Travel to Mongolia - Discover the land of Mystery
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Last updated on Jan 1, 2010
Welcome...
“Orient Expeditions” welcomes you to the country of eternal blue sky, absolute wilderness and natural beauty. Almost any adventure travel experience you've ever dreamed of is possible in Mongolia.
Whether your interests are the Gobi Desert, the grassland safari, horseback or camel riding, or just getting away from it all, you will find yourself being woven into a one-of-a-kind nomadic tradition and culture in this land of contrasts.
“Orient Expeditions” welcomes you to the country of eternal blue sky, absolute wilderness and natural beauty. Almost any adventure travel experience you've ever dreamed of is possible in Mongolia.
Whether your interests are the Gobi Desert, the grassland safari, horseback or camel riding, or just getting away from it all, you will find yourself being woven into a one-of-a-kind nomadic tradition and culture in this land of contrasts.
We invite you to explore with us the land of striking beauty and diversity, from the Gobi Desert to the towering mountains of western Mongolia. Our experienced and enthusiastic team of travel professionals will make your travel in Mongolia exciting, rewarding, and memorable.
We have a variety of Mongolia travel plans, ranging from family holiday trips to outdoor sporting adventures and horseback excursions. Whether you are traveling with a group, or independently, following our travel itineraries, or pursuing your own customized tours, you will find a comprehensive range of Mongolian tours and vacation travel packages to fit your needs and budget on our website.
"Naadam Festival + Best of Mongolia" 22 days
"Late Summer Extravaganza" 13 days
Wonders of Zavkhan
Duration: 9 days
Duration: 9 days
Gobi Desert Explorer
Duration: 5 days
Duration: 5 days
Lake Huvsgul Tour
Duration: 7 days
Duration: 7 days
Trip to the ancient Capital
Duration: 6 days
Duration: 6 days
"Gems of Mongolia" travel
Duration: 15 days
Duration: 15 days
Central Mongolia Travel
Duration: 9 days
Duration: 9 days
Zavkhan Horseback Expedition
Duration: 11 days
Duration: 11 days
"The Best of Mongolia" tour
Duration: 21 days
Duration: 21 days
Classic Mongolia Travel
Duration: 18 days
Duration: 18 days
Mongolia Travel Blog
Mongolia Travel Newsline
Must Do's when you travel to Mongolia
1. Horseback Riding
| • | Horseback riding is integral part of Mongolian culture and history.
Riding horses in Mongolia means knowing and understanding Mongolia.
|
| • | It is a very different experience from riding Arabic / Western horses.
Mongolian horses are much smaller than most horses you know. Yet
they are strong and fast.
|
| • | It is cost saving. Total cost of horseback riding in Mongolia can be
cheaper than riding horses in you home country. Besides, you can
combine it with your other tours in Mongolia
|
| • | It is great chance to enjoy scenic view and meet with nomadic people.
|
| • | You can go anywhere you want. Don't have to stick to any trail.
|
2. Visiting Nomadic Family
(Most of our tours include a short visit to a nomadic family)
| • | A very unique lifestyle. Mongolian nomads live the same way as they
did centuries year ago, during the times of Chingis (Genghis) Khan.
|
| • | Can be experienced only in Mongolia. No other country is inhabited by
nomadic people living such a lifestyle.
|
| • | Can take part in daily activities that nomads do. Ride horses, camels
even yaks, and learn how to process dairy products.
|
| • | Learn how people can live happily without the amenities of modern life
but with deep respect to the mother nature.
|
| • | Feel pure hosipitality of nomadic people. Hospitality of Mongolian nomads
is legendery and you can see why on your Mongolia travel
|
3. Naadam festival
(any of our tours can be customized to include Naadam festival)
| • | It is one of a kind in the world.
|
| • | It is grand festival of the nomads. As such, it is great opportunity to
encounter many facets of nomadic culture and tradition. Learn their
games, music and dances, food and drinks, clothes, greetings and
many other traditions, all the the same time and same place.
|
| • | See 500-1000 horses racing at the same time with 3-10 year old
jockeys
|
| • | See Mongolian traditional archer shooting, wrestling and unique clothes
of the athletes.
|
| • | It is celebrated on the same day (July 11-12) throughout the country.
