CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

17 days from GBP2,699 to GBP2,829 including flights
Tripcode: MCM

Countries Visited: Mongolia

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 5 reviews.

mike 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.
Becky Taylor

CYCLING THE EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN

Written September 2008
It was fantastic, as I have come to expect from Exodus.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole package - the scenery, the cycling, the crew, the Mongolian people, the scenery, the scenery!!
What did you think of your group leader?
He was okay - not the best I have had, however.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do distances in the heat to train for this holiday. In August, it is very hot and this takes your strength away when you are cycling so many miles. It is not technical, but you do a lot of cycling on tracks. You need to be quite fit!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I want to move to Mongolia!!