Choose Correct Accommodation
Choose the correct guest house if you are traveling on a budget. Make sure you choose correct guest houses if you are traveling on a budget. There are some clean guest houses, indeed guest ger available. At least, the ones where the shower is accessible. The countryside guest houses/gers are different than the guest houses in other countries. The Gobi desert is isolated, has a lack of electricity and water. Alternatively, the ger camps have the most facilities needed and more western friendly.
Choose a Correct Car Driven by an Experienced Driver
The Gobi roads are hard, bumpy and some trails go through sandy areas and muddy valleys. Therefore, you should choose a correct car driven by an experienced mechanic driver. Also, the vehicle should be equipped well with spare tires, shock, and shovel etc. From our experience, four wheels driving jeep Toyota Land Cruiser, Hyundai Starex and Mitsubishi Delica are good choices. We do not recommend the Russian van UAZ 452 and UAZ 469 because those shaky cars make the driving even bumpy and with no air-conditioning unless you consider their advantage of easy maintenance.
What type of food will be included?
The meals at the ger camps, with nomads and at guest gers will differ. You will learn more about Mongolian meals here. The ger camps serve more western friendly meals while the nomads will serve traditional meaty meals. Your guide will cook for you if you are staying at guest gers/guesthouses. Before travel, check and make sure if the tour includes daily three meals, plus bottled water. Not hesitatingly inform the tour company if you have dietary, allergic to something, or a vegetarian. It is better to inform it in advance.
Is there any extra cost while traveling?
Check if the tour has some hidden fees, not included meals or activities you should pay for while traveling. Some tour companies do not supply bottled water, horse camel riding fee, and entrance fee, etc. As well as if there is a credit card or bank transfer fee when you pay for the tour.
Visiting the Nomads
Visiting the nomads is the most experiential thing of your tour. There are some do’s and don’ts. The simplest things are; do should not lean against the ger column, do not stop on the threshold, do not touch the family shrines, stove, and people’s head. Give and take things by your right hand or both hands. Mongolians use bowls for tea, not a cup. Therefore, be careful and expect the bowl hot with hot tea in it. Are you allergic to something or have a diet? Just tell it your guide. The guide will explain it to the nomads and the nomads will not offend on your refusal to their hospitality.
Electricity
The Gobi desert is remote, has a lack of infrastructure. The nomads and guest houses/guest gers do not have electricity unless they have a solar panel. Few ger camps have 24-hour central electricity, which means you can charge batteries in your ger. The rest of the ger camps have limited electricity sourced from generators. You visit their restaurants in the evening to charge the batteries. The ger camp ger electricity is on until 11 PM. So, please consider your battery charge.
Gobi Accommodation Heating
The gers of the ger camps do not have air-conditioners due to a shortage of electricity. Are you traveling the Gobi desert in spring or autumn, then please do not expect the gers will be heated by the fire most of the time. They have a shortage of wood too.
Be ready for the temperature fluctuation
Mongolian Gobi desert is the coldest desert in the world. It heats up to +40°C in summer days. However, the evening/morning/ night-time temperatures can fall about 20°C down or even below freezing. So make sure you pack warm.
Pack good sun protection
The Gobi desert air is dry with the dry wind. Also, the Gobi desert average altitude is 1500 m above the sea level. Therefore, pack good sun protection; sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, sunhat. You will find more packing lists of different tours on Mongolia packing list.
Be ready for long driving
Mongolia is vast. In particular, the Gobi desert. Please be ready for some long rough roads driving of 3.5-6 hours a day. The long driving is one highlight of Mongolian travel so that you feel the vastness of Mongolia, see the nature, changing landscapes, herds of animals, and the people’s lives through the vehicle window.
Choose a Correct Tour Company
There are many tour companies in Mongolia. Please consider you choose a service-oriented good tour company. Their clients’ feedback and online reviews may help you. We are one of the tour companies specialize in the Gobi desert tour. Also, we have the most dedicated and knowledgeable staff, accommodation tour guides, and drivers. You may check our company Gobi Desert tour TripAdvisor reviews and the company TripAdvisor reviews.
MONGOLIA GOBI DESERT FACTS