Cycling The Empire of Genghis Khan

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...

Average Review Rating: from 8 reviews.

David Anderson

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2012
Not the hardest, not the most technical and not offering the most to see, but this is the best Exodus cycling trip yet for me - purely because of the sheer FUN in cycling in such a remote terrain in wide wild landscapes shared with large herds of wild horses, camels and goats. We had pure blue skies every day ............and the circling eagles were breathtaking.............how could it not be the best!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling along side and through herds of stampeding horses was the most exhilirating moment. Stalking eagles perched on hillsides got us some of our best photos.
It is possible to cycle out of camp or climb a local hill and see no modern infrastructure whatsoever - in a 360 deg panorama of 15 miles radius............the remoteness is tangible.
What did you think of your group leader?
Gan was my cup of tea - a local guide, knows his country and its people with a no nonsense attitude. He was more distant than most guides and completely free of gratuitous bonhomie that you get from most guides - this meant when he was in the mood to share his experiences, they were far more revealing, personal and enjoyable. Gan was very well travelled in Russia and the former eastern block - even been to an 'Old Firm' football match! A safe pair of hands - well received by the local herders/families we met - and respected by his support team of drivers and cooks. Thank you Gan.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We stopped off in Seoul for several days on the way out - it breaks up the long flight to Mongolia which is punishing with a lengthy stopover. On the way back again another lengthy stopover was broken by prebooking a room in the Airport Terminal Hotel at Seoul at a cost of £100 - well worth the money.
Camping in September means very cold nights - a good sleeping bag and liner are essential and layers of warm clothes for early morning and early evenings at camp. Limited opportunties for buying treats - take your own from home.
The bikes were not well maintained or serviced - take a can of oil and use liberally.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Ulaan Baatar is a bit of a frontier town............it might have a few designer shops and some western restaurants, but it is largely a higglety pigglety city with over 1million people with little sense of city planning or achitecture...........all traffic and building sites! What Mongolia offers is not in UB but well well outside its confines.
Caroline Rogers

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written July 2012
This was a wonderful experience, full of wide open spaces, lots of sky and great company. The support team were attentive to our every need and the feeling of rushing through the seemingly endless landscape on the bike lingers beyond the trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Gliding on a bike through the wide open spaces, accompanied by galloping horses on one side and friends on the other.
What did you think of your group leader?
Quentin: a passionate cyclist, with a quiet and calm demeanour.
Michelle: Mongolian warrior princess!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take kit for all seasons: for the extreme hot, wet and cold.
Wet wipes come in handy.
Chinggis black is the best vodka.
Bring some money for Cashmere.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do not hesitate if you yearn for space, air and companionship. Mongolia is a surprising country of contrasts. And aeroflot wasn't so bad...
Donna Grant

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written July 2012
Mongolia - land of wide open spaces and fabulous hats!A land of great natural beauty with an amazing history.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling alongside herds of galloping horses. Suddenly the herd leader would lengthen its stride and cut across the track in front of us. The rest would follow. Mongolian horses are small, primitive looking and very wild. To see them running free across the steppe was wonderful.
As a city dweller, I loved the wild camping, the night skies with no light pollution, the feeling of space and being part of the natural world.
The 360 degree vast open landscape as we cycled off-road with the occasional altercation with a marmot hole or muddy puddle while listening to hardcore drum 'n bass on my ipod.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leaders had a thorough knowledge of the culture and areas we visited. Always cheerful, they made our trip special and made us feel special. We felt free to enjoy ourselves, secure in the fact that they would look after us and they did.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Gel inners for your shorts and/or a gel saddle cover, plenty of base layers and waterproof gear and factor 50 sun block. Yes the climate is surprising! Leave some space in your luggage to bring back some of the excellent vodka and cashmere (or interesting hats).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A couple of the best weeks I've ever experienced. Just go - you'll see what I mean.
Michael Hayward

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2011
Once I arrived in UB the trip was very good apart from the last day. I could make nothing but praise for the staff who are the local based company that run this trip on behalf of Exodus
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The endless wide open spaces and big skies
What did you think of your group leader?
Ganer was excellent, just the right balance between letting you find out for yourself but willing to answer any questions that you had.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I chose to rent a bike from exodus supposedly had front suspension. My bike only had 1" of travel so was pretty much like no suspension.
I Took my own saddle and pedals of which I was glad.
Biking was easy smooth technically not too demanding and 100% ridable. I found the food good and plentiful and the trip staff (cook, driver and guide )very good.
There is not that much to do beside shopping and drinking in UB.
The local kids love balloons - take some to give to them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If the Exodus staff in the UK were as good as the staff in Mongoila I would have no problems, but they are very variable in reliability. I rang quite a few times with queries and on some occasion I was told people would ring back, but they did not. Once I made a complaint, as one guy did not even pass on the message. Later I was told that no record of my complaint was made. The quality control there is clearly an issue.
Exodus booked us flights via Soeul. S Korea- this was a 12 hour flight. On the way out We then had to wait 6 hours for a connecting flight back to Mongolia (which we had flown over on the way. However there was another flight to UB with the same airline that left 2 hours before our flight.
We finished cycling on Thursday, and drove back to UB on Friday arriving at 4 p.m. then off to see a local cultural show which was good. Our flight was booked for Saturday at 23-50. So we had a whole day to do nothing in UB. We all felt that getting the flight friday night would have been better. OR sometime later on Saturday, since we then had a 10 hour wait to get our flight back to the UK.OR do another day cycling so there is not a dead day at the end of the trip.
Presumably Exodus do some sort of deal with Korean airlines to get cheap flight tickets. Their priority should be to minimise transfer time and maximise cycling time.
The first two days of the trip is now on road as the tracks were tarmac tarmac-ed 2 years ago. teh loacl guys say they have told Exodus- but the trip notes have not been changed.
The trip notes say 'overnight is a comfortable sleeping compartments on a train. Dinner is taken on the train - the train trip is awful - to be endured not enjoyed. No-one got any sleep and dinner was a sandwich!! - This should be deleted from the trip and travel by road instead.
There were only 4 people on my trip. A couple a lady and myself. I rang up four weeks before the trip to get add a single supplement- instead of informing me it would not be needed as there were only 4 on the they happily took my money.
So I suggest to make the best of the trip expect exodus to cause you a few problems, Book your own flight to minimise the transfer times and likely contact the local company direct to avoid wasting a day at the end of the trip. Apart from that you will have a fab time.
Steve Mallon

