Three Camel Lodge

What it is

Three Camel Lodge is a small lodge in the southern Gobi, built as ger-style units rather than as a hotel block. Each unit has a private bathroom with a stone shower, is heated by a wood stove and is furnished with hand-painted pieces. It sits in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, far from any town, which is both the appeal and the reason for the price.

It is sold mainly as a package, not as a room. That changes how you read its cost: the figure covers a stay and a programme, not a night's accommodation.

What there is to do

The lodge lists a long programme: sunrise walks, horseback riding, building a ger, a lecture on the Gobi, nomadic archery, biking, a cooking class, a workshop, Mongolian calligraphy and stargazing. Day outings reach landmarks such as the Flaming Cliffs, the Yol Valley and the Moltsog Els dunes, as well as petroglyphs.

Some of these will matter more to you than others. The ones that depend on weather or season, such as riding and the dune walks, are worth asking about for your dates.

Eating and drinking

Meals are taken at the Bulagtai Restaurant, with the Thirsty Camel Bar for drinks and private dining on request. The lodge's page also mentions chef-prepared picnics. It does not say, on the page we read, exactly what the package price includes, so ask for the full inclusions list when you enquire.

Getting there, and when

Most guests fly from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi, and the lodge lists a round-trip airfare in its package pages. Flights and the lodge's own season are limited, and the rates change by season. The lodge's package prices are lower in May and from mid-October into November, and our Mongolia itinerary is built for June to September.

Who it suits

It suits travellers who want a remote setting with some comfort and a programme to fill the days, and who are happy to spend a large part of the trip budget on one place. It works well for a short Mongolia trip, with a night in Ulaanbaatar on either side.

It is not a fit for a tight budget, for travellers who want to cover a lot of ground or for anyone who is uncomfortable far from a town. If you want to move across the country by road and sleep in a different ger camp each night, a different kind of trip will suit you better.