Backpacking
Many peoples want to save money by backpacking or roughing it and do not care about creature comforts.
We have a network of Mongolian people who you can link up with, or even better yet, you can go to my own Mongolian tent.
People can be with you everyday if you want.
They are trustworthy, but may only speak Mongolian or Basic Chinese. No English. They are not guides.
If you ask a question, they will give their perception, although reality may be different.
They can arrange simple Mongolian tents without toilets or running water. There may be a cold water shower close or a lake. Maybe there will be electricity (wind turbine). Maybe there will be a bath house. But my own Mongolian tent has no running water, no shower, but a toilet set into the grasslands. It is outside of UlanHot. It is beautiful, wonderful, but isolated inh nature.
Remember, we can put you in contact, but you are totally (100%) on your own.
Mongolian tents usually are much less than hotels.
However, if you want an English speaking Mongolian guide who knows everything, you must use Nara.
(Oh, I should say, Nara means sun in Mongolian (Naren).
Her younger sister's name (Sara) means the moon, while her other sister's name means
the stars. So now you know why we use the name NaraSaraOd Travel.)
We charge about USD$100.00 for this (linking up) to cover phone calls, arrangements, airport or train pickups in Hailar, UlanHot, or elsewhere. You will get their phone number or email address. We can call them to verify that everything is "fine" and take care of you in Beijing. We will meet you and take care of you untill you fly to Hailar, UlanHot or elsewhere. We will pick you up at the Beijing airport and take you to your hotel. We will take you back to the airport.
The $100.00 buys you transportation from the airport or train station in Beijing or another city, and linking up with someone in the grasslands.
It may be a man or lady. We cannot predict now. They charge somewhere between Rmb 300 and 500 per day. Plus/Minus. The $100.00 buys you nothing else. No tours. No food. Nothing else. Sometimes it is a college student, other times just a person who will help. All persons are known to us, but untrained. They are only friends, not guides.
If you want to stay at my Mongolian Ger (highly recommended), read the link called "The Grasslands and Horses"
You can bring your own tent if you want. The Mongolian man may charge you something to put your tent near his toilet, but it will be less than Rmb 100 per day. This will bring costs down even more. The tent will be on the grasslands near the horses you can ride. You must pay extra for riding the horses, but this is MUCH less costly than in a tourist compound. If you stay at my Mongolian tent (Ger), you will not have to pay by the hour. You can literally ride for days if you want.
Once we receive payment from you, we will find someone. We cannot do anything without payment (or people will not believe us), but we can do this easily.
Remember, you are 100% on your own. We assume no responsibility or liability. Make sure everything, especially the horse, is safe.
We can find a very cheap hotel for you in Beijing or another city as long as it is clear you are on your own and do not mind noise, a small hotel, a neighborhood, no lobby in the hotel, etc.
I know you want more details, but that is the difference between a "backpacking" tour and an organized one. We cannot now even predict who will be available. Sorry. Cheap hotels in Beijing usually run from Rmb 100 (cold water) to Rmb 500 (Hot water).
Contact Nara for details. Either email or call. She will answer all emails.
The details pf my private Mongolian tent (Ger) area is under the "Grasslands and Horses" link.
Updated: 07/31/2011