The Gobi desert, one of the world’s great deserts, covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. Unlike the Sahara there are few sand dunes in the Gobi; rather you’ll find large barren expenses of gravel plains and rocky outcrops.

The climate here is extreme. Temperatures reach +40° C. in summer, and -40 in winter. Precipitation averages less than 100 mm per year, while some areas only get rain once every two or three years.

Strong winds up to 140 km/h make travel dangerous in spring and fall. Great Gobi National Park is one of the largest World Biospheres, with an area larger than Switzerland.

It contains the last remaining wild Bacterian (two-humped) camels, wild ass, and a small population of Gobi bears, the only desert-inhabiting bear.

Transport

There are internal flight to Gobi takes about 1 hour and half from Ulaanbaatar only. Also you can be arranged jeeps and 4WD mini vans to get there. But it has to be overnight trip sleeping in some  ger camps and small excursions could be done along the way. We arrange wide range of transports and excursions.

Accommodation

We use comfortable 4  star hotels in Ulaanbaatar, capital city and good service Ger camps throughout countryside.

(Basically, they provide lodging, food, hot shower, toilet facility and other services like massase, if it is health spa ger camp. There are categories like- luxury,- high standart- meduim and very basic according to their offer and facilities) Also please see “gallery”

Food

The hierarchy of foods in the Mongolian diet

The meat-dependent diet arises from the need for hearty food to stave off the cold and long winters. Traditionally nomadic herders, Mongolians have for centuries been dependent on mostly animal products for their dietary staples.

Mongolians traditionally have turned to foods that are high in protein and minerals, relying less on more seasonable foods like vegetables and fruits. This means a diet heavy on meat and dairy products, the latter when sour in the summer time thought to clean the stomach. It isn’t just about meat though. Mongolians do also eat cereal, barley and natural fruits and plants native to the country.

Out of necessity Mongolians have found creative and ingenious ways to use the milk of all five of the domestic animals in the country: sheep, cattle, goats, camels and horses.

Orom is the cream that forms on top of boiled milk; aaruul are dried curds and can be seen baking in the sun on top of gers in the summer; eetsgii is the dried cheese; airag is fermented milk of mares (female horses); nermel, is the home-brewed vodka that packs a punch; tarag, is the sour yogurt; shar tos, melted butter from curds and orom, and tsagaan toss, boiled orom mixed with sometimes flour, natural fruits or eezgii.

The method of drying the dairy products is common in preparing them. The Mongolians prepare enough dairy products for the long winter and spring.

While in the countryside we serve you western and eastern European and Mongolian type of food.

Tips for riding Camel

1. Because of the height of a camel, it is very difficult to mount a camel when he is standing. This has to be done only when the camel is sitting. There is a ledge attached to the saddle horn of a camel. This ledge is to help you to get on the camel. Place one leg into the ledge and then put another across the camel’s hump. Take precaution not to hurt the camel while doing this. The best way is to do this mounting process in one go. Do not take breaks while mounting.  This will prevent you from falling down while mounting.
2. The scariest part is when you mount the camel and are sitting on the camel is when it is time for him to stand. Many people are scared of this part and avoid camel riding only because of this reason. If you are not sitting properly you can fall from his hump injuring yourself. To avoid any embarrassing incident you need to have a firm grip of your knees on the saddle horn.  While getting up, when the camel leans forward, you should lean backwards and if he is leaning backwards, remember to lean forward. This will stop you from falling and losing your grip.
3. Once you have mounted the camel and after he gets up, next thing is to know how to sit on a camel.  You have to know his disposition and the way a camel walks. Although the camel’s movements are very slow, you can be pitched forward at about 45 degree angle. This can be stressful sometimes. But if you allow yourself to be a little flexible, you will enjoy the ride.
4. Once you are mounted, hold the reins confidently and draw your knees to a 90 degree bend. This will help you in balancing yourself even if there is a constant movement on a large angle of degree.
5. Never try to dominate on a camel after mounting. Sit confidently but without troubling the animal. The camel might take his own time to get accustomed to you
6. Getting off from the camel is very similar to mounting. Again, the deadliest part can be when a camel sits. Follow the same instructions of leaning to the opposite side on which the camel leans.

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It took me 2 weeks to physically recover from our trip, the memories will stay for ever.

