Mongolia Travel Info - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I want to plan my own itinerary, which might be completely different from any of your

proposed itineraries. Can you still organize a trip for me?

A: Yes, we can. The itineraries we have on our website are intended to serve only as guides and

they can be changed in any way. We will be glad to organize your trip according to your own

itinerary.

Q: I want to travel with my family. What pricing options do you have for children?

A: The price for children under 12 is 50% of the adult rate.

Q: I am interested in a horseback riding tour with you. But I am not really a good rider.

What level of riding skill should I have?

A: You can take a horseback riding tour even if you have never ridden a horse. We have

experienced guides who will teach you how to ride. However, your trip could be slower than

expected for the first few days. Also, please keep in mind that riding a horse for several

consecutive days can be physically painful for beginners.

Q: I am really interested in seeing the Naadam Festival. But I cannot visit Mongolia in July

because of my time schedule. Is there any possibility of seeing the Naadam Festival if I

visit Mongolia after July?

It depends on what time of the year you visit Mongolia. After the official Naadam Festival from

July 10-13, there are regional Naadam Festivals until mid-August. It is difficult to find Naadam

Festivals being held before July or after mid-August.

Q: Is it really safe to stay overnight in a tent?

Yes, you can be assured that it is safe. There has never been a reported case in which someone

was hurt by an animal while staying overnight in a tent. Furthermore, risk from human is minimal.

In the countryside, the Mongolian people are very peaceful and try to show their hospitality to

outsiders. We have not had any such problems in the past.

Q: Can I take a hot shower everyday during my trip?

Unfortunately, this is not guaranteed. Although we try to make our trips as comfortable as

possible, there are times that we cannot find any ger tourist camps with showers in remote

areas. However, if you are traveling along the popular tourist routes, most likely you will be able

to take a hot shower everyday.

Q: I am a vegetarian. Can I get enough of my foods during the travels?

As long as we are informed beforehand of your needs, we can arrange for you to have your

favorite meals.

Q: I am not a very strong person physically. Will a trip to Mongolia be too much for me?

Traveling to Mongolia is more appealing to the individuals who are interested in exploration and

discovery, rather than in comfort and relaxation. Traveling requires extensive driving on bumpy

roads for several days, which is quite tiring for even for a very strong person. However, we all

know that driving itself is not the goal of your trip. We can make itineraries that are suitable for

anyone. Also we can adjust your itinerary at any time during your travel, if you and your travel

mates would like to do so.

Q: I am a snorer. Will that be a problem?

Please let us know whom you want (or do not want) to share a hotel room and/or yurt and/or

tents with. Also, please let us know if you do not want to share accommodations with anyone

else. As long as we are informed beforehand, we can arrange accommodations according to your

preferences.

Q: How is my accommodation arranged?

A: You will share a hotel room, a yurt in countryside camps and tents with one of your

travelmates unless you request otherwise. With whom you share accommodation is based on

your preference. When filling out our tentative order form, please clearly indicate your

accommodation preference, for example “I do not want to share a room” and “I would like to

share my room with ….” If you are a solo traveler, you will not share a room with anyone else.

If you are traveling in a group and choose not share with hotel room, ger, or tent with others,

approximately $30 per day is added to the total price of the trip.

Q: What if I get sick during the travel?

We always carry first aid kits. In an unfortunate case of serious illness and injury, we try to

reach the closest hospital, as soon as possible. However, if we are traveling to a really remote

area we might not be able to reach a hospital very quickly. We highly recommend that you bring

medications hat you feel comfortable with.

Q: What is the cheapest way to reach Mongolia?

The following are some of the cheapest ways to reach Ulaanbaatar City from its major gateways,

Beijing and Moscow. Remember, these are the cheapest routes but not necessarily the most

comfortable and safest routes.

From Beijing to Ulaanbaatar City

1)Take the bus from Beijing to the Chinese border city of Erenhot.

2)Cross the border with local bus from Erenhot to Zamiin-Uud, a Mongolia border city.

