Travel to Mongolia
#1
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Travel to Mongolia
Hi All,
Would like to know who has travelled to Mongolia and with what tour company. Also, is the Country worth travelling to. I saw a National Geographic presentation about it at our local zoo and it looks very interesting, especially if you can get a tour into the Gobi desert. Appreciate any thing you can tell me about tour companies and just general info about the country.
Would like to know who has travelled to Mongolia and with what tour company. Also, is the Country worth travelling to. I saw a National Geographic presentation about it at our local zoo and it looks very interesting, especially if you can get a tour into the Gobi desert. Appreciate any thing you can tell me about tour companies and just general info about the country.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I went with Mongol Global. They have group departures and can do private trips. I did a combo of some group and some private. Is it worth traveling to? Heck, yeah. I even have an "I miss Mongolia thread" going.
I spent 2 nights in the Gobi in July, about the hottest time you could go. I liked the Gobi, but found other parts of the country equally interesting or even more interesting.
It is easy to base yourself in Ulaan Bataar, the capital, and make trips from there.
July 11, 12, 13 are the days for the Naadam Festival, held each year in UB with a great parade and competition in archery, wrestling, and horseracing. On these same dates in other parts of the country and on dates a little before or after there are smaller Naadams too.
Mongolia has interesting wildlife. The Takhi horses (przewalski's horse) roam Hustai Nuuru, a few hours from UB.
I'd like to visit the Altai region in Oct some time for the golden eagle festival. It's usually cold and snowy then.
Horseback riding is an integral part of the culture and including it in your trip is a good idea.
Here is a link to my report. The first part is on China, but then it moves on to Mongolia.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm
As Kathie suggests, you can see more reports as well.
I spent 2 nights in the Gobi in July, about the hottest time you could go. I liked the Gobi, but found other parts of the country equally interesting or even more interesting.
It is easy to base yourself in Ulaan Bataar, the capital, and make trips from there.
July 11, 12, 13 are the days for the Naadam Festival, held each year in UB with a great parade and competition in archery, wrestling, and horseracing. On these same dates in other parts of the country and on dates a little before or after there are smaller Naadams too.
Mongolia has interesting wildlife. The Takhi horses (przewalski's horse) roam Hustai Nuuru, a few hours from UB.
I'd like to visit the Altai region in Oct some time for the golden eagle festival. It's usually cold and snowy then.
Horseback riding is an integral part of the culture and including it in your trip is a good idea.
Here is a link to my report. The first part is on China, but then it moves on to Mongolia.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm
As Kathie suggests, you can see more reports as well.
#5
Join Date: May 2003
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I traveled to Mongolia a few months ago. Part of the time we were on our own, and part of the time we traveled with Hovsgol Travel. Had an amazing time. Went to Nadaam, the Gobi, Hovsgol, and Terelj. Beautiful country, beautiful food. Any specific questions let me know!
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I'm sorry, I never seem to have time for a full trip report. In short, we arrived on July 10th. Wandered around UB for a bit, and did some essential shopping (our bags didn't arrive until 2 days later!). Spent the next 2 days at Nadaam. We booked this through Happy Camel. We probably could have done it by ourselves, however, since we had just arrived in the country we decided it was smarter to have it already booked. We then met our guide with Hovsgol Travel and began our Gobi portion... drove to Erdenzuu, then Ongi, Bayanzag, Yol valley, Baga Gazriin Chuluu, then finally back to UB for a night. It is interesting that you were in the Gobi in July and were hot. The weather was certainly bizarre. It ranged from unbearably hot, to cold! There were some mornings that I was freezing... especially around the Yol valley where we still saw the ice. Even experienced a sand storm one night!
After that one night in UB we flew to Moron and drove the rest of the way to Hovsgol lake where we stayed for 4 nights. Loved it here. Hiking, horseback riding, relaxing at the lake. Visiting the reindeers was a little disturbing... they were tied up in the heat, and they were panting it was so hot. Definitely not made for the warm weather. Flew back to UB, and the next night we drove to Terelj park where we stayed for 2 nights.
On the way back to the states, we spent 2 nights in Beijing, where we just ate our way through the city! Love the food here.
Please let me know if you have any specific questions.
After that one night in UB we flew to Moron and drove the rest of the way to Hovsgol lake where we stayed for 4 nights. Loved it here. Hiking, horseback riding, relaxing at the lake. Visiting the reindeers was a little disturbing... they were tied up in the heat, and they were panting it was so hot. Definitely not made for the warm weather. Flew back to UB, and the next night we drove to Terelj park where we stayed for 2 nights.
On the way back to the states, we spent 2 nights in Beijing, where we just ate our way through the city! Love the food here.
