Mongolian Ger Camp Experience: What to Expect and How to Choose a Camp

A tourist ger camp in Mongolia offers countryside lodging using traditional gers—portable, round tents covered and insulated with felt. A Mongolian ger features lattice walls, a door frame, straight roof poles, and one or more columns supporting a central crown. Mongolia has hundreds of resorts and tourist camps where travelers stay across rural regions. On organized tours, meals are typically included while exploring the countryside.

What Is a Ger Camp?

A tourist ger camp is countryside lodging where the guest accommodations are traditional felt dwellings. Mongolia has hundreds of resorts and tourist camps across the country. In Mongolic languages the dwelling is called a ger, while the Turkic term is yurt (the Kazakh yurt is known as kiız üi, meaning “felt house”). This round felt tent is a portable dwelling used by nomadic groups of Inner Asia. To understand the architectural design, history, and materials of the dwelling itself, read our complete guide on what a Mongolian ger is.

A ger is constructed with lattice walls, a door frame, roof poles, and a crown. The Mongolian ger features straight roof poles and one or more columns supporting the crown, and the felt insulation is often covered with canvas. Because yurts take between 30 minutes and 3 hours to set up or take down, they serve as practical, adaptable structures.

At tourist camps, travelers stay in individual gers and gather in a central dining building for food. When you book an organized tour with Discover Altai, your daily meals are included.

What Is Inside a Camp Ger?

Stepping into a camp ger reveals a practical interior set up within a traditional circular frame. Unlike wilderness trekking where you sleep on the ground, a tourist ger is typically arranged with a few beds.

A ger usually has a stove in the centre, with its chimney pipe extending straight up through the crown of the roof. The thick felt insulation, often covered with canvas, helps hold warmth. Because heating arrangements can differ between locations, ask the camp how the stove is tended and fueled so you know what to expect during chilly evenings.

What to Ask a Ger Camp Before You Book

Because facilities and utility setups vary across Mongolia’s hundreds of resorts and tourist camps, asking the right questions before you travel helps you plan smoothly:

• Bathrooms and showers: Ask whether the camp has shared or private bathroom facilities, and what type of toilets and showers are available on site.
• Hot water: Check before you book whether hot water is available, if it is supplied at specific times, and how reliable it is.
• Power and charging: Inquire about electricity hours and whether power outlets are located inside guest gers or only in communal areas. Bring a power bank in case power is limited.
• Heating: Ask how the central stove in the ger is fueled and whether firewood or assistance is available if night temperatures drop.
• Opening dates: Tourist camps are seasonal operations, so check exact opening dates before finalizing your plans. On our tours we check them for you.
• Food and dining: Inquire about meal options and whether the kitchen can accommodate your dietary needs. On Discover Altai tours, all meals are included.

How Do You Choose the Best Ger Camp?

Choosing between ger camps in Mongolia involves evaluating practical travel factors rather than looking for standard hotel ratings. When planning your itinerary or comparing different places to stay in Mongolia, keep these tips in mind:

• Location and access: Choose camps positioned near key trailheads or scenic landmarks to cut down on long transit hours across rural terrain.
• Bathroom facilities: Inquire about the style and setup of toilets and showers in advance so you know what amenities to expect.
• Power availability: Ask ahead whether electricity is available around the clock or on a limited schedule, and carry portable chargers just in case.
• Operating season: Check opening dates before you book, as tourist camps operate seasonally. On our tours we check them for you.
• Camp size: Inquire about the number of gers at the camp to get a sense of whether you will be staying at a smaller, quieter outpost or a larger site.
• Kitchen and meals: Check ahead on dining arrangements to ensure the kitchen can support any dietary preferences you have. On our tours, daily meals are included.

Ger Camps in Western Mongolia and the Altai

Several Discover Altai itineraries incorporate nights at tourist camps. Our 6-day Best of Altai Tavan Bogd tour combines hotels, ger camp nights and a homestay with a herder family. For riders, our 10-day horse trekking tour includes nights at ger camps in the White River valley, Bear Valley, and at Khoton Lake. We also use a base ger camp in Ölgii during our motorcycle tours, while our eagle hunter tours combine hotels, homestays, and ger camps. If your route connects western regions with southern deserts, our Gobi & Central Mongolia and Gobi & Western Mongolia tours also feature ger camp stays, and our tours include meals.

For wilderness routes deep in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, there are no tourist camps, and expedition teams sleep in tents beneath the glaciated peaks.

Ger Camp, Family Ger or Tent: Which Suits You?

Travelers in Mongolia often experience three distinct styles of accommodation: tourist ger camps, authentic herder family homestays, or expedition tents.

A tourist camp offers a dedicated lodging base where you sleep in a traditional round felt dwelling. During a family homestay, you enter a herder family’s home, sharing their living space and experiencing traditional nomadic hospitality. On deep wilderness routes where no permanent structures exist, expedition tents provide portable shelter.

What Should You Pack for a Ger Camp?

While tourist camps provide beds and shelter, packing thoughtfully ensures a comfortable stay across rural Mongolia.

Keep these essentials in your pack: – Towel: Pack a quick-drying travel towel in case the camp does not supply towels. – Toilet paper and tissues: Bring your own roll and wet wipes in case facilities run out. – Toiletries: Pack soap, shampoo, and personal hygiene products in case the camp does not provide them. – Headlamp or flashlight: Essential for walking outside between your ger and dining or bathroom areas after dark. – High-capacity power bank: Bring a portable battery in case charging access or generator hours are limited. – Warm sleepwear: Pack thermal base layers and wool socks in case the ger cools down overnight. – Slip-on footwear: A pair of slip-on shoes or sandals makes stepping outside at night quick and easy.

For a comprehensive checklist covering clothing, trekking gear, and weather-specific gear for western mountain travel, consult our detailed Altai Tavan Bogd packing list.

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