7-Day Mongolia Tour Packages
What if you could spend a week exploring Mongolia's massive steppes, staying in traditional gers and actually experiencing nomadic culture? These trips have you riding horses across grasslands, visiting Buddhist monasteries and seeing Ulaanbaatar's interesting contrasts. You'll witness throat singing, taste airag and understand why Genghis Khan's homeland still feels genuinely wild.
Insider tips: Recommended 7-day Mongolia tour itineraries
Compiled by
SteffMongolia travel expert at TourRadar
7 Day Mongolia Itinerary, incl. Ulaanbaatar and Kharkhorin
Central Mongolia reveals itself over 7 days and 1100km, visiting 7 destinations. The route includes UNESCO Orkhon Valley, ancient Karakorum city, Khogno Khan Mountain, and Hustai National Park. Features 6 nights in traditional ger camps with nomadic families.
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to Gurvanbulag
Leave Ulaanbaatar at 8:30 AM for a 4-hour drive west to the northern Gobi region. Stop at the 10th-century Khar Bukhiin Balgas fort ruins on your 280km journey. You'll spend the night in a traditional ger with a nomadic family where you can help make milk tea and try fresh homemade yogurt. A previous visitor shared: "Meeting the families and doing the homestays was incredible. Mongolia itself is very beautiful, and the families were lovely and tried to speak English with us."
- Day 2
Tsenkher Hot Springs
The drive to Tsenkher takes 5-6 hours covering 200km. The route is challenging but the views make up for it. Bring warm and cool clothing since mountain weather is unpredictable. Your day ends at a ger camp with natural hot springs. Visit the pools around sunset when crowds thin out and lighting is best for photos.
- Day 3
Orkhon Valley UNESCO Site
Drive 3-4 hours to reach Orkhon Valley, the traditional homeland of Mongolian nomads. You'll stay with a yak-herding family near the river and can walk to Orkhon Waterfall which drops 20 meters. Join your host family in daily tasks like milking yaks and making dairy products. Good hiking boots are essential since the ground can get slippery after rain.
- Day 4
Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu
Travel to Kharkhorin (3 hours/130km), once the capital of Chinggis Khan's empire. Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, the country's oldest Buddhist complex. You can learn felt-making at a local workshop or browse an art gallery. Get to the monastery before 9 AM to avoid crowds and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.
- Day 5
Khogno Khan and Elsen Tasarkhai
Begin at the Uvgun Temple complex in Khogno Khan. Take the 45-minute uphill walk to see the ruins. Later drive 45 minutes to the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. Your night will be spent with camel herders, including a sunset ride on Bactrian camels. A past traveler noted: "The second family we stayed with was wonderful—the food was delicious and they made such an effort to share their culture."
- Day 6
Hustai National Park
Head east for 3-4 hours to Hustai National Park. Plan to watch wildlife at dusk when wild Takhi horses are most active. You can combine wildlife spotting with hiking based on your fitness level. Watch for red deer and marmots too.
- Day 7
Chinggis Khan Statue and Return to Ulaanbaatar
Visit the impressive Chinggis Khan Statue complex on your final day (2 hours from Hustai). Go up to the viewing platform on the horse's head for sweeping views of the Tuul River and Khan Khentii mountains. It's a 1-hour drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Schedule evening flights to avoid morning traffic.
7 Days in Mongolia, incl. Ulaanbaatar and Gobi Desert
Mongolian landscapes unfold over 7 days across 5 major destinations: Ulaanbaatar, Yolyn Am valley, Khongor dunes, Bayanzag's Flaming Cliffs, and Terelj National Park. Includes 2 domestic flights, 4 nights in Ger camps, and 2 nights at Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center.
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
Begin your adventure in Mongolia's capital. Get settled after your airport pickup and explore the city center. "The day tour to Ulaanbaatar was a bit rush but we got a full visit to all classic sites." Book a hotel like the Ramada in the city center to stay close to main attractions and restaurants.
