Mongolia: Steppes, Deserts & Nomads - Naadam Festival

• Accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels), 8 Simple nights (traditional nomadic ger camps)
• Travel by 4×4 Jeeps, bus and one internal flight
• Some long drives through very remote country
• Eagle Festival and non-festival departures also available
• Alternative Naadam itinerary for 9 July departure

Traditional Mongolian diets are very meat and dairy heavy. While there are opportunities to try some of these products, such as dry curd and fermented mare’s milk, the meals provided in the ger camps are generally Western meals, at times with an Asian influence. There is normally some form of soup and salad plus a main course and desert. Vegetarians are generally well catered for; if you are vegetarian or have other dietary requirements, please inform us in advance. Breakfasts can vary from place to place, some are buffets while others are set, normally cereal, bread and possibly a hot dish. On some days, a pack lunch is provided, this is often still a proper meal (though without the soup). Water is provided and is generally from large water containers, so make sure to bring a refillable water bottle. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, vodka and (most of the time) wine are available to buy at the ger camps. There is the opportunity to buy snacks in Ulaanbaatar and on a couple of other occasions along the way when we drive through towns or villages.

July and August are summer in Mongolia and daytime temperatures should be a pleasant 20C (68F) in Ulaanbaatar and central regions. Temperatures can reach a maximum of 33C (91F) in the capital and high 30Cs (around 100F) in the Gobi Desert in July. Although the average is lower, expect some very warm weather. Evening temperatures are uniformly 15C-20C (59F-68F). Humidity is very low. These months are also the wet season. Over a trip of this duration, expect some rain but showers do not normally last long and the total rainfall during this period is very low.

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Mongolia is six and a half times larger than the UK but with a population 21 times smaller. Understandably, this means that large tracts of the country do not have much infrastructure. Much of our time is spent in areas where roads are barely tracks through the landscape.

We go further into the wilderness than the average visitor to Mongolia and, while this allows us to travel through stunning parts of the country, encountering few people other than the odd nomad, it does mean some days involve long and bumpy drives. These drives are balanced with time to relax and take in the incredible surroundings often with the option of going for a walk or, sometimes, a horse or camel ride.

There are some scheduled hikes, looking for wild Przewalski's (takhi) horses and visiting the singing dunes, Vulture’s Mouth canyon and the Flaming Cliffs, for instance. These are relatively short, no more than one or two hours, on mostly flat or rolling terrain. The Flaming Cliffs hike may not be suitable if you have an acute fear of heights and can involve some scrambling; however, it’s still possible to enjoy great views of the cliffs and opt out of the walk.

The climate in central Mongolia is generally pleasant in summer when the trip runs. In the Gobi Desert, however, temperatures can get well above 30C (86F), even approaching 40C (104F).

This trip goes off the tourist trail and encounters local nomads. It takes us through spectacular and diverse wilderness and gives us an insight into a fascinating country unlike any other.