tour operators

Many but not all the regulars on this forum are budget travelers so it is less likely that you will find reviews of a high end company. You might try an internet search for the company name and reviews or check sites like virtualtour, trip advisor, foders, frommers, etc.

On this forum the most commonly mentioned company is gobitours.com or people contact a guide. Recently someone posted recommending a guide so you might try searching. Gans who can be reached via email at kbgans@yahoo.com or through Khongor guesthouse is also popular.

Ruth

Hi Chris

As Ruth says, this forum is mainly used by budget travellers. Here is a review of all options.

Tour Operators
You asked: Tour Operators
See the list of all Mongolian tour operators

Tour style
You asked: Some tours we have seen have very long travel days (10-12 hours)
The trips are long because the distances are very long and mostly on dirt roads (i.e. 1,200km to the Gobi and back).

You asked: others have some internal flights
The flights will save a few days, usually used by tourist on a limited time schedule.

You asked: We like to experience the local culture & also enjoy home stays & would like to sleep in a Ger.
This is part of most typical trip schedules.

International Tour op.
You asked: recommendations for tour companies - international
Depending on your country of origin - there are International tour operators that arrange excellent tours to Mongolia.
Germany, UK, Finland, Russia, New-Zealand, Holland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, China, Israel have tours going to Mongolia during the summer. This is usually the best, as you get an experienced guide from your home country that speaks your language, understands your background, and will take care of every detail from the minute you leave your country. This is obviously the most expensive solution, from $6,000 - $15,000, average $8,000

Local tour op.
You asked: recommendations for tour companies - Mongolian
You mention Black Ibex who are very good, and as you say on the high end.
Other high end tour companies that are known to have good tours are - Mongolian Ways, Juulchin, Selena, Happy Camel, Mongolian Resorts, and several others.
These companies have experienced English speaking guides, good vehicles, private Ger camps, and come with cooks and western style food. Some of these companies are managed by expats.
The cost - Per person per day for land tours from $60 to $180 average $90
land + flight tours from $150 to $230 average $180
You have to register and pay in advance for these tours.

Budget Options
You asked: they seem 'top end' $ wise
Some of the budget guest houses will arrange in short notice good tours for less, like Khongor, Zaya, Idre, and others.
The cost would be from $50 to $110 average $80 per person per day.

Super budget - use public transportation (x10 times less per km compared to hiring a driver) and just hire a local van for the last leg of your trip to the popular tourist locations. Cost would be about $10 to $40, average $25 per day for transportation and food on the way.

Dan

Thanks very much for the quick responses. We will do some more research with the info you supplied.
We are very comfortable 'roughing it' but have seen many tours that get in late & leave early & then say they 'have seen where ever' that is one reason we aren't keen on long days back to back as you generally don't experience much but a sore tail.
Chris

Most of the hostels in UB organize tours for a reasonable budget.

try travel buddies from tour operator and idre's guest house from budget tour.

Some places you don't always need a tour operator - UB, Kharakorin, Terelj - but for the Gobi and Khuvsgul it's advisable. For the Gobi I recommend trying Gobitours - www.gobitours.com. Bon voyage.

I spent 7 weeks in Mongolia this summer and these are my recommendations:

Forget about a tour and hire a Russian jeep with a knowledgeable driver and translator, you won't regret it. This is do-able with 2 people .You can set your own schedule depending on your interests and staying with individual families rather then in tourist gers where possible. This means you will have to do a lot of reading about the country before your trip but also can be very rewarding.

The advantage of the Russian jeep is that they are quite comfortable,( I sat in one for 27 days) have high clearance and best of all clear windows to enjoy the scenery rather then the newer vehicles which have tinted windows and are not as spacious.

Sadly to say a lot of people that are on the Mongolia site are not travellers but Mongolians wishing to be guides or touts.

private e-mail me for further info

.

Sadly to say a lot of people that are on the Mongolia site are not travellers but Mongolians wishing to be guides or touts.

Only one of the people responding to this thread for certain is a travel agency or tout and that person was careful to answer the question asked putting his information only in the signature line.

Most of the others are travelers whose area of interest or expertise in Mongolia.

Ruth