Trip Includes
- Three nights in a four-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar (double occupancy basis).
- Six nights in yurt (Ger) accommodation with shared toilet and shower outside Ulaanbaatar.
- All meals, as indicated in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees.
- Sightseeing as per itinerary.
- Transportation by a 4WD vehicle.
- Internal airfare Ulaanbaatar-South Gobi-Ulaanbaatar.
- English speaking local tour guide.
- Daily supply of drinking water.
The trip does not Include
- International airfare.
- Travel insurance.
- Drinks, tipping, laundry, phone, and other personal expenses.
- Cost of optional activities such as horse riding, camel riding, etc.
- Excess baggage charge, airport taxes, and fees.
- Single room supplement.
Trip Difficulty Level
All travelers with an average health condition can go on this trip but must make up mind for some long day drives on loose gravel roads. The trip involves some hiking and some optional activities such as camel riding, horseback riding, etc. In South Gobi, each day, you drive from four to five hours with the occasional stops for pictures and nature calls. Once outside the city, the roads are unpaved. So, we use a 4WD van.
Although no extreme adventures are involved, this is also not the trip for luxury and leisure seekers. You should be willing to walk, hike, and prepared for long day drives on dirt roads. Outside Ulaanbaatar, roads are unpaved, so they are bumpy and can be dusty as well. Please bring the pollution mask to protect your nose and mouth to avoid inhaling the dust.
Although the trip is physically not challenging, some degree of physical fitness level will help you enjoy the journey. If you are not leading an active life, please start soft training 2-3 months before the trip. Engage yourself in hiking, jogging, swimming, cycling, or aerobics for 25-30 minutes a day. Avoid using elevators or use bicycles instead of a car if it's a short ride.
What is it like staying in a Ger Camp?
While Ulaanbaatar has modern buildings, more than half the population of the country lives in the traditional yurts-called gers. A yurt has a main structure of latticed wood, and then it's covered with felt and canvas layers. Each ger has two or three beds, a side table, and chairs and provided with mattresses, pillows, and comforters. Usually in the center is a Bukhari style chimney for the heating. The dining hall, toilets, and showers are in the main building separately, and often, there are enough bathrooms for everyone. They have a western-style flush toilet. Each camp has a few en-suite gers that you can book on an additional cost. Hot water supply may be available only in the morning and evening as they heat the water in a tank.
Staying in ger camps gives an experience of the lifestyle of Mongolian nomadic culture.
Transportation:
All ground transportation will be by 4WD vans.
Guides:
An experienced English speaking local Mongolian guide will lead you on tour. He or she will be a college graduate and certified by the tourism authority. Your guide will be knowledgeable about the history and culture of the area. He or she will help you check-in hotels and camps, flights, buy the necessary permits, coordinate transfers, and book meals for you.
Best Time to visit Mongolia
June to early September is the best time to travel to Mongolia. The weather is mild, generally dry throughout the central and southern areas. It can be still cold in the northern mountainous regions. The temperature in the steppe averages around 66°F, and may fall to 50°F, or below, at night. In the Gobi, temperatures in summer average 85-95°F; however, the nights can get quite cold. In the mountains, temperatures will be lower with the increase of the altitude. July and August receive rains in the northern and southern areas, but the rain is brief and doesn't affect the tours.
The winter begins in October and lasts through April and is not the best time to travel to the north.
Passport and Visa:
Your passport must be valid at least six months beyond your return date. Also, make sure you have one blank visa page for Mongolia for arrival and departure stamps. If you are traveling to other countries on this trip, please, allow two dedicated visa pages for each country.US citizens don't need a visa for Mongolia a stay up to 90 days for tourism purposes. For a visit for more than 30 days in a single trip, register with Mongolian Immigration within seven days of arrival. Failure to register will result in a fine of $100-$300 – even if you extend your stay due to circumstances beyond your control.
Candian passport holders also don't need a visa for Mongolia for a stay up to 30 days for tourism purposes. List of countries and regions that have visa-free entry to Mongolia for tourism purposes.
http://mongolianembassy.us/visafreecountries/#.WxluI-4vzDc
Booking and payment schedule
We request a deposit of US$ 300 along with a booking application and passport copies. The final payment is 90 days before departure. The payment schedule may vary with customized and private trips on case to case basis. Credit card payment attracts an additional 3.5% fee. A credit card holder also must be the traveler.
Payments made within 90 days prior departure may be subject to a late fee and are required to make through wire transfer or cashier’s check.
Cancellation and refund
If you have to withdraw from the trip, we request a notice in written form, by email or fax. The following cancellation fee will apply.
- Ninety days before departure: US$ 150 (Administrative Fee).
- Sixty-Eighty-nine days before departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Forty-five days to Fifty-nine days before departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Thirty days to Forty-four days before departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than Thirty days: 100%