Explore fossil sites at Bayanzag aka the Flaming Cliffs

Natural History Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia: Fossils, Landscapes & Lost Worlds with Sally Hurst, Mongolia

Natural History Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar | Sally Hurst

Yol Valley Mongolia - Mongolia: Fossils, Landscapes & Lost Worlds with Sally Hurst, Mongolia

Yol Valley Mongolia | Sally Hurst

Inside the ger at Terelj in Mongolia

Institute of Paleontology - Mongolia: Fossils, Landscapes & Lost Worlds with Sally Hurst, Mongolia

Institute of Paleontology | Sally Hurst

Camels resting on the vast Mongolian steppe

Ger camp at night by Khanbogd Mongolia

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Mongolia: Fossils, Landscapes & Lost Worldswith Sally Hurst

See Mongolia through a palaeontologist’s eyes, from fossil landscapes to nomadic life in the Gobi.

Mongolia

12 Days from

$4890 USD

Trip Code: SHMM

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Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single supplement

$380 USD

Duration

12 Days

Activities

Palaeontology & fossil exploration
Cultural touring
Day walks

Accommodation

4 nights hotel
4 nights ger
3 nights cabins

Meals

10 Dinners
9 Lunches
11 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading: 2 / 10
Adventure touring

Trip highlights

Travel with palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst, who brings Mongolia’s dinosaurs and lost worlds to life through stories, science and discovery
Visit legendary fossil sites including the Flaming Cliffs, Nemegt Basin and remote Khermen Tsav
Discover how palaeontologists read the landscape, from ancient forests and dinosaur eggs to clues preserved in rocks and fossils
Experience Mongolia beyond the fossils, with ger stays, local encounters and insights into nomadic culture
Venture deep into the Gobi, exploring dramatic canyons, ancient fossil landscapes and towering sand dunes

Overview

Explore the landscapes where some of the world’s most important dinosaur discoveries have been made on this exclusive 12 day small group adventure through Mongolia’s vast Gobi Desert.

Travelling with a local guide and palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst – scientist, educator and author of Found a Fossil: Digs, Discoveries & Australia’s Deep Past – you’ll discover a very different side of Mongolia. Sally has a knack for turning complex science into great stories, helping you understand not just what has been found here, but why these discoveries matter and what they tell us about life millions of years ago.

This isn’t a technical expedition or hands-on fossil dig. It’s for anyone curious about dinosaurs, fossils, natural history and the story of our planet – with plenty of opportunities to ask questions, discuss discoveries and start looking at the landscape through a palaeontologist’s eyes.

From the Flaming Cliffs to the Nemegt Basin and remote Khermen Tsav, visit some of Mongolia’s most significant fossil regions and explore landscapes that have revealed dinosaur eggs, ancient mammals and species including Tarbosaurus and Therizinosaurus. Along the way, Sally brings these lost worlds to life with stories of remarkable discoveries, pioneering expeditions and her own experience digging for dinosaurs in the Gobi.

And there’s much more to Mongolia than fossils. Hike through dramatic canyons, climb the great dunes of Khongoriin Els, meet local herders and experience traditional hospitality, with nights spent in gers and remote desert cabins. It’s a deep dive into palaeontology, wrapped inside a wonderfully adventurous journey through one of the world’s great desert landscapes.

This exclusive tour departure will be limited to just 14 participants, early booking is recommended.

Protecting Mongolia’s fossil heritage: Part of exploring Mongolia’s fossil landscapes is understanding why they need to be protected. Mongolia has strict laws governing fossils, which cannot be collected and taken out of the country. This helps keep Mongolia’s natural heritage where it belongs, while allowing local scientists to continue researching and learning from these remarkable discoveries.

PLEASE NOTE: Tour date is to be confirmed, pending domestic flight schedules that will be released in March 2027. As such the dates may vary by 1–2 days.

