Camels & Nomads of the Gobi
Bactrian Camels — The Ships of the Desert
The Gobi is home to the Bactrian Camels — the two-humped camels perfectly adapted to the extreme climate. They withstand −40°C in winter as well as +40°C in summer, can go weeks without water, and carry loads of 200 kg through pathless sand. In the Gobi, there are both domesticated camels (with the nomads) and the extremely rare Wild Bactrian Camels — with only about 1,000 animals left in the wild, one of the rarest mammal species on earth.
- Camel Riding: At the Khongoryn Els, you can book camel rides (1–2 hours, from 20,000 MNT / 5€). The swaying on the camel saddle through the dune landscape, with the wind in your face and endless sand in all directions, is meditative and unforgettable.
- Camel Milk: The nomads milk their camels and make fermented kefir (Shubat) from it. The taste is sour and takes getting used to — but trying it is part of the experience and shows respect for the hospitality.
Nomads of the Gobi
Even in the inhospitable Gobi Desert, nomadic families live in their white Gers (yurts). They keep camels, goats, and sheep and move 2–4 times a year to new pastures. A visit to a nomadic family is one of the most impressive and authentic experiences of the entire Mongolia trip:
- You will be greeted with Suutei Tsai (salted milk tea with butter) and Aaruul (rock-hard dried curd). Accept both with your right hand and take at least a sip or bite — refusing would be impolite.
- The hospitality is genuine and deeply rooted: In the vastness of the steppe, nomads share their little with any stranger who comes by their Ger. This is not a show for tourists but a survival rule thousands of years old.
- Bring Gifts: Sweets and pens for children, tea and snuff for adults. No money — it changes the dynamics.
- Photography: Always ask first! Most families are happy and pose willingly — but respect a no.
