The Gobi Desert stretches between the Mongolian Altai and Khangai mountains and the Himalayan Plateau. It is a rain shadow desert with a continental climate and long, cold winters.

The name “Gobi” comes from the Mongolia word “Govi” for a dry landscape with characteristic arid vegetation including palatable forage species and rare medicinal plants. Gobi desert vegetation is a mix of true desert, desert grasslands, and steppe. Despite the climate, the Mongolian portion of the Gobi Desert region supports globally-significant wild lands and wildlife, and is part of the largest steppe ecosystem in the world that supports its original wildlife, including long distance wildlife migrations. Historically, this region was near the center of the Mongol Empire and has been crossed by human migrations and trade routes for 5000 years.

This small tourist camp in the Gobi Desert is pretty basic, but comfortable nonetheless.