Itinerary

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On arrival you will be met and transferred to the group hotel in Ulaanbaatar. This evening, meet your fellow travellers and your host, palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst, who will introduce the adventure ahead and Mongolia’s extraordinary place in the story of palaeontology and dinosaur discovery. It’s also a chance to get to know the group and start thinking about what to look for once you head into the Gobi. Overnight: Bayangol Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or similar)

Meals: D

Today sets the scene for what lies ahead in the Gobi, with an introduction to Mongolia’s rich cultural and scientific heritage. Begin with a visit to the Dinosaur Hall of the Natural History Museum, home to some of the country’s most significant fossil discoveries, including intact nests of dinosaur eggs, fossilised embryos and dramatic specimens capturing prehistoric encounters between predator and prey. With Sally alongside you, the fossils become more than museum exhibits. She’ll help unravel the stories behind the discoveries, explain why they matter and give you some of the knowledge you’ll need to start looking at the Gobi through a palaeontologist’s eyes. At the Institute of Paleontology of Mongolia, meet a lecturer for a deeper look at Mongolia’s fossil record and some of its most famous discoveries, including the remarkable “Fighting Dinosaurs”, along with dinosaur nests, eggs, embryos and fossilised hatchlings. It’s a fascinating introduction to the science before you head into the landscapes where many of these discoveries were made. Overnight: Bayangol Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or similar)

Meals: B,L,D

Transfer to the airport for a short flight into the Gobi Desert. On arrival, the scale of the landscape becomes immediately apparent, with vast arid plains stretching to the horizon, punctuated only by distant herds of camels. Travel to Gurvan Saikhan National Park and into Eagle Valley (Yolyn Am), a dramatic gorge where high rock walls shelter pockets of ice that can remain frozen well into the year. At the entrance, a small museum provides an introduction to the region, with displays including petrified wood, dinosaur eggs and examples of local flora and fauna. As you explore with Sally, the landscape itself starts to become part of the story. Early discussions about geology, fossils and changing environments begin to build a picture of the Gobi millions of years ago – and why it has become such an important place for palaeontology. Continue with a gentle hike through the gorge, where the cooler microclimate supports unexpected vegetation and wildlife. Keep an eye out for bearded vultures overhead and, with luck, wild mountain goats (Capra sibirica) navigating the steep cliffs. After a picnic lunch, travel on to Dungenee Valley, another narrow canyon, where a short walk provides time to explore its striking rock formations. This evening, settle into our first tourist ger camp, where traditional-style gers and shared facilities provide a welcoming base for travellers. Drive: 80km/2 hours Overnight: Ger Camp

Meals: B,L,D

Today the adventure becomes decidedly more remote as we travel deeper into the Gobi. We drive 300 km / 186 mi across vast expanses of desert, watching the scenery shift between open sandy plains and rugged, deeply eroded terrain. This afternoon we reach Nemegt Basin, one of the most significant Late Cretaceous fossil beds in Asia. This immense network of rift valleys and sandstone formations has been shaped by millions of years of erosion, creating a dramatic labyrinth of cliffs, gullies and towering rock walls rising as high as five-storey buildings. This is the kind of place that makes palaeontology feel very real. We explore the otherworldly terrain on foot, taking time to appreciate both the scale of the landscape and its importance in palaeontology. With Sally, delve into the stories of the scientists and expeditions that have worked here, from Soviet-Mongolian teams in the 1970s to discoveries of dinosaurs including Tarbosaurus and Therizinosaurus. Standing in the landscape itself gives these stories a completely different perspective – and offers a glimpse into the lost world scientists have pieced together from the fossils found here. At the end of the day, we drive to Narandaats, an artesian well. A rustic yet comfortable camp of wooden cabins will serve as our base for the following days of exploration. Drive: 335km/ 6 - 7 hours Overnight: Cabin

Meals: B,L,D

Our base in Narandaats offers a fascinating contrast to the surrounding desert. The natural spring supports a small oasis of poplars, elms, grasses and saxaul shrubs, creating a rare pocket of life in the Gobi. Narandaats is also an important palaeobotanical site, with remains of ancient conifer and flowering-plant forests. Seventy million years ago, this desert looked very different. With Sally helping to read the clues preserved in the fossil record, discover how scientists have reconstructed a landscape that once supported lush subtropical forests – and consider the extraordinary changes that transformed it into the Gobi we see today. The surrounding area contains several significant fossil sites, where discoveries have included dinosaur eggs, turtle shells and species such as Tarbosaurus and Gallimimus. Depending on access and conditions, one of these locations is explored in more depth, giving us time to look more closely at how fossils are discovered, studied and interpreted. There’s plenty of time for questions today – not just about what has been found here, but how palaeontologists use fragments of evidence to piece together an entire ancient environment. Drive: 75km/ 1 - 2 hours Overnight: Cabin

