heymongolia
National parks & wildlife

Yolyn Am

A deep, narrow gorge in the Gurvan Saikhan mountains that often keeps a sheet of ice well into summer.

The 'Valley of the Lammergeier' is a cool, shady canyon in the middle of the desert. A walk of a few kilometres follows a stream between steep rock walls, where you may see ibex, argali sheep, pikas and bearded vultures.

The ice field used to last all summer; in recent years it usually melts by July, but the gorge is beautiful in any season.

  • Region: Gobi Desert (Ömnögovi)
  • Best time: May–August
  • Time needed: Half a day
  • Entry: Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park fee

Tips

  • Horses can be hired at the car park for the walk in.

Tours that visit Yolyn Am

  • Treasures of Mongolia (12 days · Several regions · Tour Mongolia (Active & Adventure Tours Mongolia) · from $2,480)
    A 12-day minivan loop from Ulaanbaatar through the Gobi and central Mongolia, staying in ger camps and with herding families, with camel and horse riding along the way.
  • Beauty of Mongolia Tour (11 days · Several regions · Discover Mongolia · from $1,930)
    An 11-day tour from Ulaanbaatar covering Terelj, Hustai, Karakorum and the South Gobi, travelling by van with a flight back, staying in ger camps and one night with a nomad family.
  • Gobi Desert: A Family Adventure (8 days · Gobi Desert · Nomadic Expeditions)
    An 8-day family trip from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi, based at a desert lodge, with camel rides, a fossil hunt with a paleontologist and nomad family visits.
  • Ultimate Gobi (10 days · Gobi Desert · Nomadic Expeditions · from $10,650)
    A 10-day active Gobi trip from Ulaanbaatar, flying south and basing at a desert lodge for hiking, camel and horse riding, mountain biking and visits to fossil sites.
  • Thousand Camel Festival (8 days · Several regions · Nomadic Expeditions · from $6,550)
    An 8-day winter group trip from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi for the Thousand Camel Festival, with camel races and polo, herder visits and lodge and ger stays.
  • Classic Mongolia – Naadam Festival (11 days · Several regions · Nomadic Expeditions · from $9,850)
    An 11-day July group tour combining the Naadam festival in Ulaanbaatar with Terelj National Park and the Gobi, including camel trekking and a nomad family visit.
  • Golden Eagle Festival & Gobi Desert (12 days · Altai & the west · Nomadic Expeditions · from $12,350)
    A 12-day autumn group tour flying to Bayan-Ulgii for the Golden Eagle Festival at Tolbo Lake, then to the Gobi, with Terelj and Ulaanbaatar sightseeing.
  • Tolbo Lake Eagle Festival and the Gobi Desert (11 days · Altai & the west · Nomadic Expeditions · from $11,975)
    An 11-day September trip pairing the eagle festival at Tolbo Lake in Bayan-Ulgii with Terelj National Park and the southern Gobi, using domestic flights.

Nearby places