- Day 2
Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley)
Take an early flight to Dalanzadgad (90 minutes) and drive 62km to Eagle Valley. You'll see an impressive ice field that stays frozen most of the year. Wear sturdy hiking shoes for the sometimes slippery gorge trail. Bring binoculars to watch wild sheep and goats on the cliffs. Sleep in a traditional ger camp for your first taste of nomadic living.
- Day 3
Khongor Sand Dunes
Drive west to Mongolia's largest sand dunes. Plan to climb the dunes at sunset when the light is perfect for photos and the sand is cool enough to walk on. "We had a chance to experience local herdsman life, ride camels in the desert and enjoy jeep desert surfing." Wear closed shoes for the dune climb because the sand gets very hot during the day.
- Day 4
Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
Visit a local camel-herding family in the morning before the 4-hour drive to Bayanzag. Visit the Flaming Cliffs at sunset when their colors are most dramatic. "We visited the Flaming Cliffs, which looked crimson and blazing." Bring a jacket since desert temperatures drop at night.
- Day 5
Terelj National Park
Return to Ulaanbaatar by air and drive one hour to Terelj National Park. See the famous Turtle Rock and go hiking or horseback riding. Pack different layers because mountain weather changes quickly. Your ger camp here offers mountain views instead of desert landscapes.
- Day 6
Genghis Khan Statue Complex & Ulaanbaatar
Visit the Genghis Khan statue on your way back to the city. Go early to the viewing platform on the horse's head to beat the crowds. "The Genghis Khan Statue looked so majestic and we learned more facts about Mongolian history with our guide's help."
- Day 7
Departure
Plan extra time for your airport transfer. Ulaanbaatar traffic can be heavy, especially from 8-9:30 AM and 5-7 PM.
7 Days in Mongolia, incl. Ulaanbaatar and Orkhon Valley
A 7-day Mongolian expedition stretches across 1,065km through 6 destinations. The route leads from Ulaanbaatar to ancient Khar Bukhiin Balgas fortress, through Orkhon Valley's Class III rapids, and ends at the historic Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia's three largest Buddhist centers.
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to Gurvanbulag
Leave early from Ulaanbaatar for a 4-5 hour drive (280km) to Gurvanbulag Soum. Stop at Khar Bukhiin Balgas to explore the 10th-century fortress ruins. Pack layers since morning temperatures change quickly in Mongolia. In the afternoon, go horseback riding with local guides. You don't need experience, but wear long pants. In the evening, learn "Shagai" with local nomads. These traditional games use sheep ankle bones. Sleep in a traditional ger camp.
- Day 2
Nomadic Life Experience
Visit a nomad family in the morning to try authentic dairy products like "Aaruul" (dried curds) and "Suutei Tsai" (salty milk tea). Bring good walking shoes for the 5-8km hike to nearby sand dunes. Watch Mongolian cowboys show off "Uurga" traditional horse lassoing. Bring your camera but keep your distance since these are working horsemen.
- Day 3
Journey to Orkhon River
Drive 280km to Saikhan soum where you'll start rafting. Spend 3-4 hours on the water in the afternoon. Wear quick-dry clothes and bring sun protection since the water reflection is strong. Set up camp by the river. The facilities are basic but the stargazing is incredible.
- Days 4-5
Orkhon River Rafting
Spend two full days on Mongolia's longest river, going through remote canyons. The Class III rapids are exciting but still good for beginners with guides. Look for wildlife in the calmer sections. One traveler said: "The contrast between peaceful floating and heart-pumping rapids was perfect. Having lunch on untouched riverbanks with no other people in sight was unforgettable."
- Day 6
Final Rapids and Monastery Visit
Start with 2-3 hours of Class III rapids in the narrowest canyon section. Then drive 165km to Amarbayasgalant Monastery via Bulgan Town. This is one of Mongolia's three largest Buddhist centers. Stay in a ger camp with better facilities than the riverside camping.
- Day 7
Return to Ulaanbaatar
Drive 340km back to Ulaanbaatar on mostly paved roads (6-7 hours). Leave mid-morning to avoid city rush hour traffic.
