Mongolia Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Mongolia

A transformation is taking place in Mongolia, and at an astonishing pace. Its vast wilderness is even more deserted as nomads move into the cities, where new opportunities abound; but traditions hold firm here, and hospitality is the best of them.

Why choose a tour in Mongolia?

One of the oldest nations on earth, and the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state, Mongolia is best known for three things, its huge and haunting landscapes, its history of Genghis Khan’s empire, and its unique nomadic culture.

In complete contrast to the country’s timeless landscapes, the capital, Ulan Batur, is an exciting, eye-opening city, displaying every era of its past in an urban jungle of building styles from modern towers to multi-spired temples and mini pagodas; focused on the Genghis Khan Monument and the Gandan Monastery, and flaunting all facets of its contemporary culture, from chaotic traffic to thriving commerce, theatres, museums, international cuisine, and ex-nomads in from the cold.

Mongolia’s tranquil Uvürkhangai Province covers two areas of very diverse topography. The Orkhon Valley is a UNESCO listed Cultural Landscape of Outstanding Universal Value, awarded for its ancient Buddhist monasteries and two millennia of pastoral nomadic traditions; and home to ‘old’ Karakorum, the 13th-century city briefly the capital of the Mongolian Empire, filled with sculptures and Shaman shrines, their relics now exhibited in the museum of contemporary Karakorum.

Elsen Tasarkhai translates as ‘isolated sands’ and forms part of the Mongol Els Dunes, an 80km-long by 5km-wide ribbon of desert dunes, dividing a landscape of rocky peaks, shrub-coated hills, and the Khogno Khaan Mountain, housing the sacred ruins of 17th-century Erdene Khamba monastery.

Töv Province teams the Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve with Terelj National Park. The former is a small but varied spread of flora and fauna, waterways, hills and rocky summits, the habitats of Whooper swans, golden eagles, and wild ‘Argali’ mountain sheep; the peaceful home of local nomads; and the setting for the epic Genghis Khan Monument, centred by a shining statue of the man on horseback, the largest equestrian statue in the world. Meadows, forests, and mountain streams cloak the river valley of Terelj National Park, its picturesque landscapes framing Shamanic cairns and the photogenic Turtle Rock, carved by time and nature; its assets and activities including riding, hiking, biking and birdwatching.

Ömnögovi Province is shaped by the Gobi Desert. South Gobi forms part of the UNESCO listed Great Gobi National Park, but it is far from a lifeless desert. Wind whips the ‘singing sands’ of the Khongor Dunes, oases are formed by the Khongoryn River, ridges and canyons are home to steppe wolves, snow leopards and black-tailed gazelles, and the Flaming Cliffs of Byanzag once framed a pre-historic sea, its long-dry bed revealing past life with ancient petroglyphs and petrified dinosaur eggs.

When to go on Mongolia holidays

With little rainfall across the country, there are just two seasons to Mongolia’s continental climate; long and bitterly cold winters, with temperatures ranging from -15° to -32°, depending on region and altitude; and short summers of mild to warm weather, generally between 16° and 24° in June to August.

Who are Mongolia tours suited to?

Tours in Mongolia are for the traveller with an enquiring mind; happy to stay in simple camps of timber lodges and traditional ‘gers’ (yurts), unfazed by 4x4 journeys on rough tracks, intrigued with local culture and history, and with a level of fitness for walks and other activities. On a Jules Verne tour, you will be travelling with a small group of people who share your interests and enthusiasm.

Why book Mongolia tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Special experiences on our journeys in Mongolia include a camel ride, a hike in Gurvan Saikhan National Park, a Mongolian archery session, time with a nomadic family, a folklore concert, and a traditional ‘Khorkhog’ dinner.

Our guided tours to Mongolia are ABTA and ATOL protected, so you can book with complete confidence.