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View from a high dune over the dune belt, a green strip of pasture and distant mountains under grey cloud
Nature · Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Ömnögovi Province

Khongoryn Els

The Singing Sands: tall dunes beneath the Gobi Altai in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

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Photo: Alexander Popovkin (@popovkin) / Unsplash

Discover Khongoryn Els

Khongoryn Els is the Gobi most people imagine: sharp-crested dunes glowing gold and pink, rising high above a green strip of pasture with dark mountains behind. Published figures vary, but the dune field runs for well over 100 km and its tallest dunes stand roughly 200 m or more above the valley floor.

Mongolians call the dunes Duut Mankhan, the Singing Sands. When the sand is dry and a slope gives way, the moving grains can produce a low rumble or hum that is felt as much as heard. Climbing the main dune in the late afternoon, sliding back down and watching the sunset from the crest is the defining Gobi moment for many travellers.

Don’t miss

  1. 01Climbing the highest dunes for sweeping views over the Gobi
  2. 02The rumbling sound of the Singing Sands when the sand slides
  3. 03The green oasis meadows of the Khongoryn Gol at the foot of the dunes
  4. 04Bactrian camels grazing and resting near herders' camps
  5. 05Sunset and sunrise colours on the dune crests

History & culture

The story of Khongoryn Els

The dunes lie within Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, established in 1993 and enlarged in 2000. Sand blown from the surrounding mountains has accumulated here over a very long period, trapped between the Bayan Tsagaan range to the north and the Zoolon and Sevrei ranges to the south.

The small Khongoryn Gol river runs along the northern edge, and water seeping from the dune system supports the meadows at its base. For generations herding families have used these pastures for camels, horses and goats, and they still do today alongside the ger camps that host visitors.

Local life & traditions

Herding families around the dunes depend on camels for milk, wool and transport, and offering a bowl of milk tea to visitors is part of everyday hospitality. When visiting a family, greet the elders first, accept food or drink with your right hand, and ask before photographing people or their homes. Camel rides are often arranged directly with these families and are an important source of income for them.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Allow at least an hour or two to climb the tallest dune: the sand is soft and steep, and the last section is usually done on hands and knees. Many visitors set out in the late afternoon to reach the crest for sunset. Short camel rides with local herders are widely offered, and some operators arrange longer camel treks of several days.

On the flats, walk along the edge of the meadows to watch birds such as Pallas's sandgrouse, and spend an evening in a ger camp or with a herding family for stargazing.

When to go

May to September is the usual season. The sand becomes very hot by midday in July and August, so plan dune climbs for late afternoon or early morning. Spring brings strong winds and sandstorms, and September is often calmer and cooler. Winter visits are possible but very cold.

Plan your visit

Travel tips

  • Climb in the late afternoon with water, a headtorch for the descent and a scarf against blowing sand.
  • Wear closed shoes or go barefoot only when the sand has cooled; it can burn in the midday sun.
  • Keep cameras in sealed bags; fine sand gets into everything.
  • Agree the price and duration of camel rides with the herder or your guide beforehand.
  • Do not expect to hear the dunes sing every time; it depends on dry sand and wind.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Khongoryn Els: food, markets & places to stay

The dunes are a long drive from Dalanzadgad, published by guidebooks at around 180 km on desert tracks, and are usually combined with Yolyn Am and Bayanzag on a Gobi loop. Several ger camps operate near the northern edge of the dunes; there are no towns close by, so fuel, cash and supplies should be arranged in advance.

Khongoryn Els & what’s nearby

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Khongoryn Els in pictures

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Rippled sand dunes of Khongoryn Els in the Gobi Desert under a wispy blue sky with mountains behind
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The Gobi spreads across southern Mongolia and northern China. In Mongolia it means gravel plains, mountain ranges, singing dunes, fossil cliffs and herding families with Bactrian camels.

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Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Ömnögovi Province

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A deep, shady canyon in the Zuun Saikhan range of the Gobi where a thick ice field forms each winter and can linger into early summer.

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

  1. Khongoryn Els — Wikipedia
  2. Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes Mongolia — Eternal Landscapes Mongolia
  3. The dunes of Khongoryn Els — European Geosciences Union (Imaggeo)
  4. Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park — Wikipedia

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