Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Name: Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Location: Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Mongolia

Reason to Visit: The largest national park in Mongolia, providing various landscapes of typical sand dunes, perpetual snows of glaciers, lush green valleys, desolate Gobi Desert and craggy mountains

Duration: At least 1 day

Our Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is the largest national park in Mongolia, which covers an area of 27,000 square kilometers. It is 380 kilometers long from east to west and 80 kilometers wide from north to south. Gurvansaikhan means Three Beauties in Mongolian, which refers to the 3 ridges in the national park. Actually, there are 4 ridges in the park. The Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park includes typical sand dunes, perpetual snows of glaciers, lush green valleys, desolate Gobi Desert and craggy mountains. The Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park rests more than 200 species of birds, including desert finch, vulture, desert warbler, houbara bustard, which is a paradise of birdwatchers. Besides, it is home to rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, among them the snow leopard, wild bactrian camels, argali and ibex.

As for the diverse and colorful landscapes of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, many tourists can select some of them to visit. If you have enough time, you can go to the remote and isolated western part of the park, the landscapes there are special and unique. The popular attractions in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park include Gobi Desert, Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes, Flaming Cliffs, Yolyn Am Valley and Gurvan Saikhan Mountains.

Gobi Desert: Wide Open Spaces

Gobi Desert is in the south of Mongolia. The Gobi Desert covers an area of 1,300,000 square kilometers. Gobi has the meaning of desert and dry in Mongolian. The Gobi Desert crosses Mongolia and China and covers a huge area. Gobi is one of the huge desert and semi-desert areas in the world, stretching across the vast land in northern East Asia and across the vast space of Mongolian Plateau.Most areas of the Gobi Desert are bare rocks, not deserts. It is very dry in the Gobi Desert.

Explore the Gobi Desert is an adventure, seeing the endless dunes, ancient rocks and bleak desert. The scenery of the Gobi Desert is splendid and amazing, and you will meet canyons, caves and oasis in the Gobi Desert.

• Feel the Vastness of the Gobi Desert
• Sand Skiing and Camel Riding on the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
• Experience the Stunning Views of Vast Baga Gazriin Chuluu
• Admire the Spectacular Flaming Cliffs
• Hiking in the Yolyn Am Valley

Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes: Memorable Sunrises and Sunsets

Khongoryn Els, also known as Khongor sand dunes or Khongoriin Els. Khongoryn Els are the largest and most spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia, which is 763 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar. It is called Singing Dunes because the sound is very wonderful when the wind blows to the sand dunes.

The whole sand dunes are long and narrow, with a length of 100 kilometers, a width of 12 kilometers, and the narrowest width is 800 meters. The sand dunes cover an area of more than 900 square kilometers. The highest peak of the sand dunes is above 300 meters, which is located in the northwest of the sand dunes. Standing on the top of the sand dunes and look for into distance, you will experience the vast expanse of the endless rolling desert.

• Climb up to the Top of the Sand Dunes
• Watch the Marvellous Sunset on the Sand Dunes
• Camel Riding on the Khongoryn Els
• Visit the Oasis in the Sand Dunes

Flaming Cliffs: Red Rocks and Soil

Located in the Gobi Desert, Flaming Cliffs are in the south of Mongolia, nine hours from Ulaanbaatar. The Flaming Cliffs are known as Bayanzag to the locals. Flaming Cliffs are named because the color of the rocks here are red, especially in the sunlight or the sunset, whose color is like burning flame. And we should know that most areas of Gobi are not deserts but bare rocks. Flaming Cliffs sound both mysterious and spectacular in the wilderness.

You will be confused that why this place is special in such a remote location. In 1922, American scientist Roy Chapman Andrew and his expedition team first discovered dinosaur skeletons and eggs at the Flaming Cliffs. Flaming Cliffs shocked the world after the discovery of dinosaur skeletons and eggs. And the fossils are from the Cretaceous Period.

• Admire the Endless Red Rocks and Soil
• Hike on the Flaming Cliffs
• Explore the Home to Dinosaur Fossils and Eggs
• Enhance the Awareness of Environmental Protection

Yolyn Am Valley: Green Valley in the Desert

As one of the most popular destinations in Mongolia, the Yolyn Am Gorge is a marvelous place that the glaciers are not melted in summer. The spectacular rocky cliffs and shaded canyons here can keep glaciers from melting until summer. You will forget the heat and the desolation of the Gobi Desert when you immerse yourself at the green Yolyn Am Valley.

You will not feel that you are in the Gobi Desert when you are at the Yolyn Am Valley. Green plants on the steep cliffs and the narrow stream will make you forget you are in the Gobi Desert. At the Yolyn Am Valley you will understand that Gobi Desert is not only deserts.

The green valleys will give you a different impression of Gobi Desert to you. And this picturesque view of the Yolyn Am Valley makes it a paradise for hiking lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The whole valley is about 10 kilometers, which takes about 4-5 hours to hike.