen. Towels are usually provided, though they can be small, and rooms often have a kettle. Wi-Fi may be available in some hotels, but it can be slow or inconsistent.

Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar on September 13th and 26th  are not included although we provide recommendations and can help with booking.

Meals

Each EL team travels with a simple mobile kitchen, and most meals outside Ulaanbaatar are either prepared by your trip assistant or eaten in local restaurants along the way. We also stop at guanz — local roadside cafés — and, where appropriate, share meals with the families we stay with.

We deliberately don't expect rural families to provide meals for our guests. Access to shops and fresh supplies can be limited, and dietary requirements have become increasingly varied. Preparing much of the food ourselves gives our host families less work and gives us more flexibility over what we can provide.

Our trip assistants are not trained chefs, but they cook for their own families and know how to keep you well fed on the road. Food is simple, filling and based around ingredients we can realistically buy as we travel. We grocery shop every few days in towns along the route, which helps us keep supplies fresh while also giving you a glimpse into everyday life in Mongolia.

Fresh fruit and vegetables can be limited outside Ulaanbaatar and larger towns, particularly in more remote areas and depending on the season. If five portions of fruit and vegetables every day are essential to you, rural Mongolia may be challenging.

We can usually accommodate vegetarians and a range of dietary requirements, including vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free diets, but please speak with us before booking. Choice can be limited and meals may become repetitive — there may be rather more boiled rice than you are used to! We would much rather explain the realities beforehand than promise a level of variety that isn't always possible once you are on the road.

In Ulaanbaatar, meals are generally not included unless specifically shown in the itinerary. On this journey, the included UB meal is lunch during your Intro to Ulaanbaatar day.

Vegetarian Options in Mongolia

Drinks & Drinking Water

We provide drinking water throughout the journey, collected from the water stations found in towns along our route. Rather than routinely buying single-use bottles, each team carries larger reusable water containers.

We recommend bringing a filtered reusable water bottle. We can provide a 15% discount, with details sent when you book and linked below. Alternatively, bring a standard reusable bottle and some Aqua Tablets for additional water purification.

If you would prefer bottled water, you can buy it yourself in shops along the way.

As well as drinking water, we provide tea and coffee with meals and at various times throughout the day.

Soft drinks such as juice and fizzy drinks are not included but are widely available. Alcohol is also excluded apart from the welcome drink during your Intro to Ulaanbaatar day. Beer, vodka and other drinks can be bought in shops and supermarkets along the route, although the choice becomes more limited in rural areas. Your team makes regular shopping stops during the journey.

Why We Ask Travellers to Bring a Reusable Water Bottle to Mongolia

Transport

Our driving team is made up of experienced Mongolian men we know personally and have worked with for many years. Their English is limited, but their driving knowledge is exceptional — from navigating rough terrain to mongolchlokh, improvising the Mongolian way when a tyre bursts or a vehicle breaks down.

And breakdowns can happen. Mongolia is hard on vehicles, particularly away from paved roads. What matters to us is having drivers who know their vehicles, understand the terrain and can usually deal with problems as they arise.

Each driver owns his own vehicle. Depending on the journey, this may include a UAZ Furgon 4×4 van, Hyundai Starex or Mitsubishi Delica. Because the vehicles are individually owned, interiors and seating layouts vary, including forward- and rear-facing seats. Vehicles are fitted with either lap belts or standard seat belts.

If you are expecting a luxury or high-end 4×4, that is not our style of travel. We choose our drivers first for their experience, reliability and knowledge, and then for the vehicle they own. Using driver-owned vehicles also helps provide long-term work and income for experienced local drivers and their families.

We contribute towards vehicle maintenance, and the vehicles used for our journeys undergo the required annual inspections and licensing for tourism use in Mongolia.

Learn more about our drivers and their tour vehicles here.

Travel Times

Road travel is a central part of experiencing Mongolia. It is a vast country, and getting from one place to another is very much part of the journey.

The daily travel times shown in the itinerary are estimates rather than promises. We deliberately allow generous timings because road surfaces, weather, traffic, river levels and occasional vehicle issues can all affect progress.

Average speeds are usually around 30–65 km/h, depending on conditions. On unpaved routes, the road may vary from relatively smooth gravel to corrugated tracks, rocky sections, mud, sand or uneven ground, sometimes all within the same day.

You really do need to be comfortable with road travel to enjoy this style of journey.

Drinking Water | Tea & Coffee

We provide drinking water collected from the water stations found in towns along the route. We recommend bringing a filtered reusable water bottle — we can provide a 15% discount, with details sent on booking. Alternatively, bring a standard reusable bottle and some Aqua Tablets for additional purification.Bottled water can also be purchased along the way if you prefer.As well as drinking water, we provide tea and coffee with meals and at various times throughout the day.

