May 1, 2017/ Sunny
We drove a long distance—almost 420 kilometers—and headed toward Bayanzag. On the way, we stopped by an ancient religious complex located about 20 km south of the town of Saikhan Ovoo. Unfortunately, this complex was completely destroyed during anti-religious purges. It once consisted of a monastery, temples, pagodas, and more. Nearby, there is another famous complex that includes the Ongi Monastery.
We stayed overnight near Bayanzag. The name Bayanzag means “rich in saxaul shrubs.” You might also know this place as the Flaming Cliffs. You may wonder why—it’s because this is the famous site where American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews made one of the greatest discoveries of the century: fossilized dinosaur eggs. Additionally, the skull of a Protoceratops was found here by Western scientists. Other species such as Velociraptor, Oviraptor, and Pinacosaurus once roamed this important area. Thanks to these discoveries, we are gradually unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric life. You can even see a complete dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum in Ulan Bator.
Before arriving at our destination, Bayanzag, we encountered a large flock of camels—maybe 50 or more. We were so excited and tried to get as close as possible, but they quickly ran away to avoid us.
The ger stood in a very open area. There was nothing around except small cliffs; the land was covered only with rocks and soil stretching out before my eyes. After arriving at the campsite, we were able to walk around and climb the cliffs where drought-resistant saxaul trees grew. These plants are very unique because they grow only in the Central Asian Gobi, and their roots are used as medicine.
At night, we saw countless stars and the Milky Way stretched across the sky. It was truly breathtaking.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
Day 1. Baga Gaziin Chuluu (small rocky formations)
Day 2. Bayanzag (unique shaped trees and small flaming cliffs)
Day 3. Khongoryn Els (Sand Dune)
Day 4. Yol valley canyon
Day 5. Dundgobi province
Day 6. White Stupa and the way back to UB
※LINKs lead you more details and photos that have been published on my blog.
Khongor expedition arranged my trip. Do you want to know them? Check my review here.
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