This was an absolutely fantastic trip! Our guide Samba was incredible: very knowledgeable about Mongolian history and culture, a capable mountain and hiking guide, in-control logistics organiser, and an all-round great person to spend two weeks with. We were blessed with perfect hiking weather, with only one quite cold night (in which I was grateful for my -15 sleeping bag), and otherwise blue skies and sunny warm temperatures. The hike itself I couldn’t recommend more highly. While the summit day was tough (approx 9 hours of difficult hiking, at altitude), the views over both Russia and Mongolia were spectacular. The other hiking days were more than manageable, with gentle sloping rambles across grassy plains and wildflowers, leaving us to enjoy relaxing evenings at camp. All our food on the hike was excellent, with a mix of local and western dishes. Us three vegetarians were very well catered for. We also had the opportunity to meet many nomadic people, visiting a few gurs along the way. Nothing felt ‘touristy’ or manufactured for our group. At the same time, Samba managed all the logistics and communication so capably that we were able to really relax and enjoy ourselves. I have no constructive or negative comments about the experience - we all had a fantastic time.
What an excellent trip: well-immersed in Mongolian / Kazakhi nomadic culture; hiking in the spectacular Altai Mtns; insightful discussion of Mongolian history. The support team from Great Genghis Tours were exceptional - professional, courteous, hilarious, talented - just brilliant.
Fabulous trip to Mongolia! This was a great trip to Mongolia, somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time and it didn't disappoint. The trip encompassed both the steppes and the Gobi, photos of which don't seem to do the country justice! The Ger camps were great fun, and visiting the nomad families gave a fascinating insight and understanding into a completely different way of life.
Jessica BrooksTravel Expert in Mongolia
