Is it normal for a guided tour of Mongolia to cost a couple of hundred dollars per day?
I understand that guided tours offer a lot that unguided tours don't. I don't have to worry about choosing destinations, activities, booking accommodation, the language barrier, and the like. And that you can organize something with a company well in advance, unlike (I assume) booking with a solo tour guide.
However, I'm a bit surprised at the quoted cost for guided tours in Mongolia. They seem to be one, two, or a couple of hundred US dollars per day, not only for solo but also group tours. (Here's one example, slightly more expensive than others, but not an outlier, and a search on tour radar). This doesn't seem to happen only with foreign-based tourism companies, but also locally based ones. Some of these prices seem comparable to what I pay in developed countries for a group tour to ski resorts or with Contiki.
Is this normal? Is it because of the expenses incurred during a trip, such as paying for staff, petrol, and accommodation, or just the overhead that such companies have (sunk costs, administration, profit, etc.) for a low volume market?
If I'm booking a solo guided tour (with an English speaking guide and an experienced driver, presumably two separate people) which drives to a couple of different locations, and involves some sight-seeing and a couple of riding sessions, has meals provided, and provides some nights at a tourist ger, and some with a local nomadic family, is there much in the way of optional extras that can be meaningfully removed? (I could ask the tour company itself, but I'd like to make sure it'd be even worthwhile asking before doing so)
Some information about the costs of guided tours in general, whether it's in Mongolia or in other countries, would be appreciated.
Best Answer
It all depends on what the tours include in the price and how large your group is. That said, I remember clearly that tours booked while outside of Mongolia are typically vastly more expensive than tours booked when in Mongolia.
It's been a while, but a decade or so ago I toured the Mongolian countryside for perhaps a good 10 days, in a small group of 5 or perhaps 6 people, in a Russian van (a YAZ, I think). We had a driver and a guide and mostly slept in tents.
I was living in Mongolia at the time, so we had an easier time finding an outfit and guides that weren't charging an arm and a leg, but I can't imagine we paid much more than a 100 USD per day for the whole group (so perhaps up to some 200 USD per person for the whole trip). But, this was a while ago and Mongolia definitely has changed.
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How much is a tour in Mongolia?
The price will depend on the size of the group, but generally, the cheapest tour will set you back around 50 usd per person for a group of 6 people. It includes transportation, lodging, a guide, entrance tickets (if necessary), food and water.How much money do you need for Mongolia?
You should plan to spend around \u20ae71,036 ($23) per day on your vacation in Mongolia, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, \u20ae22,233 ($7.23) on meals for one day and \u20ae7,932 ($2.58) on local transportation.Is Mongolia a good place to travel?
Not perhaps the hottest destination choice or on top of many travel bucket lists, it is a country of incredible natural beauty that still preserves the traditional nomadic way of life. Mongolia's tourism industry is still very young but it is growing.How Much Does It REALLY Cost To Travel Mongolia? Our Detailed Travel Budget
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