Winter Camel Trekking in the Gobi
$4,180
Experience the winter desert on camel back and take part in local Lunar New Year festivities.
Contact us about special prices for 2 or more people booking together!
Winter Camel Trekking in the Gobi
Winter Camel Trekking in the Gobi is an adventure true to local traditions, a great option if you are looking for experiential travel. It combines cultural and landscape experience with a very special way of adventure travel.
Lunar New Year with a real herder family – you experience Tsagaan Sar celebrations (Lunar New Year) with a Gobi herder family on the trek!
Winter camel trekking in the Gobi gives you insights into the life of the nomadic herders who have used these desert landscapes for millennia. You learn about Bactrian camels – with two humps – and their great adaptation to this harsh environment, and you will enjoy the slow pace of desert travel as our little caravan moves along. You take in the grand and diverse landscape of the Gobi, and spot wildlife in the canyons and plains we travel through. You experience the desert winter – typically calm and with blue skies, and you will be amazed by the incredible night skies.
Even though the Gobi has milder winters than most of Mongolia, keep in mind that this is still a winter adventure – in the coldest desert on earth! Warm clothing and warm boots are a must. And for our trekking camps we use appropriate shelter and equipment, both modern and traditional, to make this adventure a fun experience, with some of our usual camping comforts you may know of if you have been on a wilderness horse trek with Stone Horse Expeditions.
Bactrian Camels for Winter Camel Trekking in the Gobi
Bactrian Camels are at their best in winter! Covered in warm wool that insulates them from the temperature extremes. They graze on the sparse vegetation of shrubs and small plants on the stony and sandy ground. Their feet are like big, padded cushions – you will soon know the characteristic foot prints in the sand that we leave behind.
The traditional camel saddle is of woolen carpet material, with colorful ornaments. Like with any riding, it takes a few days to get used to. But once you found your seat between the two cozy winter humps of the camel, it can be quite comfortable up there. It’s high – much higher than on a horse. And the camel lies down for you to mount up. The rein is on one side only, but it’s easy to learn this kind of reining. Our local camel guides will teach you, and lead your camel for a start until you are comfortable to ride by yourself.
Camels love the big open spaces of their desert home, and when they move along in a group on the plains, it’s a slow, steady and quite relaxing mode of travel. We have saddle bags like on horseback, and in addition, a traditional, beautifully crafted hump bag – very handy for camera and other essentials you want to have easy access to.
Desert Camping during Winter Camel Trekking in Mongolia’s Gobi
Days are short during our winter desert treks, and we want to arrive in camp early. The shelters we arrive to are traditional gers, or our modern tent shelters, both allowing for comfortable temperatures and to relax for meal times and spend the evening. And if necessary, provide a reliable shelter should the weather turn adverse and we have to stay in camp for a day.
The locations of our camps are usually near a well, and our local support team will make sure our shelter has water, fuel and provisions ready for the arriving camel caravan. Sleeping is in insulated dome tents that can be heated by wood stoves, and we provide warm winter sleeping bags.
Our camel treks are in the colder season, however the Gobi in Mongolia’s South is the country’s North, and winter is usually a time of calm and sunshine. And we are equipped with a excellent group shelter, insulated and outfitted with a wood stove, which has proven suitable for winter camping even in the coldest time in the Gobi. And around Lunar New Year the temperatures usually warm up.
Trekking through spectacular Terrain
Our 2026 winter camel trek takes you through spectacular Gobi landscapes. We travel from the Khaniin Khets mountain ranges to the Zuramtai Mountain massif. This remote route covers rugged mountain terrain, open plains of sandy desert areas, and winding canyons.
2026 Lunar New Year Camel Trek
The 2026 February Camel Trek is timed so as to coincide with the Lunar New Year Celebrations. During Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar) family visits are customary, and they continue for many days. This is the time when people are dressed up in their best traditional costumes, and every family prepares lots of food and drink for visitors. Elderly people are honored by the visits of their children, grandchildren, and all younger relatives for that matter. We have planned with our local support team in the South Gobi to bring you to the celebrations to experience local hospitality and join in this important holiday in Mongolia.
See what Camel Trekking guests have said – “a magical adventure and one that we will not forget”.
For custom camel trekking at other dates, please contact us.
| Dates | February 4 – 14, 2027 |
|---|
Itinerary
Itinerary
Itinerary Camel Trekking and Tsagaan Sar, 2026
Day 1 (Feb 12) Arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, pick-up and transfer to hotel in Ulaanbaatar city. Orientation meeting/dinner with Stone Horse Expeditions.
Day 2 (Feb 13)–Shopping for camel trekking clothing at Narantuul market and/or local makers of winter boots and deels. If time allows, visit museum, Tumen Ekh cultural performance.
Day 3 (Feb 14)
Travel to Dalanzadgad, capital of South Gobi province. Lunch in Mandalgovi, capital of Dundgobi province. Overnight in guesthouse/ger camp in or near Dalanzadgad.
Day 4 (Feb 15)
Travel to the camel trekking camp at the scenic Khaniin Khets Mountain range. This is the mobile camp of insulated dome tents that will await you each night of the four day camel trek. The larger group dome for meal times is heated. If required, sleeping domes can also be heated before turning. Double, warm sleeping bags are provided. On the way to the camel trekking camp, visit the famous vulture gorge.
Day 5 – 8 (Feb 16 – 19)
Camel Trekking to Zuramtai Mountain. Overnight camping during trek in our dome tent camps. On day 8, arrival at Zuramtai and overnight at the Ger Camp at Zuramtai Mountain.
Day 9 (Feb 20)
It is the last day of the Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar) festival. We begin the return journey by 4×4. On our way, we visit local family/s to experience a traditional celebration of Lunar New Year. The same evening, we continue to Dalanzadgad. Overnight in hotel or guesthouse.
Day 10 (Feb. 21)
Travel to Ulaanbaatar. Overnight in hotel.
Day 11 (Feb 22)
Transfer to Airport, or other activities in Ulaanbaatar city like souvenir shopping, city tour, museum visits, depending on your departure time.
Due to seasonal weather and road conditions the itinerary may need to be slightly adjusted, without compromising the overall experience and activities.
Important Information
Cold Weather Travel
While our winter camel treks are not in the very coldest season (late December through January), this is still a serious winter adventure where you are exposed to cold temperatures, and potentially wind and snow. You must have warm clothing, preferably a down jacket and insulated pants, and warm boots. You may want to consider purchasing Mongolian winter boots for the adventure – they can be bought in Ulaanbaatar, or locally in the South Gobi. They are lined with thick felt or with sheep skin, and range in price from about USD 30 to USD 80. More of course if you want really fancy ones.
You will also want – long underwear of course (top and bottom), layers (pile/fleece or down), warm socks (can also be bought in Mongolia, camel or yak wool, or cashmere). Warm hat, gloves, and mittens. Sunglasses that are well covering, or even goggles (like for skiing). Sunscreen, like for winter sports.