Mongolia Reviews
Review 1
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Contact with the local people (as at the Naadam festival).
What did you think of your tour leader?
She was lively, sociable, fluent in english.
Reviewed by Leo Vaningelgem who travelled in July 2011 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 2
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The sheer scale of the country, the incredible friendliness of the locals we met, and the wildlife.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader was on this trip for the first time and she was quite inexperienced, however the cook was excellent and the two drivers were absolutely excellent. Tuvshin rustled up amazing food every day and Bayaraa and Amaraa were incredible at navigating in the absolute middle of nowhere.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We purchased all of our fresh food supplies from locals as we went along and it was good to use a Mongolian joint venture company (Nomadic Journeys) as the local agent. The locals that we met, hired horses and camels and boats from, bought airag from or just sang with around the campfires, certainly seemed to welcome us to their special part of the world.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
I think that we now know how, and understand why, the traditional nomadic way of life has survived for a millenium on the Mongolian steppe.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared for all weathers, searing heat, freezing cold, and very, very wet. Be prepared to live without some of the comforts of western life, you are not in a 5 star hotel, you are in a tent, it's fine, you are in a wilderness, and it's amazing how clean you feel after jumping in a river when you haven't had a shower for over a week. Be prepared to be without all of your western gadgets for the whole time you are in the wilderness. You can't use them and you don't have to. Chill, relax and let the vastness of the country, the fantastic scenery, and the incredible warmth of the people just wash over you.
Reviewed by Christopher Lee who travelled in July 2010 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 3
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The sheer scale of the country, the incredible friendliness of the locals we met, and the wildlife.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader was on this trip for the first time and she was quite inexperienced, however the cook was excellent and the two drivers were absolutely excellent. Tuvshin rustled up amazing food every day and Bayaraa and Amaraa were incredible at navigating in the absolute middle of nowhere.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We purchased all of our fresh food supplies from locals as we went along and it was good to use a Mongolian joint venture company (Nomadic Journeys) as the local agent. The locals that we met, hired horses and camels and boats from, bought airag from or just sang with around the campfires, certainly seemed to welcome us to their special part of the world.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
I think that we now know how, and understand why, the traditional nomadic way of life has survived for a millenium on the Mongolian steppe.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared for all weathers, searing heat, freezing cold, and very, very wet. Be prepared to live without some of the comforts of western life, you are not in a 5 star hotel, you are in a tent, it's fine, you are in a wilderness, and it's amazing how clean you feel after jumping in a river when you haven't had a shower for over a week. Be prepared to be without all of your western gadgets for the whole time you are in the wilderness. You can't use them and you don't have to. Chill, relax and let the vastness of the country, the fantastic scenery, and the incredible warmth of the people just wash over you.
Reviewed by Christopher Lee who travelled in July 2010 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 4
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting a camel the first night out. The guys from the tour wrestling with the local wrestling champion up at lake Hofskal. The interesting meals....always amazed they tasted so good. Pool tables in the middle of the market place. The songs around the camp fire. The Mongolian people. Our Mongolia drivers and translator - simply brilliant. Scenary that you'd need to be a poet to describe. Freezing nights in the tent, but you knew they were worth suffering for. The whole thing - it was just amazing. The space and the peace and the calm.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent - especially since it was her first tour in Mongolia she coped amazingly well. It's not like she'd any real backup with the places were went.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - definitely brought needed income to the drivers families, plus the money that was spent at the Aimags and the sheep or goat that was bought along the way. All helps and probably reached people that normal tourist wouldn't get to.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Definitely - I'd love to go back to see more.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
1. it's a meat eating country - do not go expecting ANY vegetarian food. You may then be pleasantly surprised every now and again when you do get it. 2. Be thankful for what food you get, it's limited and remember you're probably buying it directly from the person that rared it. You're there for a very short period of time so you will survive. 3. there are no comforts, so do not go expecting hot water, soft beds, air conditioning, heaters. You are going to Mongolia - not on a spa weekend!!! 4. Expect absoutely amazing scenary - it's there. Just remember to keep looking at it and any other discomfort will fade in comparison. 5. If you walk around in short skirts or bikini's the men will stare....they are men!!! If them staring makes you uncomfortable be more respectful and cover up. You're in there country remember. Your rules don't apply, theirs do. 6. Forget your watch and a calendar. Put it away. You don't need it, what's the point, you're not in a rush anywhere are you?! 7. Smile - Mongolians love to smile, it breaks the ice. 8. share something - Mongolian customs dictates you always offer something, usual food or drink. If you don't have this there probably is something you can part with. Any small gift will be received with the utmost curtosy and respect. Remember that works both ways!!! 9. Enjoy the quietness. 10. take lots of batteries for your camera.
