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Luxury Mongolia Holidays & Tours

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Holidays to Mongolia

Mongolia is a vast, landlocked and sparsely populated country, characterised by age-old, unchanging traditions and exceptional natural beauty.

Unsurprisingly, and befitting of the least populated nation on earth, the feeling of space in Mongolia is tremendous with infinite cloudless blue skies, unhampered by horizon, tree or town, stretching as far as the eye can see. These seemingly ...

Unsurprisingly, and befitting of the least populated nation on earth, the feeling of space in Mongolia is tremendous with infinite cloudless blue skies, unhampered by horizon, tree or town, stretching as far as the eye can see. These seemingly endless skies overlie an epic landscape, one of characteristic gently rolling steppe but also encompassing jagged snow-capped mountains, isolated passes, rolling dunes and desert scrub. Remote and wild and far removed from central rule in Ulaanbaatar, life in provincial Mongolia continues much as it has since the time of Genghis Khan with each region, influenced by season and terrain, exhibiting their own distinct rituals and practices. Due to such a dispersed population, Mongolians are warm and welcoming people, eager to share their traditions and involve you in everyday life and activities.

Ulaanbaatar is the base for further exploration of this vast interior and, with few domestic flight options, most journeys will be overland from the capital using hardy offroad vehicles ready to tackle the underdeveloped interior. Eastern Mongolia, a region of thick forests and endless grasslands, is Genghis Khan’s homeland and also where the great khan was born and raised whilst, to the south, steppe turns to desert stretching from the giant dunes of the Hongor to the remote Gobi. In contrast, the little visited far north is home to isolated nomads and the setting for beautiful Lake Khövsgöl, one of the continent’s largest bodies of fresh water. Unlike anywhere else on earth, Mongolia truly is a one-off, adventurous destination. Speak to a travel specialist regarding a tailor-made tour to Mongolia.

Tailor-made, luxury private tours in Mongolia

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Places to visit in Mongolia

Land of the Blue Sky’, huge swathes of this mammoth country remain remote and unexplored whilst the pristine landscapes and proud Mongolian people sustain an authentic and ancient culture which makes it an ideal destination for those looking for an ‘off the beaten track’ adventure. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and the country’s largest centre of habitation. Explore Sukhbaatar Square, climb the Zaisan Memorial and visit Gandan Monastery and Bogd Khan Palace.

Close to Ulaanbaatar are the rolling green landscapes of Terelj and Hustai national parks. The south is home to the Gobi Desert which covers close to a third of Mongolian territory, central Mongolia has many historical sites and archaeological remains and the northern regions that border Siberian Russian are centred on Khovsgol Lake. Few travellers make it to western and eastern Mongolia although the latter is the reputed birthplace of Genghis Khan.

Booking with Pettitts Travel
1

Getting to know you
A crucial part of our process, discuss your plans with us either by phone, video or in person.

2

Helping you to design your trip
Entirely tailor-made, there is complete flexibility to incorporate all your requirements.

3

On-hand support, when you need it
Our team are on hand to answer any questions and ensure you are fully ready, and excited, for your trip.

4

Full confidence whilst you are away
Enjoy full support from our UK team and trusted local partners throughout your journey.

We’re pleased to confirm that Pettitts Travel will not apply any surcharges to our package holidays when we are operating as a tour operator, regardless of changes in global costs. The price you agree at the time of booking is the price you will pay, a commitment we have proudly upheld for the past 38 years.

Meet our Mongolia Travel Consultants

Steven
Managing Director
Helen
Senior Travel Consultant
Paul
Senior Travel Consultant

Your holiday to Mongolia

Vast and inaccessible, where a third of the population follow nomadic practices and long-held cultural traditions continue to play a prominent role in everyday life, Mongolia is an immersive and endlessly fascinating destination. It is also diverse, rolling steppe leads to rugged, inhospitable, desert and crystal-clear lakes laze in the shadow of mighty snow-capped peaks. All of our holidays to Mongolia are arranged on a tailor-made basis so no two itineraries are the same. We take time to understand your interests, tailoring your arrangements to best use the time you have available and to ensure you experience the very best that Mongolia has to offer. So, whether you are interested in Mongolia’s natural scenery, its history, a specific cultural event or a combin...

Vast and inaccessible, where a third of the population follow nomadic practices and long-held cultural traditions continue to play a prominent role in everyday life, Mongolia is an immersive and endlessly fascinating destination. It is also diverse, rolling steppe leads to rugged, inhospitable, desert and crystal-clear lakes laze in the shadow of mighty snow-capped peaks. All of our holidays to Mongolia are arranged on a tailor-made basis so no two itineraries are the same. We take time to understand your interests, tailoring your arrangements to best use the time you have available and to ensure you experience the very best that Mongolia has to offer. So, whether you are interested in Mongolia’s natural scenery, its history, a specific cultural event or a combination of all three we will ensure that your itinerary is bespoke to you. Our holidays include accommodation, an accompanying English-speaking guide and a private 4x4 vehicle throughout. Our website itinerary also includes international flights. When on holiday you will have the support and assistance of our Mongolian partners on the ground as well as our UK office.

Our website tour Mongolia – Land of Genghis Khan is a good starting point when planning your holiday to Mongolia, however, due to Mongolia’s size and complexity, in the first instance, we highly recommended discussing your plans with one of our travel specialists. Once they understand your interests and the time you have available, they will then be able to make suggestions and tailor your arrangements accordingly. One of the highlights of a visit to Mongolia is the opportunity to experience local life and the best way to do this is to stay in a ger, a circular felt tent common to much of Central Asia. Used for centuries by nomadic communities, ger camps are usually set up in spectacular locations and in pristine environments making them one of the best, and most memorable, ways to experience Mongolia’s wilderness.

Male eagle hunter in Mongolia

Landscapes of Mongolia

One of the immediate impressions upon arriving in Mongolia is the vastness of space – an endless expanse of rolling grassland beneath a cloudless, deep blue sky. However, as befits such a vast country, Mongolia offers a variety of landscapes to explore beyond just the steppe, many of which can be included in a holiday itinerary. Terelj National Park, northeast of Ulaanbaatar, is renowned for its striking granite rock formations, lush meadows, and dense larch forests. In contrast, Hustai National Park is characterized by rolling steppes and is home to Przewalski's horse, one of the last remaining wild horse species. The Gobi Desert stretches across southern Mongolia, featuring dramatic sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and arid plains that support Bactrian camels and the elusive Gobi bear whilst Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, located in the far west, is dominated by the towering peaks of the Altai Mountains, including Tavan Bogd, the highest summit in Mongolia.

Mongolia plains with yurts and horses

Naadam Festivals in Mongolia

Although each Mongolian region hosts its own Naadam, the festival in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar is the most prominent of these. Held annually, typically in the middle of July, and coinciding with the anniversary of the Mongolian Revolution, the Naadam Festival is a grand national event that showcases the country’s three national sports: archery, horse racing and wrestling. With a lineage dating back to the erstwhile Mongol Empire, when Naadams served as a means to train soldiers and celebrate military prowess, today the importance of these sports highlights the integral role they still play in everyday Mongolian nomadic life. Drawing people from all four corners of the country, Ulaanbaatar’s Naadam Festival is a time for families to come together, communities to reaffirm their cultural bonds and for the nation to reflect on its shared history and heritage.

Kazakh Eagle Hunter, Golden Eagle Festival, Mongolia
Gobi Desert golden dunes, Mongolia
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Speak to a Mongolia Travel Consultant

When is the best time to visit Mongolia?

The best time of year to visit Mongolia is between May and September with spring and autumn warm with clear blue skies and the summer months of July and August the hottest period of the year with long days and the occasional passing rain shower. Winters throughout Mongolia are long, cold and, in remote areas, harsh, lasting from November to April.

Do I need a visa to travel to Mongolia from the UK?

British citizens need a pre-arranged tourist visa to enter Mongolia. Once issued these are usually valid for stays of up to 30 days.

How long is the flight to Mongolia from the UK?

There are no direct flights between the UK and Ulaanbaatar. Flights that stop en-route take approximately 13 to 15 hours.

Are vaccinations required for travel to Mongolia?

A medical professional will be best able to advise you with regards to health requirements for travel to Mongolia. Current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. You may also wish to consider a Tick-borne Encephalitis vaccine if planning to spend an extended period of time outdoors in forests or rural areas.

What currency is used in Mongolia?

The currency of Mongolia is the Mongolian Tögrög. In Ulaanbaatar US Dollars and Euros are often accepted, however, outside of the capital Tögrög is preferred. Mongolia remains a largely cash-based society and although ATM machines can be found in Ulaanbaatar there are few in rural areas. Likewise, credit cards can be used in Ulaanbaatar – mostly in upmarket shops and larger hotels – but should not be relied upon in the countryside.

What languages are spoken in Mongolia?

Mongolian is the official language of Mongolia although many also speak Russian. English is increasingly popular especially with the younger generation.

When is the Naadam Festival held?

Naadam is the most important festival in Mongolia and held annually in July. A celebration of Mongolian culture, Naadam is undertaken with much enthusiasm and centred on three sports – wrestling, horse riding and archery. Festivities occur nationwide but are most exuberant in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Increasingly popular with visitors, the period either side of Naadam can be very busy with flights and hotels sold out many months in advance.

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