Mongolia 7 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Essence of Mongolia - 7 Days
Tailor-Made 7 Days Mongolia Family Trip with Daily Start, Private Guide
Orkhon river rafting
Full Gobi Mongolian 7 Days Tour
Gobi Tour 7D 6N
2 National Parks and 2 Monasteries
Lakes, Nature and Monasteries tour: 7 Days Tour
Kharkhorin and Ogii Lake tour
Customized 5 Days Ulaanbaatar Family Trip, Private Guide & Driver
Hot Spring in Winter Mongolia 5D 4N
What people love about 7-day Mongolia tours
We signed up for the 7-day "Essence of Mongolia" tour. Our tour guide, Shuree, and driver, Maga, were absolutely amazing. We appreciated the flexibility of the tour schedule -- the activities were nicely spread out and were not back-to-back -- so we never felt that we had to be constantly rushing from place to place. We also throughly enjoyed our experiences staying with the nomad families. The families were very warm and friendly, and it was nice to see how each family was slightly different from one another (some families were bigger, each family had different animals that they reared, etc). Shuree, our tour guide, was also incredibly attentive to our needs and interests over the course of the tour. For example, I had told her at some point that I liked the history of the Mongol Empire, so she took a lot of time and effort to go through all the exhibits with me when we were at the various museums (and also told me stories about the different Khans during our car rides). There were so many other wonderful examples like this. Overall, my husband and I had an amazing experience. The tour provided us glimpses into different parts of Mongolian history and culture, and really, the "Essence of Mongolia". Our guide and driver were always present and caring, and we always felt welcomed and well taken care of. Thank you, Tour Mongolia!
Essence of Mongolia - 7 Days
- Full Gobi Mongolian 7 Days Tour
The process until reaching the moment we arrived in Mongolia was long. It felt strange to pay it all in advance without having any assurances that this was not a scam. Also it was strange to pay it all so long in advance. It would have sufficed to ensure a deposit on a credit card and pay another 30% just before departure and the final 30% upon meeting the staff. The credit card would have guaranteed everyone a surety. This is the main reason, I will not use Tourradar again. We should have asked for a detailed programme and a detailed list of the amenities at each stay. We should have asked for approximate timings of each day. Now, all this is minor and could be resolved but we were taken aback by the lack of (bearable) WC and shower, still we saw it as an adventure. Others that would have booked this tour could have been shocked. We were pleasantly surprised by the ingenuity and plasticity of the involved people when our initial car was unusable, the swiftness they fixed a replacement and the ease they organized a new car the day after. Our tour was not at all impacted. This is a strength! The rest was impeccable. I would book the same mongolian guys again but not through tourradar. the payment issue has really put me off.
- Essence of Mongolia - 5 Days
I found the tour group very easy to communicate with and quick to respond, which I really appreciated. We covered a good amount of Mongolia, and I enjoyed the authenticity of the homestays. My guide was informative and easy to get along with. I especially liked the two tourist ger stays—the first one felt peaceful and genuine, while the second was crowded and a bit too touristy for my taste. There was a lot of time spent in the car, which was tough; my favorite moments were the walks I took on my own, outside the planned itinerary, to experience Mongolia’s natural beauty. Coming from the U.S., it was a bit of an adjustment traveling in a less developed country, especially to remote, off-road locations. I barely slept for five days due to the uncomfortable accommodations and am still dealing with fatigue. I’d suggest adding more evening activities, and offering more to see on the third, fourth, and especially the long fifth day drive back. I really like making dumplings with one of the homestays which I asked to do. Once again I feel like it would be better if we got to actually participate in the nomadic lifestyle. Western travelers should be warned about the bumpy back roads—I was extremely carsick. It was also hard to connect with the people at the homestays, so I sometimes felt isolated. Still, the trip was special: I enjoyed the food, valued the guide’s knowledge and kindness, and loved my solo hikes and temple visits.
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