Therefore, you can enjoy it wherever you travel in Mongolia
|
Mongolia is a traveler’s paradise, unrivaled in our shrinking world. With its untamed nature, eternal blue sky and the nomadic culture and tradition, Mongolia is one of the top destinations for adventure and nature travelers. Many travel magazines name Mongolia as one of the most interesting places to visit. Below, we explain why traveling to Mongolia is becoming more and more popular.
First of all, Mongolia is a paradise for nature-lovers. There you will see the Gobi Desert, steep mountains, dense forests, great lakes and endless plain steppes. You will encounter a variety of faces and the mysteries of Mother Nature on your Mongolia tour.
Secondly, Mongolia is one of the few countries in the world that has kept its nomadic culture and tradition. Half of its population lives a nomadic life style just as it has for thousands of years.
First of all, Mongolia is a paradise for nature-lovers. There you will see the Gobi Desert, steep mountains, dense forests, great lakes and endless plain steppes. You will encounter a variety of faces and the mysteries of Mother Nature on your Mongolia tour.
Secondly, Mongolia is one of the few countries in the world that has kept its nomadic culture and tradition. Half of its population lives a nomadic life style just as it has for thousands of years.
You will see how Mongolian nomads live in harmony with Mother Nature and how deeply their respect for nature is embedded in their culture and traditions. Nowhere else in the world, can you find Mother Nature showing every possible facet, so well blended with the life of the nomadic people who have lived there for thousands of years.
Thirdly, Mongolia offers great opportunities for adventure seekers. Our adventure tours in Mongolia will give you thrills that you can experience nowhere else. For example, horseback riding in Mongolia, trekking the same route as Genghis Khan did eight hundred years ago is an adventure that only few can experience.
Anglers can fish in Mongolia’s freshwater rivers and lakes for an exciting experience. There are 25 rivers more than 200 kilometers in length. Mongolia has more than 3000 lakes with an area of a half a square mile or more. The freshwater rivers and lakes of Mongolia are home to some 70 species of fish, including salmon, taimen, grayling, perch and pike.
Thirdly, Mongolia offers great opportunities for adventure seekers. Our adventure tours in Mongolia will give you thrills that you can experience nowhere else. For example, horseback riding in Mongolia, trekking the same route as Genghis Khan did eight hundred years ago is an adventure that only few can experience.
Anglers can fish in Mongolia’s freshwater rivers and lakes for an exciting experience. There are 25 rivers more than 200 kilometers in length. Mongolia has more than 3000 lakes with an area of a half a square mile or more. The freshwater rivers and lakes of Mongolia are home to some 70 species of fish, including salmon, taimen, grayling, perch and pike.
Mongolia’s thousands of steep, rocky mountains are just perfect for hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers. Mongolia’s fast-running rivers are challenging to rafters. There are thousands of possibilities for hunters in Mongolia’s steppes and mountains, with their populous animal kingdom.
And Fourth, Mongolia is a country with a great history. The first empire on what is currently Mongolian territory was established two thousand years ago. Since then the Mongolian steppe has witnessed the rise and fall of several empires of nomadic warriors. At their peak, Mongolian warriors built the greatest empire in human history under the Great Chinghis (Ghengis) Khan and his successors. The territory of the Great Mongolian Empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Hungary and from Russia to the Korean Peninsula. The first western traveler to Mongolia in the 14th century, Marco Polo, wrote:
And Fourth, Mongolia is a country with a great history. The first empire on what is currently Mongolian territory was established two thousand years ago. Since then the Mongolian steppe has witnessed the rise and fall of several empires of nomadic warriors. At their peak, Mongolian warriors built the greatest empire in human history under the Great Chinghis (Ghengis) Khan and his successors. The territory of the Great Mongolian Empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Hungary and from Russia to the Korean Peninsula. The first western traveler to Mongolia in the 14th century, Marco Polo, wrote:
“the men are habituated to remain on horseback during two days and two nights, without dismounting; sleeping in that situation whilst their horses graze. No people upon earth can surpass them in fortitude under difficulties. From these qualities, so essential to the formation of soldiers, it is, that they are fitted to subdue the world, as in fact they have done in regard to a considerable portion“.