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2011
i think that mongolia is one hell of incredable place although it is a really long journey to get there but well worth it when you get there.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
there where to many to mention firstly the weather one minute it can be red hot then it be really cold frosty in the morning,also it did snow.The guides eddie and michelle were the best i have ever had made you feel really welcome from start to finish,the drivers cooks where wonderful people,and the cycling but this trip isnt for the faint hearted beware it can be quite tough.Staying in a local boarding school was also a highlight it made me realize how lucky us in the west are .Finally everyone in the group was very easy to get along with and by the end we where like a small family that memory will also stay with me forever
What did you think of your group leader?
in one word Fantastic eddie and michelle and all the support team did us proud in my words the best leaders i have had on a cycling trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Dont let the travelling put you off,also if i was to vist again i would pack lots more warm clothes as it can drop below zero at night
Is there anything else you would like to add?
yes i think exodus should look at a more direct route to UB as we flew over mongolia to get to seoul,then had to wait 6 hours to get another flight back into UB to me this doesnt make much sense, also maybe you could spent a few more nights in ger camps as having a fire at night was very welcome maybe 7 nights camping and a few more ger camps please.
gillian goode

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2011
A unique holiday in a unique country. Cycling gives the opportunity to really immerse in the landscape and interact with local herders.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
One day we followed a river valley and herd after herd of horses would gallop beside and across our path - watching their behaviour up close was fantastic. Returning home I cannot help but feel sorry for horses isolated in tiny paddocks and stables here. Having the opportunity to ride a Mongolian horse and finding how responsive it was to me (a beginner) was also great.
I always love to discover the lifestyle of people in other countries and in Mongolia I was not disappointed - visiting two ger families, watching horses being milked, yaks being lassooed and children at play and school. Lodging at a boarding school overnight due to bad weather really enabled us to explore the small town and interact with the local people.
What did you think of your group leader?
Erdene is a very caring individual taking great care of all of us, and from the start helping us quickly become a functional team. Daily briefings were very useful.
Misheel, his assistant, has a more outgoing personality and added to the trip with her obvious pride in and passion for her country.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for the cold. Even on sunny days the early mornings and nights will be very cold. Warm hat, gloves, coat and a good quality sleeping bag are ESSENTIAL. Do not forget lip protection - several people had very sore lips by the end. Good cycling glasses advised - my eyes suffered with the wind.
Prepare for cycling day after day without many rest or 1/2 days. It was my first cycling holiday but others in the group commented that possibly the grading should be higher as the off road nature makes it quite tough compared to other 'moderate' grade holidays. Some of the downhills were quite difficult due to sand, gravel and ruts. The vans could not seat us all so you could not 'hop on and off' easily.
I loved the holiday but be prepared for basic camping and, even at the ger camps, showers may not work. Plenty of wipes advised!! Inhibitions about toileting during the day are soon lost - there are very few bushes for us ladies to hide behind!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food was fantastic throughout the trip and a highlight was watching our driver slaughter a sheep the traditional way and butcher it expertly to provide meat for the second half of the trip. 'Can kill a sheep in minutes' was heard many times when referring to him afterwards! Vegetarians were well catered for too. The habit of a mid-morning mars bar was hard to break when the cycling ended and energy requirements dropped!
Twitchers among you take a bird book as being unable to name the many birds of prey seen became frustrating. Demoiselle cranes calling while flying overhead as we toiled uphill is another unforgettable memory.
Robina Tucker

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2011
It was a real adventure holiday and did what the brochure said and more. Terrific fun , scenery was amazing and organisation excellent.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
BIking along with horses galloping along side me. Waking to ice on the tent and later in the day 28c of hot sunshine! Th great comradeship in th group which kept us going even when it was tough. Also sitting on a Yak, When you are cold and it is lovely and warm.
Seeing the locals and even staying in a local school (extra due to weather). Getting to learn how life was like out there. Also staying in a Ger.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had two leaders both excellent in their field and knowledge of the area.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for 4 seasons in a day. In other words layers of clothing. It can get very cold and hot. Take thick padded shorts for the bumpy tracks. Practice off road biking for the down hills, bits can be technical. Rocky and sandy. But great fun.
Finally look at alternative flights if you have a long stop in Seoul or stop over for a few days there like we did and have a great time.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just don't hesitate book it before UB changes and the tracks in the country change to tarmac roads as this wouldn't have been nearly so much fun if it had been on roads all the time. It is a wilderness still and needs to be appreciated before it changes.