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Mongolia Ger: The Traditional Yurt Tent for Nomadic Herders

The traditional Mongolian nomadic homes, the Ger – a circular yurt tent made of white clothes and animal skin – is a common sight in the steppes of the country. Due to the nomadic lifestyle of the people in the remote areas of the region, the Mongolia ger is very easy to relocate and break down. It becomes the symbol of the Mongolian lifestyle and culture. One of the biggest attractions of Mongolia trip, most western tourists request night stay at a Mongolia ger for the sake of an offbeat experience.

One of the distinctive features of a ger camp is its bright and attractive doors. Inside the tents, you can find the decorated in bright colored murals and wall decorations. Overall, an overnight stay in the yurt tent with the local nomadic Mongolians can be a memorable experience.

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Tourist Ger Camp

Mongolia Ger

Many local nomads or tour operators organize local ger tours, where the guests help in setting up the tent. Other than that, the Tourist Ger Camp – meant only for the tourists - offers the guests a chance to experience Mongolian culture with basic / luxury amenities. Usually, in the Tourist Ger Camp, the visitors are offered tents according to their preferences for the duration of the stay.

In the luxury tents, guests are generally offered a queen or king-sized, running hot water, and an attached bathroom. On the contrary, the basic ger comes with basic amenities - like a bed and a table. An attached bathroom with a basic Mongolia ger is difficult to find.

P.S: The basic yurt tents available in the Tourist Ger Camp properties are closer to the traditional tents of Mongolia.

Facilities Available at a Tourist Ger Camp

Apart from the basic amenities like clean beds and clean washrooms, at the tourist ger camp, you can expect

★ 1. Good food

Most ger camps come with an in-house restaurant and a dining room. The dining area is an unofficial gathering area of the camp, where guests can socialize among themselves during the dining hours. Usually, in these camps menu is pre-determined and mostly non-vegetarian menus are the king of the show. However, now these tents are adding more options for their vegan and vegetarian guests. Although the menu is limited, it is a start.

★ 2. Bathrooms

While basic Gers do not come with attached bathrooms and showers, most luxury tents offer attached washrooms with a dedicated shower area. Most of these camps offer fresh towels and shower shoes for their guests – which can be a blessing on a backpacking trip. Also, hot water is available – but there is a high chance of running out.

Besides these amenities, some commercial tents offer camel rides to the nearby areas.

Traditional Mongolia Ger VS Tourist Ger Camp

Luxury Tourist Ger Camp

Although the Tourist Ger Camps offer the guests a chance to experience the nomadic culture without compromising the basic luxuries of life, many guests recommend staying at a genuine ger for the real experience.

Guests who stay with the nomadic family, get the firsthand experience of the local culture and customs. If you are invited to a family ger of the nomads, then you will be rarely expected to pay for the accommodation. You can return the generosity of the hosts by helping them in their day to day activities.

Also, bring in some gifts and goodies for the family, or offer cash as a gift - either of the options are appreciated by the host. Usually, vodka, cigarettes, and candies are customary gifts. Helping the women of the family in the kitchen is also valued by the hosts. Try to offer food and edible items, like pasta, rice, biscuits, desserts and fruits for the host of the Mongolia Ger.

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Overall, the nomadic culture of Mongolia can be best experienced in an overnight stay at the Mongolia ger.