Ride to the Edge: Ulaanbaatar to the South Gobi

A 10-Day Adventure Motorcycle Tour Through Mongolia’s Rugged South.

Vagabond Moto has partnered with one of Mongolia’s most trusted local tour operators to deliver an unforgettable adventure and we’ll be riding right alongside you!

This isn’t a tour we’re just promoting — it’s one we’re helping run, support and shape. Together, we’re bringing the spirit of Vagabond Moto to the open deserts, towering cliffs and ancient canyons of the South Gobi.

This 10-day ride takes you from the capital of Ulaanbaatar through Mongolia’s vast interior, across windswept plains, mountain passes, and finally into the surreal landscapes of the Gobi Desert before finishing back in Ulaanbaatar. It’s a ride designed for those who chase remote riding, rich culture and real, raw adventure.

• Vast and Varied Terrain
This route takes you through the dramatic contrast of Mongolia’s central and southern landscapes. Ride through rolling hills, volcanic craters, grasslands, rocky canyons, and the open desert. The journey finishes with a triumphant arrival at the dunes of Khongoryn Els — some of the largest in the country.

• Off-the-Beaten-Track Adventure
This ride is all about remote trails, dirt roads, river crossings, and epic riding! You’ll traverse isolated country where your only company might be a herd of wild camels or the echo of your own engine, other than like-minded riders.

• Traditional Mongolian Culture
Along the way, you’ll stay in nomadic-style ger camps, enjoy hearty local meals and experience the deep hospitality of rural Mongolia. From ancient monasteries to camel herders, this ride is as much about people and place as it is about terrain.

• Full Support and Logistics
This is a fully supported tour by Vagabond Moto and our local tour partners. A lead rider and support crew handle all the logistics, with backup vehicles carrying your gear, tools, and spares. We handle the hard part, so you can focus on enjoying this epic ride!

• Ride With the Locals
This isn’t some cookie-cutter fly-in tour. It’s the beginning of a full-throttle collaboration between one of Mongolia’s most respected local outfits and the Vagabond Moto crew. We’re in the saddle with you guiding, supporting and sharing the stoke every step of the way.

• Scenery You’ll Never Forget
From the burning red Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag to the towering Khongoryn Els dunes, this ride delivers Mongolia’s most jaw-dropping locations. We’ll carve through the vast canyon of Yoliin Am, ride wide-open steppe, trace ancient riverbeds and sleep beneath a the stars in the desert.

• True Adventure Riding
Just endless dirt tracks, high-speed gravel, sandy climbs and river crossings. This is real adventure riding! Wild, remote and rugged. Fully backed by support vehicles,  mechanics and a crew that knows Mongolia and all it's hidden gems!

• The Ride of a Lifetime
This isn’t just a tick on the bucket list — it’s the kind of ride that rewires how you see the world. The scale, the silence, the people and the terrain! Mongolia stays with you long after the dust has settled. Come ready for the challenge, discovery and pure riding that Mongolia has to offer!.

Your Mongolian adventure kicks off the moment you touch down. You’ll be greeted at the airport and transferred into the heart of the city — a place where old-world charm collides with modern chaos in the best possible way.

After settling in, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner with the Vagabond Moto crew and our trusted local Mongolian team. Over hearty food and cold beers, we’ll chat bikes, routes and what to expect in the days ahead. It’s more than just a meal — it’s the beginning of an unforgettable ride.

Meals: Welcome Dinner

Accomodation: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar

The day kicks off at 8:00 AM as riders gather at the CF Moto Mongolia headquarters. After a short tour briefing and a detailed motorcycle handover, the anticipation becomes reality — it’s time to ride.

We head southeast, carving our way out of the capital and into the wide-open landscapes that Mongolia is famous for. Our first stop is the towering Chinggis Khan Statue Complex — a gleaming steel monument to the country’s most iconic figure. We’ll take a break here, stretch our legs, and explore the impressive site before pushing deeper into the countryside.

From there, we continue to Oortsog Enger, where the rolling steppe opens before us like a sea of grass and silence. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch in the sand steppe, surrounded by nothing but wind and wilderness.

As the sun begins to dip, we settle into camp for the night and enjoy a traditional Mongolian dinner, prepared with local ingredients and hospitality. Tonight, under a blanket of stars, the spirit of the journey begins to settle in!

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (picnic) / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional ger camp in Oortsog Enger

With the scent of breakfast still lingering in the cool morning air, we break camp and ride south, deeper into Mongolia’s ancient stone heart. Our journey takes us off the grid and into one of the most geologically striking places in the country: Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, the “Great Place of Rocks.”

