Three Camel Lodge Pursue Pure Beauty Four Days / Three Nights Three Camel Lodge- gradient overlay MONGOLIA The Gobi &
Three Camel Lodge
Three Camel Lodge-arrow down
Three Camel Lodge Yoga MONGOLIA The Gobi &
Three Camel Lodge
Four Days / Three Nights Three Camel Lodge- gradient overlay Three Camel Lodge-arrow down
Three Camel Lodge Biking adventure 02 The Gobi &
Three Camel Lodge
MONGOLIA Four Days / Three Nights Three Camel Lodge- gradient overlay Three Camel Lodge-arrow down
Mongolia | 4 Day Journey

The Gobi & Three Camel Lodge: Four Days/Three Nights

This unique outcropping of gers, or traditional felt and canvas tents used by Mongolian nomads, rests in the heart of the starkly beautiful Gobi Desert. In addition to 40 gers, Three Camel Lodge’s main lodge was modeled after traditional Buddhist temples, adhering to strict Mongolian Buddhist canons of “soum style.” The Lodge is tucked beside a rock outcrop bearing ancient petroglyphs, but it is the vast expanse of desert and the nighttime sky filled with a million twinkling stars that will leave a lasting imprint on your heart.

Season:
May through October

Three Camel Lodge Dining
DAY 1

YOL VALLEY NATIONAL PARK THREE CAMEL LODGE

Arrive at Dalanzadgad airport where you will be met by your private guide and driver.

Of all the world’s arid lands, the Gobi has the greatest air of mystery, perhaps because it lies at the heart of Asia’s remotest hinterland between the Siberian wilderness to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south. Contrary to the sameness that the word ‘desert’ suggests, the Gobi is a diverse and fascinating region, and includes sites of some of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. Explore the stunning landscapes of the Gobi, habitat for Bactrian camels, Argali Mountain sheep, goitered gazelle, Golden Eagles, Saker Falcons, jerboas (similar to kangaroo rats), and many endemic reptiles.

Yol Valley National Park: From the airport head to Yol Valley (45 minute drive), nestled at the heart of Zuun Saikhan Mountain of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range. This seven-mile valley is a lush landscape best known as a prime habitat for Yol vultures (lammergier), or bearded vultures. Lammergiers nestle atop the cliffs and when the air is warm, they fill the sky, soaring with the sun. Wonder why this valley is named for them? Simply look up, and the sheer number of vultures gliding through the sky will show you.

The Yol Valley is a wondrous place where ice formed during the winter does not melt until late June. It is a place where pikas jump from bush to bush. These amazing little rodents are in the squirrel family and can only survive in elevations higher than 3,000 feet. Birds, from white ramped swifts to wall creepers, are plentiful in the Yol Valley, too.

Visit the small, but informative museum to learn more about the local wildlife of the Gobi region before driving 10 km/ 6.5 miles to the starting point for your hike. The narrow valley with a stream running through the center delivers a rewarding hike for outdoor enthusiasts.

After exploring the valley, drive (1 hour) to the award winning Three Camel Lodge – your home away from home for four nights. The Lodge is located at Bulagtai Mountain on the edge of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. The lodge offers a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, archery, nature walks, a library with interesting books on Mongolia, a screening room for watching documentary films about nomadic culture, learning traditional Mongolian games, or enjoying a relaxing massage.

After lunch, reconvene with your guide in our Snow Leopard den for an informative session on the Gobi ecosystem, wildlife, fauna, geology and paleontology.

Archery: In the evening, participate in an archery lesson. Learn to fire an arrow like a Mongol warrior. You will have the opportunity to compete after mastering your new skill. This interactive experience provides fun to every age group. The lodge offers actual replicas of the bow that were used hundreds of years ago by the Mongol warriors.

Three Camel Lodge Ghen 02
Three Camel Lodge Yol Valley National Park
Three Camel Lodge Normadic Archery 04
Three Camel Lodge Moltsog Els Sand Dunes
Three Camel Lodge Biking adventure 04
Three Camel Lodge Stargazing
Day 2

Moltsog Els
Sand Dunes

Moltsog Els Dunes: After breakfast, drive to Moltsog Els, one of the few regions of the Gobi covered by sand dunes. Explore the dunes on foot, but don’t miss riding a Bactrian camel. It is not everyday that you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with a two-humped camel. In fact, these wooly creatures are native to this region and are only found in Central Asia. Camel ride on the dunes are possible only if a local camel herding family is residing close to the dunes during the summer. (If camels are not available, we will explore the dunes on foot and ride camels in another location.)

