Mongolia

July – September

Mongolia’s season for outdoor activities is limited to just a few short months out of the year (unless you are ready for polar winter temperatures!)

We choose to go to Mongolia in the shoulder season month of September. The main reason is they are less people in the mountains during this time, but the weather in September is generally colder than in July or August. 

Winter in Mongolia is cold. Like really, really cold. Ulaanbaatar is known for being the coldest capital on earth during the winter, with temperatures regularly hitting -30 C. 

July through September though, the days can be very pleasant, even at higher altitudes. 

The weather in Mongolia during the summer can really vary depending on where you go. While it may be bright and sunny in the capital, it could be snowing in the mountains.

Lower elevations are generally hotter and drier; snow is common at any time of the year in the mountains, even summer. Also strong winds can occasionally prevail too in the mountains. 

• Ulaanbaatar – Pleasant days, chilly nights. Highs between 16-20 C, and lows between 0 – 7 C. Rain and clouds rare in September but possible. 
• Olgii – Brisk in the morning, mild chill during the day, potentially dropping below freezing at night. Highs between 10-15. Lows between 0 and 5 C. 
• During the Trek in Tuvan Bogd National Park: If the weather is sunny, it is perfect trekking weather in September. Highs between 5-12 C during the day. Nights: expect freezing temperatures most if not every night. Lows between -7 and 0 most nights.

                                               

We offer a variety of unique and comfortable accommodation options on this trip. From hotels  to traditional Ger camps (yurts) and quality 4-season tents; we do our best to make sure where we sleep is part of the overall tour experience.

It is important to discuss the significance of Gers in Mongol culture and what it will be like staying in them. Gers are large temporary structures built from felt and wood or metal support beams. They are always circular in shape and sort of resemble large tents or a small pavilion. 

Gers are extremely important to Mongol society. They are believed to have been used by Central Asian nomads for over 3000 years and were crucial to their lifestyle and prosperity. To this day, Gers are still a cornerstone of nomadic lifestyle and are used regularly, not only on remote pasture land, but also in the backyards of families living in medium sized cities. 

Gers range in size but generally accommodate 3-6 people. Most of them are equipped with a coal-burning stove that is lit at night to keep guests very toast at night; smoke is vented outside the tent. 

Here is a brief rundown of what kind of accommodation to expect in each location: 

• Ulaanbaatar: 4-star hotel in the city center
  
• Olgii: Ger camp owned by our local friends (2-3 people per Ger). 
• Trek: 4 season North Face Tents (2 people to a tent)

Horse culture in Mongolia is one of the aspects of the country that makes it so fascinating. Nomadic herders have been pasturing their animals on the Mongol step for millennia — a practice that is still very much alive and well today as it is in other parts of Central Asia. 

The horses are tame and suitable for beginner riders.  The concept of this trip is to break up the trekking and horse riding equally so that you spend half the day on foot walking and the other half of the day on horseback. 

If you have a fear of horses, of course it is not mandatory to ride – but we encourage everyone to push their comfort zone limits and at least give it a go! This is the chance for a truly unique adventure experience and if not in Mongolia, where else will you ride horses in such an epic location?!

The main cell phone providers in Mongolia are: MobiCom, Skytel, G-mobile, and Unitel. Each phone company has varying coverage and plans. 

Coverage in Mongolia is pretty good, with the exception of the national park where we trek. Expect to offline for about a week of the 15 day itinerary. 

In our opinion, it’s not worth the hassle of getting a SIM card as our hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Olgii have Wifi.  Keep in mind that this trip is a chance for our guests to unplug and fully embrace a proper digital detox. 

The internet situation in Mongolia is likely not what you are used to, so please have realistic expectations regarding wifi and internet speeds/access. 

Mongolia is a safe country by many standards. Violent and petty crimes are rare, although corruption is not unheard of. Water is generally not potable in Mongolian cities, but food in restaurants is generally clean and should not make you sick. The chances of getting sick are comparable to those in a Western nation.

You may have guessed, this adventure tour carries a certain amount of risk since we are traveling and trekking DEEP into the mountains in a developing country on an active adventure. This is not your average holiday per se. There will be no cocktails on the beach.

Guest Safety is  always Epic’s #1 priority and our experienced ground team does everything within their power to set our group up for a safe adventure. 

