Mongolia

Founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre, Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s capital, and cultural, industrial and financial heart. Key sights include Sukhbaatar square, the National Museum of Mongolia, the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the Zaisan memorial, which offers panoramic views of the city, and the Ger districts, full of nomadic tents that lack plumbing or electricity.

240 km west of Dalanzadgad in the South Gobi are the giant dunes of Khongor Sands, covering an area of nearly 900 square kilometers. Sculpted by cross-winds, the dunes here are as high as 100-300 meters and are often called the “Singing Sands,” due to the sound that is emitted as the sand moves.

120 km to the East of Khongor Sands are the ‘Flaming Cliffs’ of Bayanzag. The ‘Flaming Cliffs’ get their name from their awe-inspiring red and orange hues at sunset. They were made famous by American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, who made the world’s first discovery of fossilized dinosaur eggs here in the early 1920s.

Yol Valley is a dramatic ravine in the heart of the Gurvansaikhan mountains in the South Gobi. Ice usually blankets the narrowest parts of the ravine until mid-summer. Birdwatching is rewarding here. Visitors are sure to see the bearded vulture, known as the ‘Yol’ in Mongolian, soaring high above the ravine.

Hustai National Park is a land of arid steppe, forest, and gentle slopes located just 2-3 hours west of Ulaanbaatar. It is home to Mongolia’s last remaining population of the rare and critically endangered Przewalski’s Horse, or ‘Takhi’ in the Mongol tongue, a truly wild horse closer to zebra than horses.

The Shangri-La Hotel is Ulaanbaatar’s only international-standard five-star property.  Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is within strolling distance of Sukhbaatar Square and Government Palace, a modern shopping mall with an IMAX cinema, and several enticing restaurants.

360° Wilderness Ger Camps are five-star pop-up accommodations that are flexible and lightweight enough to be loaded onto a truck, yak caravan or camel cart, and deployed anywhere in the country. The gers are stylishly decorated with colorful Mongolian crafts, and furnished with proper beds and full bedding. Meals are served in a separate ger.

Three Camel Lodge is an iconic steppe retreat comprising 40 well-appointed gers, each with their own bathroom, set around a central clubhouse made from stone and wood beams. The location is in the heart of South Gobi, close to the famous sights of Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) and Yol Valley in the Gurvansaikhan Mountains.

HS Khaan Ger Resort is located on the grassy plains west of Ulaanbaatar, a one-hour drive from downtown. Unlike other ger camps, it sits in a fixed location with huge, lavishly furnished guest gers. Each ger comes with an en-suite bathroom, windows and a terrace offering views across the plains.