Frequently
Asked Questions
Off The Map Tours an agent for another ground operator ?
No. We are operating all the tours ourselves independently. We do not sell other company's tours.
Why are some companies cheaper than you ?
Some travel companies copy each other's itineraries and offer them at a cheaper price without having researched or travelled themselves. All our tours have been genuinely well researched by us. All our vehicles, bikes and equipment belong to us, are maintained by us, and are of a good enough standard to withstand Mongolian conditions. We do not hire occasional staff or use hired vehicles. Some cheap companies hire their vehicles and drivers and take students as guides. We do not hand over our clients to other people and we run all trips ourselves with our own staff. Only in China and Russia we use reputable agents to organise extension tours.
Why are some companies doing the same itinerary as you ?
The first reason is because in some cases we are working as the ground operator for other tour operators around the world so it is actually us doing the trip. The second reason is because sometimes our routes, text and photographs have been copied and used by other companies without our permission. Therefore you have to research well and check the company carefully before booking a tour.
How difficult is this tour ? Can I manage it ?
Mountain
biking, hiking and horse riding tours are graded
based upon the average daily distance to be covered,
the terrain and likely weather conditions. Your
own ability and experience will determine how
challenging the tour is for you personally. Generally
speaking most of the trips can be achieved by
anyone in good physical condition, provided they
have trained beforehand. Several of the tours
have complete vehicle support. If you need to
know more, contact us for a more detailed description
of the route. We have done all the tours ourselves
and are familiar with the conditions. On motorbike tours participants must be confident riders and have some off-road experience. You should check with us before booking to be sure that the trail matches your ability.
How
far are the daily distances ?
This depends very much on the terrain. For
mountain biking tours it varies from 35 - 65 km
in a day. Horse riding tours are usually around
25km per day, and hiking trips between 12 km and
25 km (average 15 km). On motorbike tours the distance is usually 100 - 200 km per day but depends on the terrain and how many interesting things there are to see and do along the way. On good black topped roads the riding distance might be much greater. Are there any special insurance requirements ?
If riding a motorcycle in Mongolia you must inform your insurance company and they will probably charge an extra premium. We will need to see evidence that your travel insurance covers you for riding a motorbike.
Do I need a driving licence to ride a motorbike in Mongolia?
You must have a valid driving licence from your own country in order to be able to ride a motorcycle in Mongolia.
How do you classify "Normal Wear and Tear" for a motorcycle?
Deductions from your motorcycle security deposit are not made for normal wear and tear or replacement parts resulting from mechanical failures. They are not normally made for minor scratches to bodywork, but would be made as a result of crash damage and generally include such things as bent handlebars, exhaust, foot pegs or wheel rims.
Can I purchase replacement parts and send to you ?
No. We will purchase all replacement parts ourselves from a reliable source. We use genuine new spares only to ensure the reliability of our bikes. You can request to see the Spare Parts Price List at any time.
If the motorbike is stolen under threat, will I have to pay?
This is very unlikely to happen, especially as we will be travelling all together, but such a situation would be a crime so we would contact the police and resolve the situation properly without charging you.
Do you always buy genuine new replacement parts?
Yes. We maintain our bikes to the proper standard, so we use genuine new parts purchased from a reliable source in the UK.
Do I have to pay DHL charges for replacement parts?
If your bike is damaged whilst you are riding it and replacement parts are needed immediately in order to keep the bike running then we use DHL to send the parts to Mongolia from UK. If the spares are not needed urgently then the shipping charges would be less.
What happens if I damage someone's property or livestock ?
You will be responsible for settling any claim arising from damage to another person's property or livestock whilst you are riding the motorbike.
Do
single travellers join your group tours ?
In our groups we usually find that some of
the people are single and some are travelling
with their partner or friends. If you are single
and prefer your own tent or hotel room, we can
arrange this, otherwise you can share with someone
of the same gender. We cannot guarantee single
accommodation at ger camps, so we do not charge
for this. In practice, however, we are usually
able to get a separate ger for each single person.
What
else do I need to take?
