Our colleague Jordi at Viajes Tuareg specialises in Central Asia. He travelled to Mongolia at the end of the year to update our routes to Mongolia and assess potential developments in the area on the ground.
We want to share with you some of his impressions of this exploratory trip in Asia. Here are their experiences and comments.
«On our way to Bayan Gobi, we explore Khustain Nuruu Reserve, a refuge for the last surviving wild horses. Continuing east, we reach the magnificent Orkhon Valley, where we decide to add the walk to Tuvkhun Monastery to the itinerary.
A new asphalt road allows you to return to Ulaanbaatar via Lake Ugii, a good variant for our 2014 trips».
Below are some images of what we found”
Hotels of the steppe: tourist ger camps
“Accommodation options have multiplied, with different categories now available. Tourist ger camps operate at the country’s main sights, some offering a degree of sophistication.”
Land Cruiser versus UAZ 4×4 vans
“Although roads have improved, 4×4 vehicles remain essential. Should we use Toyota-style off-road vehicles or classic 8-seater Russian vans? Do we increase the price to make the trip more comfortable?”
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital
“It is no longer a capital with a handful of poorly stocked shops. Today there are department stores, countless restaurants, dreadful traffic and heavy pollution. And karaoke bars—lots of them. The city exerts a magnetic pull on rural Mongolia that we find hard to understand.”
Nomadic peoples of the twenty-first century
“Here, nomadic life goes hand in hand with modernity. Gers have solar panels and satellite dishes, while horses share transport duties with motorbikes and pick-up trucks.”
Hospitality in Mongolia
“Visitors are invited into a home – usually a ger – with remarkable ease, to drink tea with the ever-present aaruul. A local companion helps communication.”
The Orkhon Valley
"It's hard to imagine a more beautiful place. There are places where we seem to find the land as it should have been thousands of years ago; the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania is one of them; the Orkhon River Valley also falls into this category."
Buddhism and the Monastery of Erdene Zuu
“A spectacular monastery rises from the steppe beside Khar Khorin. One part is a place of worship, another a museum. It is the closest thing to a tourist attraction in Mongolia.”
Equestrian statue of Genghis Khan
“The local superhero deserved no less. About 40 km from Ulaanbaatar stands a gigantic statue of Genghis Khan. An enormous theme park devoted to him is being built around it, including hundreds of gers and 10,000 horsemen statues inspired by Xi’an’s terracotta warriors. When complete, it will attract visitors from across Asia.”
Upcoming trips to Mongolia
Mongolia✔️ Departure 8 JUL 2024
✔️ Price from 3400€
✔️ Departure 8 JUL > 3, 10 AUG 2024
✔️ Price from 3050€