One of the most interesting opportunities for soft adventure travel we have seen recently is a Mongolian yurt camp. Also known as a ger (or gur) a yurt is a communal tent traditionally occupied by a Mongolian family. The nomadic herders of Central Asia, including not only Mongolia but also Kazakhstan and Turkestan, could not live in one place because the grazing fields that their flocks of sheep would eat were not rich enough, so they had to be continuously on the move. That is why they developed a tent like house that was portable enough so they could take it with them rather than settling down in one village or town.
It is now possible for tourists not only to visit these exotic but far out of the way places but also to live in a Mongolian yurt during a holiday stay. There are tourist yurt camps that have between five and fifty yurts, each of which has from two to four beds inside. But unlike traditional gers, these modern units are much more hotel like, and vacationers who make use of them will find they have been outfitted not only with electricity, flush toilets and hot water shower facilities but even have a restaurant where cooks, waiters and waitresses look after keeping them well fed.
The menu will typically include some ethnic Mongolian food items as well as more safe and predictable Western style comfort dishes. Of course for recreation you can ride horses, so if someone has always dreamed of living the life of a Mongolian nomad now one of these ger camps can be a way to make those wishes come true.
Many of these Mongolian yurt camps are centered around the capital city of Mongolia, which is variously spelled Ulaanbaatar, Ulan-bator, Ulanbator, Ulanbatar, and Ulaanbator.
There are several fascinating customs associated not only with living in a Mongolian yurt but also for when you may visit one. A visitor to a yurt calls out "Nokhoi khorioroi", which translates as "hold your dog" or "call the dog off". This is done as an alternative to knocking on the door of the yurt which is considered to be rude. When you step inside, remember to start with your right food across the threshold before the left one. Mongols also do not shake hands but greet people by stretching out their arms. If you follow these traditions when you stay in or visit a Mongolian yurt you will have a much more authentic experience in one of these ethnic tent dwellings.