Khan summit Travel Philosophy

Travel Team

We are dedicated to ensuring you receive unparalleled service from the minute you contact Khan summit you return from your trip. Therefore, our managers, guides, drivers and cooks are industry’s most experienced and talented professionals. Knowledgeable travel managers can answer all your pre-trip questions. University trained, multi-lingual tour leaders guide your journey. From travel managers to guides, from cooks to drivers, you will find our commitment to offering the highest level of service, attention to every detail and friendly, personalized service will ensure your journey is a memorable and rewarding experience.

Accommodation

The variety of our accommodation around Mongolia and North East Asia represents the wide breadth of cultures we encounter – from luxurious, international hotels, 2-3 star hotels, and private apartments to ger camps and tents. We always look for conveniently located, comfortable, clean and friendly places, locally run and with plenty of local character. Often, our chosen accommodation will actually be an essential ingredient of the tour, such as the Altai Mountain ger of a Kazakh family in the western part of Mongolia, or a tent camp under a Gobi Desert sky alive with stars, or perhaps even the huts of Reindeer herders at the pristine Khovsgol Lake area.

Meals

Our basic policy is to build as much flexibility into meal arrangements as possible, allowing you the freedom to choose dining in first class restaurants, taste local cousine or prepare your own meal. All our Tour Leaders can recommend you the best places in town to eat out. As a rule of thumb, breakfast is included in the majority of our accommodations. When meals are included, they will normally offer a choice between local, European or Asian based dishes; there will always be a vegetarian option. Whilst camping, the majority of meals are usually included, with fresh products purchased mainly from local markets.

The group experience

Smaller groups also mean greater flexibility when it comes to transport. The mode of transport will reflect the essential nature of the tour; 4WD for wilderness expeditions and wildlife viewing and a compact coach for cultural itineraries along a good network of roads. In fact we often use more than one type per trip. You will find yourself moving forward and back in time as you step out of a modern Land Cruiser 4WD at Khovsgol Lake and take a weeklong ride on horseback in land of Reindeer herders. We also travel by boat or the Mongolian ‘ship of the desert’ the two-humped Bactrian Camel. And, of course, we also travel by foot. On the longer stretches, small group travel is also an ideal way of enjoying the sociable side of your holiday!

Value for money

Holidays can be expensive. But when you take out the soulless 4 star hotels, inhouse movies and room service, it’s remarkable how much you can actually afford. We’re all about thrills not frills. And with so many different tours to choose from with such a wide scope of duration and activity, even the most budget conscious traveler is sure to find something that suits their needs. Our holidays are structured to make the most effective use of time and resources. At the end of the day, it’s not just a holiday, it’s an experience. And a Khan summit experience stays with you long after photos have been developed or the tan has faded.

Local lifestyles and cultures

In order to reap the full rewards of exploring these regions of the world, visitors should travel with a spirit of adventure and flexibility to accept local standards of amenities and services. Infrastructures are still developing and delays or changes in the itinerary and schedules are very likely. Expect to encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, road conditions, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, and lack of availability of public restrooms. Transportation is by bus and four-wheel-drive vehicle; most roads are unpaved and can be very rough and dusty; there will be some drives of up to five hours. Meals are hearty, meat based, and simple. Hotel accommodations in Siberia are very simple. In Mongolia, accommodations include traditional nomadic gers and may lack in-house facilities, which are located in a central building. Air transportation includes the use of European made Fokker 50 aircraft or Russian MI-8 helicopters. Trip participants should be in good physical condition and able to walk unaided on uneven terrain.

Khan summit Experience on Tour

What is a tour with Khan summit like?

First and foremost it’s about people: your traveling companions, the Khan summit team, an enduring friendship you strike in a remote wilderness. A trip with Khan summit is also a relaxed but carefully planned adventure and cultural holiday, with none of the hassle associated with independent travel -nor the impersonal regime of mass tourism. Travel in Mongolia and North East Asia requires and exceptional level of organization -to research your trip locally put all the arrangements in place, find the right flights for you, inform you about the latest product – and to lead you through a very special adventure. While highly trained Tour Leaders are running expeditions all over the Mongolia and North East Asia, the backstage crew back in the France, Italy and Germany contribute a vast pool of skills to ensure the whole operation runs smoothly.

Can I extend or combine itineraries?

Planning the Journey of a Lifetime? Khan summit offers several combos designed to combine contrasting experiences within a particular area: the South Gobi Desert, for instance, can be linked with an adventurous trek in Khovsgol Lake. Or if you’re simply looking for the icing on the cake of your tour, why not tag on an extension? After a classic journey in Karakorum city, treat yourself to a one night stay in a ger camp at Terelj National Park.

Can I come alone? Can I come with a friend?

On average, about half of our group members are independent or single travelers with many regulars among them. It’s a fact being within a group and in the hands of a tour leader relieves any concerns about feeling conspicuous in unfamiliar locations. It’s also a much more sociable fun way of getting about, whether you’re a couple, a group of friends or traveling solo.

Can you accommodate private groups?

Do you have a group of friends or family with similar interests who want to travel together? With no one else but your private group on board, your trip is yours to enjoy, and customize however you want with the help of one of our experienced trip guides. Every year we arrange many such expeditions for groups of friends and relatives, or for schools and special interest parties. Mostly they will travel on one of our existing programs; but if you have a specific request in mind or would like to discuss one of our itineraries, we’d be delighted to discuss that with you. Contactinfo@mongoliajourneys.com or call (49) 3303 214552 or (976) 11 330691.

Khan summit Commitments

Tourism with a purpose: Our Commitment to Responsible Tourism

Being a positive and sustainable alternative to mass tourism is easier said than done. But Khan summit believes passionately in local tourism and is proud to be amongst the leaders in this field. Our dedication to Responsible Tourism colors all our major decisions – from the concept that “Small Groups Leave Fewer Footprints” to the choice of local staff and resources, right through to our Community Based Tourism scheme, aimed to bring more benefits directly to local herders.

Education

When recruiting Tour Leaders, we assess their environmental credentials, and then train them to our own standards. All Tour Leaders are required to complete a Responsible and Community Based Tourism Audit before their tour.

Sustainable community tourism

Throughout the trip, the Tour Leader will encourage the education of our clients on their role in making sure that the local communities benefit from our visit, ensuring that we will always be welcome.

Support

Using locally owned suppliers wherever possible to provide and run services, we ensure that the local economy benefits directly. We also expect local suppliers to meet our standards, with particular consideration for the needs of our guests.

Cultural protection

People are the ultimate focus of all our endeavors to ensure sustainable tourism development. We believe that all people have the right to a healthy and productive life, living in harmony with nature. Where practical, we will involve and cooperate with local communities and people, encouraging the purchase of local products and use of available skills.