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Mongolian Gobi Desert - Largest in Asia with Iconic Desert Scenery

Visiting Mongolia and returning without exploring the Mongolian Gobi Desert is like a mild unofficial crime. Covering an indescribable area with over 1,000 miles in length and 300 to 600 in width, the desert is the fifth largest in the world and largest desert in Asia and it gravely symbolizes extreme dryness, and lack of water but ranks at the top in the desert beauty rating. The total estimated area is said to be covering almost 500,000 square miles. Ask any tourists with a list of underrated and unique locations, and they will name the Gobi for sure, no tourists skip this desert beauty because it is not just not a brilliant location but has a great history behind its origin to learn.

See more about Mongolia Landscape from Deserts to Permanent Glaciers

Best Time to Visit Gobi Desert

You should know the type of weather Gobi desert has throughout the year, it really contributes to planning your trip better. Most of the associate Gobi desert with a hot climate, but planning better can give you a comfortable journey. If you are planning to visit during the spring, then know that the climate will be dry and windy. Most tourists decide to travel between July and August, it might be the hottest time of the year but only during the day.

See more about Mongolia Weather 7 Tips for Traveling to Mongolian Deserts

Mongolian Gobi Desert

How to Reach the Gobi Desert?

It is very common for people to over think about reaching to the Gobi desert. They often would wonder how to fly, and how to get there. However, visiting the popular Gobi Desert is not that difficult after all. Nearly anyone who comes to travel in Mongolia does can plan to visit the Gobi desert.

As mentioned above Mongolian Gobi desert is located in the country's southern region. You can visit the desert of Gobi by domestic flight at Dalanzadgad Airport, which only takes around 1.5 hours to explore.

You can definitely take up another way to get to the Gobi Desert, the place is just 532 km (331 mi) from Ulaanbaatar capital, and you can easily go by road after taking a car, which takes about 7-8 hours to get there. If you get tired of a ride, take plenty of water and some pills for motion sickness. As compared to other destinations, which have a very bumpy road, the path to the Desert of Gobi is not so bad.

What Makes Mongolian Gobi Desert Unique?

Let us give you a very details description of the Gobi Desert and some of the incredible things you can experience and explore.

1. Home to the Largest Dinosaur Fossil in the World

The Gobi Desert is known as the world's largest prehistoric dinosaur repository, showing the evolution of biodiversity and animals, and the Cretaceous Dinosaur Fossil Cradle Sites holds dinosaur bones, tracks, and footprints from 70 to 99 million years ago. It is also known as the richest dinosaurs fossil sites and something or the other is frequently found in the area.

2. Perfect Place to Ponder and Contemplate Over Life

The beautiful Gobi desert will remind you of how beautiful the world is, you are reminded all over how everything eventually returns to dust and sand, and how important it is to enjoy your life. The huge dunes of sand, the sheet of blue sky over your head and windy evening will remind of every facet of beauty the nature stores.

Any of the fossil sites have oases and lakes that function as a sanctuary that agricultural land for wild animals, making this area much more spectacular.

3. Wonderful Canyons with Red Mudrocks

Khermen Tsav in the Gobi Desert is named Roy Chapman 'The End of the Planet.' The ancient geological forms and structures of the Khermen Tsav fossil site differ in shape and create a picture that resembles the beautiful castles.

They are registered in UNESCO as a beautiful natural attraction and a big tourism destination, and tourist come from all over the world to see dinosaur fossils every year in the field and watch the sunset that looks beautiful when it reflects the orange light over the sandstone cliffs.

4. The Best Camel Experience in the Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert without Camels Is Impossible. Riding a camel is the most popular and suitable means of travel in the Mongolian Gobi Desert, and once you are here, you will love riding camels and discover the true flavor of the Gobi on the camel's roll.

The camels are the most precious livestock of the Mongolians, they are domesticated, the saddles are threaded into their nostrils, and the camels are free to ride, so you do not have to think about it. Particularly, in the dunes, you had best choose camels for your journey. There is a festival called Thousand Camel that honors and celebrates the gem of the most famous Gobi-Bactrian camels. They are recently declared endangered, and the Mongols are trying to protect the camels. The festival normally takes place at the beginning of March every year, and it's a perfect opportunity to see camel activities such as camel procession, camel polo and other cultural events in the annual festival.

Must See the National Treasure of Mongolia

Approximately 30 m (98 feet) in the high mountain, situated on the north side of Bayanzag passing south of Tevsh Khairkhan, the place is named Tugrugiin shiree. One of the few places to discover two fighting dinosaurs-Velociraptor and Protoceratops-apparently engaged in combat, these two battle dinosaurs were amazingly preserved in this action, around 80 million years ago, and located in the 30 km (18.6 mi) Tugrugiin Shiree.

Sudden landslides or any natural disaster might have easily covered by a rapid flood of air, trapping them in this battle position. In 1971 the Polish-Mongolian team found the species stagnant the white sandstone cliffs of the Southern Gobi Desert. This is considered a Mongolian National Treasure due to its incredible beauty. These fossils are still preserved in the Mongolian Museum of Natural History, which is currently under restoration.

Experience the Hospitality of the Nomads

Staying and meeting the Nomadic family will be your favorite part of your journey to the Gobi Desert, where nomadic everyday practices would give you a very good understanding of what life in the Mongolian Gobi is like. The Mongols are very generous and modest people and they always open their doors for guests.

These facts about the Mongolian Gobi Desert will remove all second thoughts about visiting this place. Starting with the landscape to the starry nights, it will all be worth it.

- Last updated on Mar. 17, 2021 -