3)Take a Mongolian domestic train from Zamiin-Uud to Ulaanbaatar City

Another inexpensive way to reach your destination is to take international direct train from

Beijing to Ulaanbaatar City, which will cost approximately $150.

From Moscow to Ulaanbaatar City

1)Take trans-Siberian train from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar City.

For train schedule and cost check Mongolian railway website here.

Q: I am thinking about taking the trans-Siberian (or Trans-China) railway to get to

Ulaanbaatar City. Would you recommend this?

For some people, taking trains from Beijing or Moscow to Ulaanbaatar City is an adventure in

itself. However, we do not recommend these routes for the following reasons.

-These routes are not the safest way to get to your destination. There have been cases in

which passengers have lost their belongings from their train cars.

- These routes are not the most comfortable way to get to your destination. By train, it takes 5-

6 days to reach Ulaanbaatar City from Moscow and 1.5 days from Beijing. By the time our guests

reach Ulaanbaatar City, they are already very tired and not very eager to enjoy the major part

of their travels in Mongolia.

-There are many delays in the train schedules. Sometimes, these delays have a huge negative

effect on your entire trip in Mongolia. For example, there have been cases in which visitors have

missed the domestic flights that were scheduled the day after their arrival in Ulaanbaatar City

because their trains were delayed. Because of high demand during the peak travel season, quite

often it is difficult to find tickets for the next flight, which is usually 2-4 days later.

Q: When is the best season to travel?

The best season to travel is between June and September. The tourist season peaks in July

when there are many events of interest, including the Naadam Festival. June is best for travelers

to the Gobi Desert because it is not very hot. Late July and early August are the best time to

travel to Central and Western Mongolia, in terms of climate.

For fishermen late August and September are good times since the rivers are not usually flooded

at this time of the year.

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Mongolia? If yes, where can I obtain a visa?

It depends on what country you are a citizen of. Nationals of most foreign countries need a visa

to enter Mongolia. For detailed information, please check our visa section.

Q: I would like do some shopping when I am in Mongolia. Do I have time for that?

Yes, you usually have a few hours for shopping before your departure. If you need more time, we

can arrange your schedule accordingly.

Q: Has there been any cases in which someone was hurt for any reason when traveling in

the past.

A: No, there have not been any such cases. The safety of our visitors is our first priority, and

our experienced guides and technicians work hard to prevent anything like that.

Q: Why is traveling to Mongolia so expensive?

There are several reasons.

First of all, the prices we quote are“frank” prices. There are no hidden fees and costs of any

kind. Basically, once you arrive in Mongolia you do not have to spend a penny for anything,

unless you buy private goods such as alcoholic drinks and souvenirs. All accommodations, food,

transportation, and entertainment costs are included in the price we quote.

Secondly, Most of the trips require extensive off road driving on 4X4 jeeps with high gas

consumption. Average trip takes 900-1800 miles (1400-2800 kilometers) of off-road driving.

Combined with high gasoline prices, this is one of the factors that make the price of a trip

expensive. Contrary to what many people would expect, gasoline prices are higher in Mongolia

(on an average, $4.6 per gallon) than in the U.S.

Thirdly, Many of the trips include domestic flight costs of around $400-$700

And Fourth, Unfortunately, prices generally in Mongolia are not as low as you would normally

expect and they are increasing at an inflation rate of 30% a year. For example, a night in a four

star hotel costs about $100, and an average lunch costs about $20.

Q: Why do you ask for advance payment?

If a trip is cancelled, it is difficult to fill the gap because other potential customers would already

have ordered tours with other companies. Since we limit the number of customers we serve at

any one time, in order to provide the best service to our customers, cancellations have a

significant effect, in terms of lost profit opportunities. Sometimes, we incur loss, due to

cancellation because we would have already purchased the domestic flight tickets and have paid

some of the accommodation costs to reserve your place during the very competitive tourist

season. Advance payment is required to mitigate the risk for us resulting from such situations.

Q: What is the best group size for traveling in Mongolia?

From our experience in the past, groups of 5-8 people are best, in terms of balancing the

interests of individuals and sharing the costs.