After prepping for the caravan through the Gobi (and dreaming about it) we finally settled on a eight-day route:

Day 1 – Lunch at the Morin Tsohio Ger restaurant and drive to Bagagazariin Chuluu

Day 2 – Bayanzag and the Flaming Cliffs

Day 3 – Hiking in the Yol Valley, head to the Khongor sand dunes

Day 4 – Camel riding at Khongor then drive to Arvaikheer (a “city”)

Day 5 – Orkhon Waterfall and horseback riding

Day 6 – Kharhorin Monastery

Day 7 – Stay the night in the Lun area

Day 8 – Head back to UB

It seemed straightforward enough, although in all honesty, we really had no idea what we were getting into.

One thing became very clear on Day 1, the van was our new, mobile home.