Mongolian Adventure

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Christopher Walter

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written July 2012

  A really enjoyable and rewarding trip. The Steppe , the Gobi , the Gers and the people are something quite special. Travelling in the russian 4 wheeel drives is definately the way to travel. These vehicles allow you to travel into the real Mongolia. Generally well organised and good staff all make for a memorable trip. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Enjoying the Gers in the middle of nowhere. No fences , no restictions , no phone or email just the odd horseman riding past in the morning.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Group leader quite good. English skills adequate but did create some confusion with translations. Could not have tried harder and just a lovely person.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Pick pockets in Ulaan Bataar the worst I have struck ANYWHERE. [ especially during the Nadam ]

  Don't excpect too much in the way of cuisine whilst travelling - some chilli paste / tabasco will win you a lot of friends around the table.

  There are not many towns that have ATMs and changing anything except US dollars in towns banks can be an issue. Addtionally old US notes [ older than 2007 ] can also be a problem.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Bring a sense of humour , be flexible and don't expect the showers to always be hot - then you will have a great and memorable trip.

   
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  Matt Ward

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written July 2012

  Definitely go to Mongolia-even better go during Nadaam. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The hospitality of the nomadic people we dropped in on to visit and trying their camel's cheese, mare's milk, goat and vodka.

  Encounters with the interesting characters who gather for the Nadaam in Ulaanbaatar.

  Travelling through vast and varied landscapes

  Crazy journey to get to the horse racing-never experienced anything like this before.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Erdene was a lovely person and also a good guide.

  He had a lot knowledge though sometimes he needed a little prompting to give it

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for any sort of weather

  Some of the views in the Nadaam stadium are a bit distant, much better for the archery and ankle bone shooting

  Although it didn't seem unsafe,probably wise not to carry unnecessary amounts of cash/valuables around UB at festival time.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Trip should also definitely include the huge Chinggi's Khan statue (photos towards start of Lonely Planet guide) as it is only a short deviation from the Terelj National Park. This is a fairly new attraction and we all chipped in for the extra fuel to get here which was well worth it.

   
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  Yokey Yuen

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written June 2012

  Good outdoor, wild country trip. Attended the Naadam Festival and came away feeling that there is not a huge amount of culture but that is to be expected from traditionally nomadic peoples. Museums have a rather unloved feeling about them.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The great open plains.

  The hospitality of the nomadic people and the camel's cheese, salted tea and soured mare's milk that they offerred us.

  The Mongolian way of re-commencing religion/Buddhism in their country after Soviet rule.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  She was absolutely lovely. Did her best at all times.

  English skills required polishing up.

  She didn't have very much control over the drivers and we kept losing the other trucks (we were in a convoy of 3 trucks) and had to double back etc. Also, got lost in the Gobi desert twice! Ended up having extremely long drives of 12hrs and 14hrs on 2 of our travel days. She didn't want to worry us and told us that everything was fine when it was obvious that it really wasn't. It would have been better if she had told us the truth and we could have helped her look out for landmarks.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Beware of pickpockets at the Naadam Festival in UB. They are particularly aggressive and use the slash (yes, with a knife) and grab method.

  The view in the stadium from where tourists are seated is not ideal. We couldn't really see anything happenning in the centre of the stadium where the opening ceremony was held. Try to catch a festival outside of UB and you will get a much closer and rewarding experience.

  Bring travel sickness medication if you suffer from it as the truck rides are rough, bumpy and very, very long.

  Food isn't bad just boring. Be prepared for lots and lots of coleslaw and boiled mutton. Condiments and lots of beer will assist in washing it all down.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  There was a lot of time spent on the road to get to not very much at the end of a long, hard day. I can truly say that unless you really enjoy long and rough truck rides, this is not the trip for you.