Meals: B,L,D

Travel continues deeper into the Gobi to Khermen Tsav, one of the most striking landscapes on our route. This vast canyon system reveals towering rift valleys, sculpted sandstone cliffs and sweeping sand formations extending across the horizon. On foot, explore this extraordinary terrain, where layers of sediment hold clues to environments that existed millions of years ago. With Sally alongside us, begin to read some of those clues and discover what the rocks, sediments and fossils can reveal about the creatures and landscapes of the past. The area first attracted palaeontologists in the late 1960s, and since then several international expeditions have explored its fossil-rich valleys, uncovering a remarkable variety of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs and other ancient animals. After a day spent looking deep into the Gobi’s past, there is another spectacle to come. At sunset, the canyons turn brilliant shades of red and orange, bringing this remote desert landscape vividly to life. Drive: 140km/ 3 - 4 hours Overnight: Cabin

Meals: B,L,D

Today we swap fossil beds for sand dunes as we continue across the open plains of the Gobi to Khongoriin Els, one of Mongolia’s most impressive dune systems. Stretching for nearly 180 km / 112 mi, these vast dunes rise dramatically from the desert floor, with some reaching heights of up to 200 m / 656 ft. Known locally as the “Singing Dunes”, they can produce a low, resonant hum as wind moves across the sand. Explore the dunes on foot, with the option to climb to one of the higher ridgelines. From the crest, you can appreciate the sheer scale of the Gobi, with sweeping views across the sand formations and surrounding desert. At the foot of the dunes live local herders whose livelihoods revolve around their two-humped Bactrian camels and large flocks of sheep and goats. We visit a herder’s ger, taste homemade goat’s cheese and learn more about the knowledge and traditions that enable families to live in this demanding desert environment. We continue to our ger camp. Drive: 160km/ 3 - 4 hours Overnight: Ger camp

Meals: B,L,D

Before reaching the Flaming Cliffs, we travel to Tugrugiin Shiree, another important Late Cretaceous fossil site in the Gobi. It was here in 1971 that the famous ‘Fighting Dinosaurs’ were discovered – a Velociraptor and Protoceratops preserved together in combat. Having encountered their story earlier in Ulaanbaatar, we can now stand in the landscape where this extraordinary fossil was found, with Sally helping us understand why it remains such an important discovery. The journey continues to the Flaming Cliffs, one of the most significant and recognisable dinosaur fossil sites in the world. The expeditions led here by American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews during the 1920s produced extraordinary fossil discoveries, including dinosaur eggs, new dinosaur species and early mammal fossils, helping to put the Gobi firmly on the palaeontological map. Rising dramatically from the surrounding plains, the cliffs reveal layers of deep red sandstone shaped by erosion and time. After settling into camp, we head out with Sally to explore the area on foot. Here, the history of fossil hunting, scientific discovery and the changing understanding of dinosaurs provides plenty to talk about. A visit to a nearby saxaul forest provides further insight into the hardy plant life that has adapted to this arid environment. These drought-resistant trees, with their twisted, woody form and deep root systems, play an essential role in stabilising the desert landscape and supporting local ecosystems. Seen up close, they provide another fascinating contrast between the Gobi of today and the very different environments that existed here millions of years ago. At dusk, we return to the Flaming Cliffs for one of the great sights of the trip. As the last light catches the red sandstone, the cliffs blaze in shades of orange and red – and their famous name suddenly makes perfect sense. This evening, we watch a short documentary telling the story of the remarkable discoveries made here a century ago. Drive: 160km/ 3 - 4 hours Overnight: Ger camp

Meals: B,L,D

On a morning flight we return to Ulaanbaatar. From the airport, we head out to see the colossal equestrian statue of Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan), shifting our attention from Mongolia’s prehistoric past to a much more recent chapter in its extraordinary story. The monument depicts the founder of the Mongol Empire on horseback, his hand resting on a golden whip associated in Mongolian legend with this location and Chinggis Khaan’s rise to power. From the observation deck, sweeping views extend across the surrounding plains and rolling hills. We continue to Terelj National Park, a scenic landscape of granite formations and open valleys, where many of the rock outcrops are named for the shapes they resemble. A short hike leads to a small Buddhist temple set on a hillside, offering wide views across the park. Drive: 100km/ 3 - 4 hours Overnight: Ger camp in Terelj park