When you make a booking, you will receive
a Tour Dossier in which there is a complete list
of all you need to take in the way of equipment,
clothing, medicines, etc.. Generally speaking
you need to bring everything to cover all eventualities
because outside Ulaanbaatar you cannot depend
on anything being available. For motorbike tours you will need proper off-road motorcycling gear including helmet, rigid boots and body armour.
Can
you cater for vegetarians ?
If you tell us beforehand, we can manage most
kinds of special diet. Our cooks are professionals
and are quite used to vegetarians. For camping
tours only (but not for tours where accommodation
is in ger camps), we request an extra payment
of 50 Euros per person if your food will need
to be prepared separately.
Can
I buy just train tickets ?
During the winter, from October through to
May, we will provide only train tickets without
tours or other services. However, during the tourist
season we are very busy and will only provide
train tickets for our clients who book a whole
tour with us in Mongolia, China or Russia.
Can
I bring my own bike ?
For mountain biking tours, if you prefer to bring
your own bike, please do so. We don't mind either
way, but several of our past clients have said
that they would have hired our bikes if they had
known what we have available and how well they
are maintained. You can bring your own motorbike for a motorbike tour, but the bureaucratic procedures involved are lengthy.
Do
I need to bring bike tools and some parts ?
We have the tools that we are likely to need
for maintenance and repair of our own mountain bikes and motorcycles. We also take some spare parts. If you bring
your own bike, it is up to you to decide what
tools and parts you might need. You must remember
that there are no bike shops in the remote places
in which we travel, and even in Ulaanbaatar most parts
are unavailable.
How
can I get a visa ?
 Some
visitors do not need a Mongolian visa (tourists
travelling on a US passport currently fall into
this category). See the complete list:  Mongolian
Embassies & Consulates worldwide.
Sometimes an official letter of invitation is
required to accompany the visa application. We
will provide this if necessary.
Do
you sell air tickets ?
We do not sell international air tickets to
Mongolia but we work with ATOL holding travel
agents who can provide the flights. We can suggest
the cheapest and most convenient routes to Ulaanbaatar.
Most people coming from Europe use Aeroflot,
Miat Mongolian Airlines or Korean Air. The alternative is to fly via
Beijing in China and on to Ulaanbaatar using Air
China or MIAT.
What
kind of accommodation will we be in ?
In Ulaanbaatar we use the Continental Hotel,
which is a modern three star hotel located centrally. See: http://www.mongolia.co.uk/our_services.htm In the countryside we are usually travelling in
remote areas where the only option is to camp.
We supply good weatherproof dome tents
(included in the price). Sometimes we can stay
at traditional ger camps where the nomadic style
round felt tents are set up for tourists with toilet
and washing facilities nearby.
Can
I stay in a cheaper hotel in Ulaanbaatar ?
Our clients have used the Continental
Hotel for several years and always given positive
reports on the service, rooms, restaurant and
other facilities. It is located near to the city
center, on the airport side of town, a few minutes
walk from shops, bars and restaurants. We do not
recommend that our clients stay in cheaper accommodation
where security cannot be guaranteed and much time
wasted struggling through heavy city traffic.
Can
I get references from past clients ?
If you want to know what our past clients
thought about the route and our services, we can
supply you with contact details of some people
who have done a tour similar to the one you are
interested in. Of course we will first get their permission to give you their contact details. Also see our Comments page.
What
is the temperature at night time ?
At higher altitudes it can get chilly at night,
even during the summer months, so we recommend
that you bring a 4-season sleeping bag for any
of our camping tours. During the daytime in the
summer, temperatures range from comfortable (+15
°C) to hot (+35°C), and you need to be
prepared for rain as well.
How
much do airlines charge for a bike ?
International airlines vary on their baggage
allowance and excess charges. Often they are lenient
when it comes to bicycles, but you should check
beforehand with the airline and be prepared to
pay the full cost. For internal flights the baggage
allowance is 10 - 15 kg and excess charges are
US $ 1 - 3 per kilogram.
Can
I extend my trip ?
If you want to spend longer in Mongolia before
or after your tour, we can arrange your hotel
and transfers as necessary. If you want to stay
in China or Russia our agents in Beijing and Moscow
are excellent and will organize anything you require.
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