When you travel to Mongolia, you will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the great leaders in history. You will find the, birthplaces and tombs of the Great Khans and Queens, and Buddhist temples that have histories lasting hundreds of years.
Also, as one of the homes to ancient people, Mongolia preserves the traces of human life back to the Stone Age. Archeological findings prove that people were living in the Mongolian territory 200 thousand years ago. There are hundreds of stone monuments and cave stone pictures drawn as early as the Stone Age.
And fifth, Mongolia’s fauna and flora and eternal blue sky provide great opportunities for scientific experts or anyone who enjoys watching birds and observing stars and flowers.
When you travel to Mongolia, you will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the great leaders in history. You will find the, birthplaces and tombs of the Great Khans and Queens, and Buddhist temples that have histories lasting hundreds of years.
Also, as one of the homes to ancient people, Mongolia preserves the traces of human life back to the Stone Age. Archeological findings prove that people were living in the Mongolian territory 200 thousand years ago. There are hundreds of stone monuments and cave stone pictures drawn as early as the Stone Age.
And fifth, Mongolia’s fauna and flora and eternal blue sky provide great opportunities for scientific experts or anyone who enjoys watching birds and observing stars and flowers.
Mongolia’s flora consists of more than 4000 kinds of plants and flowers. There are 436 species of birds, more than 136 species of mammals, and 75 species of fish in the country. Wild camels (Havtgai) and Gobi bears (Mazaalai) are native only to Mongolia.
Mongolia has 200 sunny days a year and approximately the same number of clear night sky each year. This, combined with the dry air of the highland, makes Mongolia a perfect spot for observing planets and stars.
Last but not least, Mongolia is one of the safest countries to travel. There is virtually no risk of danger from humans or animals when you are enjoying your Mongolia vacation, even in Mongolia’s most remote corner.
Thank you very much for visiting our website. You will find some useful information for your Mongolia holiday in the "Travel Info" section of our webpage. The "Our Tours" section introduces our tentative travel itineraries. These itineraries can be modified according to your interests and available time. You can reserve your tour in the "Tour Booking" section. We hope you will find our photo album section interesting and the links in the right informative.
If you have any questions about your travel to Mongolia, please feel free to contact us. Have a nice journey through our website. We are looking forward to seeing you in Mongolia.
Mongolia has 200 sunny days a year and approximately the same number of clear night sky each year. This, combined with the dry air of the highland, makes Mongolia a perfect spot for observing planets and stars.
Last but not least, Mongolia is one of the safest countries to travel. There is virtually no risk of danger from humans or animals when you are enjoying your Mongolia vacation, even in Mongolia’s most remote corner.
Thank you very much for visiting our website. You will find some useful information for your Mongolia holiday in the "Travel Info" section of our webpage. The "Our Tours" section introduces our tentative travel itineraries. These itineraries can be modified according to your interests and available time. You can reserve your tour in the "Tour Booking" section. We hope you will find our photo album section interesting and the links in the right informative.
If you have any questions about your travel to Mongolia, please feel free to contact us. Have a nice journey through our website. We are looking forward to seeing you in Mongolia.
Copyright © 2010 by "Orient Expeditions" LLC (Formerly DestiLand Travel) • All Rights reserved • E-Mail: info@mongoliatravels.com
Pack some warm clothes. It can be quite chilly in the evening in the countryside, even in summer.
Any major currency can be exchanged for Mongolian currency, "tugrug", at banks or exchange points in the capital, Ulaanbaatar City. But this is not the case anywhere else in Mongolia.
