Transfer Option:

Day 02 To the Steppes
A.m. Visit the Gandan lamasery, possibly in time for the prayers, center for the Buddhist revival in Mongolia. The Mongols follow the Tibetan version of Lamaism, Dalai Lama being the supreme theoretical leader.

We depart for towards the steppes and have a picnic lunch on arrival. Pitch camp nearby some nomadic families. Here will meet the yak carts and the horses.

Day 03-05 Steppe ride
Ride over the treeless steppes. We will ride across rather hilly terrain with occasional patches of birch forest. Throughout the ride we will make contact with local herdsmen, often relatives and friends of our wranglers. Our support structure is free from vehicles. All our provisions, camping equipment, luggage will be loaded on to yak carts. Even a ger (yurt) will be brought, and we will learn how to use it.

On the last day suddenly forests will start to appear, and we are now riding towards the Hentii wilderness area consisting of Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area which is the interior parts of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. In Mongolia the Siberian boreal forest meets the Central Asian deserts and steppes while all the time riding in this transition zone.

Day 06-07: To Sharbulag Valley
The horses will now permit us riding through the larch forests, up the slopes of the mountains following the ridges with superb scenery whilst the yak carts will follow the broad river valleys. We will arrive and pitch camp at the Sharbulag Valley. We will spend two nights here, and it will allow for some flexibility in the middle of our ride.

Day 08: To Tuul River
Cross a pass and ride into the upper parts of the Tuul River Valley. We are now near the main ridge of the Hentii Mountains. The horses will help to get up on to the ridges where the panoramic views are extraordinary. It is a partly forested area.

Day 09-10: To Jalman Meadows
We will ride towards the Jalman Meadows famous for its wildflowers and reach our semi-permanent ger camp. It is situated next to a beautiful wooded meadow on the upper parts of the Tuul River. We will overnight for two nights at Jalman Meadows, making a superb last day ride in the area.

Day 11: To Ulaanbaatar
A.m. Return to Ulaanbaatar and check into the hotel. See the capital city on your own. Distances are short. The local guide is standing by to assist where your points of interest are located.

Day 12 Departure



Naadam: There is a Naadam Festival extension in connection with this ride. 


Subject to change

The mean elevation of Mongolia is about 1500 meters above sea level (5000 ft) which enhances the sharp continental climate. For most of the year it is very cold, especially at night. Precipitation is low and skies are usually clear during the wintertime. Summers, however, are very pleasant just as in the US and Europe. There is a short rainy season in July and August during which most of the yearly rain falls. Around 67-78 percent of all precipitation falls during these three summer months. This rain, however, is just what we get in northern Europe, at about the same time. Occasional strong winds can come and go quickly. Spring and fall pass very quickly. 

In Mongolia the Central Asian desert zones meet with the Siberian taiga. Hence, Mongolia is a country of climatic extremes. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city on Earth. Mongolia is known as the Land of the Blue Sky. Indeed, this is true throughout the winter. Throughout the year, there are 250 sunny days and 9-23 cloudy days. The duration of the period with a mean daily temperature higher than the freezing point lasts about 170-190 days, increasing to the south and southeast up to 200-215 days.

The summer climate, when most visitors are likely to be in Mongolia, could be described as being similar to Scandinavian summers. However, with somewhat more pronounced extremes. E.g. when raining it tend be heavier and shorter. If extended they can cause floods locally. When a cold front comes, hail storms can come and go quickly. There may be more heat, and sudden strong winds. All in all, the weather pattern is very variable over short periods of time. In July 1996 some parts of Mongolia had drought, whereas at the same time other areas had floods and more rain than normal.

Dress is very informal but Mongolian sensibilities dictate a degree of modesty in the cut of the clothing worn.  Hotel laundry services are available but you will need to bring two or three changes of clothing for the camping portion of the trip.  This basic list will be adequate for the demands of our trips.  While in Mongolia we will have weather in the 60's and 70's during the day, but nights will be cold.  If you are passing through Beijing on the way to or from Mongolia, be aware that Beijing is hot and humid.

