Introducing Self Drive Mongolia Tour: Adventure Without the Hassle

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Considering Self-Driving in Mongolia? Join this easy “Self-Drive Tour” of the country. Thanks to my partnership with AVIS car rental, you can drive yourself across Mongolia on my carefully curated route without the risk of getting lost, thanks to AVIS’s innovative GPS mapping system.

If you’ve been following me for a while now, you’ll remember that I self-drove across Mongolia WITHOUT the help of a guide or self-drive tour company and ended up stuck in a river for a substantial amount of time. Road-tripping in Mongolia is not easy. I’ve driven in dozens of countries, including Iraq, Uganda, and Pakistan…but this was by far the most difficult. That’s why I decided to partner with AVIS and create the self-propelled tour I wish I had when I traveled the country.

There’s no in-person guide, no restrictive itinerary, no reduction of adventure, and you don’t have to share your trip with anyone you don’t know.

Simply follow a pre-programmed route and enjoy the drive.

What Exactly is a Self-Drive Tour?

While “self-drive” and “tour” might seem at first glance like an oxymoron, it’s actually pretty straightforward. This Mongolia tour trades an in-person guide for a remote GPS guide. This allows you to drive yourself across the vast taiga without the risk of losing the road or getting lost. AVIS preprograms your route into your GPS device, prebooks any ger camps and hotels you might want to stay in, and arranges an array of very Mongolian activities along your route.

Why You Should Consider a Self-Drive Tour in Mongolia?

Mongolia is not an easy country to self-drive in. In fact, I have several blog posts detailing the perils of navigating a DIY Mongolia road trip.

While it’s most definitely possible to do it entirely on your own, it takes a lot of pre-trip planning, navigation skills, and time. Understandably, many people do not have this kind of time or expertise to devote to such an adventure. This is why I partnered with AVIS in the first place. Mongolia is an incredible destination that I think can be made a little more accessible without encouraging group tours to just the mainstream sights.

Here are the pros to booking my AVIS x Beyond the Bucketlist Self-Drive Tour in Mongolia.

• Follow a tried-and-true road trip route through the country without the risk of ending up off-trail. This happened to me when we tried to road trip in Mongolia WITHOUT the help of a GPS trip route, just using my own forms of navigation. We ended up 40 KM off-route with the car stuck in a river for 24 hours.
• Get expert information on the best activities and attractions along the way. Finding the coolest things to do on your own in Mongolia is pretty difficult, even for the most well-researched travelers.
• Ensure you have comfortable ger stays or idyllic campsites each and every night.
• Save countless hours in planning and prep time.
• Enjoy an excellent rental vehicle with the best equipment and 5-star service. You can contact an AVIS Mongolia representative for help anywhere along your journey.
• Still enjoy independent travel in the country! Yes, the planning is done for you, but you still get to do all the fun parts yourself.

Who Should Opt for This Self-Drive Tour?

Rather than renting JUST the car that is.

Because I have loads of blog posts specifically designed to help guide you on your own route through the country. So why pay extra for the “tour?” Mongolia is NOT an easy road trip destination, but I promise you, it’s the best way to see the country. Joining a guided group tour is simply not comparable. If any of these next statements feel relatable to you then you might want to consider booking this tour with AVIS.

• I want to drive, but I am very nervous about not being able to navigate on my own.
• I don’t have any or not very much off-road driving experience.
• I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to trip-planning or route-design.
• I am a solo traveler.
• I am planning to be in Mongolia for a set-in-stone amount of time, and I want to maximize all the activities and landscapes I get to see and experience in that time.
• I want to have a mix of activities that reflect Mongolian culture during my trip.

What’s Included in Your Self-Drive Mongolia Tour

• A rental vehicle through AVIS Mongolia. Choose between models such as the UAZ Patriot and Toyota Landcruiser.
• Top-quality camping equipment, featuring either a rooftop tent or a contemporary inflatable ground tent (your choice). As well as various gadgets, including a camping shower, chairs, a table, and cooking and dining essentials.
• Airport transfer to/from Ulaanbaatar International Airport.
• Guide in Ulaanbaatar to assist you in grocery shopping + cultural sight-seeing. Dinner for this first night in also included.
• Array of activities listed in the trip itinerary, including horseback riding, national park entrance fees, and visit to the Tsaatan tribe if applicable.
• AVIS App with pre-programed, easy-to-follow GPS route.
• 24/7 Assistance from AVIS on the ground.
• If you choose to add in Ger camps or hotel stays, these are also covered, and breakfast is always included to get you on your way.
• Option to add on a driver, cook, or guide to your journey for even more ease!
  

What Is NOT Covered?

The only things NOT covered in your self-drive Mongolia tour are gas, groceries, and other personal purchases along the way. This self-drive tour is designed to give you an all-inclusive feel without losing the adventure of it all.

Mongolia is not a cheap travel destination. Not if you want to drive it, that is. I wrote a detailed blog post showcasing how much I spent in the country during my month-long, self-driven adventure. Keep in mind that this took months of careful research, tons of planning, and did not go smoothly even then. This is why I’ve given AVIS access to my route. Well, the route I WISH I would have found on the internet before my trip.

Our Self-Drive Tour Highlights

Let’s take a look at some of the highlights and destinations included on this 16-day self-guided Mongolia tour.

• Visit Mongolia’s most impressive national parks for wildlife-spotting (Ibex, Snow Leopard, etc) and hiking. This includes Gorkhi-Terelj and Yolyn Am National Park.
• Watch the world’s last wild horses at Hustai National Park.
• Wander the incredible monasteries of Erdene Zu and Amarbalagasant to learn about Mongolia’s long history of Buddhist culture.
• Explore Khuvsgul Lake on horseback and relish in the wide open landscapes.
• Climb an extinct volcano.
• Witness geologic wonders and search for fossils at the Flaming Cliffs.
• Camp at the foot of the impressive “White” Stupa.
• Climb the tallest dune at Khongoryn Els for sunset over the rolling sea of sand.
• Stay in Ger camps throughout the country to get a better understanding of the Mongolian way of life.
• Drive through varied landscapes to see green canyons, verdant forests, rolling green valleys, and dry sun-baked deserts.

You can also opt to add on an additional week to visit the reindeer-herding Tsaatan Tribe if you’re feeling REALLY adventurous. This is one of my favorite parts of Mongolia, but there is no contesting that it is much more difficult to drive than the other segments of this route. This is why I’ve drafted it as an add-on rather than including it in the main tour. I recommend it. But you should also read my full blog post on visiting the Tsaatan before you commit. Don’t worry too much though, this route will also be mapped out for you to follow.

You can thumb through the entire tour itinerary on the AVIS Mongolia tours website.

Book Your Self-Drive Mongolia Tour With AVIS Today!

This is a one-of-a-kind tour is specifically designed to give you the very best Mongolia experience without all the headache and hassle. And it’s perfect for solo travelers or groups! Don’t waste any more time and hit the button or banner below to check out the AVIS x Beyond the Bucketlist official tour itinerary page and make your booking today!

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