Off the Map: Mongolia

Off The Map: Mongolia Itinerary

Day 1 (Tuesday)
After meeting and greeting your flight leader and the other students traveling to Mongolia and China, you’re off to Hong Kong! This is an easy, nonstop flight across the Pacific – most students find that after dinner and a movie, they’re able to manage dozing off to sleep for a while. So sit back, have a chat with your new friends, and enjoy the flight!

Day 2 (Wednesday)
This day is 'lost' as you cross the International Date Line. But don't worry – you'll get it back when returning home!

Day 3 (Thursday)
Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport, where you’ll meet your program leaders and have time for a long awaited stretch. You will have a few hours in the airport before we grab our bags (preferably small and manageable!) and check in for the connecting flight to Mongolia. You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the early afternoon and transfer to the guesthouse. The remainder of the day will be spent relaxing and recuperating from your long journey. In the evening, you will have an orientation about the exciting adventure you are about to begin as a photojournalist. As an advanced photo workshop, we will dive right into discussing themes and concepts for the upcoming weeks to maximize the development of your individual portfolios.

Day 4 (Friday)
Today we will transfer to Karakorum, where we will settle in for the night with our Mongolian host family and enjoy a personal concert by a local folk musician.

Day 5 (Saturday)
In the morning you will visit Mongolia's first Buddhist monastery, Erdene Zuu Khiid. After taking in the sights at the monastery, you will head to the markets for a little shopping. This will be the last large town you will see for days, so you will want to pick up any essentials you may have forgotten at home before you leave. Then we will depart for Orkhon Khürkhree, where our adventure begins.

Day 6 (Sunday)
Today will be our first day in the heart of the Mongolian countryside. You will learn the basics of horse riding (no experience is required). The Mongolian riding and saddle style is a little different than Western style, but today we will help you get the hang of it. In the afternoon we will take a short trek to a beautiful waterfall and come back to help our host family with their chores.

Day 7 (Monday)
Today will be the start of our epic horse trek through the steppes. We will set off to an area known as the Eight Lakes. The journey will take two days and we will stay with another host family on the way.

Day 8 - 9 (Tuesday - Wednesday)
On Tuesday, we will arrive at the gorgeous Eight Lakes. We will spend the next two nights here, relaxing from the long journey and enjoying the rich Mongolian culture.

Day 10 - 11 (Thursday - Friday)
Today, we will now begin our journey back to Orkhon Khürkhree, where our trek began. The journey will again take two days and we will stay with the same host families.

Day 12 (Saturday)
Today we will rest at the waterfall. Tonight you will have a chance to camp next to the river, and if you brought your fishing pole, this is a great place to fish!

Day 13 - 14 (Sunday - Monday)
Over the next two days, we will jump back on our horses for a last trek to a hot spa, about a day's ride from our base camp. This will also be our last day in the countryside.

Day 15 (Tuesday)
In the morning, we will say our goodbyes to our generous host family and transfer back to Karakorum, stopping along the way at a temple hidden in the lush forests of the Khangai Mountains.

Day 16 (Wednesday)
Today, you will return to the hustle and bustle of Ulaanbataar. We will visit the local market to pick up any last-minute souvenirs for friends and family, and then enjoy a final dinner with the group.

Day 17 (Thursday)
It's time to say goodbye to Mongolia and continue on to your next adventure. You will carry the memories of your adventures here for a lifetime!

Note the Community Service: The 20 hours of community service will include helping our host families with their daily chores and any other help they may need as it arises.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Checked Luggage:
 A medium sized duffel bag or large back pack will be most efficient. Wheeled bags are not recommended due to the rough terrain, but is acceptable if that is what you have. It is important that you try to keep your total luggage to one piece of checked luggage, and do your best to keep it under 40 pounds.  You will be carrying it with throughout the program and you want to keep it movable.

