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Land of the Great Khan (GK)
Home On The Steppe/michele CookMore Photos
  • Comfort: Basic Tooltip
  • Tour Pace: Moderate Tooltip
  • Classic Explore
  • Festival
13 days land only visiting Mongolia
  • from €1960 Land only *
  • * Prices based on 2013/14 Standard Itinerary.
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Detailed Trip Notes

Details may vary depending on departure date. Please choose

Suitability

Suitability

We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.

Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour.  For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.

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Tour Itinerary

Budgeting for your Tour

Other Sightseeing & Activites

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.

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Excursion Prices

  • Rafting with yak cart- In Jalman Meadows US$15.
  • Horseriding - In Jalman Meadows US$7 per hour.
  • Ulaan Baatar - Cultural evening US$12.

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Tipping

Tour Leader: At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.

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Local Crew: Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.

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Local Staff:  Accordingly, you should allow US$40 for tipping.

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Foreign Exchange

Local Currency: Tugrik.

Recommended Currency for Exchange: Most people spend around $200 to $300 over the two weeks. It is easier to carry your funds in small denomination US$ cash as this is the most readily accepted form of currency for the ger camps. Please bring only clean bills issued after 1991.

Where to Exchange: It is advisable to keep receipts for any purchases as these may be required by Mongolian Customs upon departure.

Credit Card Acceptance: In major restaurants.

Travellers Cheques: Can be exchanged in Ulaan Baatar.

Up-to-date information re:global exchange rates can be obtained at https://www.currencyexpress.com/explore/

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Local Costs

  UK Mongolia
Tea/Coffee £1.50 $0.50
Soft Drink £1.50 $2.00
Bottled Water £1.50 $1.00
Bottle of Beer £3.50 $2.00
2 Course Meal* £15.00 $8.00
3 Course Meal** £20.00 $20.00
Bottle of Wine £14.50 $12.00
Breakfast £5.00 $4.00

*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.

Important Information

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.

If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.

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Visa Requirements

Mongolia: Entry visas are required by many nationalities including those from the UK. Currently, American citizens do not require a visa. The visa must be obtained before travel. All customers must apply for their visa in person at the Mongolian Embassy or through one if their two registered visa agents.

http://www.embassyofmongolia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=35&Itemid=54&lang=en

A minimum of four weeks is required to process such applications. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.

 

Visitors who have been in Mongolia for more than 90 days must obtain an exit visa to leave the country. The exit visa is obtained from the Mongolian Immigration Agency office (address details below) and usually takes 10 days to process. Visitors to Mongolia for less than 90 days do not need any kind of exit permit.

You must hold a valid passport to enter Mongolia. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Mongolia.

 

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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

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Vaccinations & Protection

The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

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Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio.

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Know before you go

We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/

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Preparing for your tour

Climate

Mongolia has an extreme continental climate similar to that of south-central Siberia or Manchuria and enhanced by a mean elevation of 1500m. Winters are long and very cold. There is a swift transition in May to a short, warm summer and an equally rapid return to the winter cold in October. Summer temperatures vary from around 35°C in the desert to as low as 15°C in the mountains. Frost can occur in the mornings in the Terelj National Park. Rainfall is low everywhere; no more than 38-51cm a year in the mountains and as little as 13cm in the drier lowland parts although do come prepared for the occasional downpour. However, temperatures drop very quickly when rainfall does occur. (Rainfall can be heavy, therefore, a good quality rainjacket and waterproof trousers are essential). Be prepared for all weather conditions during your tour.

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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.

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Packing for your tour

To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you. 

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Luggage

Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company

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One main piece of lockable baggage ideally a soft holdall, kitbag or frameless rucksack. Total allowance: 44lbs/20kgs. Keep luggage to a strict minimum as you will be expected to carry your bag throughout. Porters are not available in Mongolia. The weight limit for the Ulaan Baatar flight from the South Gobi is 15kg. Luggage can be stored in Ulaan Baatar if not required on either the Jalman Meadows or South Gobi sections of the tour.

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Clothing

Daytime temperatures are warm and we recommend lightweight clothing plus some warm layers for the drop in night temperatures experienced in high desert areas and mountains of Mongolia. You will also need a good waterproof jacket and trousers as rain can be heavy.

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Footwear

Light walking boots and comfortable shoes and sandals.

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General Information

General Information

Festival dates and events are often subject to last minute changes and we cannot guarantee exactly what will take place. We would endeavour to contact you to inform you of any change made known to us in advance of departure.

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Electric Supply & Plugs

For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/

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