How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent, took care of all interest of the group, good background infos about Mongolia

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"-Good health
-able to accept some basics
-only natur
-no conection to internet, telefon during the trip
-spare battery, not easy to charge "

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

OK, a really lovely lady, very friendly and a considerate leader however it was her first trip to Mongolia and ewas effectively 'in trainig' so she was entirely reliant on Handa the local guide from Nomadic Journeys. Handa could have easliy run the trip without her. Was a bit miffed that we had to fork out for tips for two leaders through no fault of our own.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Take a selection of clothes, we had 30 degree heat in UB and hailstones the size of marbles in Kharakorum!
Take a torch!
If you want to sleep on the bus take a travel pillow as it can be hard on your skull otherwise!
Not necessary to take cereal bars or dried fruit like I did as teh food is very good (not just mutton and dairy!)
Milk a goat if you get the chance!
Try the fermented mare's milk if you can but don't drink it all unless you want a belly ache!
Most places seemed to have loo roll!"

Do you have anything else to add?

"Would have neen nice to have a bit of time in a town (eg Kharakorum or Dalazangad) just to see what a rural town is like.
Other than the first 'Ger day' we didn't have much time for walks either although I appreciate that it's difficult to squeeze it all in!"

I loved the Gobi, and the steppe but my favourite place was Hogno Khan especially the walk to the ruined monastary. Ulaan Battaar is a bit of a grubby city so I was quite happy to just spend two incomplete days there. The flies in Jalman Meadows will always stand out in my memory!!! ( GK - 4th July 2011)

I had several concerns before this trip: was it a good idea to go at festival time? Is July not the rainy season? Long uncomfortable days driving across flat landscape?  In fact July is a good time to be in Mongolia: weather was pleasant; flowers and butterflies were at their best; bird life was active. The bus travel was more comfortable than other Explore trips, and never boring. Naadam festival was quite low key, as we saw it in a small town, but good to see Mongolian culture. The restored monasteries were a highlight, with chanting monks as in Tibet. Staying in Gers was ethnic, fun, comfortable, with good food ; and being in the country, quiet with easy bird watching walks from camp. I saw over 100 bird species, including Arctic Warbler, Siberian Ruby throat, Mongolian Lark, Demoiselle Cranes and Black Vulture (40 on one dead horse!).  Flights, and delays, via Korea meant we saw another country too. but that's another story ! ( GK - 4th July 2011)

1. The stunning scenery, endless sky  and the colourful Naadam Opening Ceremony.  2. Having my Blackberry stolen in UB  3. Be prepared to put aside some of our western comforts in order to fully enjoy the accommodation at Ger Camps. And indeed beware of pickpocketers in UB. ( GK - 30th June 2011)

Still relatively untouched by tourism, Mongolia is unlike anywhere else in the world and a huge privilege to visit. The stereotypes about the country are accurate – the big blue skies; the mile-upon-mile of steppe landscape, punctuated only by the odd ger. I was bowled-over by the extent to which Mongolia’s nomadic culture is still so inherent in day-to-day life. It is not necessarily the sights that you ‘tick off a list’ that make a visit to Mongolia so special. For me, it was more about experiencing a culture that is so different from my own.  What’s more, I will never forget the peace and tranquillity of this sparsely populated country. (GK - 4th July 2011)