Elsen Tasarkhai is the most unique desert dunes and green grassland combined zone in central west Mongolia that spanning 80 km from the north to the south that consists of sand dunes network. This sand dunes network crosses from Bulgan province in the northwest to the Övörkhangai province in the south west. The southern part is called Mongol Sand and northern part is called Khugnu Tarn sand. The widest part of these sand dunes network is 10 km. The area receives plenty of rain and snow compare to Gobi desert yet it closely resembles Gobi.

Understand

Elsen tasarkhai means "partial sands" in local language. For thousands of years these sand dunes network could not expand due to active vegetation zone and active permafrost zones closeness. Just at the north of great Gobi desert this unique piece natural sandy creation managed to remain among the grassland. Because of rare desert like and vegetation rich natural conditions the area has many rare plants that require close attention from the environmentalists and careful treatment from locals and tourists.

Get in

By car: From Ulaanbaatar city go to Arvayheer in Övörkhangai province to the south west and by 280 km go to the west and will reach Elsen Tasarkhai. The car ride will take 4-5 hours.

By plane: The Arvayheer Airport (AVK  ^IATA) is served by regular flights from Ulaanbaatar and Altai.

See

Sand dunes in the north and south, mountains and green grasslands in the west and east there, nearby some dunes, small lakes and rivers cross.

Do

There are many casual sports games are organized by camps. Also horse riding and camel riding can be bought by hourly rates that ranges from 5000 to 10,000 tögrög per hour (2024). The area surrounded with sand dunes and grasslands and any hiking tour or horse tour is ideal.

At some parts of Elsentasarkhai there are rivers and small lakes cross so anyone can have boating tours and fishing tours.

Buy

Nearby tour camps small stands sell various souvenirs and handcrafts that produced by locals. Some interesting local clothing designs can be found from stands.

Eat

Tour camps offer various local and European dishes, also some locals offer fresh horse mare milk and other unique products.

Drink

Various milk drinks, local and imported beer and alcoholic drinks can be bought from local shops. Local tour camps and farmers also offer horse mares milk which is unique alcoholic drink.

Sleep

• Mongol Altai tour camp, ☏ +976 99053139. (updated Jan 2024)
• Bayan gobi tour camp, ☏ +976 99074464. (updated Jan 2024)
• Bichigt khad tour camp, ☏ +976 7727 9090. (updated Jan 2024)

Bringing your own tent and sleeping almost anywhere in the area is possible.

Go next

Go to Ulaan tsutgalan waterfall.

Go to Lake Khövsgöl.