Asia & Oceania
Endless steppe, horses and luxury gers
Mongolia is the last great territory where silence and the vastness of the landscape still set the human rhythm.
A country three times the size of Spain with only 3.3 million inhabitants, where 40% of the population still live in gers, nomads move their herds with the seasons and ancient traditions — falconry with Kazakh golden eagles in the Altai, the Naadam festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing — remain intact. This 12-day journey travels the three Mongolias: the contemporary one of Ulaanbaatar, the wilder western Altai and the mythical Gobi desert, staying at top-tier ger camps (Three Camel Lodge, Ecuador Camp or Nomadic Trails Boutique) with wood-stove heating, premium beds and private bathrooms. All transfers by private 4x4 with a bilingual driver-guide and internal flights scheduled to maximise useful days at every stage.
Suggested itinerary
Departure from Madrid with Qatar Airways in Qsuite Business Class. Layover in Hamad International (Doha) with access to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Flight to Ulaanbaatar in 1-2-1 cabin with sliding door. Overnight aboard.
Arrival at Chinggis Khaan international airport and check-in at the Shangri-La Hotel Ulaanbaatar (the only five-star in Mongolia). Afternoon with a local historian at Gandantegchinlen monastery, the Buddhist heart of the capital, and the new Chinggis Khaan National Museum (2024) that traces 1,000 years of Mongolian empire. Welcome dinner with local produce and airag (fermented mare's milk, optional).
Shangri-La Hotel UlaanbaatarDeparture by private 4x4 toward Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (2h). Visit the giant equestrian statue of Chinggis Khaan (40 metres tall, the largest in the world). Arrival at Terelj Lodge, a boutique ger camp with only 20 gers built to Western standards: stove heating, premium bed, private bathroom and electric lighting. Gentle trek to Turtle Rock and picnic lunch. Private meeting with a local nomadic family for salty milk tea and bortsog (traditional Mongolian pastries).
Terelj Lodge (premium ger camp)Return transfer to Ulaanbaatar to take the domestic flight to Ulgii, capital of Bayan-Ölgii province in the far west of Mongolia. It is Muslim Kazakh territory, very different from the rest of the country. Welcome from the host family and transfer by 4x4 to the Blue Wolf Travel ger camp (or Ekhi Gol), in the heart of the eagle hunters' valley. Afternoon to acclimatise (2,400 metres).
Blue Wolf Travel Ger Camp · AltaiExclusive day with a burkitshi (Kazakh eagle hunter) at his family ger. Explanation of the ancient falconry tradition, presentation of his golden eagle and controlled flight/hunt demonstration. Traditional beshbarmak lunch with the family. Afternoon on horseback along the valley with the hunter, learning about the relationship between nomads, horses and eagles. Dinner by the fire at the ger camp.
Blue Wolf Travel Ger CampHorse excursion (or 4x4 depending on preference) to the foot of the Potanin Glacier, in the Tavan Bogd massif (UNESCO heritage, border with Russia and China). Gourmet picnic prepared by the ger camp. Return at sunset with time for a Mongolian hot-stone spa in the wellness ger of the camp.
Blue Wolf Travel Ger CampDomestic flight Ulgii-Ulaanbaatar and connection to the Ulaanbaatar-Dalanzadgad flight (gateway to the Gobi desert). Meet & greet at the airport by the Three Camel Lodge team, considered the best ger camp in Mongolia (National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World). Check-in to a private ger suite with private bathroom, premium beds and solar supply.
Three Camel Lodge (National Geographic Unique Lodges)Excursion to Yolyn Am, a deep gorge in Gurvan Saikhan National Park where the ice remains even in summer (a brutal contrast with the desert). Walk along the canyon floor with sightings of bearded vultures and pikas. Picnic lunch. Return to the lodge for optional spa and dinner with a signature Mongolian menu.
Three Camel LodgeTransfer by 4x4 to Khongoryn Els, the "singing dunes" (100 km long, up to 300 m high) that emit a deep hum when the sand slides. Ascent to the main dune at sunset (reward: 360° views). Optional descent on a Bactrian camel led by a local herder. Traditional khorkhog dinner (mutton cooked with hot stones) prepared inside the ger.