Bike Ride to a local nomadic family: Observing the vast Gobi by bicycle is a treat for travelers and allows you to experience nature you might otherwise miss. This afternoon head out on mountain bikes (helmets provided) for an easy to moderate, guided bike ride through the countryside to a home of a local nomadic family. Learn more about their way of life. If you wish, you may participate in their daily chores including herding and milking their animals, and learn how to prepare milk tea. You may also get the chance to learn the traditional games of the steppe, utilizing the ankle bones of sheep and goats.

Mongolia is a home to one of the last remaining nomadic cultures in the world and often travelers compare Mongolia with traveling back in time to witness an old way of life that has not changed for centuries. About 30% of Mongolia’s population still lead a nomadic way of life and move from pasture to pasture, living in harmony with nature and off the land.

Ger Building Activity at Three Camel Lodge: In the afternoon, experience ger building firsthand. Join locals to learn the process of raising a traditional Mongolian Ger. Participating in building and setting up a traditional Mongolian ger will have you feeling immersed in the local culture.

Stargazing at Three Camel Lodge: After a delicious dinner at the lodge, take advantage of the dark Gobi skies (zero light pollution) and enjoy an evening of stargazing with your guide.

DAY 3

FLAMING CLIFFS

Sunrise Walk: Wake up early to enjoy a relaxing walk at sunrise around the Bulagtai hillside, located behind the lodge. Here you will be able to see 8,000-year-old petroglyph and learn more about our unique Lodge.

Cooking Class: Later in the morning, participate in a hands-on cooking class and learn to make some traditional Mongolian dishes. Here you will learn how to make Mongolian buuz (steamed dumplings) and khuushuur (deep fried meat pockets).

Flaming Cliffs: In the afternoon, enjoy a documentary featuring Roy Chapman Andrews, the real-life Indiana Jones, whose expedition discovered the world’s first dinosaur eggs at the Gobi’s Flaming Cliffs, before driving out to the cliffs.

Bayan Zag, commonly known as the Flaming Cliffs for the orange glow of its rock at dawn and dusk. It was here in 1923 that Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews and his exploration team from the American Museum of Natural History found the first nest of dinosaur eggs. Although not obvious to the untrained eye, the Flaming Cliffs are rich with dinosaur fossils and have been the site of important paleontological discoveries.

Mongolian Tsuivan Recipe
Flaming Cliffs
DAY 4

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Dalanzadgad for your flight to Ulaanbaatar.

Three Camel Lodge Sustain
RATES

4 Days / 3 Nights

May & October June - September July 1-20
1 Guest
$6,225
$6,395
$6,675
2-3 Guests
$3,590
$3,725
$3,935
4+ Guests
$3,095
$3,220
$3,435
Single Supplement
$705
$765
$810
Kublai Khan 2 BR Family Ger (3 Guests)
$3,660
$3,790
$4,035
Kublai Khan 2 BR Family Ger (4 Guests)
$2,795
$2,895
$3,075
Extra Bed (child under 11 years)
$705
$765
$810

Above land cost are per person, double or twin occupancy
Additional Cost: Domestic roundtrip (Ulaanbaatar-Dalanzadgad) airfare: $380 per person (subject to change by airline)

LAND PRICE INCLUDES:
• Ground transportation in Mongolia as described in the itinerary
• Transfers from hotel to airport at start of trip and airport to hotel at end of trip in Ulaanbaatar
• Arrival and departure transfers in the Gobi (airport to & fro Three Camel Lodge)
• All accommodations based on Deluxe Gers, double or twin occupancy
• Meals as noted in itinerary
• Horse and camel riding as noted in the itinerary
• All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary
• Extensive pre-departure Travel Guide, reading list, important information about your trip
• English speaking Nomadic Expeditions guide throughout your stay

LAND PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• International airfare
• Internal Mongolia airfare (listed above)
• Passport and visa fees
• Comprehensive medical and trip insurance
• Gratuities to guides, drivers and Lodge staff
• Items of personal nature including alcoholic beverages, laundry and spa treatments
• Any excursions or activities not specifically mentioned as included

Beyond Green - Plant Earth's Most Sustainable Hotels

Three Camel Lodge is a proud member of Beyond Green, Planet Earth’s Most Sustainable Hotels.

This Mongolia itinerary has been developed by Nomadic Expeditions, the leading operator of sustainable luxury travel in Mongolia.

A WORLD RENOWNED DESTINATION

UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO Sustainability We follow the three pillars of sustainable tourism at Three Camel Lodge and within our community, including:

- Environmental Stewardship
- Natural and Cultural Preservation
- Community Empowerment

LEARN MORE
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO Sustainability We follow the three pillars of sustainable tourism at Three Camel Lodge and within our community, including:

- Environmental Stewardship
- Natural and Cultural Preservation
- Community Empowerment

LEARN MORE
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO Sustainability We follow the three pillars of sustainable tourism at Three Camel Lodge and within our community, including:

- Environmental Stewardship
- Natural and Cultural Preservation
- Community Empowerment

LEARN MORE