Wild Mongolia

Trip Code: CBSF

Why we love it

Mongolia is a far-out destination, but you'll be in excellent hands. Your experienced drivers, manning sturdy Russian vans fit to tackle the rugged environment, will take you on a ride to some of the most fascinating places in the country, Whether by camel or on foot, experience Mongolia's incredible landscapes, from the rolling dunes just outside of Karakorum to the volcanic craters of the Great White Lake among the mountains, Two family ger camps allow you to experience nomadic life from the inside – a rare and rewarding cultural experience to remember, Situated in the valley of the Delger River, the Tsenkher Hot Springs offer the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long journey on the road

Is this trip right for me?

Most gers at the tourist camps sleep up to 3 to 4 people, with comfortable beds and blankets. Simple western style toilets and shower facilities are shared on the camp, although water pressure can be unstable and only luke warm.

At our family ger camps you will be living the same life as the nomads, close to the land and their animals. Beds may be matresses on the floor in a shared ger and there will be no bathroom facilities. This is a true taste of Mongolian life and may be very different from what you are used to. You will need to bring a sleeping bag with you for these stays.

Most meals are included once we leave the nation's capital. If you have very specific dietary requirements you will need to let us know well in advance. We will do our best to cater for you, but you may need to be prepared to bring some of your own supplies from home, or stock up at the supermarkets in Ulaanbaatar. Vegetarians can be catered for, though choices may be limited. Some food will be traditional Mongolian style, but as the traditional diet consists solely of meat and dairy products, most meals made for our groups are less challenging and based more on Russian or Western cuisine, which is now also common in the Mongolian diet.

This is a trip that includes extensive travelling in some remote terrain away from modern facilities and conveniences. As we spend a lot of time on the road each day, it is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey, travelling through amazing landscapes and staying in some stunning locations. As we travel by private transport for the duration of the trip we spend a lot of time together with our group members. If you are looking for an active or independent trip with lots of choice for physical and cultural activities daily then you might want to consider whether this trip is the right one for you. However, if you are keen to explore a fascinating country "road trip" style, take in the scenery as you go and are willing to sit back and enjoy the ride (however long it takes to get there!) then this will definitely add to your experience of our Wild Mongolia trip.

Driving times will vary and any times listed in the itinerary are approximate and subject to road (where there is one!) and weather conditions. As we have our own vehicles, it may be possible to make stops along the way for photos, meals or to chat with locals, but we need to aim to get to our destinations before nightfall so please understand that long breaks may sometimes not be possible.

Important information

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 4, 7, 10 &11, where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A sleeping bag is required for the Family Ger Camp stays. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for 20 USD for the trip. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to hire one.
3. Please provide your full passport details to your booking agent no later than 40 day prior to departure.
4. Some destinations on this trip are at up to 2500m

What to bring/pack

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travellers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

Many travellers carry their luggage in a compact smaller suitcase or backpack with wheels. We recommend your bag has carry straps or handles so it is easy to lift and carry for the times you are unable to wheel it (ie. on rough surfaces or up steps).

If you are taking overnight trains, or primarily using public transport then the smaller your luggage the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful especially when travelling on public transportation as well.

You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, waterproof pouch/bag for phone, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, SLEEPING BAG
A sleeping bag is required for some nights on this trip. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for 20 USD for the trip. Please let your agent know at time of booking should you need to hire one., Temperature in Mongolia especially further into the countryside can vary a lot during the day and night. Even in the summer time, it may still get cold during the night so we recommend take layers of warm clothes to accommodate possible drastic temperature changes while on the trip.

Physical rating

3

You need to have a good level of fitness and be in excellent health to take part in this trip. It's important that you are able to carry your own luggage (pack light!) as you will need to be able to take it on and off vehicles.

You also need to be able to cope with varying temperature as we will be experiencing climates from warm days to cold nights. Travel days can also be long, rough and in cramped conditions.

Joining your group

Guide Hotel, 9/3 University Street 9/3 Их сургуулийн гудамж, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, MONGOLIA, Phone: +976 11353887

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

An airport arrival transfer is bookable on request. Please make sure you provide your booking details at least 14 days prior to travel. For your airport arrival transfer, your Intrepid representative will hold an Intrepid sign with your name on it in the waiting area once you've cleared the custom.
If you plan to make your own way to the hotel:
The best way to get to our joining point hotel is by taxi. Taxis are easily available at any time of the day from the parking lot just outside the airport or the train station.
The Guide Hotel is located in the east side of the city center 2-3 mins from the Novotel Hotel and about 1-2 hours drive from the airport, depending on traffic and will cost about 150000-200000 MNT. The hotel is located in a courtyard surrounded by old soviet apartment blocks between Dashchoilin Monastery and Supermarket №4. Airport shuttle bus stops at Novotel hotel. Cost is 25000-30000 MNT available from the customer service boot at the airport. Public bus also available to and from the airport, 10000 MNT for a ride.
Below are instructions in Mongolian for your taxi driver: Гайд зочид буудал, Дашчойлин хийдээс баруун тийш, Хүнсний 4 дүгээр дэлгүүрийн чанх ард буюу ертөнцийн зүгээрээ зүүн талд нь байран дунд байдаг буудал. Утас:11353887

Finishing your trip

Guide Hotel, 9/3 University Street 9/3 Их сургуулийн гудамж, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, MONGOLIA, Phone: +976 11353887

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 14

Lunches included: 13

Dinners included: 12

MONGOLIA
Those with special dietary requirements may choose to supplement included meals with supplies brought from home. Vegetarian lacto-ovo options (while limited) can be offered for all included meals, provided we are notified at time of booking.

Climate & seasonal information

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +976 99183751

Accommodations

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

Transportation

This is a trip that includes extensive travelling in some remote terrain away from modern facilities and conveniences. As we spend a lot of time on the road each day, it is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey, travelling through amazing landscapes and staying in some stunning locations. As we travel by private transport for the duration of the trip we spend a lot of time together with our group members. If you are looking for an active or independent trip with lots of choice for physical and cultural activities daily then you might want to consider whether this trip is the right one for you. However, if you are keen to explore a fascinating country "road trip" style, take in the scenery as you go and are willing to sit back and enjoy the ride (however long it takes to get there!) then this will definitely add to your experience of Mongolia.