- Experiencethe spectacularly varied landscape of Mongolia
- Sleep in ger camps (traditional Mongolian tents)
- Visit Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire
- Marvel at the rolling dunes and landscape of the Gobi Desert
- Discover one of the last remaining nomadic cultures in the world
![Mongolian Yurt](https://res.cloudinary.com/enchanting/q_80,f_auto,c_lfill,w_360,h_270,g_auto/exodus-web/2021/12/39798_hero_v2.jpg)
Mongolia: Steppes, Deserts & Nomads
Reviews
Add your own reviewFabulous trip to Mongolia!
This was a great trip to Mongolia, somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time and it didn’t disappoint. The trip encompassed both the steppes and the Gobi, photos of which don’t seem to do the country justice! The Ger camps were great fun, and visiting the nomad families gave a fascinating insight and understanding into a completely different way of life.
Most Inspirational Moment
Visiting the sand dunes on the Gobi desert. Not an easy climb, but once at the top of the dunes as the sun begins to set, you get a sense of the scale and peacefulness of the Gobi, and a landscape which is like nowhere else I've ever been.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent - Mars was a fabulous ambassador for his country and took good care of us!
Advice for Potential Travellers
There are some very long drives on this trip, and whilst they give you a chance to look at the changing landscapes, they are mostly off road and very bumpy- so I'd advise some travel sickness tablets if you suffer from this! The Ger camps were great and really made the trip - just be aware that electricity supply can be a little erratic in some of the more remote camps, so power banks are useful. And definitely take a torch!! Outside of Ulaanbaatar, there is very little in the way of WiFi or phone signal, and there are no tvs or computers at the camps. Personally I loved this and it meant I simply focused on the trip - but its something to be aware of if you like to keep in touch with what's happening back home! There is some downtime during the trip at the camps, so it's a good idea to take a book (and in our case we all became avid card players in the evenings!)
A memorable trip
The tour was well organised and covered everything promised in the brochure. The knowledgeable local guide enabled us to learn about Mongolia. Even the cancellation of a local flight transfer was turned into an adventure.
Most Inspirational Moment
The sights of the Gobi desert. Discovering that Mongolia was better than I imagined it would be
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, A wiberaul ambassador for Mongolia,.
A memorable trip
The tour was well organised and covered everything promised in the brochure. The knowledgeable local guide enabled us to learn about Mongolia. Even the cancellation of a local flight transfer was turned into an adventure.
Most Inspirational Moment
The sights of the Gobi desert. Discovering that Mongolia was better than I imagined it would be
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, A wiberaul ambassador for Mongolia,.
Being prepared
This trip was a real adventure. Mongolia is a stunning country and we saw breath-taking and different landscapes during our visit, as well as animals galore.
However, it’s billed as 2, a leisurely to moderate trip. This is true in the sense that there isn’t much walking involved. However, there is a very great deal of driving, most of it off-road, and some very long driving days. The off-road vehicles we travelled in were ok, but not that comfortable – this is Mongolia afterall! – and the sheer amount of driving took its toll. Although there was some downtime during the trip, it wasn’t till day 8 that we got a half-day to ourselves.
And don’t forget that Mongolia is 1300m above sea-level in the capital, and we went up to 2000m elsewhere, and the UK body takes a good time to adjust to that altitude.
Most Inspirational Moment
This trip was a real adventure. Mongolia is a stunning country and we saw breath-taking and different landscapes during our visit, as well as animals galore: herds of sheep and goats, herds of horses, camels and yaks and, a highlight for me, the Takhi horses. Other highlights were Karokorum and the Ger camp we stayed in there, where a local musical group came to perform for us specially. We also enjoyed the trips to the Singing Dunes just before the storm came in, the Flaming Cliffs and the trek into the Yolyn Am gorge. There had been a lot of rain and several cars got stuck on the approach, but our drivers were great. They got us through and also helped to pull others out. At one point, in the middle of the Gobi Desert in temperatures of 40 degrees, they replaced a broken driveshaft on our vehicle! Visiting the gorge is billed as a walk, but there are horses to hire there, which my partner and I chose to do. It made the trek really memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Odka was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and generally helpful. There was one issue which she was unable to help with and said I should contact Exodus. As we were without wifi or mobile phone signal, this wasn't possible at the time. However, once I was able to contact the office, the issue was sorted very promptly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trip is billed as 2, a leisurely to moderate trip. This is true in the sense that there isn't much walking involved. However, there is a very great deal of driving and some very long driving days off-road, so be aware of this, especially if you have a back problem, as did one member of our group. The off-road vehicles we travelled in were ok, but not that comfortable - this is Mongolia afterall! - and the sheer amount of driving took its toll physically. Although there was some downtime during the trip, it wasn't till day 8 that we got a half-day to ourselves, so I wouldn't say downtime balanced out the driving. And remember that Mongolia is 1300m above sea-level in the capital, and we went up to 2000m elsewhere. The UK body takes a good time to adjust to that altitude.
