Discussions Meridiana took part in

Hi everyone, We’ve got our tickets for Mongolia in August 2027 (yes, booking way ahead saves money...). We’re looking for contacts at a reliable local agency that could help us organize our trip, preferably with a French-speaking contact. First, we’d like to see what’s possible to do in 2 weeks, at what price, knowing we’d like to visit at least the Gobi Desert and Terejii National Park. On one hand, we want to be independent for some things (accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, for example), but have support for the rest (domestic flights, driver, visits, transfers, etc.). If you’ve already traveled with an agency that exceeded your expectations, I’d love to get their details. Thanks a bunch!

hi, does anyone have suggestions or contacts for a private local driver without going through a big travel agency for a multi-day trip in Yunnan?

thanks for any info

Hello, I’m 72 years old and I’m flying to Beijing from Rome on March 26th. My return is planned for May 11th from Ulaanbaatar to Frankfurt. I’m thinking of buying a cheap bike in Beijing and riding to Hohhot, stopping to see the Great Wall of China along the way. From Hohhot, I’ll take the train to cross the border and get off at Sainshand in Mongolia, then continue to Ulaanbaatar. Can anyone give me some tips? Thanks! Gérald

Hi, We usually travel using local transportation. In Mongolia, that seems a bit complicated—has anyone tried this kind of trip there? Thanks.

Hi there, After making good use of the tips on this site, I’m now adding my own contribution. We’ve just returned from 25 days exploring Mongolia. A trip that took us from the capital to the Gobi Desert, from the ancient capital Karakhorum to the Orkhon Valley, and also off the beaten path to places close to nature and nomadic life, all thanks to our guide Hacha. I’m used to traveling as a couple or solo, in "backpacker" mode, and I rarely—or only occasionally—hire a guide. But this time, I have to admit that choosing a guide-interpreter and a driver was an excellent idea. We set off as a group of four to share the costs. I’d spoken with Hacha, a Mongolian who used to work at the French Alliance, speaks perfect French, and has been organizing trips for over 25 years. Needless to say, she knows her job inside out and has built strong relationships with nomadic families over the years. Since she only works with small groups, she can steer clear of the main tourist spots. With her help, we were able to personalize our itinerary—and even adjust it as we went along. For example, we’d planned to attend the Naadam festival in a small town, but we found out there was another festival two days later that wasn’t on the schedule. So we tweaked our route to catch both, and we didn’t regret it. Anyway, if you’d like more details or Hacha’s contact info, feel free to reach out.

Hi everyone. Three of us (me and two friends) want to go on a 15-day road trip in Mongolia, starting from the capital. We're looking for info on motorcycle rental, as well as possible routes for 15 days. Thanks.

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for a French-Mongolian interpreter to accompany me to a nomadic family in the Altai Mountains starting August 21st, for at least two weeks. Do you know anyone you could recommend? Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks! Emmanuelle

Hi everyone,

I’m finally heading to Mongolia for two months this August and September. Do you know the procedure for applying for a visa, since I’ll be there for more than 30 days? Looking forward to your tips! Thanks! !

Hello,

I’m heading to Mongolia in August and September and I’m looking for a French-speaking guide who can accompany me to the Altai Mountains to stay with a nomadic or semi-nomadic family that would be willing to host me in exchange for work and money. Do you know anyone? Looking forward to your replies! Thanks, Emmanuelle

Hi there, I’m planning to spend two months in Mongolia, and I’d love to be welcomed by a nomadic or semi-nomadic family in the Altai Mountains. I can work and, of course, contribute money for my stay! Has anyone already had this experience? Also, is it still possible today to take the Trans-Siberian to Novosibirsk and then cross the Russia-Mongolia border at Tashanta? Looking forward to your replies! Thanks

Hi, does anyone have a tip for renting a motorcycle or a sidecar in Ulaan? Thanks

Hi everyone, Happy to be back on our travel exchange and advice site. There are four of us heading to Mongolia from June 22 to July 15, 2025. We’ve wanted to visit Mongolia for a long time, but for various reasons, the trip kept getting postponed. This year is the one. The flight tickets are booked, and we’re in touch with several agencies to organize what seems like a classic itinerary (Gobi, Khangai, and Lake Khuvsgul), including attending a Naadam festival outside the capital. Yes, but here’s the thing—with so much hope riding on this destination, I’m afraid of being disappointed by what we’ll find. Let me explain. The way we travel has changed over time. Discovering a country these days seems to be more about influencers than travel guides. Consumer-focused travel seems to have taken over from genuine exploration. So, if you have any tips for helping us discover authentic sites and avoid certain mistakes… we’re all ears. Thanks in advance for your replies, and happy holidays to everyone.