Useful items:
Small binoculars, travel alarm clock, earplugs, journal and pen, pocket knife (put in checked luggage, not allowed as carry‑on), lightweight snacks like granola bars, fruit bark, jerky, trail mix, nuts, tea bags that you can't start the day without, vitamins, water purification tablets, Mongolian phrasebook.
Our support structure is free from vehicles. All our provisions, camping equipment, luggage will be loaded on to yak carts. Even a ger (yurt) will be brought, and we will learn how to use it. 

Meals:

The meals will be prepared by our assigned cook for the trip and the menu is originally and personally designed each time by the cook. This means we do not have the exact same mealsmenu for every departure.

We pride ourselves in having cooks that can adapt to both Western and Mongolian cooking on our trips. One may expect the meals to be "Asian", but cuisine in Mongolia (whether traditional or Westernized) is much more similar to Russian cuisine as that is what has been readily available for the past 50 years.  Some is quite "Westernized" due to the continued globalization of Russia as it becomes more and more similar to cuisine further West.  Most of the urbanized sectors of the country serve this cuisine, while only the traditional and nomadic families live off the traditional Mongolian dishes. Examples of traditional dishes would be huushuur, similar to an empanda, and buuz, a type of meat pasta dumpling.

Breakfast is Western-style - please let us know ahead of time if you do NOT eat eggs & dairy!

Lunch and Dinner are subjective to the current cook's menu, but will often involve pastas, potatoes, veggies, eggs, yohgurt, tuna, breads, various cow meats and sometimes mutton.

There are always vegetables available, and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips. For breakfast we can usually buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area.

If you have a type of food you would like to avoid, please advise us ASAP so we can plan around it!

Accommodation:

When in Ulaanbaatar you will stay in a modern hotel of reasonable standard.  There is a private bathroom in all rooms.  Outside Ulaanbaatar we will bathe and wash ourselves in the many streams and lakes.  The water temperatures sometimes allow for swimming, but just as often only "a dip".  We have in Mongolia portable camping showers of western models and we will set up a shower tent.

This is also necessary at all times in the Gobi, where indeed there are some streams, but they are scarce and not for bathing in, since it is also the drinking water of the locals.  We ask our clients to bring bio-degradable toiletries only.  We provide a toilet tent which is erected around a squat style hole, which of course is covered after use.

We use Swedish manufactured Hilleberg tunnel tents, that have proved to be resistant to the sometimes strong and sudden Mongolian winds, and they can be erected easily even during rains.  We will also provide you with an air mattress or Therma Rest mattress. 

You will have to bring along your own sleeping bag when on long journey’s that involve camping.  During cold spells early and late in season, there is a slight chance of night temperatures below zero centigrade.  Frost is unlikely - but happens - also between June 15th to September 1st.  A four season sleeping bag is definitely necessary early and late in the season.  If you feel cold easy, or your body is small, you should take some care in the selection of sleeping bag.   The idea of a sleeping bag is that your own body heat will maintain and keep the warmth inside the sleeping bag.  It means that sleeping without clothes is better than having warm clothes on.  And small persons should not sleep in a very large sleeping bag.

If you have never slept under the stars.  Don’t worry!  You will find it a real pleasure. 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart.
Visas
Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. nationals of the USA, if entering the country as a tourist, for stays of up to 90 days.
Visa Note
(a) All foreign nationals staying in Mongolia for longer than 30 days are required to register with the police within 10 days of arrival. (b) Nationals entering Mongolia for stays up to 30 days should apply for an Entry and Exit visa; for stays over 90 days nationals should apply for an Entry visa. (c) Nationals transiting via trains can apply for a single-, double- or multiple-entry Transit visa.
Types of Visa and Cost
Entry and Exit visa: £40 (single-entry, 30 days); £55 (double-entry, 30 days per visit). Entry visa: £35 (single-entry, 90 days). Transit visa: £35 (single-entry); £40 (double-entry); £45 (multiple-entry).
Validity
Visas are valid for three months from date of issue.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses. If travelling on an organised tour, visas can be obtained through tourism companies or travel agencies. A group visa in the name of the tour leader is valid for all tourists on the list attached, provided relevant details (nationality, sex, date of birth, passport numbers, and dates of issue and expiry) are given at the time of application.
Working Days Required
Two to five. An express service is available which costs an additional £20.