Wonderful Mongolia
The Mongolian Adventure trip exceeded all my expectations. It took me back to a time when people were more interested in humanity than in possessions. I thought Mongolians would be similar to Chinese but they aren’t. They are open and friendly. Ulaanbaatar is a pleasant city and we were there for the spectacular Nadaam Festival, The opening ceremony, the wrestling, archery and the horse race were great but the day before the public turned out in national dress! The desert, the gir camps and the nomadic families were experiences to be savoured.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around the main square with all the locals in traditional dress. The welcome from the nomadic families ran it a close second.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Terrific! Competent, flexible and a good laugh
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't hesitate, it's fabulous. The food is good, the camps are comfortable and spotless.
A dream comes true
I’d wanted to see Mongolia and the Gobi Desert since hearing about them in Geography class when I was 18. I wanted to see the wide open spaces. The nothingness. The vastness of the country. And that’s what I saw.
Most Inspirational Moment
Just driving through the countryside, bumping around in the jeep, having breaks in the middle of nowhere with a vast country stretching out for kilometres all around you. So different from crowded Europe. I also liked the wildlife in Vulture Gorge - picas and ground squirrels. The opening parade of Naadam Just walking around Ulaanbataar, seeing the people - especially during Naadam, when people dressed up in their nice clothes. My room-mate. She was great and I really enjoyed talking to her. I'd never set eyes on her before but it was a good match.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I liked her very much. Dorjo tried to keep everyone happy, which was not an easy thing to do because four of the 16 people were very demanding. Maybe they expected a five-star luxury holiday. The rest of the people were easy-going and relaxed, just happy to be there and see the country. Dorjo is very pleasant, her English is fine. She likes to laugh. Naturally, when one gets excited or emotional, words are hard to find. She was always willing to explain things and it was clear how much she loved her country. I hope to stay in touch with her.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't expect five-star luxury. I certainly wasn't expecting it, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much better the accommodation was than I thought. I thought we'd be sleeping on the floor in tents, sharing them with local people. Instead, we got a tent between two people and the beds were in wooden 'boxes'. Apart from one camp, all the beds were very comfortable and I was surprised by how well I slept, even with the open part of the tent in the middle of the roof. (Normally, I keep all doors and windows shut when I sleep.) You don't go to Mongolian camps for the cuisine. Some people complained because we got starters consisting of tomato and cucumber often. What you have to keep in mind, though, is that very little grows there. Take a look out of the window when you're in the jeep. See how little grows. The camp cooks do their best with the little they have. I have to avoid gluten so I took extra fruit and nut mixes and some snack salami sausages just in case. However, the camp cooks were able to give me gluten-free food. Dorjo had a word with them when we arrived in a new camp. Remember that when you are in a ger camp that you are in the middle of nowhere. Do not expect entertainment. Do what people used to do in the past - make your own entertainment. Take books with your. Crosswords puzzle books. Talk to your fellow travellers. Just sit back and watch the sun go down and think how lucky you are to be able to be on holiday, not having to do anything. Just chill out. As for travel sickness, I took plenty of travel sickness chewing gum because I have problems with bus journeys in towns. Did I need any of them? Nope. Even though sitting in the jeeps was a case of "shake, rattle and roll". It's a completely different movement in the jeeps. Not once did I feel travel sick. I was also impressed by the washing and toilet facilities in the ger camps. I thought we'd be washing in buckets, but no.. there were brick and mortar buildings with showers, sinks and toilets. Some were better than others. If you go when everyone else goes, then you're not going to have lots of hot water. Me.. I waited until everyone had gone to the dining tent about 10 minutes early and rushed in for a quick shower.
Mongolian Adventure - August 2015
Interesting trip to a VAST country that makes you realise what “nothing” – landscape wise – really is .