   
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  PENNY HOUGHTON

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written August 2011

  Mongolia is a fascinating country. Enjoyed every minut of the trip. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Visiting a couple of families in their gers and seeing how they live on the plains.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent group leader.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Sit back and enjoy the whole experience - Russian jeeps are not the most comfortable - but travelling this way enables you to see so much. The gers are basic, but extremely comfortable. The food - which was my big worry - was excellent. Salads, vegetables and fruit every day.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Would love to go back and explore other parts of the country!

   
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  Nirmalee De Silva

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written September 2009

  All the camps were surprisingkly comfortable but what was a little worrying was that there was no means of communication between the vehicles so if one got lost it caused a lots of problems.  Also you can change sterling in the city banks.  Both your hand luggage and your hold luggage is weighed at the internal airport so get your shopping early and leave it in the hotel! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Getting really close to seven wild horses including 2 foals and seeing one of them feeding - all because we had a puncture on the way back to camp!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  They were both very friendly and helpful.  The more experienced one was extremely good when it came to any medical emergencies!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Pack some warm leggings to put under skirts for the cold mornings and the windy camps!  Be prepared for fighting eagles and startled ibex.  Take all medicines with you as the ones there have instructions in Cyrillicand you can't tell if you are allergic to some of the ingredients.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Be prepared for anything to happen, be relaxed about time and just enjoy it!

   
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  jonathan hood

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written July 2009

  Fantastic trip. Great group of travellers.  I have posted a load of pictures on Flickr which you are most welcome to use (subject to acknowledgment !)http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonahood/collections/  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Meeting the nomads and visiting their gers.

  Also the Festival Concert was a revelation as to the highly sophisticated musicianship and the beautiful and unique sounds produced by both the  instruments and the performers. To hear high quality 'long song' and throat singing was a real privilege. The concert needs more promotion and I woukd strongly sugest it is added to the package.

  The experience of driving has to be seen to be believed. They drive as they ride their horses. Traffic in the capital is almost always at a standstill as they have no concept of  traffic rules and accordingly spend hours gridlocked. The drive to the races was like somthing out of Mad Max; unbelievable. Huge fun !

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Erdene was both charming, efficient and altogether first rate. His assistant, Uyanga could not have been more fun. Without doubt both added hugely to the success of the trip.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  On this  trip the rigours of being tossed around for hours at a time in Russian vans should not be underestimated. Huge distances at speed off road not for the feint hearted!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We went for the Nadaam. The opening ceremony was fantastic, as too was the Festival horse race. The closing ceremony was interminable; partly because of having to sit through hours ( literally) of painfully slow Mongolian wrestling which is like watching giant tortoises mate. Junk the closing ceremony. It would also help if the rules of wrestling could be incorporated in the paperwork as clearly its a very big thing in Mongolia and without knowing the rules the undoubted subleties ( I assume) are missed.

   

   
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  James Thomson

  MONGOLIAN ADVENTURE

  

  Written July 2009

  A chance to sample a vast country populated by a people with a unique culture and a lifestyle which has changed little in centuries. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Meeting the nomads in their camps where their life was very traditional, but with the comfort of solar panels and satellite TV(!)

  Experiencing the vast emptiness of the steppes and the Gobi

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very friendly and she tried very hard - she was on her own as group leader and tour guide.   Unfortunately her limited English let her down at times, this may be why she wasn't very good at discussing programme options with the group.   We had to insist on going back to the stadium on day 2 of the Naadam festival.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The ger camps are good, better than expected, but be prepared for erratic standards of showers and toilets.

  There are some very long driving days.   These are unavoidable in such a vast sparsely populated country.

  Don't expect to see many old buildings.   Nomads don't go in for "permanent" in a big way!

  The weather can be very changeable and you should be prepared for hot, cold, sunny, windy, and torrential downpours.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Terelj National Park can be covered adequately as a day visit, an overnight stay drags it out too far.

  It's quicker and easier to get to the Naadam Stadium on foot than by bus.   Ulaan Baatar traffic is busy and a bit anarchic at the best of times, at Naadam it becomes grid lock.

   

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