The Gobi - Mongolia - page 370

(GPS: N 43°32.872', E 104°02.257'; admission T2000; 8am-8pm 1 Jun-20 Oct) The small mu-
seum at the gate on the main road to Yolyn Am has a collection of dinosaur eggs and
bones, stuffed birds and a snow leopard. Several souvenir shops and an 'information ger'
can also be found here.
» Gorge
From the museum, the dirt road continues for another 10km to a car park of sorts. From
here, a pleasant 2km walk, following the Yol Stream, leads to the ice-filled gorge and one
or two lonely souvenir salesmen. Locals at the car park also rent horses (T10,000, plus
the same again for the compulsory horse guide) for the return trip to the gorge.
In winter, the ice is up to 10m high and continues down the gorge for another 10km,
although it has largely disappeared by the end of July. It's possible to walk the length of
the gorge - an experienced driver could pick you up on the other side (GPS: N
43°30.537', E 104°06.616'), about 8km east of the car park.
The surrounding hills offer opportunities for some fine, if somewhat strenuous, day
hikes . If you are lucky you might spot ibexes or argali sheep along the steep valley
ridges.
» Mukhar Shiveert
About 1km before the museum is a second ice valley called Mukhar Shiveert; visitors
may be required to pay an additional T3000 to visit the site.
» Dugany Am
If you are headed from Yolyn Am to Khongoryn Els, an adventurous and rough alternat-
ive route takes you through the Dugany Am, a spectacular and narrow gorge barely wide
enough to allow a jeep to pass that eventually leads to some spectacular views and a
small stupa (GPS: N 43°29.115', E 103°51.043') that has been built on the remains of a former
temple. The gorge is blocked with ice until July and can be impassable even after the ice
has melted, so check road conditions with the rangers at the park entrance.
Khongoryn Els SAND DUNES
(camel rides per hr/day T5000/15,000) Khongoryn Els are some of the largest and most
spectacular sand dunes in Mongolia. Also known as the Duut Mankhan (Singing Dunes -
from the sound they make when the sand is moved by the wind or as it collapses in small
avalanches), they are up to 300m high, 12km wide and about 100km long. The largest
dunes are at the northwestern corner of the range. Getting to the top (45 minutes to one
hour) is exhausting; every step forward is followed by a significant backslide, but the
views of the desert from the sandy summit are wonderful.
The sand dunes are also a popular place for organising camel rides , (per hour/day
T7000/25,000 plus the same again for the guide fee), and locals seem to appear from