You Should Bring :
small backpack- this can be used as your carry on and will also be used for day hikes
sleeping bag (The nights in Mongolia can get chilly, so a sleeping bag with a rating of 0 degree is reccommended)
Sleeping pad or Thermarest – optional but recommended for extra comfort while sleeping.
hiking shoes (for all trips) – it is best to wear hiking shoes for all trips, which give good support and protect your feet from rocks, loose stones, etc.
towel – a travel towel that is compact, very absorbent, and fast drying is the best kind
waterproof shell/rain jacket or poncho – in most cases a waterproof/windproof shell with a hood is ideal. Ponchos are more practical on a horse trek as they can cover your saddle and prevent your seat from being wet. Jackets or ponchos for horse treks should be of a subdued, darker color, and preferably of a material that does not crackle or rustle much. Some Mongolian horses are spooked by unfamiliar bright/light colors and noises from plastic or nylon rain gear.
waterproof pants – should fit over your other pants, and from May through September need not have a lining or should have a very light, breathable lining.
fleece jacket or warm sweater/jumper –a fleece jacket with a full length zipper in front would be the most practical. Pull over fleece jackets or any kind of synthetic material would be good as well.
cotton t-shirts – two to three T-shirts will usually suffice
long sleeve shirts – one light weight, fast drying, light colored one, preferably with buttons down the front so you can wear it open over a T-shirt for sun protection – and one medium weight for cool evenings.
lightweight pants – two pair, and if you have one with zip-off legs that can double as shorts, this is ideal
shorts – the fast drying kind are ideal
warm hat – wool or fleece, which can cover your ears
long underwear – (for treks and horse treks) in summer a lightweight top and bottom will suffice. Your long underwear should be the synthetic kind that wicks away moisture from the skin and keeps you dry
swimsuit- be mindful that Mongolia has a very conservative culture, so be considerate of the type of suit you pack
socks – socks should be of a material that keeps your feet dry
underwear – fast drying. Sports/athletic bras offering good support are best for countryside portions of all trips – roads are bumpy here!
sun hat – should shade your face, ears, and the back of your neck
gloves – lightweight for trekking and riding, warm for spring and autumn trips
sandals – to be worn around camp, in the shower, and wading in streams or lakes. The best kind have adjustable straps around the ankle, and will stay on your feet if you are walking in a slippery stream bed
sun glasses – should be dark and offer UV protection
sunscreen – choose one with stronger protection (SPF 20 or more) if you are light skinned. A sunscreen in stick form that can be applied to lips, nose, cheeks, and the tops of your ears is a very handy item
comfortable shoes – should have sturdy soles and good support
insect repellent – read the label carefully and avoid those that are toxic to fish and amphibians, or wash these off well away from rivers, lakes, and streams
resealing (ziploc) plastic bags – bring enough to protect your documents, money, camera, binoculars, and other items from wetness, sand, and dust. A few extra bags are handy for repacking wet clothing until you reach your next camp and can dry them out
binoculars/camera – carry in a soft padded case if possible
water bottle – for treks and horse treks, should have a wide mouth for refilling easily
wet tissues – choose unscented ones that will not attract insects
chapstick- a stick that has spf would be best
watch/alarm clock – an inexpensive watch with an alarm is a handy item
hand sanitizer- just something to keep your hands clean.
notebook and pen- good to keep track of you adventures through Mongolia.
Optional- gifts for your host families. These can be simple gifts like a tee shirt or some small souvenir from the states.

1 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
Traveling through a very dry country such as Mongolia, we will be sure that you will receive the proper amount of water, and we will only be drinking bottled water or pure natural spring water.

2 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
On arrival to Mongolia you will receive a stamp that will be valid for thirty days. No other paperwork is necessary.

3 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
We will be staying in tents, tourist ger camps, and with local families. The accommodations at best will be rustic.

4 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
There are no immunizations required for this trip.

5 - What costs are not included on this trip?
You should bring your own money to buy souvenirs or for any snacks.

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
There will be a flight leader that will escort the students to Korea. In Korea someone from the rustic pathways team will be there to pick them up and take care of them for the night.  The next day they will be escorted back to the airport and put on the flight to Ulaanbaatar. At Ulaanbaatar their program leaders will be waiting for them at the terminal.
 
7 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Due to the somewhat secluded nature of Mongolia, we recommend starting your Rustic Pathways summer in Mongolia and then connecting to other programs.

8 - How long is the flight to this country?
Total flight time should be around 14 hours.

9 - What kind of food will we be eating?
We will stock up on our own food before we depart for the countryside. Most of our meals will be prepared by our staff. Breakfast will be your typical western breakfast (toast, pancakes, yogurt, ect. ). Lunch will usually consist of sandwiches. Dinner will be cooked by our staff (pasta, stir fry, and ect.). We also enjoy traditional Mongolian cuisine which is typically meat and dairy products. If you have any food allergies or are a vegetarian please let us know before you arrive so we can properly cater to your food requests.

10 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
This is the first year for our Mongolia programs and we are uncertain of what the ratio will be. However, we expect it to be fairly even between the amount of girls and boys.