The exchange rate of Mongolian currency fort major currencies can be found at http://www.tdbm.mn.
You can buy a cell phone with a prepaid calling card for about $100 U.S. Cell phone service covers about a half of the Mongolian administrative unit centers. International call is possible in those areas from cell phones.
It is possible to pay for purchases with credit cards only in a few shops in Ulaanbaatar City. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards.
The internet is rarely available, once you leave the capital city.
It is a good idea to keep your passport and documents in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
Beware of pickpockets, especially in Ulaanbaatar City. Vigilance should be part of your Mongolia holiday
If your itinerary includes a domestic flight, you can carry 10 kilos (22 pound) of baggage for free.
It is alright to refuse if you are offered alcoholic drinks or fermented mare's milk. But to show respect, you may take a small taste or just dip your upper lip into the drink.
Do not drink too much fermented mare's milk, unless you have tried it before. Fermented mare's milk from different areas can have a different effect on your digestive system.
If you step on someone, shake his or her hand. There is a common superstition that if you do not shake hands after stepping on someone, there will be conflict between you. Do not feel strange if someone touches or shakes your hand. He or she must have stepped on you.
Say “Sain baina uu,” or ‘Hello’ when you meet a person for the first time. But do not repeat this phrase when you meet the same person on the same day. Mongolians do not say, “Hi,” to each other whenever they meet on any particular day. A small comment or smile will be nice greeting.
When you visit a ger, you do not have to knock asking permission. Instead say “Nohio horio,” or ‘Hold the dog’ loud enough that people inside the ger can hear you.
When you enter a ger, try to seat in the space to the left of the stove when your back is facing the door. The space on the other side is mainly occupied by the family members. This also applies when you visit tepees of reindeer breeding people.
Be careful when encountering dogs. In the countryside, dogs are raised as guard animals, not pets. That’s why “Nohio horio,” or ‘Hold the dog’ is equivalent to “Can I come in?” in Mongolia. Whether you are in the countryside, the villages, or the cities, do not expect any dog to be friendly.
When you visit a Mongolian family living in a ger/yurt, you do not have to take off your shoes. But you must take of your shoes if you visit a family living in an apartment or a house, especially in Ulaanbaatar City.
Take some candies or small gifts with you, so that you will have something to give back, if nomadic families give some gifts to you.
Do not put your feet or shoes on chairs or tables, especially showing the bottom of your feet to others.
In Mongolia, shooting star represents a dying person. Therefore, many Mongolians (especially older people) read some religious phrases. No Mongolian would make a wish when if see a shooting star.
Do not approach the horse from its right. Most horses are trained for approaching only from the left. Also dismount a horse to the left.
Place hats open end down. Hats placed open end up said to ask for illness/misfortune from God.
Mongolians do not like to exchange hats. Do not be surprised if you see someone softly spitting into another person's hat when they exchange their hats. Spitting softly said to prevent the coming of bad-spirits of others that exist in their hat to you.
Do not whistle inside a ger or any kind of building. Whistling inside is said to call bad-spirit in you home.
If you use Mongolia deel, a traditional robe-like costume, your "bus" or belt, the long silk sash tightly wound around the waist should not be put at arbitrary places when unworn. Try to place it somewhere far from door and not on the floor.
It is unusual for a woman to sit cross-legged in any place.
Any major currency can be exchanged for Mongolian currency, "tugrug", at banks or exchange points in the capital, Ulaanbaatar City. But this is not the case anywhere else in Mongolia.
The exchange rate of Mongolian currency fort major currencies can be found at http://www.tdbm.mn.
You can buy a cell phone with a prepaid calling card for about $100 U.S. Cell phone service covers about a half of the Mongolian administrative unit centers. International call is possible in those areas from cell phones.
It is possible to pay for purchases with credit cards only in a few shops in Ulaanbaatar City. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards.
The internet is rarely available, once you leave the capital city.
