The Secret of Ongi Tourist Camp sneaks up on you like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. Surprisingly nice and comfortable, this is always my go-to place to stay when traveling out of the Gobi towards Orkhon Valley and Kharkhorin.

The gers (yurts) have nice, comfortable beds, warm showers are available in the evenings (public showers), and the buffet dinner and breakfast are a welcome treat after several days in a row of eating Mongolian traditional foods.

Spend the night here on your way north and recharge and relax in a way your body and soul deserves.

In the morning, be sure not to miss visiting Ongi Monastery, an important historical site with deep significance and connection to the Soviet purges in Mongolia in the 1930s. It's a heavy visit, but one that gives a real understanding of the dark history tied to Buddhism in Mongolia.