(A long overdue review!) I solo travelled during end of 2023, with an amazing tour guide Bachi! I had the most out of this world experience during my stay in the semi gobi desert. We travelled from the city centre of Ulaanbaatar into amazing stretches of snow and mountains. The car ride lasts about 5 hours or so, which may seem long but the wonderful sights of the white covered desert, migrating animals, glimpses of Mongolian cowboys, the Trans-Siberian Railway, paired with Bachi's rocking music taste of Mongolian artists and knowledgeable stories, was a very much enjoyable experience, that I will remember forever!
We stopped a few times along the way to eat, stock up at the supermarkets, take in the scenery and stopped at a shaman statue, where Bachi kindly shared a traditional ceremonial offering. The family I stayed with were lovely and accommodating, the older gentleman took me to see the deer in the morning which I was not expecting! So that was a great surprise. The camel ride was super super fun, seeing all the wild animals around was lovely too. The food was homemade, hearty and filling, perfect for the winter season. My whole trip was planned around this tour, and it was the best decision made, I learnt a lot about the culture and history!
Thank you again Bachi and the family for this truly memorable experience! :) I hope you are all well!
Tip: If you are travelling during the winter season, stock up on plenty of body warmers! It was about -25 c when I was there, and I was told it was -40 c the week before arriving. The yurt is warmed by a single furnace, which dies down over time, so it can get very cold. I brought my own sleeping bag which is made for below freezing temperature and would recommend this to others, though the family were very accommodating with keeping me warm, with lots of hot soups! As previous reviewers have noted, bring toilet rolls and be comfortable with doing your business outside as there are no bathrooms, or go during the stops along the car journey. The desert is extra beautiful in the winter season though, so definitely worth it!