Hi everyone, I’m setting off to put one foot in front of the other for 5 weeks in Mongolia starting mid-January. I always travel like the locals do—buses, shared "taxis," trucks... Has anyone here had experience with winter transportation there?

Weather-wise, I’ve dealt with extreme cold before, so I’m all set with gear.

See you soon, Marie

Hi there, I'm in Paris and looking to exchange some Tugrik bills. Maybe someone has some they brought back? Thanks so much! Have a great day

Hey everyone! So, I’m planning to head to Mongolia in April 2025 for two weeks (I know, it’s pretty short, but work leaves me no choice!). That’s why I don’t want to waste any time! It’s not a big deal if I can’t see the whole country or miss some must-see spots—my main goal for my trips is meeting families, staying with locals, discovering the culture, the way of life, and everything else! That’s what travel is all about for me. So if you know of any families (preferably nomadic) who’d be open to hosting me, I’m all ears! I never go through guides or agencies—usually, I connect with locals who need a little extra money and know their region well. They’re happy to spend the day showing me around! Thanks so much for your help! Fabrice.

Hi,

I’m supposed to be going on a university exchange in Shanghai from February to June 2025, and I’d love to return to Europe afterward via the Trans-Mongolian Railway. My plan was to fly from China to Mongolia’s capital and maybe spend 3-4 days exploring the country. Then, I could take the train, with a stop in Irkutsk before heading to Moscow for a two-day visit, followed by two days in Saint Petersburg. After that, I’d take a bus to Tallinn and possibly fly home from there due to time constraints. I was thinking this whole trip would take about two weeks. This site: Russian Train Tickets - Online Booking for Russian Train Tickets seems useful for buying tickets (though the ones that go through Mongolia need to be booked via a form or on tutu.travel), and this one for the bus from Russia to Estonia: St. Petersburg - Tallinn buses and tickets.

From what I’ve gathered, Russia now offers an e-visa, and Mongolia has suspended visas for Europeans until the end of next year.

Would anyone have any info or advice? Given the current situation in Russia, everything is pretty complicated to research, and most of the information is outdated.

Thanks in advance, Alicia

hi,

for those interested in Mongolia in winter and more specifically the 1000 Camels Festival in the Gobi, it’s now held in the town of Dalanzadgad, which you can reach by bus from the capital (2 daily buses, about 14 hours journey). It takes place in early February, February 1-3. (It used to be held in the small village of Bulgan, lost in the middle of the Gobi.)

happy travels

Hi everyone,

I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:

Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?

Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?

Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences. Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!

Ride safe! ✌️ Didier

Bonjour,

Venant de Russie par train, j'aurai mon billet de train pas de souci mais par contre je voulais envisager la suite sur place par rapport aux différentes agences locales à Oulan Bator et ce que je pourrais faire par ailleurs j'ai l'intention de rejoindre la Chine par voix terrestre, je n'ai donc aucun titre de transport pour la suite d'autant plus que je ne sais si je vais rester 3 semaines ou un mois en Mongolie... Il y a t'il personne ayant vécu un contexte similaire au mien et qui pourrait m'aider sur la thématique? Sur comment remplir ce document pour l'obtention du visa sans ce qu'ils demandent au final... Merci à vous.

Nathalie

Bonjour,

Quelle compagnie ou sites internets me conseillez vous pour un achat assez juste du prix réel? Merci à vous et si vous avez des infos sur la Mongolie en soi à sac à dos, le mieux à faire, les agences ou pas, les bus etc...le courchsurfing ....je suis preneuse de vos infos. Merciiiii

Nathalie