MONGOLIA: INTO THE LAST GREAT WILDERNESS
ABOUT THIS TRIP
Mongolia is one of the last places on earth where you can truly disconnect and experience the wild. Vast grasslands stretch to the horizon, towering sand dunes rise from the desert, and dramatic canyons showcase just how untouched this country still is. This is a journey built around experiencing Mongolia, not just seeing it. Ride horses across the open plains of the Orkhon Valley, camel trek through the Gobi Desert, and spend a day with a nomadic family where you'll milk yaks, make traditional khuushuur, and even help build a ger. Along the way, you'll explore some of the country's most iconic landscapes, from the Flaming Cliffs to the ice-filled canyon of Yolyn Am. It's the combination of adventure, authentic cultural experiences, and the sheer scale of Mongolia's landscapes that makes this one of the most unforgettable journeys you'll ever take.
BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Mongolia is during summer (mid-June to September), when the weather is at its warmest and the vast landscapes are at their most vibrant. Expect long daylight hours, pleasant temperatures, and ideal conditions for horse riding, hiking, camel trekking, and exploring the Gobi Desert. This is also when Mongolia's nomadic communities are most active, giving you the opportunity to experience their way of life at its fullest.
AVAILABLE TRIP FORMATS
Private trips: ideal for couples, families, and groups of friends. You get to pick your own dates and enjoy the flexibility to customize parts of the program with our range of optional add-ons. During the trip, you also have greater control over the pace of travel.
Open group trips: ideal for solo travellers, couples, small groups of friends open to meeting other like-minded adventurers. We do our best to open a couple of group trips per destination each year. Available trip dates can be found below.
EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
HORSEBACK RIDING IN ORKHON VALLEY
Saddle up and ride across the wide-open grasslands of Orkhon Valley, Mongolia's heartland of nomadic life. On certain days, you'll have the rare opportunity to ride alongside and potentially help out a local nomadic family as they herd their livestock. It's raw, physical, and about as close as you'll get to living the nomadic life yourself.
A DAY WITH A NOMADIC FAMILY
Step inside the daily rhythm of a Mongolian nomadic household. Milk yaks at sunrise, learn to fold and fry khuushuur (Mongolia's beloved meat pastry), and get hands-on building a traditional ger from the ground up. Round out the day herding animals across the steppe alongside your hosts. It's an intimate, unscripted window into a way of life that has barely changed in centuries.
CAMEL RIDING AND SUNSET IN THE GOBI DESERT
Trade horses for camels as you head into the Gobi, Mongolia's vast desert wilderness. Climb the towering sand dunes, feel the sand shift underfoot, and catch one of the most incredible sunsets you'll ever witness as the dunes turn gold, then crimson. This stark landscape stands out as one of the most memorable stretches of the whole journey.
MONGOLIA'S MOST DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES
Beyond the steppe and the dunes, Mongolia's terrain keeps surprising you. Explore the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag which is famed for its dinosaur fossil discoveries. Squeeze through Yolyn Am, a narrow glacial canyon so deep it holds ice even in summer. Each stop is a reminder of just how wild and varied this country really is.
THE ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Day 1
Arrival, Cultural Performance Showcase, Intro to Horseriding
Day 2
Mini-Gobi, Scenic Picnic Lunch, →Kharakhorum (Ancient City), Erdene Zuu Monastery, Archery Practice
Day 3
→Orkhon Valley, Riverside Picnic Lunch, Sunset Horseriding, Campfire
Day 4
Day with Nomadic family; milking yaks, Khuushuur cooking class, Ger-making workshop, Animal herding, Khorkhog (Traditional Mongolian BBQ)
Day 5
→Dundgovi (Middle Gobi), Steppes Picnic Lunch, Ongi Monastery, Cultural Performance & Traditional Costumes Fitting
Day 6
→Ömnögovi (South Gobi), Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), Picnic Lunch
Day 7
→Gobi Desert, Camel herders and Camel riding, Take on Khongor Sand Dunes, Sunset
Day 8
→Dungeonee Canyon, Scenic Picnic Lunch with wildlife viewing possibilities, Yoliin Am Canyon Nature Walk, Gobi Museum
Day 9
→Dalanzadgad City, Domestic Flight to Ulaanbaatar, National Museum, Concert Hall Cultural Performance
Day 10
Souvenir shopping, EVSEG Cashmere factory tour and shopping, Farewell Lunch, Departure
SNAPS FROM OUR PAST ADVENTURES
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
Rest and Recharge in Comfort
We know a comfortable stay is a key part of an enjoyable experience. We have handpicked our preferred properties after rounds of on-site inspections. We’ll mostly be staying in properties that are characterful and representative of the country that you're in. Additionally, with the help of feedback from past Jambo Adventurers we are able to continually ensure we work with quality properties. Beyond a comfortable stay, we love these properties for their warm sense of hospitality that often makes all the difference!
WHY TRAVEL WITH JAMBO?
Handpicked adventures,
crafted with firsthand experience
Every Jambo program is built from the ground up with care and intention. After weeks of research, we travel down ourselves; meeting partners, personally testing experiences, and understanding the finer nuances of local tourism. We blend our deep travel expertise with the invaluable knowledge of our trusted partners to create journeys that are immersive, authentic, and designed for Adventurers like you.
Hosted by trusted partners,
who feel like friends
Great experiences come from great people. We don’t just work with guides and hosts. We build real relationships, sharing meals, stories, and time together long before a Jambo trip ever happens. That’s why when you travel with us, you’re welcomed not just as a guest, but as a friend of Jambo. And thanks to the positive goodwill from past Adventurers, you’ll step into a network of hospitality, trust, and warmth.
Incredible journeys,
without any of the stress
The best travel moments happen when you’re fully present. Whether it’s standing in awe of a vast landscape, sharing a laugh with new friends, or experiencing a culture from the inside out. Jambo takes care of the logistics, research, and planning so you can focus on what really matters: traveling deeply, connecting meaningfully, and exploring with confidence, curiosity, and respect.
READY FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
LOVED BY ADVENTURERS WHO TRAVEL WITH US
Bhutan had a quiet pull on me - even weeks after the trip, I’m still thinking about it. I was initially worried this trip might lean too heavily on cultural sightseeing, but it turned out to be perfectly balanced with interactive moments and unique experiences that felt more personal than the usual Bhutan itineraries.
We met a Singaporean couple there travelling with a different group. After comparing itineraries, theirs felt much more packed with sightseeing, which made me appreciate ours even more.
All in all, I fell in love with the vibe of the country and its people, and I’m really glad we experienced it the way we did with Jambo.
Koh Chengyu
Bhutan was truly a memorable experience for me. I really enjoyed interacting with the locals and witnessing a way of life so different from what I’m used to. The country is incredibly scenic, and the warmth and kindness of the Bhutanese people made the journey even more special. I also learnt so much about Bhutan’s rich culture and history throughout the trip. As a videographer who loves capturing stories, this was an inspiring destination that I deeply enjoyed exploring.
Francis Goh