Meals: B,L,D

After dinosaurs and desert, today turns to the people, skills and traditions that are part of life here today. For lunch, we visit a local family and learn how to make traditional steamed dumplings together with our hosts before sitting down to enjoy the meal. We then visit a local felting workshop, where skilled Mongolian craftswomen introduce us to the traditional art of working with felt, used for centuries to make clothing, accessories, household items and toys. There’s also a chance to get hands-on and try making a felt item of your own. Our final visit is to a traditional musical instrument workshop, famous for restoring the Altai Harp, a unique stringed instrument discovered in a 7th-century warrior’s tomb in the mountains of western Mongolia. We learn about this remarkable instrument and the craftsmanship involved in restoring it and keeping Mongolia’s musical traditions alive. This evening is free to explore Ulaanbaatar’s food scene. Drive: 70km/ 2 hours Overnight: Bayangol Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or similar)

Meals: B,L

Today is free to relax, explore further or simply enjoy some time to relax after our adventures in the Gobi. In the evening, experience a performance of traditional Mongolian music and song, including the distinctive art of throat singing. A farewell dinner brings the group together one last time. With Sally, look back on what we’ve discovered along the way – from dinosaurs and ancient forests to desert landscapes, fossil discoveries and the people who call Mongolia home today. Overnight: Bayangol Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (or similar)

Meals: B,D

Our Mongolian adventure comes to an end today. Transfer to the airport are provided for your onward flight. We hope you leave with happy memories of the vast Gobi, its people and landscapes – and perhaps a new appreciation for just how much can be discovered in a layer of rock, a fragment of fossil or a landscape that once looked completely different from the one we see today.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

1 scheduled departure between 23 Aug 2027 and 23 Aug 2027.

Departs 23 Aug 2027 – ends 3 Sep 2027 (12 days)

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What's included?

Included

Hosted by paleontologist Sally Hurst
Highly experienced English-speaking guide/translator
4 nights hotel in Ulaanbaatar on twin share basis
4 nights in ger camps on twin share basis
3 nights in cabins on twin share basis
All meals as indicated
Airport transfers for all flight arrival and departures
Camel ride
Round-trip airfare: Ulaanbaatar – Dalanzadgad – Ulaanbaatar*
Private transport throughout in Toyota Land Cruisers convoy
Gobi National Park and environmental fees
Ulaanbaatar sightseeing fees

Not included

International flights
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Visa if applicable
Single supplement - limited number available
Excess baggage on domestic flights approximate US$2 per kg payable in cash at the check-in counter
Drinks and alcoholic beverages
Meals not mentioned on the itinerary
Tips
*The internal flight is included however as domestic airfares in Mongolia can fluctuate, a flight supplement may apply if there is a significant increase in the fare

About your guide

Your host is palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst, whose work explores fossils, the ancient environments they reveal and the ways humans have interacted with them over time.

With more than 10 years’ experience as a museum educator and guide, Sally has a knack for turning complex science into engaging stories – and, fortunately for us, Sally has plenty of dinosaur stories to tell. Much of Sally’s research and science communication work also focuses on raising awareness of fossil protection. Sally is the author of Found a Fossil: Digs, Discoveries & Australia’s Deep Past, an accessible introduction to palaeontology, fossil discoveries and why protecting them matters.

You’ll often find Sally running dinosaur workshops in a classroom – or in a cave, hole or mine looking for fossils. From the mines of Lightning Ridge to the megafaunal caves of Wellington, NSW, Sally has years of experience researching the creatures and environments of the past.

Sally has also dug for dinosaurs in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, searching for Velociraptors and tyrannosaurs and supporting anti-fossil-poaching research. Further afield, Sally has worked in the Canadian Badlands on dinosaur trackways and mummified hadrosaurs.

Now Sally is excited to return to Mongolia and share the extraordinary stories hidden within these prehistoric landscapes – and help us look at the Gobi through the eyes of a palaeontologist.

Responsible Travel

Regenerative Travel Projects

Empowering Students Through Green Learning

This project, led by the Center for Citizenship Education in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, establishes school-based greenhouses to provide students with hands-on learning in natural sciences. By training teachers and engaging over 1,200 middle and high school students, the initiative transforms theoretical education into practical experience, enabling students to grow plants, propagate trees, and actively participate in greening their school environment.

