The massive Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park stretches from the border with Bayan-khongor almost to Dalanzadgad and covers an area of 2.7 million hectare. The name translates as "the three beauties", referring to its three ridges.
Here you'll find the Yolyn Am gorge, filled with ice for much of the year, the Khongoryn Els sand dunes - a highlight rising as they do to 200m, the graveyard of many dinosaurs in Bayanzag and wonderful mountains. It is here that you can meet nomadic shepherds farming the two-humped Bactrian camel and goats and sleep in ger camps, experiencing nights under the huge Mongolian sky and discover Yolyn Am, an ice filled gorge..
From a wildlife perspective the park contains over 200 species of birds, including the Mongolian desert finch, cinereous vulture, desert warbler and houbara bustard, whilst spring and autumn bring waves of migratory species. It's a botanists paradise with perhaps 600 or more species of specially adapted plants. Fauna includes the black-tailed gazelle, Kozlov's pygmy jerboa and wild ass, the endangered wild camel, snow leopard, and ibex and argali sheep.
Not to be missed Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park should be on everyone's Mongolia itinerary!