Most Inspirational Moment
Amazing night skies with no light pollution . Endless horizons with no mand made structures
Thoughts on Group Leader
Can only echo Caroline's comments , Dorjo needs to improve her leader/guide skills. Perfectly pleasant on a one to one basis but clearly most anxious to avoid any conflict whatosever , which means that placatory answers are given. That may solve immediate "issue" but leads to others when promised things dont occur , information isnt forthcoming , scheduled itinerary items are omitted / curtailed , general lack of information ( lunch stop , toilet stop / duration of any stop ) , general feeling of "not prepared " and unable/unwilling to actually go and find out the information .
Advice for Potential Travellers
When checking in for your flights ensure your luggage is checked ALL THE WAY through to Ulan Baator and not just Beijing. Take some spare clothes as hand luggage for overnight in Beijing off airport hotel. Do not expect an Air China rep to "assist " you with transfer to hotel , you have to fill in 72 hour temp visa form , then take transit train to luggage arrivals building ( hopefully if your bag checked through you wont have to collect luggage ) , leave customs and arrivals , go out into public arrivals hall. look for tiny Air China Hotel desk !!! Be prepared to argue that the room has been included and , if paid extra for single supplement , that you have a single room . Lots of driving in mini van , being bounced around for hours at a time so take some sweets for sharing . Also carry some hand gel and own toilet paper , be prepared to see more of your fellow travellers than you normally would ( at comfort stops) . Take own entertainment for evenings as very little to do after evening meal or those occasions when delivered back to ger camp at lunchtime with no activities availble in area. During the season its highly unlikley there will be any "single " Gers available and only then at FULL price ( not the hinted top up price in trip notes . small supplement ) . For the internal flight everyones luggage is weighed en-masse INCLUDING any day packs/rucksacks / hand luggage - and only 15KG allowance per person. So 6 people is 6 x 15 = 90 KG total . Any excess works out at about 1 USD per KG and has to be paid local currency - dont forget to ante up your share . Carry a small torch , for those night time/early morning start bathroom visits ( not every toilet block had lights on during night ) .
We would like to thank MB and Caroline (review below) for their reviews, although we are very sorry that they were disappointed with some aspects of their trip’s leadership. We have been in contact with both clients on an individual basis and further training has been organised for their tour leader to ensure that similar disappointments do not recur.
Olly Pemberton – Product Manager for Mongolia
Mongolia adventure 15th - 29th August
An exciting trip to a remote region of the world.
Met some wonderful people both on the trip and locals in the ger camps who are living the nomadic life still…..but with a few mod cons like satellite dishes and solar panels which drive the TV, twin tub and freezer box.. !!!
A real experience to see the open spaces of the steppes and the different landscapes, but realised that I only scratched the surface of it as Mongolia is such a vast country. I would definitely like to go back to see more.
Most Inspirational Moment
To sit under the vast star light skies with no noise or light pollution and to realise how very small you are and what a big world we live in. It helps to put things into perspective!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Dorjo had a good heart and intentions but lacks both leadership and organisation skills. It is clear that this is a side line job because she can speak some English. But even this was a little difficult to understand at times. She also does not take an active part in pointing out things of interest along the journey to break it up. She did not seem to know as much about things as we had hoped and this resulted in very short answers and despite further questions revealed nothing more about the subject matter. So we read our guide books and shared fact between ourselves. She does not do it often enough to lead a group of professional people who have traveled the world. The fact that she is a ex teacher showed in how she thought that she could lead and organise us. We are not kids and don't want to be treated like one! She often avoid difficult situations by agreeing to something (to pacify us) then later changing her mind later on ....to our absolute frustration and fury! Eg, There only beer as the ger camps, and some of us wanted soft drinks, so we asked that on return from our mornings outing we could go into town (which was close by) to buy some... "Yes we could". Then when the time came we could not, "there is not enough time and it's too far!". Yet we spent the afternoon twiddling our thumbs in the ger camp. "Would we like sand boards to slide down the sand dunes"..."Yes we said"..... " I will organise that for you". The next day she told Marion she had considers overnight and it was too dangerous.... then when I asked where they were she said " I forgot!" and so this is how it went on the whole trip. Conflicting stories, changing the decision without consultation. Further e.g. Will there be hot water for a shower at any of the ger camps..."Yes, at the next ger camp"... but there wasn't. They forgot to put the stove on for the hot water!. "Can we have breakfast early and go to the dune in the early morning so can climb in the cool"..... "Yes, I will organise it for 7 am with the ger camp"..... but we all sat around for 20 - 30 mins at 7 am waiting for Dorjo and the people running the ger camp to get up, cook & serve breakfast ! Breakfast was hurried and late! Further e.g. There were times that we went out on a