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Home  /  Mongolia  /  South Gobi Desert
Desert & dinosaur cliffs · Mongolia

South Gobi Desert

The great Gobi — singing sand dunes, flaming dinosaur cliffs, an ice canyon, and the wild Bactrian camels and ibex of the desert.
Getting there
By light flight from Ulaanbaatar to the South Gobi, then 4x4
Best for
Wild Bactrian camels, Gobi ibex, argali, sand dunes, dinosaur fossils, desert wildlife
The land
A vast desert of dunes, cliffs, canyons and gravel plains
Good to know
The Flaming Cliffs are where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered
What it is
The South Gobi is the great desert of Mongolia — singing dunes, flaming dinosaur cliffs, an ice canyon, and the wild camels and ibex of the wilderness.
The South Gobi is a desert of astonishing variety: the towering singing dunes of Khongoryn Els, the red Flaming Cliffs where dinosaur eggs were first found, and the ice-filled gorge of Yolyn Am, where Siberian ibex and argali roam. Across the gravel plains range wild Bactrian camels, gazelles and desert raptors, amid nomadic herders and their ger camps.
PhotoSouth Gobi Desert — desert & dinosaur cliffs.
The reason to come

The great desert

The Gobi blends dunes, dinosaur cliffs and rare desert wildlife.

Wild camels & ibex

Wild Bactrian camels on the plains and ibex in the gorges.

Sand dunes

The vast singing dunes of Khongoryn Els.

Dinosaur cliffs

The Flaming Cliffs, birthplace of dinosaur palaeontology.

Worth knowing

The dinosaur desert

The Gobi's Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were unearthed, are among the most storied fossil sites on earth.
PhotoThe Flaming Cliffs of the South Gobi.
When to come — honestly

A desert wilderness.

May – September
Best
The mild season — the best desert travel and wildlife.
Year-round
Good
A year-round desert; summer is the classic window.
September – October
Good
Cooler autumn days and the argali rut.
The Gobi swings from baking days to cold nights; distances are huge and travel is by 4x4 and light plane.
Context

The Gobi heart

The South Gobi is Mongolia's iconic desert — dunes, cliffs and rare wildlife.

It anchors most Mongolia itineraries.

We base the South Gobi at ger camps, with 4x4 days across the dunes, gorges and dinosaur cliffs.

Beyond the obvious

More to South Gobi Desert.

PhotoWild camels

Wild camels

On the gravel plains.

PhotoSand dunes

Sand dunes

Khongoryn Els.

PhotoDinosaur cliffs

Dinosaur cliffs

The Flaming Cliffs.

Why Wild Voyager

We reach Mongolia's remotest wildlife.

From the Gobi to the Altai snow leopards, Mongolia's wildlife is far-flung, seasonal and logistically hard. We handle the ger camps, light flights, permits and the specialist local trackers who find the wildlife.

Handpicked stays

We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.

We time it right

We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.

Journeys

Trips through South Gobi Desert

7 Days · 6 Nights

Mongolia Wildlife Highlights
8 Days · 7 Nights

Wild Gobi Expedition
12 Days · 11 Nights

Gobi & Altai
12 Days · 11 Nights

Mongolia Wildlife Photography
14 Days · 13 Nights

Ultimate Mongolia
18 Days · 17 Nights

Mongolia Grand Expedition
Where to stay

Where you’ll stay in South Gobi Desert

Signature Collection
PhotoThree Camel Lodge
Signature

Three Camel Lodge

A celebrated eco-lodge of gers near the Flaming Cliffs, the Gobi's finest stay.
Luxury Collection
PhotoGobi Luxury Ger Camp
Luxury

Gobi Luxury Ger Camp

A comfortable upscale ger camp in the South Gobi, with en-suite gers.
Classic Collection
PhotoGobi Mirage Camp
Classic

Gobi Mirage Camp

A welcoming traditional ger camp central to the Gobi sights.

Plan your South Gobi Desert trip.

Explore the Gobi's dunes, cliffs and wildlife. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.

Plan a trip

Field notes, now and then.

Where to go · When to go · Wildlife in season

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