Recent criticism has surfaced regarding high entrance fees being charged to tourists visiting key attractions within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, particularly Yol Valley and Khongor Sand Dunes. In addition to the pricing concerns, tour operators and professional guides are now voicing growing frustration over the deteriorating conditions in the park’s most popular travel route.
According to several tour companies, the number of horse rental services operating near the Yol Valley trail has significantly increased, raising serious concerns about tourist comfort and safety. A tour guide who recently led a group of South Korean tourists to the destination and the nearby Dungenee Valley reported that it has become nearly impossible to enjoy a peaceful walk in the area. “The trail is littered with horse manure, garbage, and animal waste. Instead of feeling immersed in pristine nature, visitors feel as if they’ve wandered into a livestock corral,” the guide noted. They also mentioned that even the nearby streams carried the distinct smell of animal waste, with the water’s color turning a murky yellowish-brown.
Others in the tourism industry who regularly organize trips to the Gobi region have echoed similar sentiments, expressing disappointment at the lack of regulation and oversight in one of Mongolia’s most iconic natural destinations. While some local residents and horse service providers have defended the current situation—saying things like “Those who go to Yoliin Am are usually looking to ride horses” or “It’s natural for places with livestock to have a certain smell and level of activity”—industry professionals argue that such justifications disregard the rights, preferences, and expectations of international visitors. These excuses, they say, amount to little more than attempts to deflect responsibility and ignore the negative impacts of poor management.
Tour operators emphasize that many tourists visit the valley not to ride horses but to experience the serenity and unspoiled beauty of the Gobi’s unique landscape. The increasing commercialization and lack of proper environmental controls, they warn, risk damaging both the ecosystem and Mongolia’s reputation as a nature-based tourism destination.
