Overview
Take a trip to the Gobi Desert on your Mongolia Vacation
The Gobi Desert, or the Gobi, is a large desert region in Asia, covering parts of north and northwestern China, and southern Mongolia. The largest desert in Asia, and the fifth largest in the world, The Gobi measures over 1,295,000 sq km (500,002 sq mi) and is something to behold on a Mongolia vacation.
Throughout its long history, human habitation of the Gobi mostly comprised nomadic people, and by the early 20th century, the region was under the nominal control of Manchu-China and inhabited mostly by Mongols, Uyghurs, and Kazakhs. The Gobi Desert was a notable region during the Mongol Empire and features several cities on Mongolia tours situated along the old Silk Road.
Situated on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 meters (3,000–5,000 ft) above sea level, as well as being fairly north, the Gobi is a mostly cold desert. Winds coming from the Siberian Steppes can range the desert’s temperatures from–40°C (–40°F) in winter to +50°C (122°F) in summer.
The Gobi Desert is made up of several distinct ecological and geographic regions based on variations in climate and topography. It features high mountains, springs, forests, sands, steppe lands, and a rich animal kingdom. Much of the desert is also made up of exposed bare rock.
The Mongolian Gobi has the vast plains of Europe, the majestic peaks and mountain ranges of Asia, and the sand dunes and sandy valleys of Africa, thereby potentially calling it the land of the three continents, all to be experienced on a Mongolia vacation.
The Gobi Desert is made up of several distinct ecological and geographic regions based on variations in climate and topography. It features high mountains, springs, forests, sands, steppe lands, and a rich animal kingdom. Much of the desert is also made up of exposed bare rock.
The Mongolian Gobi has the vast plains of Europe, the majestic peaks and mountain ranges of Asia, and the sand dunes and sandy valleys of Africa, thereby potentially calling it the land of the three continents, all to be experienced on a Mongolia vacation.
At a Glance
Languages
MongolianCurrency
Mongolian Tögrög (MNT)What do the experts say?
Did you know that Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country in the world? The number of horses is actually higher than the number of people. Mongolia is also home to several unique animals, like the snow leopard. You should also know that the Gobi Desert is the second-largest desert in Asia and the sixth-largest in the world.
I love Mongolia's vast, untouched landscapes, nomadic culture, and rich history. Mongolia's low population provides a sense of solitude and peace not found in most other countries.
I really enjoyed Mongolia's wide-open wilderness, an endless expanse where adventurous drives, hikes, and a nomadic lifestyle are the norm.
The Naadam Festival that takes place across the country on select dates in July is a must-see experience. This festival is one of the primary reasons travelers go to Mongolia and makes for the Summer months being the peak season for travel.
Men with their camels in the Gobi Desert
Walking the sands of the Gobi will be a highlig...
The Gobi covers parts of southern Mongolia and ...
A camel brigade takes a rest
A nomadic woman milking her goats
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Mongolia
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,159 ReviewsEverything was expertly planned, from the drivers to the hotels to the tours to the flights. We particularly enjoyed Hobart and the animal sanctuary, Adelaide and the trip to Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and the evening tour with dinner and drinks, and Sydney with the private boat cruise of the Harbour. We will definitely use Goway again.SARA WiebeThere were 4 travelers on this trip. All of us were in our late 70's. We started planning this trip 6 months prior to our travel date and had a lot of questions regarding this trip. Our Goway Travel Specialist, Karen Larrota, always answered our questions in a timely and complete manner. We traveled to Quito, Ecuador, the Galapagos, The Sacred Valley in Peru, Machu Picchu, and Cusco in Peru. Not only were the destinations and accommodations excellent, but every tour guide and driver were beyond excellent. The entire trip went smoothly every step of the way, which was amazing given the fact that there were numerous flights and hotels included in our package. We found out that the tour company that Goway used, Condor Travel, checked on us with our guide to make sure we were doing OK which we thought was very nice but also amusing as we are fairly fit older adults. Would also like to mention that we did a cruise thru the Galapagos on the Galapagos Legend which was arranged thru Go Galapagos - Kleintouurs. This portion of our tour was also excellent as were the wildlife guides and staff. We continue to discuss how wonderful this trip was with our family and friends and how wonderful this experience was. Would definately use Goway for our travel needs in the future.DianneAfter spending some time with our agent, we felt that she understood exactly what we had in mind as far as the level of service, etc, we were hoping for. The trip exceeded our expectations. Lori kept us busy(not too busy!) and we had many, many very exciting experiences. Bruce BelshawAylin is an exceptionally proficient advisor. Coordinating my clients simultaneously often feels like herding cats, but she has remained patient and accommodating through every modification and delay. Goway continues to be my go-to for complex itineraries, and they never disappoint.Nick Cron, ACCMahalo Goway Travel for helping in planning our group Japan's trip. Lawrence was very helpful & patient with all the changes & additions we did. Also, mahalo to Natasa who helped planned my Australia trip past November. The planning from transportation to tours to hotels worked very smoothly. I'll continue to use Goway travel for all my International trips. I'll also will recommend to my friends & family to use Goway...MahaloTanya LaguatanMaria Spitman was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful in designing our trip to Japan and equally wonderful when we had to cancel it. I loved the service she gave us.Sandy WarrenMy daughter and I had a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand! The country is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Our destination specialist did a great job with planning and organizing the itinerary, choosing our hotels, and organizing transportation. The hotels were absolutely beautiful and we had great views. We felt right at home and found all of the staff to be friendly and accommodating. There were no issues with our itinerary and our excursions we were always on the list. Our transportation was always ready and waiting for us.
We want to thank Goway Travel for their hard work and patience with us in planning this trip. Any changes that needed to be made were communicated timely. We also want to thank you for the beautiful weather during the entire 2 weeks it was perfect every day 😀.
It was a memorable trip that we will never forget and we will think of Goway when we plan our next adventure. Because it was not just a vacation; it was an adventure!Connie WenhardtWe had a great travelling experience with GoWay !
Thank you all involved in organazing our trip!MaiaBrigitta Fuller is Amazing! She was my group coordinator. She understood the assignment and all the nuances I was trying to achieve. The itinerary she curated was fantastic. If you want someone who truly cares about her group and what they are trying to achieve. I will always reach out to Brigitta first for Europe groups. Kathryn WalkerMy clients had a wonderful time on their trip to Easter Island. They were very pleased with the Hare Nua Hotel Boutique and especially noted the warmth and hospitality of the hotel staff as well as their excellent breakfasts.
Jaime Vargas-Hendandez was an exceptionally gracious and knowledgeable agent, who went out of his way to ensure that my clients had the best possible experience. I will definitely contact him for future bookings and will recommend him to my colleagues.Alethea Kardas
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified