Immigration procedures and customs should be fairly easy as well. They might ask for your hotel/address in Ulaanbaatar. It can be a bit crowded around luggage pick-up and once they come out having passed customs.

You will be picked up by a driver and female guide holding a Wild Women Expeditions and/or Stonehorse Mongolia sign. Your airport pick-up time will be based on the flight information provided in your travel details form submitted to the WWE office. Don’t accept any taxi offers, and watch your pockets.

The drive from the airport to the hotel downtown is about 15 km, and it depends on the day of the week and time of day how long it takes. In the early morning and weekends, it may be 30 minutes, at rush hours it may be 90 minutes.

Group Rendezvous Point:

Date: July 16, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Front lobby of the Springs Hotel, Ulaanbaatar

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you’re planning on arriving early, here are our recommended accommodations:

The Springs Hotel in Ulaanbaatar This is the same hotel as the first and last nights of the trip. Book with them directly, or through our travel agent partner, Now Boarding (Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel).
Guesthouses are generally nice and very affordable. Check out Zaya Guesthouse/Hostel, Chuka’s Guesthouse, and Modern Mongol Hostel In Ulaanbaatar. Book with hostels or guesthouses directly.

DEPARTURES FROM ULAANBAATAR

Departure times vary depending on your airline reservations. Transportation will be provided from your hotel to the airport.

Drop Off Point:

Date: July 25, 2024
Time: In conjunction with your flight schedule
Location: Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you plan to stay longer, here are our recommended accommodations:

The Springs Hotel in Ulaanbaatar This is the same hotel as the first and last nights of the trip. Book with them directly, or through our travel agent partner, Now Boarding. Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel.
Guesthouses are generally nice and very affordable. Check out Zaya Guesthouse/Hostel, Chuka’s Guesthouse and Modern Mongol Hostel In Ulaanbaatar. Book with hostels or guesthouses directly.

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Important: A copy of your passport must be emailed to the Wild Women Expeditions office office as soon as possible.

Visa:

U.S citizens (and a few other countries) can obtain a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival.

Canadian citizens do not need a visa for a tourist visit under 30 days.

Most other countries’ citizens need to apply for a visa. You can find online information on your visa requirements at sites like Visa HQ but double-check with the Mongolian Embassy or Consul in your country for the current regulations that pertain to your visa requirements. Addresses of Mongolian Embassies and Consulates are provided at the The Embassy Page or other sites. Visas can be issued within a few days if necessary, for an extra fee, but it’s better to apply early!

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

If you would like additional assistance in securing your visa, we recommend you consider using the services of CIBTVisas.

Click HERE if you are in the USA.

Click HERE if you are in Canada.

TIPPING

There is no obligation to tip your guides, drivers, and cook, but many participants do when they feel they were provided great service. Recommended amounts are below: More or less is still acceptable!

Lead Guide / Translator: $100USD per trip
2 wranglers, 1 driver and 1 Mongolian cook: $160USD total per trip

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on shared accommodations (minimum of two women per room/yurt), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner.

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are provided. It is recommended that you bring your own lightweight liner (cotton or silk are the most common) to use inside the sleeping bag.

Potable Water

Do not drink unfiltered tap water in Mongolia. Purchased bottled water is generally safe – check the seal is intact. Avoid ice unless you know it has been made with purified/treated water. Filtered, potable water is provided throughout your riding trip.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Springs Hotel

This is a modern, mid-sized, 4-star hotel in a very convenient location downtown, with good breakfast and restaurant, WiFi, and comfortable rooms. This hotel is a long term partner of WWE's ground operator (Stonehorse) with consistently good, reliable and friendly service.

Tented Camps

Nights are spent in tented camps at scenic campsites near watercourses or forests. The trek depends on packhorses for all supplies and equipment, allowing us to access routes off the beaten track, and the scenic backcountry of the park.

The tented camps entail sleeping tents, individual or two people as preferred by guest riders; a group tent to set up meal time tables and chairs on cooler nights; and the camp kitchen tent. On hot days, or on request when no water source for bathing is available, a secluded camp shower is set up. The camp always has a hand wash station, and safe drinking water is available.

No phone reception or WiFi once beyond the high pass on Day 1. A camp shower is available on days 5 and 6 and upon request at campsites. Also, bathing in rivers/creeks on days 7 and 8 is an option.

The tour leader carries a satellite phone, for emergencies only. If guests need to stay in contact with family or office, they may want to rent or buy a satellite phone. However, it is recommended to go offline for the duration of the ride. It’s really good - and part of the backcountry travel adventure experience!

Princess Lodge

A simple ger camp in a beautiful location in the more remote part of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Comfortable gers, shared, with 3 or 4 beds, or twin/double beds for couples. Heated in the evenings and mornings if/when nights are chilly. Princess Lodge has a wifi/router, and for a small fee, guests can use wifi. However, it does not seem to work all the time.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT MONGOLIA

Geography

Mongolia has a varied landscape that is composed of mountains, hilly plateaux, and desert areas. The country has one of the biggest freshwater lakes of Asia (Lake Khovsgol), many salt-water lakes, marshes, sand dunes, meadows, alpine forests, and permanent glaciers. North and West of Mongolia are seismically active areas, so we can find here many thermal springs and volcanoes.

Climate & Weather:

Most days in Mongolia during the riding seasons are sunny with pleasant daytime temperatures and somewhat cooler evenings, especially in the higher elevations where we will travel. However, riding in the mountains of Mongolia can turn wet and cold for short periods at any time during the riding season between May and October so it’s best to be prepared. It can also be very hot, especially for the months of June, July and August, but turn chilly in just a few hours if a cold front moves down from Siberia. Mongolia is a place where you can experience all 4 seasons in one day. Generally, inclement weather only lasts a short while during this time of year.

Common Animals

Mongolia has a number of large mammals, including grey wolves and Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), as well as more endangered species such as the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), the snow leopard (Uncia uncia), the Gobi bear, (rarest and unique to the desert region), the takhi (both wild and domestic types of horses) and the Asiatic wild ass. Other species of mammals reported include: argali (Ovis ammon) (in the rocky mountains of the Gobi desert), common wolf, Mongolian saiga (Saiga tatarica mongolica), musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), Pallas's cat (Felis manul) or manul, black tailed gazelle (Gazelle subgutturosa), stone martin (Martes foina), and wild cats in the Altai ecoregion; wild boar (Sus scrofa nigipes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer in the forest areas and muskrat, red fox, steppe fox, and sable in the forest and steppe margin areas.

Wildlife of Mongolia - Wikipedia

The Mongolian Horse

Mongolian Trail Horses are small and hardy. The saddle and pack horses are of one herd, used to each other and to their job. The Mongolian horses are of amazing stamina, they are smart and very forgiving in their nature. The trek horses are calm, responsive and willing, and knowing all the individual characters of the herd, the horse will be matched to the guest rider’s experience and ability

Mongolian horses are small, rustic, and very energetic horses. They are between 1.40 and 1.45 metres (14hh-14.2hh) high at the withers, which is, according to western standards, the size of a pony. These horses spend most of their time loose on the steppes and have been trained to be ridden but have very little ground training so you must be very careful when approaching them, walking around them, and doing anything nearby. They can be spooked by blowing plastic or sudden movements.

They prove to be pleasant to ride and you will just have to cue your horse to turn with the neck rein system and leg pressure. “Chu” will get them moving and there is no word for stop. Always mount up using the western style, always from the left. These mighty little horses can carry people up to 1m95cm/ 6’4” tall, and up to 95kg/210lbs.

On this adventure, the local equestrian guides are responsible for tacking and caring for the horses. It is their job and their pride, so if you would like to help, please ensure you ask politely and have them show you how they want it done. If they refuse your help, please do not be offended.

Throughout the trip, the group might be divided so those who wish to go faster can, and those who wish to enjoy a slow pace can do that too. Given the distances we need to cover each day, the pace will often be a trot. The horse trek is vehicle supported, so you can ride as much or little as you like.

For your safety, please read the following general guidelines:

- You must mount the horse on the left side.
- Always wait for your horse to be held by a guide before mounting and dismounting.
- Do NOT take off or put on any clothing articles while you're on a moving horse.
- It’s not advisable to take pictures, notably with flash, while you're on the horse.
- It’s forbidden to take pictures with flash of someone who is sitting on the horse.
- You should never let any clothing items flap in the wind since this can spook your horse.
- You’re advised to wear equestrian boots. Please avoid boots with thick soles and lugs, because they could remain in the stirrups in case of a fall.
- It’s advisable to bring a pair of gaiters or half chaps or tall boots. You may also consider full chaps or padded bike shorts to help protect your butt from the saddle.
- It’s obligatory to wear a riding helmet and they are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
- It’s strictly forbidden to wear spurs.

About the Tack & Equipment

The tack we're going to use on this trip is custom-made and very safe and comfortable. It is made by your guide, Sabine Schmidt, in the US every winter/spring and has handcrafted BioThane bridles, humane bits and stunning deep-seated Western saddles with beautiful stamped decorations. They also provide caged safety stirrups. This is a major differentiator between this ride and all other Mongolian companies and rides.

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

The currency is the tugrik (MNT) or the tögrög (₮), often spelled tugrik because it reflects the more accurate pronunciation. It comes in notes of T5, T10, T20, T50, T100, T500, T1000, T5000, T10,000 and T20,000. (T1 notes are basically souvenirs.) The highest-value note is worth around $12 USD.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

Banks and exchange offices in Ulaanbaatar will change money with relative efficiency. Banks in provincial centres are also fine; they change dollars and give cash advances against debit and credit cards. Remember to change all your tögrög when leaving the country, as it’s worthless elsewhere.

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

Credit Cards

U.S. dollars and credit cards are accepted in hotels and some restaurants, mainly in Ulaanbaatar.

If you have a credit card, you can use the ATM to purchase currency directly. Your monthly balance usually shows the exchange rate you received on purchases made with the credit card.

Cash

This is the best way to pay for items throughout your trip. Carry local currency, especially in rural areas.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Recommended Reading:

Women of Mongolia by Martha Avery
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens by Jack Weatherford
Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong
All this belongs to me by Czech writer, Petra Hulova

Useful Websites:

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Ride!

You will be spending many hours each day with your bum in a saddle, so please ensure you get some riding in before this trip. While this trip is rated “novice (comfortable at walk and trot)”, we do recommend that you have some familiarity with horses, being around them and riding, at least a little bit, to make it a more comfortable and enjoyable adventure.

Work your Core.

Keeping good posture and balance on a horse requires a strong core, especially when going up and down steep trails. Doing pilates, or a balanced (focused on strength as well as flexibility) yoga program, can be a great way to prepare for this trip.

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

More information on getting fit!

Check out our blog, Getting Fit: For a Horseback Riding Trip, which includes a 20 minute workout video specifically aimed at preparing the muscles you’ll need for riding.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].