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Zavkhan Trekking Newsletter,
February 2009
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Read our previous newsletter
here
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Our trip to the Altai mountains was an unforgettable experience and a
real adventure with a great bunch of fellow riders. The scenery was
stunning and the local Kazakhs with us were great fun, very friendly
and ever resourceful! (Liz, 2008)
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Hi Everyone,
I hope 2009 is off to a good start for you all. The
year is flying by and it will soon be time to head to Mongolia. Not
yet of course since it is about minus 25C at the moment during the
day! A question we get asked a lot is 'what will the weather be
like?', so I have given some suggestions below.
Now is a good time for a reminder that if you
book your trip before the end of February, you can make the most of
our 5% early booking discount.
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Mountain pastures in
Zavkhan |
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Changes to trip dates We have brought forward
our Eagle Festival trip due to a change in the festival dates. The small
local Sagsai festival is now planned for mid-September. Our riders who saw
the provincial Naadam festival in Telmen sum last year will tell
you, small can be better when it comes to festivals!
Our Packhorse trip departure date has been changed by one day and will
now start on July 30th. This is due to a change in the domestic flight
schedule. There are unlikely to be any further changes to our planned
dates - we know how difficult it is to find the ideal flight to Mongolia
so we won't make it any harder.
Read about these trips and more
here. |
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Trip Availability Some of our more popular departures are filling
fast so if you have your heart set on joining us in 2009, please do get in
touch. The first trip of the season is now full -
part of it's popularity is that it can be combined with a visit to the
annual Naadam Festival. However it is worth asking to be on the
wait list as people do sometimes pull out.
If you would like to combine
a riding trip with
a visit to Naadam , then our July 12th departure to the Altai is
still a good option. Don't be concerned that the Altai trips will be too
challenging for you. Realistically if you are happy to ride in Zavkhan,
you will be fine to ride in the Altai. |
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Camped on the shores of Khar
Nuur |
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Heading into Zavkhan's
mountains |
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| Weather We are often asked about the
weather in Mongolia and what to wear. Basically it is a country
of extremes, with long cold winters and short hot summers. Even
in summer the nights are often cool and temperatures can change
markedly from day to day.
In June/July/August it is
likely to be warm during the day, but can be below zero at
night. By September autumn is arriving and days are getting
cooler particularly in the Altai. On all trips you need to bring
light clothing for warm days, and plenty of warm clothing for
the evening. It
can get cold sitting around the campfire.
A down jacket is ideal, because it
squashes down when not being worn. |
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Mongolia is a dry country generally but
summer is the rainy season in Zavkhan. When we say rain we don't mean UK
rain which can set in for days. Showers are short-lived and it's not long
before it's hot and sunny again. You do need a good waterproof coat just
in case. A light pair of waterproof over-trousers is also a good idea. You
are much more likely to get sunburnt, so bring a wide-brimmed hat, or cap,
or your favourite cowboy hat (with a cord to hold it on when going fast).
Bugs can be quite abundant early in the season, when the wildflowers are
at their peak, but are not a big problem for most people. If you really
have an aversion to insects, September is the best time to visit. In fact
this is my favourite month, with cool crisp days, sunny blue skies, and
autumn beginning to colour the forest. |
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One of Zavkhan's impressive wildflowers
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As
usual, if you know of anyone who might want to receive our
newsletter, please forward it on, and get them to drop us a line at
info@zavkhan.co.uk so we can
add them to the mailing list. Alternatively, if you don’t want to
receive the newsletter anymore, just email us and we will remove you
from the list. |
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