Three Camel LodgeVisit to Bayanzag, the "flaming cliffs" (red cliffs) where paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the world's first dinosaur eggs in 1922. Tour with a local palaeontologist guide. Return to the lodge, free afternoon for spa, library or a private morin khuur class (horsehead fiddle, UNESCO intangible heritage).
Three Camel LodgeDomestic flight Dalanzadgad-Ulaanbaatar and return to the Shangri-La. Choose your afternoon: if the trip coincides with July, VIP entry to the Naadam festival (Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing, UNESCO intangible heritage). Otherwise, private visit to the Gobi Cashmere factory for exclusive premium Mongolian cashmere shopping (the best in the world alongside Italian). Farewell dinner at Modern Nomads restaurant.
Shangri-La Hotel UlaanbaatarFree time until the transfer to Chinggis Khaan international airport. Flight Ulaanbaatar-Doha-Madrid with Qatar Airways in Qsuite Business Class. Indicative price from 12,500 € per person in double occupancy. Our journey includes international flights Madrid-Ulaanbaatar-Madrid with Qatar Airways in Qsuite Business Class. Domestic flights Ulaanbaatar-Ulgii and Ulaanbaatar-Dalanzadgad (both return legs). All transfers by private 4x4 with a bilingual driver-guide. Top-tier hotels and camps selected (Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar, Terelj Lodge, Blue Wolf Travel Altai, Three Camel Lodge Gobi). Board: full-board at the ger camps + bed and breakfast in Ulaanbaatar. Exclusive private excursions (meeting a Kazakh eagle hunter, nomadic family in Terelj, palaeontologist guide in Bayanzag, VIP entry to Naadam if applicable). Horse trek in Tavan Bogd and Bactrian camel descent in Khongoryn Els. Mongolian hot-stone spa. Comprehensive meet & greet and cancellation insurance. 24-hour telephone assistance throughout the journey.
Suggested hotels
Mongolia in pictures
FAQ
Bespoke luxury journeys to Mongolia designed by Luxury Atelier by Presstour start from 12.500 € per person (indicative price, luxury-category accommodation, private services and exclusive experiences). The final price varies based on dates, season, hotel category and added experiences. Request a proposal and within 48-72 business hours you will receive a closed quote.
The best time to travel to Mongolia is from June to September (mild summer) for the Altai and the Gobi. July is the month of the Naadam festival. December-February is extreme winter (-30ºC), reserved only for expert adventure travellers. Our specialists advise on the optimal dates based on the type of experience you are seeking (wildlife, culture, climate or less crowd) and your personal calendar.
In Mongolia we work with the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar as urban base, Three Camel Lodge in the Gobi (the only Mongolian property in National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World), Blue Wolf Travel in the Kazakh Altai and Terelj Lodge near Ulaanbaatar. All with Western standards of comfort inside the ger. All with preferred partnerships that allow us to secure upgrades, late check-outs and exclusive services for our clients.
We recommend between 10 and 14 days to experience Mongolia. Our signature itinerary is 12 days combining the three Mongoliass (contemporary Ulaanbaatar, wild Altai and mythical Gobi). We tailor the route to your dates, pace and priorities — some clients prefer fewer transfers over more days, others want to cover more regions.
In Mongolia we arrange experiences you cannot book online: a private meeting with a Kazakh eagle hunter (burkitshi) in the Altai, a horseback trek to the Potanin glacier, a stay at Three Camel Lodge (National Geographic Unique Lodges), the ascent of the singing dunes of Khongoryn Els with Bactrian camel descent, a palaeontologist guide in Bayanzag (the site where the world's first dinosaur eggs were discovered), VIP access to the Naadam festival if the journey coincides with July, and a private morin khuur class (horsehead fiddle, UNESCO intangible heritage). Every journey includes access to private experiences, guides specialised in the theme that interests you (cultural, gastronomic, wellness or photographic) and premium 24/7 logistics throughout the route.
Let's talk about Mongolia
Every journey is unique. Tell us your dates, interests and how many of you there will be. Within 48-72 business hours you will have a personalised proposal with no commitment.