We pack a trail lunch before setting off, stopping along the way to eat beneath the open sky — just you, your bike, and the rhythm of the desert.

As we approach, the horizon rises into surreal granite formations — great sculpted towers and boulders that seem dropped from another world. Spread across nearly 600 square kilometers of the Dundgovi province, this rocky wilderness is home to more than 40 caves, each with its own story. According to local lore, Olgii Cave once held ancient scriptures and lost knowledge, hidden deep within its shadows.

For those who feel like exploring, Yurlug Mountain, the region’s highest point at 1,706 meters, offers panoramic views across the Gobi. This place feels untouched, sacred — the kind of terrain that invites both silence and awe.

By late afternoon, we arrive at our traditional ger camp, tucked among the stone giants. As the evening cools and the fire crackles to life, you’ll feel it — that quiet sense that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (picnic) / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional ger camp in the rocks of Ikh Gazriin Chuluu

With the morning sun lighting up the rock faces around camp, we load up, fuel up, and point our bikes south once again — chasing the horizon into the warmest corner of Mongolia.

We pack our lunch from camp and head off across the open Gobi, riding through vast, empty stretches that shimmer with heat and silence. This is Southern Mongolia — a place where the sky feels closer, the air drier, and the landscape even more surreal.

By late afternoon, the terrain begins to change. Rising up out of the earth like a forgotten fortress is Tsagaan Suvarga, known as the White Stupa — a dramatic limestone escarpment carved by wind and time into jagged spires and deep folds. In the right light, it looks like the ruins of an ancient city — or the bones of a giant beast asleep beneath the desert.

July brings crowds for Mongolia’s famed Naadam Festival, but out here, you’ll find only space, quiet, and the hum of your own thoughts. The White Stupa region is a photographer’s dream and a rider’s playground — bold, rugged, and totally unspoiled.

Tonight, we rest in a traditional tourist ger camp, with the glowing cliffs nearby and the southern wind carrying the scent of dust and wild thyme.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (packed) / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional ger camp near Tsagaan Suvarga

The day begins with a final look at the towering cliffs of the White Stupa before we set our course even further south. Today is about space — real, wild, infinite space.

We ride through the vast emptiness of the South Gobi, where the land stretches unbroken to the horizon and the silence feels almost sacred. This is Mongolia at its most raw — endless plains, scattered herds, and skies so wide they feel like oceans. You might go hours without seeing another vehicle. It’s just you, the throttle, and the road that isn’t really a road at all.

A brief stop in a small soum (village) gives us a chance to refuel — both bikes and bodies — and pick up essentials for the coming days. We’ll grab lunch in a local café, where the food is simple, hearty, and cooked with pride.

By late afternoon, the town of Dalanzadgad emerges from the dust — the capital of South Gobi province and a welcome return to creature comforts. We check into a local hotel, kick off the boots, and enjoy a well-earned rest. A hot shower. A soft bed. Maybe even a cold beer in town.

Tomorrow, the dunes await!!

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Dalanzadgad

Today we leave the bustle of Dalanzadgad behind and head for one of the Gobi’s most unexpected treasures — the icy gorge of Yolyn Am, also known as Lammergeier Valley.

Located in the Eastern range of the “Three Beauties” Mountains, Yolyn Am is a place of stark contrast — a deep, narrow canyon carved by ancient glaciers, hidden in the heart of the desert. Regarded as one of the Nine Wonders of Umnugovi province, this valley is an oasis of shadow and silence, just 56 km from town yet worlds apart.

We’ll have a relaxed morning, enjoy lunch in Dalanzadgad, then ride south toward the mountains. As we arrive at the valley entrance, the air shifts — cooler, crisper — and the towering rock walls of the gorge rise up like stone gates.

From here, we continue on foot. The deeper you go, the narrower the gorge becomes, until you’re walking in the shade of vertical cliffs with just the sound of wind and rushing water. If you’re lucky, you may spot the valley’s namesake — the rare and majestic lammergeier — gliding silently above.

By late afternoon, we ride on to our traditional ger camp, tucked near the mountains, where a warm meal and restful evening await. After a day like this, even the stars seem quieter.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional ger camp near Yolyn Am

We begin the day with a final breath of mountain air before pushing west, deeper into Gurvan Saikhan National Park — where canyons give way to rolling plains, and the desert begins to swell beneath our wheels.

Today is tough, technical, and unforgettable. We’ll tackle a wide range of terrain — from packed dirt to loose sand — as we make our way across one of the most remote and breathtaking stretches of the journey.

