Having dreamed of visiting Mongolia for years, I finally decided to make it a reality. I knew I wanted to see as much of the country as I could, and being a horse person, I wanted to include the Naadam Festival. After extensive research I found the perfect tour with Discover Mongolia.
The pre-trip information was excellent, power plugs, what to pack, FAQs, and tips for tourists. Additional questions were quickly answered by email.
The first and last days of the tour were spent in UlaanBaatar with our delightful guide, Marla. This included trips to The National History Museum, a monastery, and War Memorial, and on the final night, front row seats, to a live performance.
The second day we flew to the Gobi and met our guide Togos and driver Nandin, they would be our companions for the next two weeks. Off to our first ger camp. The accommodations are basic, but comfortable and clean, the staff hard working and eager to please, this was a common thread throughout the trip. There's something magical about sleeping in a ger, I found it deep and restorative. While I don't consider myself a foodie, I couldn't help taking pictures of every course, every meal (3-4 at lunch and dinner). The presentation was beautiful and the taste even better, fresh and delicious, this too was prevalent throughout the trip.
As we headed north from the Gobi, the landscape changed daily. Mongolia is a vast, beautiful country, no better way to see it than drive. 5 in total, we were very comfortable in our incredible 4x4 Mitsubishi "soccer mom" van. How Nandin navigated is beyond me...no GPS, no road signs, no roads, and yet every day we arrived at our scheduled destination.
The highlights for me were the local Naadam Festival and our visit with the nomad family. While the Festival in UlaanBaatar is the biggie, I was quite happy at the local Festival in Kharkhorin. Somehow we ended up "backstage" in the VIP tent for the opening ceremony, thanks Nandin, here we rubbed shoulders with the local dignitaries, while Togos made sure we followed tradition. The smaller location allowed us to be in the midst of the the action, on the ground with riders racing past us to see the end of the 25k horse race, with the locals routing for their favorite wrestler, or watching the archers amazing feats of accuracy. If you want to experience the excitement of Naadam you do need to plan your trip for July. The nomad family visit was a true day in the life. The work is hard and seems never ending, but their sense of family, camaraderie, and tradition is strong. Their hospitality is second to none, a full table of food and drink was spread before you as soon as you stepped into the ger. This was before they shared a meal!
Mongolia has it all, a vibrant city in UB, sand dunes, dinosaurs, temples, monasteries, volcanoes, goats, sheep, cows, yaks, reindeer, camels, horses, fresh lakes, green landscapes, big blue skies, but what makes Mongolia so special is their people. Welcoming, accepting, and eager to share their country with you.
And while the the tour is well planned, the itinerary extensive, the accommodations, food, and sights incredible, it was Togos and Nandin that made it exceptional. It wasn't Togos' wealth of knowledge of the history, culture, or traditions, or Nandin's extraordinary driving skills, but the jokes and laughter we shared, and the true caring they displayed that have made this my number 1, favorite trip ever. I have friends in Mongolia and they have a friend in me! Thank you Discover Mongolia.
