Q1. When is the best time to visit Mongolia?
Q2. How is the climate in the summer season?
Q3. Which itinerary for someone new to Mongolia?
Q4. Would it be advisable to bring kids for such holidays?
Q5. I am traveling alone, so how can I go for the trips organized by MXP Adventure?
Q6. What is the minimum group size to departure? Is there a maximum group size?
Q7. Can you explain how MXP Adventure runs its tour programme?
Q8. How are the pricings for each itinerary like?
Q9. Meals! It is going to be a lot of mutton?
Q1. When is the best time to visit Mongolia ?
Mongolia offers, on average, 260 days of sunny weather in a year. Unless you are in for some extreme climate conditions, visiting Mongolia from November to February can be a very daunting experience as the harsh winter climate can send thermometer readings to -30 to -40 degree Celsius.
The travelling season starts from June and lasts through September. The best of the best season is July and August. Basically summer season is the best time to visit the country.
From 11 to 13 July stage some of the most exciting festivals in the Mongolia calendar – the Nadaam Festival. The best horse riders, wrestlers and archers will display their talents in the nation wide celebration. You may consider travelling there to witness the Nadaam, just be aware of hike in prices as it is the peak tourist season as well.
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Q2. How is the climate in the summer season?
Mongolia is a big country and the climate changes from place to place and sometimes unpredictable.
In the southern Gobi , the weather is generally hot in the day and chilly at night. Temperature can soar to about 40 degree Celsius and drop to about 10 degree Celsius. It is dry heat and you may consider bring some moisturizer to prevent drying skin.
In the northern Khovsgol, you probably need some warm clothing at night and in the morning, as the temperature can be as cold as about 2 to 3 degree Celsius.
In the western Altai, summer season can experience some brief snowfall especially when you are high up in the mountainous region. A good fleece is essential to keep you warm at night, and sometimes in the day!
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Q3. Which itinerary for someone new to Mongolia ?
If you cannot decide which itineraries MXP Adventure has prepared for you, perhaps a good introductory to Mongolia would be the Southern Gobi Adventure. It offers a good understanding to the nomadic way of life when interacting with the hospital nomads living in the Gobi Desert . The trip offers a good mix of luxury and adventure where you will be put up in decent ger camps on some nights or basic outdoor camping on other nights.
But depends on your interest, you may want to take a look at our other packages as well.
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Q4. Would it be advisable to bring kids for such holidays?
Well depending on how old your kids are. Mongolia can be a very difficult place to travel in to some, as you are required to travel long distances over bumpy journey which may not be entirely a pleasant experience. However, it can be a very good trip for the younger ones to experience a very different environment, and in turn appreciate what they have back home.
However, if you decided to bring you kids along, perhaps it would be good to prepare them mentally on the toughest of the trip, such as no shower for a couple of days, no luxury of flush toilets in some parts of the journey, no air-conditioning hotel rooms etc.
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Q5. I am traveling alone, so how can I go for the trips organized by MXP Adventure?
We do put together individuals into groups. Perhaps you can consider dropping us an email letting us know your preferences over travelling companions. We shall do our best to put you together with like-minded travelling partners.
In our first tour group in summer 2004, we have successfully paired two individuals to a group who are now in courtship and have heard of plans for their wedding vows in 2005.
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Q6. What is the minimum group size to departure? Is there a maximum group size?
We encourage small groups travelling as a bigger group can be difficult for the nomads to react when visiting them. The minimum group size is 4 and maximum shall be capped at 12.
Q7. Can you explain how MXP Adventure runs its tour programme?
MXP Adventure strives to present the best of Mongolia to its customers. We do our best to make sure everything runs smoothly.
We put 4 to 5 travellers to a van that can comfortably fit in about 8 passengers. We wanted more legroom as the distances between sights can be far. Each van has an experience driver and an English-speaking tour guide. We move in convoys of maximum 3 vehicles (for maximum group size).
We have arranged to put our customers in reasonable ger camps in the countryside, whenever possible, for decent sleeps at night. There are occasions when camping in tents are necessary, however are kept minimal. Tents are provided for camping. Travellers are required to pitch their tents. (However, in Western Altai Adventure, most nights are spent camping as the countryside there re not as developed as Gobi or Khovsgol).
Depending on opportunities, we will arrange for visits to nomadic families to experience and understand their lifestyles. Please be reminded that such visits are not made mandatory in our itineraries, however, we do hope travellers catch a glimpse of the way of life of the Mongolian nomads.
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Q8. How are the pricings for each itinerary like?
Each itinerary is priced differently and the prices are stated in the summary section of each itinerary under the “ Tours and Expeditions” menu. All the prices quoted are just land cost which exclude airfares.
The reasons for omitting the cost of the air ticket are simply because the airfares can fluctuate from time to time hence the prices are unpredictable. Our travellers come from different parts of the world and therefore quoting land prices is seemingly the easier option.
Land prices are quote in USD as the prices in Mongolia are often tagged to it. If you are travelling from Singapore , you can pay in SGD. Prices in SGD is available but depending on exchange rates with the USD. For travellers from Singapore , there is a separate package price which includes airfares.
Q9. Meals! It is going to be a lot of mutton?
Mutton is undoubtedly Mongolians favourite meat. Everything Mongolian cuisine, though not the best in the world, has mutton. However, mutton is fresh in Mongolia !
In our organized tours, we dine in decent restaurants in the ger camps where western style menu is available but with limited selection. Generally you get a plate of rice that serves with preserved vegetables, meat (mainly mutton or beef) and a side dish like potato or French fries.
For vegetarians, I would highly recommend you bring some vegetarian meals from home. Mongolia is hell for vegetarians. Do not expect fresh leafy vegetable as they are not part of the Mongolian diet. We will try our best to source for fresh carrots and cucumbers as supplements to the preserved ones. We do have vegetarians on our trips but the choices of meals are very limited. Give us a shout if you are one and have plans to go on our tour. We shall try our best to bring you some good vegetarian meals.
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