Please let me know if you have any specific questions.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2006
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I went to Mongolia in 2008 with Nomadic Expeditions. They have an office in Mongolia as well as New Jersey.
We chose them mainly because the owner of the company is Mongolian, but they had a presence in the states. They had a large variety of trips to choose from as well as doing custom iteneraries and add-on trips before/after the Mongolian tour.
We also choose them because they did tours with small groups, we didn't want to be schelpped around with 30 people.
I can't say enough good things about the company, we felt like we were pampered the whole time. And if you are thinking about the Gobi, they own ger camp/resort there. Check out the Three Camel Lodge. There are petroglyphs on the hill behind the camp. Really amazing.
I was surprised about the diversity of the country, we loved the Gobi, but I highly recommend going to the Lake Hovsgol area as well, it makes for a major contrast to the desert.
We chose them mainly because the owner of the company is Mongolian, but they had a presence in the states. They had a large variety of trips to choose from as well as doing custom iteneraries and add-on trips before/after the Mongolian tour.
We also choose them because they did tours with small groups, we didn't want to be schelpped around with 30 people.
I can't say enough good things about the company, we felt like we were pampered the whole time. And if you are thinking about the Gobi, they own ger camp/resort there. Check out the Three Camel Lodge. There are petroglyphs on the hill behind the camp. Really amazing.
I was surprised about the diversity of the country, we loved the Gobi, but I highly recommend going to the Lake Hovsgol area as well, it makes for a major contrast to the desert.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Hi Lynn!
Yes, I've wandered off the Africa board... I will probably want to pick your brain about Mongolia at some point, but I don't want to jinx it -- so at this point I'm just lurking and reading here in Asia.
Yes, I've wandered off the Africa board... I will probably want to pick your brain about Mongolia at some point, but I don't want to jinx it -- so at this point I'm just lurking and reading here in Asia.
#16
Join Date: Jan 2010
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would SavTrav or travelersusan mid sharing their itineraries with me? We are three goint to Monglia in July. We would like to see a small Naadam, and then go on for about three weeks or so. We plan to come from Beijing by train.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
#17
Join Date: Nov 2004
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shj,
I'm not SavTrav or Travelersusan, but thought I'd jump in because what you're doing is similar to what I did a few years back.
Check frequently on the train schedule. That was how I was supposed to arrive in Mongolia, but a few weeks before my departure the schedule changed, so I flew.
If you are starting in Beijing, you might want to consider an overnight on The Great Wall. I did that and it was one of the coolest things I've done.
If you are at all intersted in the takhis (wild horses), consider the approx 3 hour drive from UB to Hustai Nuuru where you can see them and stay overnight.
Let me ask YOU about the small Naadam, which is a great idea, and something I'd like to do next time. Do you know where you'll see it? I know there had been small Nadaams around Moron (north) in the past about a week before the national one starting July 11.
I'll put in a link to my report.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm
I'm not SavTrav or Travelersusan, but thought I'd jump in because what you're doing is similar to what I did a few years back.
Check frequently on the train schedule. That was how I was supposed to arrive in Mongolia, but a few weeks before my departure the schedule changed, so I flew.
If you are starting in Beijing, you might want to consider an overnight on The Great Wall. I did that and it was one of the coolest things I've done.
If you are at all intersted in the takhis (wild horses), consider the approx 3 hour drive from UB to Hustai Nuuru where you can see them and stay overnight.
Let me ask YOU about the small Naadam, which is a great idea, and something I'd like to do next time. Do you know where you'll see it? I know there had been small Nadaams around Moron (north) in the past about a week before the national one starting July 11.
I'll put in a link to my report.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...rip-report.cfm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
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atravellyn,
I just read your report on the night on the Wall. Sounds amazing. How would I find out about booking it?
By the way I am told that in July it is quite likely to run into small Naadams everywhere. I'll let you know!
I just read your report on the night on the Wall. Sounds amazing. How would I find out about booking it?
By the way I am told that in July it is quite likely to run into small Naadams everywhere. I'll let you know!
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I stayed at Jinshanling and used Mongol Global to arrange it. A few years ago there was an article in CNN travel on this overnight. A contact number was given.
Information: Sun Hailong speaks Chinese and some English. He can be reached by mobile telephone at (011) 86-139-3244-4368.
Please let me know what small Naadam you end up at. I know with the small ones, they can be sporadic and spontaneous, so it is hard to plan.
Have a wonderful trip.
Information: Sun Hailong speaks Chinese and some English. He can be reached by mobile telephone at (011) 86-139-3244-4368.
Please let me know what small Naadam you end up at. I know with the small ones, they can be sporadic and spontaneous, so it is hard to plan.
Have a wonderful trip.