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The Ger Experience
view the pics of the Elstei Ger Camp click here!
If you would like to experience the wide, open, empty plains of Mongolia - and live for a night in a traditional Mongolian felt Ger - BUT you would also like to have some basic toilet and washing facilities (and they are basic!), possibly meet some other travellers and go walking together, and maybe not eat nomad food prepared without even basic hygiene standards - AND not extend your trip enormously timewise and costwise, this is a great option.
We take you by road from Ulaanbaatar out to Elstei. What's at Elstei? Well, nothing really - but that's why you came! To see the vast empty spaces of Mongolia, and spend the night under the stars in a wooden-framed Ger felt tent. You get the afternoon of your first day in Mongolia free to wander (there's no included "program") - or possibly, and at additional cost paid directly to them, go horse-riding with the local nomads (they usually come to offer this - for around $6/hr - but they're not under our control, and we cannot guarantee this 100%. Bring your own hard-hat - they will definitely not have one you can borrow). You have the next day free for some more walking, exploring, or riding, and in the evening we take you back to Ulaanbaatar.
(If you have heard of "Terelj", and wonder why we don't offer it.... we did an inspection trip, and it was really awful. The hotel is unsafe after they started rebuilding it then the money ran out - its structurally dangerous at present. The whole area is covered with builders rubble and broken glass, and there were a large number of very dubious "characters" waiting-around. A pity - it was quite a nice location - until they wrecked it :-(
Real Nomads - Jeep Trek to Karakorum
For this trip, you must expect to stay with real nomads - who have never been vaccinated for anything in their lives, and who live a lifestyle completely unchanged from the C15th - with both the advantages of authenticity, and disadvantages of hygiene etc that this may mean for you. No vegetarian option, or any other special diet requests, are available!
This Jeep Trek is an eight-hour gruelling drive in a Russian jeep to Karakorum (please don't get over-excited - Karakorum has no major historic "sights" of the type you might have dreamt of!). You stay with Mongolian herdsmen. Visit the Erdenezuu Monastery, an extremely ancient complex whose history is linked with Genghis Khan. The Tortoise Statue is the only authenticated link to the ancient Mongol Court. Moving on, you visit Hogno Khaan Mountain - and stay with another herdsmen family. Visit the Hogno Khaan Mountain Monastery - then drive back to Ulaanbaatar.
The Jeep Trek can be operated for 1-3 passengers, and is fully guided. Meals are included, but please do not expect more than "camp" food.
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