Set in a ger district facing severe air pollution and limited educational resources, the project addresses both environmental and social challenges. It improves student engagement, builds practical skills, and contributes to healthier school surroundings by planting over 1,000 trees and shrubs annually, fostering a stronger connection between young people, their community, and the natural environment.

Support our work

Extra trip info

Accommodation FAQs

Ulaanbaatar: Bayangol Hotel

This comfortable 4-star hotel makes a convenient base for our stay in Ulaanbaatar, with Sukhbaatar Square and many of the city’s main attractions within walking distance. The spacious, modern guest rooms have everything needed for a comfortable stay, including free Wi-Fi, a fridge and electric kettle. It’s a large, well-equipped city hotel with friendly, helpful staff and an excellent location for exploring the capital on foot.

Ger Camps

We stay in tourist ger camps throughout the Gobi. The gers are simple but comfortable, generally with twin beds and all bedding provided. Shared bathroom facilities are in separate men’s and women’s blocks, with hot water available, although supply can sometimes be unreliable in remote areas. Facilities vary between camps and are more simple than a city hotel, but staying in a ger is a highly enjoyable part of the Mongolia experience.

Cabins at Narandaats

For three nights, we make our base in simple wooden cabins near Narandaats, an artesian well in the Gobi. Accommodation is twin share, with separate bathroom blocks. Facilities here are simple, reflecting the remote location, but the cabins provide a comfortable base for our days exploring the surrounding fossil landscapes.

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Not at all. This is not a technical expedition or a fossil dig. The tour is designed for curious travellers who want to experience Mongolia, with palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst adding another dimension to what you see along the way. Sally is an experienced science communicator who makes palaeontology accessible, engaging and fun.

Mongolia’s fossils are an important part of the country’s natural heritage and are protected by strict laws. Keeping fossils in Mongolia allows them to be protected and studied by local scientists, while preserving these remarkable discoveries for future generations.

No. The tour visits some of Mongolia’s most important fossil landscapes, but it is not a hands-on fossil dig. You’ll learn how palaeontologists read landscapes, rocks and fossils, hear the stories behind important discoveries and visit the places where remarkable specimens have been found.

The tour is hosted by Australian palaeontologist and archaeologist Sally Hurst, who has previously undertaken dinosaur fieldwork in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. The group is also accompanied by a highly experienced English-speaking Mongolian guide/translator, bringing local knowledge and insight throughout the tour.

Travel through the Gobi is by private Toyota Land Cruisers (or similar) travelling in convoy. The Gobi is vast and roads can be rough, so some days involve several hours of driving.

Distances are considerable in Mongolia and travelling overland is part of experiencing the Gobi. Most driving days are around 2–4 hours. The longest scheduled driving day is approximately 335 km/ 208 mi and 6 - 7 hours, as we travel deeper into the desert towards the Nemegt Basin and Narandaats. Regular stops and sightseeing are incorporated as the itinerary allows.

We stay in tourist ger camps designed for travellers. Gers are simple but comfortable and generally set up with twin beds, with all bedding provided. Bathroom facilities are shared in separate men’s and women’s shower and toilet blocks. Hot water is available, although supply can sometimes be unreliable in remote areas.

No. Bedding is provided. We will provide a suggested packing list on what to bring, in our tour pre departure information.

The trip is graded Adventure Touring. There are a number of walks, including gentle canyon walks and exploring fossil landscapes on foot. At Khongoriin Els there is the option to climb higher onto the dunes. Travellers should be comfortable with uneven terrain, remote conditions, rough roads and some longer driving days.

Domestic flights have a 10 kg / 22 lb checked baggage allowance and 5 kg / 11 lb carry-on allowance, so travellers need to pack lightly for the Gobi. Excess luggage can be stored at the hotel in Ulaanbaatar while you are away.

Definitely not. Palaeontology gives the tour a fascinating extra layer, but this is also a broad exploration of Mongolia. You’ll walk through canyons and desert landscapes, climb the Khongor dunes, visit a herder’s ger, stay in ger camps, cook dumplings with a local family, learn about felt-making and traditional instruments, hear Mongolian music and visit Terelj National Park.

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Mongolia: Fossils, Landscapes & Lost Worldswith Sally Hurst

Trip highlights

Overview

Itinerary

Ready to start your adventure?