Meals

Meals are included as outlined in the itinerary, with most prepared by the EL team or eaten in local restaurants along the way. In Ulaanbaatar, the only included meal is lunch during your Intro to Ulaanbaatar day.If you are vegan, gluten-free, lactose intolerant, or have any other dietary requirements, please speak with us before booking. We can usually accommodate dietary restrictions, but food choices outside Ulaanbaatar can be limited and repetitive — so be prepared for plenty of boiled rice!

Entrance Fees

Entrance fees to monasteries, temples, and museums are included when you are with the local team. Please note this excludes camera tickets. Festival tickets are provided if listed in the itinerary.

Accommodation Outside Ulaanbaatar

Please read the itinerary carefully so you understand the style of accommodation used throughout the journey, including where you will be expected to share as a group and the standard and style of toilets and showers available. We embrace using the local town shower houses so you'll have to forgo your power shower for a few days/weeks.We don't offer single supplements on our small-group trips. However, when staying in a hotel, you are welcome to pay the hotel directly for a private room if one is available.

Support From The EL Team

You'll travel with one of our intergenerational EL teams: an experienced male Mongolian driver and a female English-speaking trip assistant who acts as an informal cultural bridge throughout the journey. Jess and Tuya are also available via WhatsApp while you are travelling.Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience:including a local lunch and welcome drink

Transportation to and from the airport or train station: on arrival and departure days

Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience: including a local lunch and welcome drink

What’s Not Included & Other Costs to Consider

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory. We provide detailed guidance on what your policy should cover when you book.

International Flights & Train Travel

International flights are not included and we do not book these on your behalf. The following links may be useful:

• Routes into Ulaanbaatar: FlightConnections
• Ulaanbaatar International Airport: Airport Website
• Airport code: UBN

If you are planning to travel to or from Mongolia by train, train tickets are also excluded. Let us know, however, as we can provide advice and help with booking.

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar is not included in the trip price. Why? Everyone has different preferences when it comes to the standard and style of accommodation they want at the beginning and end of a journey.

UB now has a huge range of options, from homestays, guesthouses and apartments through to boutique and international hotels. By keeping this cost separate, you can choose what best suits your budget and travel style. Once you book, we provide a list of recommended options across a range of prices and can also help with reservations.

Bedding 

Bedding is provided when staying in hotels and standard tourist ger camps. However, when staying in homestays or family-run camps, you will need to bring your own sleep kit from home: • a sleeping bag • a sleeping pad/mat if you want extra comfort • a travel pillow (optional, but recommended) We do have a small number of sleeping bags available for guests to borrow for free. But, they are purchased in Mongolia and are not expedition style and not temperature-rated.

Horse & Camel Riding

Where optional horse or camel riding is mentioned in the itinerary, the cost is not included because not everyone wishes to take part.

If you are considering horse riding, we highly recommend having previous riding experience, as Mongolian horses can be strong and independent. Riding helmets are not normally provided, so please also check that horse riding is covered by your travel insurance.

If you would like to ride, let us know and we can give you an approximate cost. Payment is made locally, in Mongolian currency, directly to the herder with whom we arrange the ride.

Passport & Visa Fees

Let us know your nationality when booking and we will confirm whether you currently need a visa for Mongolia. Where a visa is required, the process is generally straightforward depending on nationality, and we can help with some of the formalities.

Any passport, visa, registration or related fees are not included in the trip price.

Personal Expenses

There is no food or tipping kitty on our trips.

We provide detailed guidance on likely personal spending when you book. Typical personal expenses include souvenirs, additional drinks and any optional horse or camel riding you choose to do.

Soft Drinks & Alcohol

Soft drinks such as juice and fizzy drinks are not included but are widely available.

Alcohol is also excluded, apart from the welcome drink included during your Intro to Ulaanbaatar day. Alcohol can be purchased in shops and supermarkets along the route, and your team will make regular shopping stops during the journey.

Tips & Gratuities

Every member of the EL team receives a fair salary and does not rely on gratuities to supplement their income. We also make sure that the people who work with us or provide services during our journeys are fairly paid for their time and work.

If, at the end of your journey, you would like to give a gratuity to the team, thank you. It is entirely optional but always appreciated. We provide more detailed guidance when you book.

Camera Tickets

Some locations, particularly the interiors of monasteries and museums, charge an additional fee for permission to take photographs. These fees vary by location and are not included in the trip price.

Lost Luggage

If your luggage does not arrive with you, don't panic. We can help with the retrieval process.

However, if you ask one of our drivers to make a separate journey to the airport to collect delayed luggage, an additional charge will apply. Ulaanbaatar's international airport is around 50 km from the city, so this involves additional driver time and fuel.

Wi-Fi & Mobile Data

Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés, hotels and other locations in Ulaanbaatar, although speeds and reliability vary. Outside the city, Wi-Fi is much more limited.

If you would like more regular access to the internet during your journey, we recommend buying a Mongolian SIM card with mobile data. These are usually available at the airport or once you arrive in Ulaanbaatar.