Travelling in Mongolia is once in a lifetime experience. You will enjoy vast open nature while meeting hospitable and friendly Mongolian nomads who will welcome you into their gers as you experience their customs, traditions and way of life.
The “ger” is a portable, wool dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia as their home. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel, usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall (again, steam bent). The top of the wall is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs. The structure is usually covered by layers of fabric and sheep's wool felt for insulation and weatherproofing.
Traditional ger consist of an expanding wooden circular frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of the flocks of sheep that accompany the pastoralists. The timber to make the external structure is not to be found on the treeless steppes, and must be obtained by trade in the valleys below.
The frame consists of one or more expanding lattice wall-sections, a door-frame, bent roof poles and a crown. The Mongolian Ger has one or more columns to support the crown and straight roof poles. The (self-supporting) wood frame is covered with pieces of felt. Depending on availability, the felt is additionally covered with canvas and/or sun-covers. The frame is held together with one or more ropes or ribbons. The structure is kept under compression by the weight of the covers, sometimes supplemented by a heavy weight hung from the center of the roof. They vary with different sizes, and relative weight.
A ger is designed to be dismantled and the parts carried compactly on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another site. Complete construction takes around 2 hours.
The most common accommodations in the countryside in Mongolia are Ger Camps. Accommodations in the ger camps usually are two people to share one ger. Each ger is heated by a wood stove and has two wood-framed beds.
Ger is not facilitated with bathroom, so you find separate washing blocks with western style toilets and shower cubicles, and there are also laundry, restaurant and shopping facilities available. Ger camp restaurants and western-style toilet/shower facilities are most often located in the middle of the camp or close by. The ger camps provide all bedding, so clients will not be expected to bring their own sleeping bags to stay overnight. All camps supply towels.