Reviewed by Emer Levins who travelled in May 2006 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 5
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting a camel the first night out. The guys from the tour wrestling with the local wrestling champion up at lake Hofskal. The interesting meals....always amazed they tasted so good. Pool tables in the middle of the market place. The songs around the camp fire. The Mongolian people. Our Mongolia drivers and translator - simply brilliant. Scenary that you'd need to be a poet to describe. Freezing nights in the tent, but you knew they were worth suffering for. The whole thing - it was just amazing. The space and the peace and the calm.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent - especially since it was her first tour in Mongolia she coped amazingly well. It's not like she'd any real backup with the places were went.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - definitely brought needed income to the drivers families, plus the money that was spent at the Aimags and the sheep or goat that was bought along the way. All helps and probably reached people that normal tourist wouldn't get to.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Definitely - I'd love to go back to see more.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
1. it's a meat eating country - do not go expecting ANY vegetarian food. You may then be pleasantly surprised every now and again when you do get it. 2. Be thankful for what food you get, it's limited and remember you're probably buying it directly from the person that rared it. You're there for a very short period of time so you will survive. 3. there are no comforts, so do not go expecting hot water, soft beds, air conditioning, heaters. You are going to Mongolia - not on a spa weekend!!! 4. Expect absoutely amazing scenary - it's there. Just remember to keep looking at it and any other discomfort will fade in comparison. 5. If you walk around in short skirts or bikini's the men will stare....they are men!!! If them staring makes you uncomfortable be more respectful and cover up. You're in there country remember. Your rules don't apply, theirs do. 6. Forget your watch and a calendar. Put it away. You don't need it, what's the point, you're not in a rush anywhere are you?! 7. Smile - Mongolians love to smile, it breaks the ice. 8. share something - Mongolian customs dictates you always offer something, usual food or drink. If you don't have this there probably is something you can part with. Any small gift will be received with the utmost curtosy and respect. Remember that works both ways!!! 9. Enjoy the quietness. 10. take lots of batteries for your camera.
Reviewed by Emer Levins who travelled in May 2006 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 6
What did you think of your tour leader?
V.good
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Probably not a lot: we were very self sufficient
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Mongolia A country four times the size of Britain, and a population less than one tenth, and over half of those live in the capital, Ulan Bataar. It's a thriving, bustling capital with some interesting sights, but probably not the reason you visit the country. Historically, the country was Buddhist, and now freed from Soviet secularism there is a growth of the faith again. On the edge of the town an open-air museum of old temples with stupas and Buddha-images is well worth a visit. Leaving the capital we headed south, slowly the landscape becomes drier and less green, until the only thing you can see is bare rock and sand: this is the start of the Gobi desert. Where it is sandy, the wind blows the sand into beautiful rounded dunes: the dune sand is loose, difficult to walk up as each step pushes a cascade of sand back down the dune, leaving oversize footprints. When the wind blows the sand fills them up again in minutes, and all trace of your passage is gone. Here we met a group of nomads with their camels, goats and chicken. A goat is killed for us and we have a meal from it. Let’s be honest: the animal is not bred for its meat, and you cannot hang meat to tenderise it in these temperatures, so it’s bit tough and chewy. Most of the time we are travelling we are vegetarian, as vegetables keep better in the journeys between shops. This is not a trip for gastronomic delights. After a bit more exploration and a camel ride we head north again. We need to ford a wide river, and whilst two or our vans get across the third gets stuck in the middle, and the more the driver revs the engine all he does is dig the wheels into the loose sandy bottom. Eventually we get a local man with a tractor to come and pull it out. He is wearing a tatty singlet and shorts, showing a well-tanned and muscular body, so for the next few days the girls in the trip ask if there are any more tractor-men to be found! Our camp that day is at the foot of a line of low hills, with a small neglected monastery nearby. Following the line that a river has cut through the hills, we traverse a narrow gorge that at one point in only 6 inches wider then the van, so needs careful driving. You start to see the odd bush, and then crossing a low hill looking at the plain in front there is a green haze on the ground from low grassy plants. We reach Karakorum, the old capital of the Mongols, of which not a brick remains, but at least we get a non-veg. meal! From here north again, the countryside getting lusher and greener with every mile. Camels and goats give way to a little cattle and lots of horses: the horse was the beast of the Mongols, the animal that took them to the gates of Moscow and Vienna. Then to Lake Khovsgol, where we camp for two nights. The lake is surrounded by green wooded hills, looking very alpine after the desert – is this the same country? The surroundings tempt me in to the water for a swim: big mistake … the lake is fed from the melt waters of the surrounding hills, and has not had time to warm up in the sun, so after only five minutes I emerge, with teeth chattering, for a good vigorous rub down to dry off. The next day a fast drive back to UB for a last-night dinner.
Reviewed by Peter Jackson who travelled in June 2006 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 7
What did you think of your tour leader?