The name of the game is security and safety first as well as using common sense for injury prevention!

In case of emergency, your Epic trip leader is equipped with a satellite communication device, which can contact outside emergency first responders from any place in Mongolia.

Mongolian food is actually more diverse than its reputation would suggest.

Meat and bread are very integral to the local diet. Fresh fruits and salads are still common though – especially in cities, which bodes well for vegetarians.

Food can vary greatly depending on where we are.

In Ulaanbaatar, there will be pretty much everything you would hope to find in a major city. International restaurants are plentiful and are of a high quality.

In the more remote parts of the country, cooking is more traditional. Classic Mongolian cuisine is very hearty — there will be a lot of bread, dairy, soups, and red meat. Spicing is simple. Vegetables are generally hearty and include potatoes, dark greens, and roots, like carrots. 

Mongolian are in general very hospitable and it is not uncommon for us to be invited into the home of a nomad family for local cheese, tea, and sweets.

Kumis (fermented mare’s milk) may also be offered. It is a very strange drink and we encourage going outside comfort zones to try it. Hosts will not be offended if you say no.

Food whilst camping will be the best possible quality. We hire a local chef to spoil us with amazing camp meals during the trekking portion of the trip. 

• Breakfast: fried eggs, porridge, jam, sweets, bread, cheese, milk, tea, coffee
• Hotel/City Lunch: Example options: Soup course, rice, veggies, meat, chicken, french fries, some sort of salad, pasta, tea. 
• Trekking Lunch: We serve a proper packed lunch. Example: pasta with meat and salad. Rice, beef, potato stew and dumplings or traditional savory pastries. 
• Dinner: larger meals, rice, stews, grilled meats, bread, salads, sweets. Always, always hot tea!

All guests coming on this Mongolia Expedition MUST confirm their country’s visa agreement with Mongolia well in advance of the start of the tour.

Visa fees are NOT included in the tour price and it is your responsibility to obtain the correct visa in a timely manner from Kyrgyz Immigration if needed. 

MOST nationalities are able to visit Mongolia without a visa or can obtain a visa upon arrival (VOA).

Be sure to check the official immigration website to if your nationality qualifies. Not every country can receive a visa upon arrival. As such, it is a good idea to double check.

If you do not qualify for a visa upon arrival, then you can visit the online portal to apply for an evisa.

Follow this link to apply!

The official currency of Mongolia is the Tugrik.  

ATMs are common in the larger urban areas, like Ulaanbaatar and Olgii. We also recommend that you bring some foreign cash (for tips and souvenirs) and change it at the airport or in the city (if the money changer is open at the airport). USD, Euro, British Pounds are all fine. Cards seem to work everywhere in Mongolia as well. 

As to how much money you should bring, here are some costs for you to take into account… 

• Souvenirs vary in price from a couple of dollars to hundreds, depending on what you are buying and how good you are at haggling. 
• Soft drinks and water are about $1 cents to $2. 
• A meal will set you back between $10 – $15.

Money Recommendation for this trip: If you take out the equivalent of 300 USD in Mongolian Tugrik, you should have more than enough to get meals on your own, get souvenirs, buy beer, pick up snacks, and extra drinks and meals along the way.  

When we return to Ulaanbaatar or Olgii at the end of the tour, you will have a chance to get out more cash should you need (for shopping, tipping staff, last minute purchases, etc).

If you want to stay on in Mongolia and continuing exploring – great idea! Tourist visas are typically good for 30 days in length.

Guests often ask us where they should visit in Mongolia if they have extra time. There are many options; here are a few suggestions based upon different travels:

• Gobi Desert: Visit epic sand dunes, sites where they discovered dinosaurs, and some truly dramatic canyons
• Kharkhorin: Lying far in eastern Mongolia, Kharkhorin is the former capital of the Mongolian Empire before they moved their court to Beijing. 
• Lake Khuvsgol: A 100-mile alpine lake in Northern Mongolia. The area is part of a national park that makes up the greater region around Khuvsgol. Five distinct Mongolian ethnic groups populate the area, including the Buriat, Khalk, Darhat, Urianghai and Tsaatan  Shamanism has a strong influence on local traditions, culture, and general way of life.