A Camel-Expedition in the Gobi-Desert

Gobi-Desert	Gobi-Desert

The Mongolians call the Gobi: land without water‘ The Gobi is the biggest desert of Asia. Its vast system of grassy plains, steppes and desert areas stretch from southern Mongolia to northern China. The biggest and most remote desert of the Gobi is the Badan Jilin (Alashan Shamo). Its sand dunes rise up to 400m – a spectacular dune-landscape of impressive size.

Via Beijing, the capital of China, and Lanzhou in the province Gansu, the journey will bring you to Wuwei at the southern edge of the Gobi desert. Through steppes it continues into the desert to Alashan Youqi at the border of civilisation. The camel-expedition starts near a lake in midst of the Alashan Shamo. Final preparations take will take place there – the camel packed with the necessities and most important, with a sufficient supply of drinking water – and the trekking into the vastness of the desert may begin.

For eight days you will hike through a sea of dunes resembling the waves of an ocean, that constantly change in colour and shape – an unforgettable experience and even in the 21st Century a real adventure. On the 6th or 7th day of the trek you will get to Badan Jiling, a monastery located on the northern brim of the Alashan Shamo. Back in civilisation you will pass Ejina Qi and will explore the so called ‘Black City’ Khara Khoto, which is the most important excavation area in the Gobi. The journey then continues to Jiayuguan, where in former time the Great Wall ended. Dunhuang, a historic junction on the silk road will be the final city your are going to visit in this remote part of Mongolia. The famous caverns of Magao will complete your journey. They are considered as one of the most important centres of Buddhism in China and they are famous for their thousand Buddha statues which are placed in caverns and small niches and not to forget - the beautifully illustrated wall paintings.