morning excursion and could have spent the whole day at the canyon, or rock painting, or monastary, but she rushed us back to the ger camp to sit with nothing to do. So rather than asking us if we would like to take picnic lunch out there and spend most of the day exploring and walking. We were taken back to the Ger camp for lunch then to sit about. There was no activities planned so we amused ourselves by going off walking. We all wanted to make the best use of our time in Mongolia ,so following long days of driving, we wanted to stretch our legs and take the opportunity to explore and walk when we could on the excursions, but this was curtailed. We were viewed as naught children because we laughed and joked with each other and had great banter between each other and the driver. We were even told we were like children! Her style of leadership and organisation is out dated,so although she was doing her best or what she knew, it was not up to the standards that I am use to or would expect from a guide. I like all the others on the trip have worked hard to earn my money to afford to take this trip ....I not some sort of spoil rich kid!. Yes, I have high standards expect of me at work and have feedback and coaching all the time to improve. I therefore expect high standards of those people leading the trip. I therefore would suggest that Karakorum Expeditions need to take seriously the feedback that I know a number of us on the trip made to them on their blue feedback forms we handed in to Dorjo (that's if they did not get put in the bin!) and also take this feedback seriously too.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for some long bumpy rides off road for most of the trip. Be prepared to shower in cold water as they never seemed to have the hot water on when we were showering mornings or evenings! Take some cards or games to play in the evening after dinner which finishes by 8 pm or days when you are just left in the ger camps as there is nothing else to do!
Exciting Mongolian Adventure
Excellent trip. It was a nice mix of big city (Ulaanbaatar) and Naadam festival and countryside/desert. Well-organized and planned. Long distances travelled by Russian van, but the scenery was beautiful and very diverse, our driver Sandam made it fun, and we had a great group of people in our van. Fun staying in ger camps.
Most Inspirational Moment
Climbing the sand dunes in the desert. It was physically very challenging but also beautiful and exilarating.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Erdene (Eddie) was an excellent group leader. His English is excellent and he is very knowledgable. He was very attentive and accommodated everyone on the group, despite very different needs. He was well organized and advocated for the group when necessary. I'd highly recommend him!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trip involves lots of long drives over bumpy terrain. The scenery is beautiful and I found the drives quite relaxing. Staying in the ger camps was fun, and interesting. It was more luxurious than I expected, but having said that, there were times when there wasn't electricity, most times the water was cold, and at times water (shower and toilet) was not available. Realize though, that if you can't tolerate such drives and lack of water, or cold water, this trip is not for you (a number of people on my group couldn't, and all they did was complain). After all people, this is the desert!!
Mongolian Adventure including Nadaam festival
A great trip to a vast and interesting country.
Most Inspirational Moment
The remote ger camp where we were the only visitors, riding a horse for the first time, the unexpected horse race, the opening ceremony of the festival, seeing a couple of long eared hedgehogs.
Thoughts on Group Leader
A nice lady but her English was quite poor and she wasn't very organised.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take some sweets for sharing during the van journeys, mind your head on the ger doors and the van doors. Note that the luggage allowance for the internal flight is 15 Kg in total (i.e. checked plus carry-on) and that any excess has to be paid in local currency.
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Sunday Saturday
22 Sep 2024 21 Sep 2024
Tuesday Tuesday
08 Oct 2024 08 Oct 2024
Availability
Sold Out
Land Only Trip Price 5 520 €
Optional Single Supplement
+732 €
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesMonday Sunday
30 Jun 2025 29 Jun 2025
Monday Monday
14 Jul 2025 14 Jul 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 5 160 € 5 160 € Book with 1 290 € deposit Book with 1 290 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +924 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWednesday Tuesday
09 Jul 2025 08 Jul 2025
Wednesday Wednesday
23 Jul 2025 23 Jul 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 5 160 € 5 160 € Book with 1 290 € deposit Book with 1 290 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +924 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesTuesday Monday
12 Aug 2025 11 Aug 2025
Sunday Sunday
24 Aug 2025 24 Aug 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 4 320 € Book with 1 080 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +780 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesTuesday Monday
02 Sep 2025 01 Sep 2025
Sunday Sunday
14 Sep 2025 14 Sep 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 4 320 € Book with 1 080 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +780 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
21 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Tuesday Tuesday
07 Oct 2025 07 Oct 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 6 120 € Book with 1 530 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +804 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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