Hotel Snapshot
Mad Max meets Star Wars at this out-of-this-world Gobi Desert escape. Three Camel Lodge is a super-sustainable boutique expedition camp, home to 40 nomadic-inspired circular Gers (similar to yurts), retrofitted with cozy comforts and decorated with desert antiques.
This Nomadic Expeditions lodge is made for intrepid travelers looking to hop on the back of a camel, gallop through the desert on horseback or hike to find dinosaur fossils and ancient petroglyphs. And once back at this luxury lodge, it’s all cold towels, cocktails and three-course meals under the vast Mongolian sky.
Design & Character
A love letter to owner and CEO Jalsa Urubshurow’s Mongolian roots, nearly everything here is sourced in-country. Each Ger is made from Mongolian pine, larch and felt and is handcrafted and hand-painted on site by local artisans. The slate stone covering the bathrooms was carried one-by-one from a nearby mountaintop. The hotel’s artwork and decor, including antique horse saddles and tea sets, also come from the Gobi.
The Rooms
It’s Mongolian-style glamping at this 40 Ger property. A Ger is a classic, circular-shaped home used by Mongolian herders. But the ones here are plush, handmade and outfitted with comfy chairs, cow hides, Mongolian antiques and a large bathroom inside a smaller attached Ger. Stargazers can watch the twinkling constellations from bed thanks to the partial skylight in the center of each room.
The Food & Drink Situation
The hotel’s one restaurant is inside a massive Ger painted in head-to-toe orange with views of horses and sheep passing in the distance. Breakfast is a Continental spread, including freshly made pastries and an omelet station. Lunch and dinner are preset, multi-course meals that feature Mongolian noodle dishes and comforting soups. For pre- and post-dinner drinks, the Three Camel Bar crafts Gobi-inspired cocktails like a Gobi Sunrise, made with vodka, local seabuckthorn juice and sugar syrup.
Amenities
Desert activities are the biggest and best amenity. Take one of the hotel’s dune buggies and zoom across the Gobi or hop on one of the resident horses or bicycles prepped for exploration. After a day of sightseeing, treat yourself to a massage at the rustic spa or a movie in the dedicated cinema space.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
The Arshaan Spa is tucked under the Three Camel Bar with two couples' treatment rooms and a limited menu. Guests can get a full-body massage, a detoxing foot rub, copper cupping or traditional acupuncture from one of the Mongolian therapists.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
There’s nothing around for miles and miles and miles. But that’s the appeal.
Fast Facts
Location: Gobi Desert, Mongolia or (Havsgait Bag, Ömnögovi, Mongolia)
Vibe: A luxurious Ger getaway in the heart of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
Rating: Five-star
Room Count: 40
Pricing: From $4,295 per person, for three nights, all-inclusive
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Unparalleled cultural immersion with nomadic camel hoarder, Mongolian horses, dinosaur fossils and on-site Mongol dogs
Dining: Traditional Mongolian Bulagtai Restaurant
Amenities: One restaurant, bar, spa, greenhouse, boutique, cinema room, bicycles, dune buggies, horses, arts & crafts Ger
Nearby Attractions: Flaming Cliffs, Yol Valley National Park, Moltsog Els sand dunes, Bulgan town
Airport: A one-hour off-road drive from Dalanzadgad Airport (DLZ)
Ömnögovi, Mongolia
