Gobi Desert Trip Preparation and Packing List
Visa and Insurance:
1:Nationals holding valid ordinary passports of 48 countries, namely Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru， Uruguay，Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia and Sweden are exempted from visa requirement if coming to China for the purpose of business, tourism, family or friends visits, exchange and transit. They can stay in China for no more than 30 days without a visa.
Notes: 46 countries effective date expire on 31 Dec 2026, except Russian passport holder on 14 September 2026
https://www.visaforchina.cn/SYD3_EN/tongzhigonggao/265975107544027136.html
2: Starting from 20 November 2025, foreign nationals may submit their arrival card information online before travelling to China
Link: https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/entry-registation-home
Address in China, use the first night hotel address.
Domestic Flights
1: One free check in bag max of 20kg, you probably can get away with 23KG.
2: All Batteries and Portable Charger ( Power bank ) should have specifications on it which is less than 100Wh; anything over 100Wh will not be allowed on flight or checked in.
3: Allen keys need to be checked in, as the domestic airport does not allowed to take as a carry on. Head torches or other electronic goods contains battery best to be on the carry on as well, otherwise your checked-in bag will be re-checked/scanned by the airport security when you check in.
Email and mobile date
Some of the camping locations have 4G signal, and sometimes we will be in and out of it. Most likely we will have 2 nights mobile signal and no mobile date for the other 4 nights. You can’t access google/yahoo mail and major non-Chinese websites through Chinese mobile service, so getting a local SIM card won’t do you any good except for your family to call you. Since my trips getting shorter and shorter, I forgo the local SIM card, instead, I purchased a 15 days global data package through my UK mobile service or eSim
If you would like to connect with family/friends often via video, you can use “WeChat” app, you may need to ask for my help to confirm your identity.
Cash and Credit Cards
There are ATM at arrivals, and everywhere in the city, I find the exchange rate to use a Chinese Bank ATM is very good, using debit card, as credit card has extra charges.
Notes on 6 days camping in the desert
Charging Batteries for the Camera – I rarely need to charge up the camera batteries as I have 7 spares in total. If you are using more batteries, then a USB charger connecting to the vehicles or a power bank will allow you to recharge.
Food and Water
Because we need to bring so many essential equipment including tents, sleeping matts, cooking equipment with us, we need to be aware of what we carry and use for the entire 6 days. You will find plenty of nuts, fruit, eggs and camping meals.
Fruit juice or alcoholic drinks will not be offered on this trip, only fresh bottled water or hot water available for making tea and coffee throughout the day.
Most of mornings we will have oats porridge or biscuits with coffee or tea. One main hot meal for the group will be after we set up our camp in the afternoon – fast cook noodles or packed meals as our main meal, cucumbers and fruits.
After last light photography, there will be pot noddles and hot water available.
It will be nice for each participants to bring something they like for evening snack or share with group. Cheese and crackers can be a nice treat in the desert, although I don’t eat cheese myself, but I do bring a few packs of biscuits from UK as a nice treat for breakfast.
Hot water will be available throughout the day, it will be very nice to bring your own coffee and tea.
Camping Equipments
We have a few spare tents and sleeping mats and sleeping bags, Please let us know if you would like to use, then do bring a good sleeping bag liner and only use our spare sleeping bag as outer layer.
Hygiene
Each person should bring 2-3 sealed bag that to have your personal trash such as wipers for personal cleaning or one time use underwear (basically anything not food waste)
Please bring one small bottle of hand sanitising gel for your own use…
Urine has little direct effect on vegetation. but best keep 200 feet away from our campsite. Avoid peeing on plants that could be defoliated by animals attracted to the salt in urine. Avoid mixing with proper number 2.
Human Waste – It’s not possible for us to pack out our waste, need to be far away from water sources.
Toilet tent provided at each camp, toilet Paper and wipes must be put inside the bin.
If not able to use the toilet tent: Contrary to popular opinion, research indicates that burial of human waste actually slows decomposition, we should still bury it with very small amount of sand on top. Cathodes are the most widely accepted method of waste disposal. When you dig a cathodes, best not too deep, higher in the soil horizon and allow heat of the sun later the year will maximises decomposition. Don’t leave the toilet paper in the open, as windy condition can blow it all over the place. Please drop the toilet paper into another and smaller hole to set on fire, then cover it over with sand. Or carry a sealed bag with you, zip it and put in the toilet waste bin later.
Other notes:
1: Lenses – My favourite lens is 100-400, as myself drawn to abstraction more in the Gobi Desert, the location has great potential for wide angle lens as well. I also have a 150-600 lens, offers more possibilities.
2: Filters – I don’t use ND or graduated Filters. I also don’t use polariser filter.
4: Tripods
2: UV protection UV is strong in the desert environment, protect exposed skin and especially your lip.
3: Drone is not allowed on this trip.
4: Clothing, it’s not too cold in the day time, but very cold in the early morning and at night ( between -3C to -10C), you will need to have different layers of clothing for this trip. WARM gloves really helps in the early morning.
5: Tips for driver – Drivers will go extra to help you to have a wonderful trip. RMB 500 (equivalent of USD $70 )for driver of the vehicle you are sitting on this trip on our night.