Semi-Gobi Tour: Experience Nomadic Culture and Traditional Mongolian Food in One Day
3.8
33 Ratings
Högönö-Taranaiin-Hüree

One of the best ways to experience and travel around Mongolia, if you are in a tight schedule. In this tour, you will see and experience Mongolian steppes, semi-Gobi, Bactrian camel, local nomadic culture, host family and traditional Mongolian food only in one day with a professional English speaking guide, driver and private vehicle.

Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi) - You will have the opportunity to experience local nomadic culture in an authentic way plus ride a Bactrian camel with an astonishing view over the mountains in the beautiful semi-Gobi. We’ll start the day early in the morning in order to get much out of it. After a short drive, we’ll make a stopover to have some snacks, coffee or tea with a beautiful view. After arrival at semi-Gobi, we’ll visit the local family and get introduced nomadic culture. Then ride a camel (horse) over the sand dunes, which will be instructed by our host family. After riding a camel, traditional Mongolian lunch will be served. Then we’ll explore the surroundings and make hiking over the sand dunes. We’ll be on the road back to Ulaanbaatar after we enjoy the day in semi-Gobi. Plus snacks will be served on the way back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotels will be provided as well.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Snacks
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Tea and coffee
  • Camel or horse riding fees for an hour
  • Bottle of water
Location
Elsen Tasarkhai (Sand Dune Mini Gobi)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.8
(33 Ratings)
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J_rnk120
May 5, 2024
Great adventure with flexible and responsible tour guide and driver! - Very exciting tour with a lot of fun. Very kind and responsible and flexible tour guide and driver. The tour guide was new and did a good job. We had the chance to see a local children‘s horse race by chance passing by and stopping at the road. The lunch was awesome! Thanks!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohamedasraf_m
Nov 3, 2023
Think twice. It’s worth but you need to be patient. - I really enjoyed this trip. But the travel time was too long. I don’t think it’s worth to travel 5+5 hours up and down for just 30 minutes camel raid and simple lunch. The guide and the driver were very helpful and knowledgeable. I really appreciate them.
Review provided by Viator
Jasonky167yw
Nov 1, 2023
Worth the adventure! - Tour guides/driver were great and the experience was worth the drive. It's a bit of a drive but the scenery and patience paid off. Had a great time with the locals and the new friends made from the knowledgeable tour guides
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Countlincoln
Oct 14, 2023
Highly Recommend! Great Tour Guide and Great Driver. - My family and I (2 kids, ages 12 and 8) had an amazing experience on this tour. Our guide, Bat, was exceptional! He was friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and punctual. It is a very long drive, which we were prepared for, but Bat knew so much of the local history/culture that we learned so much. Bat also noticed when our youngest fell asleep in the car and he knew to keep quiet for a while to let the kiddo sleep. Our driver, Erdene, was equally incredible. The roads are bumpy and sometimes dangerous. But Erdene stayed alert and drove carefully throughout the trip. This allowed the rest of us to relax and enjoy. We would recommend bringing a book or a travel pillow for the long drive. We enjoyed the camel ride (you may need to remind the local camel owner that you've paid for an hour), and had time to sled some of the dunes. We also enjoyed our time meeting the nomadic locals and we appreciated their generosity/hospitality. We loved this trip, but if you aren't prepared for a long/bumpy card ride, you may want to skip it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F6339wjdawnm
Oct 11, 2023
Great experience but long journey - The travel was very long over 5 hours each way and the road very bumpy with lots of pit holes. The vehicle we were travelling in was very uncomfortable, six people in a small mini van and only stopped once by the roadside when someone was desperate for the loo. The tour guide was lovely but slept both ways of the journey so not very informative. Despite this the time spent in the Gobi was worth it and we had a great time riding camels.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gingerbb419ou
May 17, 2024
Fun camels but a very long day - Guides were nice and informative and the camels were hilarious. But this is a long, long trip for a single day. It is >10hrs of driving time for a ~90min experience. Recommend making this a two day excursion and finding a place to stay near the camels.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meaghant79
Oct 13, 2023
Big day, good experience - The camel and horse riding was good. The food is from convenience store/roadhouse and it is a 4 hour drive each way on some rough bitumen roads, as well as battling the Ulaanbaatar traffic
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O9302gcmichhyb
Feb 22, 2024
not recommended because of unprofessional tour guide, but the scenic views were wonderful - I reported the tour guide to the management team. This is something I rarely do. I travel frequently and once in a blue moon, the tour guide does not meet the very basics of professional standards in the tourism sector. I get the impression this guide received no training at all (including about etiquette and attitude when dealing with customers), perhaps due to staff shortage. His conduct is completely unlike any of the other guides I had while in Mongolia. NGA Tour Bureau's Management was courteous in responding to the feedback I provided. On a positive note, despite what is written above, the driver on our tour was professional at all times. He got us to and from the main attraction (a long 3+ hour drive one way) safely, even with the difficult roads and snow. The views were beautiful! I enjoyed seeing a traditional nomad family's home. I would recommend travellers to Mongolia to go to the Gobi Dessert and see the spectacular views.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Irayda_r
Mar 28, 2024
Disappointing - This activity is best if you travel during summer. There was a snow storm when we came initially they didn’t cancel but half the way into the journey we had to return to the city. They offered a city tour instead but the quality was poor
Review provided by Viator
Clark_s
Mar 9, 2024
The guide was a no show.... - The guide was a no show. Despite several calls form the hotel, no answer, nothing. Hugely disappointed. Hopefully refund will come.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
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July 2024
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