By afternoon, the horizon begins to shimmer with gold. Khongor Sand Dunes, known as the Singing Sands, rise like ocean swells out of the desert floor. Spanning 130 km in length and up to 20 km wide, these towering dunes — some over 300 metres high — sit nestled between the rugged ridges of Sevrei, Zuulun, and Bayan Bor. They are one of the Nine Wonders of Umnugovi province, and for good reason.

We ride parallel to the dunes, their sharp lines and soft curves shifting in the wind like something alive. After lunch at camp, the real fun begins:
🐫 Camel rides with local herders,
🥾 Hikes to the top of the dunes for an epic view of the Gobi,
🏍️ And a chance to explore nearby trails on two wheels.

A visit to a local nomadic family offers a glimpse into life shaped by this harsh, beautiful land — a quiet highlight that lingers long after the ride.

We return to our ger camp for dinner beneath the desert stars, with sand still in our boots and a deep, satisfied tiredness in our bones.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional ger camp near Khongor Dunes

We rise with the sun over the dunes and roll north, leaving the soft sands of Khongor behind as we enter the green Mongolian steppe — a wide, rolling expanse that breathes life back into the desert.

This is one of the longer days in the saddle, but the riding is pure joy. We traverse flowing trails, open grasslands, and scattered valleys that have shaped nomadic life for centuries. We pack our lunch from camp and enjoy it on the move, soaking up the scale and silence of the Gobi.

By afternoon, we arrive at one of Mongolia’s most iconic and evocative sites: Bayanzag, the Flaming Cliffs. These rust-red canyons, rising from the desert like a page torn from the American Southwest, earned their name from the way they glow at sunset — like the rocks themselves are on fire.

It was here, in 1923, that famed explorer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first-ever fossilized dinosaur eggs — a moment that rewrote natural history. Legend has it, his swashbuckling adventures across Mongolia helped inspire the character of Indiana Jones.

We’ll park the bikes and hike the cliffs ourselves, exploring this sacred and storied land just as those early expeditioners did — boots on red dust, eyes scanning the horizon for wonder.

As the heat fades and shadows stretch, we head to our nearby ger camp, where dinner awaits and the cliffs still burn orange in the distance.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch (packed) / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional tourist ger camp near Bayanzag

Today’s ride is long, remote, and absolutely rewarding — a full immersion into the vast, green veins of the Mongolian steppe as we begin our northbound journey. After breakfast beneath the fiery cliffs of Bayanzag, we head into open country once more, following a route that is half-tarmac, half-off-road — and 100% soul-filling.

The landscape softens as we push north — grasslands ripple in the wind, herds roam freely across the plains, and the horizon stretches into forever. This is a day to find your rhythm, settle into the saddle, and lose yourself in the ride.

By late afternoon, the granite silhouettes of Baga Gazriin Chuluu rise ahead — a striking collection of rock formations sitting quietly in the Delgertsogt soum of Dundgovi province. Roughly 15 km long and 10 km wide, this rocky outcrop feels like a natural fortress — rugged, spiritual, and utterly timeless.

Legends speak of monks who once meditated here, and the rocks themselves seem to whisper in the wind. After a long day on the bike, our traditional ger camp offers a warm welcome — a hot meal, a cold drink, and a view of the ancient stones glowing in the evening light.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional tourist ger camp at Baga Gazriin Chuluu

After breakfast beneath the silent granite towers of Baga Gazriin Chuluu, we mount up for our final ride — the road back to where it all began.

Today’s route is smoother and faster, with 90% of the journey on paved roads, allowing us to soak in the last stretch with ease. But it’s not just the scenery that changes — it’s the feeling. The bikes feel like extensions of ourselves now. The dust, the grit, the wildness of the Gobi — it’s all etched into our skin and stories.

We stop for lunch along the way before rolling back into the pulse of Ulaanbaatar. The city feels louder, brighter — a jarring contrast to the quiet expanses we've come from. Riders will check into the hotel and have time to unwind or do a bit of souvenir shopping, with the State Department Store a great place to pick up something to remember the ride.

At 6:00 PM, we gather once more — not in riding gear, but dressed for an evening of culture and closure. You’ll attend a traditional Mongolian performance, showcasing throat singing, dance, and music that echo the land we’ve just crossed.

Then, we reunite with the tour team for a heartfelt farewell dinner — a final celebration of the miles, memories, and mates forged across one of the most unforgettable landscapes on earth.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in central Ulaanbaatar