StarTree Mongolia Tour 2026: Day 2 Exploring Bayanzag
Embark on Day 2 of your 6-night, 7-day StarTree Mongolia adventure to Bayanzag! Discover stunning landscapes, breathtaking sunsets, and unforgettable moments in the Gobi Desert.
Mongolia 6-Night, 7-Day Tour
Day 2: Bayanzag
© Ssoejini
Hello, everyone~! Sain uu 👋
It's Ssoejini, back with the log of
Day 2 of our Startree Mongolia 6-Night, 7-Day Tour :)
After navigating the 'Disco Pang Pang' unpaved roads on Day 1,
Day 2 was when our travel distance truly
ramped up!
Our itinerary kicked off bright and early: breakfast at 7 AM, departure at 8 AM!
But the breathtaking scenery that greeted me the moment I opened my eyes,
coupled with the stunning sunset at Bayanzag, made all that fatigue vanish instantly!
🇲🇳 Mongolia's night sky is absolutely incredible (✌︎’ω‘)✌︎ Every night in Mongolia, my friendships deepened as we chatted under 🌅 gorgeous sunsets, 🌚 dark night skies, and 🌌 shining stars•••💭 Honestly, it felt like a daily 'drinkcation'🍻 Even during a full moon, Mongolia brought pure happiness🫶🏻 You, too, can witness these incredible sights every day in Mongolia. Find your happiness with the Startree Mongolia Tour🍀 @@ Cheers to the starlight of Mongolia's night sky! Let's go! #Mongolia #MongoliaTour #MongoliaBayanzag #Mongolia6Nights7Days #MongoliaGobiDesertTourStartree Mongolia Tour Discount Code : STRSSJ2026 ~$30 discount per person for all participants! |
StartreeBefore your Mongolian adventure, make sure to prepare your eSIM and physical SIM card!
>Recommended eSIM & Physical SIM Card Essentials for Mongolia<
1. Grieg's Morning and the Mega Nomin Mart (Milk: Take Two!)
I woke up in the morning and stepped out of the ger...
The scenery was absolutely insane.
It felt like Grieg's 'Morning Mood' was automatically
playing as my personal background music!
In the distance, sheep grazed leisurely,
and perhaps because there were many Western tourists,
breakfast felt very Western with clean scrambled eggs & toast,
which I thoroughly enjoyed.
My friends' Buldak sauce was an absolute must-have!
The ger staff kindly
helped us with our luggage, allowing us to set off comfortably!
After a scenic two-hour drive, we arrived at the
Mega Nomin Mart in the Mid-Gobi region.
💡 Mongolia Mart Essentials
Tips & Information
Mongolian Milk Re-challenge Success:
The lactose-free milk I bought on day 1 was a bit bland, so it was a fail,
but I bought the 'milk with a woman's drawing' again and it was absolutely delicious – a huge success!
I highly recommend this milk.
Wednesday Alcohol Ban:
In Mongolia, every Wednesday is an alcohol sales ban day!
It just so happened to be Wednesday, so I couldn't buy any alcohol at the supermarket.
I stocked up on plenty of snacks for the road: fruits (tangerines, plums), and milk tea-flavored/berry-flavored Choco Pies.
2. Mandalgovi Local Restaurant: A Mongolian Man's Soul Food Lunch
Oh, I have a really funny story to tell... lol T_T
After leaving the supermarket and driving for quite a while across the open plains,
the police suddenly pulled our car over.
Turns out, it was an absurd happening: they "just pulled us over because they were bored"! lol
Playing word chain games and board games in the car,
we arrived at a local restaurant near Mandalgovi around 12:30 PM.
Our guide ordered these dishes for us:
Lamb ribs, pork, and potato noodle stir-fry (bokkeum-myeon)!
Potato Noodle Stir-fry:
Steamed noodles stir-fried with meat,
it's said to be Mongolian men's soul food!
(Similar status to Jeyuk-bokkeum/Donkatsu in Korea)
Served with Mongolian soy sauce drizzled over it!
Traditional Suutei Tsai:
It's a tea made by boiling milk + black tea + salt,
and it mysteriously tastes like beef bone broth.
Local Meat Culture Shock Story...
In Mongolia, they believe that washing meat causes good nutrients
to drain away, so they cook it without washing it.
That's why the meat smell (lamb/beef/pork) is quite strong!
Everyone was a bit flustered by the meat smell,
but we revived it with a Buldak Sauce + Gim (seaweed) combination
and heartily filled our stomachs.
When traveling in Mongolia, Buldak Sauce isn't an option;
it's an absolute survival essential...
3. Visiting Dalanzadgad City: Mongolian Cafes and Soft-Serve Ice Cream
After the meal, we drove again,
and entered a city called Dalanzadgad.
It was a while since we found a cafe with powerful air conditioning!
Mongolian Cafe Episode
English communication was a bit challenging, so
instead of an Abarah (Iced Vanilla Latte), I ended up ordering a regular latte,
and discovered a surprising system where takeaway cup costs extra + syrup addition costs extra!
It turned out to be similar to Korean prices... surprising, right?
Mongolian Original Soft-Serve Ice Cream
The ice cream our guide bought for us!
It had a rich, dense flavor, much like Sangha Farm milk,
but with a slightly rough, astringent, and bitter aftertaste that made me think,
"Is this truly the Mongolian Original...!" It was quite unique.
The taste was absolutely captivating.
4. Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag) and the History of Dinosaur Fossils
After two hours of venturing through the grassland paths,
past countless livestock, we finally arrived at our second accommodation!
We dropped off our bags and immediately headed to the Bayanzag Museum.
We watched a documentary detailing how a British explorer first discovered dinosaur egg fossils here.
Seeing the explorers' car bouncing wildly in the video was so much like our own bumpy ride earlier in the day
that we all burst into laughter!
Cute Camel Dolls by 10-Year-Old Kids:
In front of the museum, 10-year-old nomadic children were selling handmade camel dolls and
magnets, calling out, "Camel wool! Sheep wool!" They were so adorable, we just had to 'adopt' some right away!
We even took photos with the kids... 🤭
Most souvenirs in Mongolia often have a 'buy 5, get 1 free' promotion!
Not sure why... maybe because there were 6 of us? Hahaha
I highly recommend buying your camel dolls here!
📍 Flaming Cliffs
Mongolian Flaming Cliffs
And then, we finally entered Bayanzag!
True to its name, 'Flaming Cliffs,' as the sun set, the entire cliff face seemed to blaze with a fiery red,
creating a spectacle where the nickname 'Mongolia's Grand Canyon'
instantly made perfect sense.
It's said to be the place where dinosaur fossils were first discovered,
and just looking at the red rock formations, you can totally see why, right?
We captured stunning photos at every photospot our guide recommended, and even finished up with some perfect drone footage!
The ultimate spot for capturing lifelong memories!
5. Mongolia's Night Sky During a Full Moon & Mongolian Beer
Back at our accommodation, after a delicious beef steak for dinner,
the night's highlight finally began!
With a bottled beer from the ger restaurant, some snacks we bought from the convenience store
(oh, and those famous wafers were incredibly rich and absolutely divine!),
and some soft music, we settled onto a bench and
began our magical night of stargazing!
You know, on Day 2, it was one of those times when the stars were a bit shy,
hidden behind some clouds and a bright full moon.
They might not pop in photos, but trust me, they were there in real life..!
...like stars only visible to the truly good-hearted, right? Haha!
Sitting on that bench, chatting away under the big, yellow moon,
that moment was truly the epitome of romance.
⚠️ Day 2 Mongolia: Essential Tips!
Communal Showers:
The shower stalls actually have good partitions,
making them surprisingly private and comfortable!
Beware of Cold Showers:
They say showering with cold water in the dry desert can lead to a really bad cold or body aches,
so make sure to grab that warm water the moment it comes out and shower super fast!
Ger Ventilation:
Gers typically have very few windows,
and you ventilate them by opening the ceiling vent (often a rounded, central opening)
with a manual stick.
Opening the main door, however, invites all sorts of curious bugs,
so you might experience the unique thrill of enduring the heat to keep them out!
Keep Vaseline handy for dry nostrils!
Day 2 in a Nutshell:
Though it was a day filled with the bumps of unpaved roads and the lingering scent of meat,
the breathtaking red sunset at Bayanzag and a sip of starlight from the night sky
made every challenge melt away! 🌌
For Day 3, I'll finally bring you tales of conquering the Gobi Desert (Khongoryn Els) and
an unforgettable camel experience.
Get ready to be inspired!
Before you head to Mongolia, make sure you're sorted with an eSIM or physical SIM card!
>Mongolia eSIM & SIM Card Recommendations<
Mongolia Travel Review: Gobi Desert & Terelj 6-Night, 7-Day Tour Itinerary - Star Tree Recommended
Mongolia 6-Night, 7-Day Gobi Desert & Terelj Star Tree Tour - Day 1: Baga Gazryn Chuluu ReviewFrequently Asked Questions
What are the recommended milk products and precautions when buying milk at Nomin Supermarket, visited on Day 2 of the 6-night, 7-day Mongolia tour?
Instead of lactose-free milk, we recommend 'milk with a woman's picture on it,' which is said to be delicious. Also, Wednesdays are alcohol-free days in Mongolia, so you cannot purchase alcohol on that day.
What is the 'Mongolian Man's Soul Food' tasted at a local restaurant in Mandalgovi on Day 2 of the 6-night, 7-day Mongolia tour, and what are the characteristics of Mongolian meat dishes?
The 'Mongolian Man's Soul Food' is a stir-fried potato noodle dish with steamed noodles and meat. Mongolian cuisine often doesn't wash meat before cooking, which can result in a strong meaty smell, so it's recommended to bring Buldak sauce (spicy chicken sauce) and seaweed.
What souvenirs can be purchased in front of the Bayanzag Museum in Mongolia, and what benefits were available when purchasing them?
In front of the Bayanzag Museum, 10-year-old nomadic children sell handmade camel dolls and magnets. Most Mongolian souvenirs here offer a 5+1 deal, so purchasing camel dolls is recommended.
Why is Mongolia's Bayanzag called the 'Flaming Cliffs,' and how is its scenery described?
Bayanzag is called the 'Flaming Cliffs' because the entire cliff face appears to glow fiery red during sunset. This area features red rock formations and is so beautiful it's often referred to as 'Mongolia's Grand Canyon.'
Is there any specific information to know when using the shower room and ventilation system at the ger accommodation on Day 2 of the 6-night, 7-day Mongolia tour?
The shared showers in gers are surprisingly private and comfortable, thanks to good partitions. Taking a cold shower in the desert can cause body aches, so it's best to wash with warm water. Gers can be ventilated by manually opening the ceiling roof with a stick, but be aware that insects might enter.
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