V.good
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Probably not a lot: we were very self sufficient
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Mongolia A country four times the size of Britain, and a population less than one tenth, and over half of those live in the capital, Ulan Bataar. It's a thriving, bustling capital with some interesting sights, but probably not the reason you visit the country. Historically, the country was Buddhist, and now freed from Soviet secularism there is a growth of the faith again. On the edge of the town an open-air museum of old temples with stupas and Buddha-images is well worth a visit. Leaving the capital we headed south, slowly the landscape becomes drier and less green, until the only thing you can see is bare rock and sand: this is the start of the Gobi desert. Where it is sandy, the wind blows the sand into beautiful rounded dunes: the dune sand is loose, difficult to walk up as each step pushes a cascade of sand back down the dune, leaving oversize footprints. When the wind blows the sand fills them up again in minutes, and all trace of your passage is gone. Here we met a group of nomads with their camels, goats and chicken. A goat is killed for us and we have a meal from it. Let’s be honest: the animal is not bred for its meat, and you cannot hang meat to tenderise it in these temperatures, so it’s bit tough and chewy. Most of the time we are travelling we are vegetarian, as vegetables keep better in the journeys between shops. This is not a trip for gastronomic delights. After a bit more exploration and a camel ride we head north again. We need to ford a wide river, and whilst two or our vans get across the third gets stuck in the middle, and the more the driver revs the engine all he does is dig the wheels into the loose sandy bottom. Eventually we get a local man with a tractor to come and pull it out. He is wearing a tatty singlet and shorts, showing a well-tanned and muscular body, so for the next few days the girls in the trip ask if there are any more tractor-men to be found! Our camp that day is at the foot of a line of low hills, with a small neglected monastery nearby. Following the line that a river has cut through the hills, we traverse a narrow gorge that at one point in only 6 inches wider then the van, so needs careful driving. You start to see the odd bush, and then crossing a low hill looking at the plain in front there is a green haze on the ground from low grassy plants. We reach Karakorum, the old capital of the Mongols, of which not a brick remains, but at least we get a non-veg. meal! From here north again, the countryside getting lusher and greener with every mile. Camels and goats give way to a little cattle and lots of horses: the horse was the beast of the Mongols, the animal that took them to the gates of Moscow and Vienna. Then to Lake Khovsgol, where we camp for two nights. The lake is surrounded by green wooded hills, looking very alpine after the desert – is this the same country? The surroundings tempt me in to the water for a swim: big mistake … the lake is fed from the melt waters of the surrounding hills, and has not had time to warm up in the sun, so after only five minutes I emerge, with teeth chattering, for a good vigorous rub down to dry off. The next day a fast drive back to UB for a last-night dinner.
Reviewed by Peter Jackson who travelled in June 2006 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 8
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The open spaces and camping
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
yes, i felt that as we were camping we were not being taken to the same tour restaurants only benefitting the one business.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes in a geographical sense, on a human sense not so much, but that was no reflection on Imtrav
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Go on this tour it is worth every penny
Reviewed by Davina Malcolm who travelled in June 2007 on the Mongolian Vistas trip
Review 9
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The horse racing
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
yes, we were taken to the festival and given a time to return to the transportation. This gave us the opportunity to go to stalls we wanted to independently, and not hrded as a group to a particular stall
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
yes, the festival gave a great opportunity to speak with locals and to the police!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
If you only have a short time in Mongolia go on this tour. It combines camping giving a brief glimpse of the wonderful landcape, and an opportunity to mix with locals at the festival
Reviewed by Davina Malcolm who travelled in July 2007 on the Naadam Festival trip
Review 10
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching the sun rise on top of Khongoryn Els, and sliding down afterwards! Camel riding near the dunes, was also really brilliant.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, our 3 drivers, our translator Enke, the locals who we rented the camels/horses from, the owner of UB Guesthouse and local traders/shopkeepers
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as is possible from a guided tour.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Go on this trip!
Reviewed by Aoife Flood who travelled in August 2007 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Review 11
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching the sun rise on top of Khongoryn Els, and sliding down afterwards! Camel riding near the dunes, was also really brilliant.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, our 3 drivers, our translator Enke, the locals who we rented the camels/horses from, the owner of UB Guesthouse and local traders/shopkeepers
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as is possible from a guided tour.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Go on this trip!
Reviewed by Aoife Flood who travelled in August 2007 on the Mongolian Wilderness Adventure trip
Mongolia Forum Feedback
Naadam Festival departing 8-07-09
Hi, Just wondering if anyone else is flying out from London for Naadam on the 8-07-09 with Korea airlines. I'm flying out on my own so it would be nice to meet some people at the airport and get to know some faces before the tour starts.. Thanks. Lara.
camping Mongolia
We are interested in the 15 day camping in Mongolia and were wondering if blankets are provided or do we have to bring sleeping bags. As we are continuing on to Russia for two months the bags would be a pest. Also how cold does it get at night?
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