It is a good idea to keep your passport and documents in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
Beware of pickpockets, especially in Ulaanbaatar City. Vigilance should be part of your Mongolia holiday
If your itinerary includes a domestic flight, you can carry 10 kilos (22 pound) of baggage for free.
It is alright to refuse if you are offered alcoholic drinks or fermented mare's milk. But to show respect, you may take a small taste or just dip your upper lip into the drink.
Do not drink too much fermented mare's milk, unless you have tried it before. Fermented mare's milk from different areas can have a different effect on your digestive system.
If you step on someone, shake his or her hand. There is a common superstition that if you do not shake hands after stepping on someone, there will be conflict between you. Do not feel strange if someone touches or shakes your hand. He or she must have stepped on you.
Say “Sain baina uu,” or ‘Hello’ when you meet a person for the first time. But do not repeat this phrase when you meet the same person on the same day. Mongolians do not say, “Hi,” to each other whenever they meet on any particular day. A small comment or smile will be nice greeting.
When you visit a ger, you do not have to knock asking permission. Instead say “Nohio horio,” or ‘Hold the dog’ loud enough that people inside the ger can hear you.
When you enter a ger, try to seat in the space to the left of the stove when your back is facing the door. The space on the other side is mainly occupied by the family members. This also applies when you visit tepees of reindeer breeding people.
Be careful when encountering dogs. In the countryside, dogs are raised as guard animals, not pets. That’s why “Nohio horio,” or ‘Hold the dog’ is equivalent to “Can I come in?” in Mongolia. Whether you are in the countryside, the villages, or the cities, do not expect any dog to be friendly.
When you visit a Mongolian family living in a ger/yurt, you do not have to take off your shoes. But you must take of your shoes if you visit a family living in an apartment or a house, especially in Ulaanbaatar City.
Take some candies or small gifts with you, so that you will have something to give back, if nomadic families give some gifts to you.
Do not put your feet or shoes on chairs or tables, especially showing the bottom of your feet to others.
In Mongolia, shooting star represents a dying person. Therefore, many Mongolians (especially older people) read some religious phrases. No Mongolian would make a wish when if see a shooting star.
Do not approach the horse from its right. Most horses are trained for approaching only from the left. Also dismount a horse to the left.
Place hats open end down. Hats placed open end up said to ask for illness/misfortune from God.
Mongolians do not like to exchange hats. Do not be surprised if you see someone softly spitting into another person's hat when they exchange their hats. Spitting softly said to prevent the coming of bad-spirits of others that exist in their hat to you.
Do not whistle inside a ger or any kind of building. Whistling inside is said to call bad-spirit in you home.
If you use Mongolia deel, a traditional robe-like costume, your "bus" or belt, the long silk sash tightly wound around the waist should not be put at arbitrary places when unworn. Try to place it somewhere far from door and not on the floor.
It is unusual for a woman to sit cross-legged in any place.
Mongolia Travel Information
Official tourism website of Mongolia
Mongolian tourism association
US Department of State travel Mongolia page
Wikitravel Mongolia travel guide
Mongolia travel guide - travelnotes.org
Mongolia travel information - worldtravelguide.net
Traveler Advice on Mongolia - Tripadvisor.com
Lonelyplanet travel guide on Mongolia
Mongolia tour information & blogs - travelblog.org
Mongolia vacations info - travbuddy.com
Mongolia travel news - topix.com
Travel docs.com - Mongolia
Official tourism website of Mongolia
Mongolian tourism association
US Department of State travel Mongolia page
Wikitravel Mongolia travel guide
Mongolia travel guide - travelnotes.org
Mongolia travel information - worldtravelguide.net
Traveler Advice on Mongolia - Tripadvisor.com
Lonelyplanet travel guide on Mongolia
Mongolia tour information & blogs - travelblog.org
Mongolia vacations info - travbuddy.com
Mongolia travel news - topix.com
Travel docs.com - Mongolia
Tips for your journey
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