Thank you so much for looking after us and showing us your amazing country, thank you for always doing it with a smile and bringing much laughter.

It was a very special trip that will have always have it’s own place in my memory and

my heart

JULIE BEECHER

Thanks for everything!

Wonderful experience!

Michael Hudson

The recce to Mongolia was an unforgettable experience.

The vast open Steppe, the friendly local people, the history, the horse race, the tiny, tough ponies and the food – especially the authentic fare we were able to sample like goat, curd cakes and airac!

An ideal trip for those wanting their first taste of a horse trekking adventure.

Didi Goodenough

Mongolia is for those who really want to get away from it all rather than just talking about it…..we covered mile upon mile of the most stunning wilderness scenery, with strictly no mobile phone or email reception to interrupt the reverie for the best part of two weeks.

Bliss. We hardly stuck to the itinerary, but it didn’t matter one jot in a place like Mongolia.

The highlights? Camping at some or other place, the land underfoot was carpetted with edelweiss, with a stunning sunset, campfire….and a bush shower!!! The perfect night in Mongolia.

Nicolette Krajewski

Tom, Tulga and his team were excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly, and anxious to share their knowledge. The organisation appeared seamless – accommodation, food, vehicles, horses, camels all appeared on time and as expected. Forget boiled greasy mutton and no vegetables – we ate very well indeed with plenty of salads.

The cook team would erect their tent at lunchtime in the middle of nowhere and produce a three course meal in no time at all! Even the dreaded fermented mare’s milk proved drinkable. Sharing eclipse glasses with the local population was an unforgettable experience and we hope it was for them, because otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to see it from beginning to end. And the greatest impression of all was the vast beautiful emptiness of the country…

Janet Locke

We learned a lot about Mongolia – and how nice Mongolian people are! It was a great holiday and we loved it all. The ger camps were better than I had expected and the facilities were better too than I’d imagined, having stayed in yurts previously in Kyrghizstan. We were very comfortable in all the ger camps…

We were hugely impressed by Tulga’s team when we were at the eclipse ger camp and when we were camping – I’ve never seen such excellent wilderness loos (with seats!) and his showers were a thing to marvel at.

Peter & Jenny Alderson

The itinerary went through a number of iterations before the tour and it was an excellent introduction to a fascinating country…

To experience Mongolia, horse ride over the Mongolian steppes and live in gers -

it could not have been a better introduction to such a fantastic landscape and people.

Roger & Lyndsey Jones

My trip to Mongolia was amazing. The landscape was beautiful and I felt that I was on top of the world most of the time. The people were so warm and genuine. This was my first trip abroad on my own and Tulga and Dowa, our guides, and Nagi, our driver, made me feel so safe and secure that all my anxieties disappeared as soon as I met them.

It was a pleasure to see how the nomads live and to be invited into their lives for a short time. Mongolia is so beautiful and peaceful – I can’t wait to go back again.

Lisa Fry

Just to say the time spent with you in Mongolia was fantastic.

I can never express the gratitude I feel for such an outstanding and exciting time,

it will take a while for me to adjust to ordinary life in the UK. I couldn’t stop talking!

Jenny Smith

I loved my holiday it was wonderful, and I keep telling everyone to go to Mongolia.

Naadam in Bulgan was amazing experience!

Patricia Bernard

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Send  your inquiry to;
Mr. Tulga
Nomadic Trails Co.ltd.,
Bayangol District, 6r khoroo, Aminii Oron suuts 11 7B
Ulaanbaatar 44 P.O. Box 793 Mongolia
Tel/fax: + 976 11 68 82 56
Mobile: +976 9904 0894

info@nomadictrails.com

www.nomadictrails.com

Private Groups

If you have a group of friends or relatives, or are part of a club or organisation, and would like to travel on a private tour organised by Nomadic Trails – either using an existing Nomadic Trails itinerary, guide and departure date or by tailor-making a trip of your own – we’d be happy to help.

In fact, we feel this offers the best of both worlds, enabling you to tailor-make your holiday, travel when you like, and with exactly who you want!

Not only that but by arranging your own group you can qualify for significant discounts.

If you manage to get 10 passengers we will give 1 place free of charge;

if you get 8 passengers we will give the lead booker a 50% discount;

and if you get 6 passengers we will give the lead booker a 25% discount.*

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