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With a barely existent gay scene, are gay tours to Mongolia a good idea? Despite little knowledge and a practically invisible LGBT community, Mongolia offers incredible views, outdoor activities and vibrant culture that may appeal to all travelers, gay or straight. Homosexuality is legal and the unique experience of Mongolia makes it a great destination for gay travel.
With topography ranging from mountains to deserts, Mongolia is the least densely populated country and is home to famous wild horses and pristine lakes. Once under the grips of the Soviet Union and led by Genghis Khan, Mongolia's distinct history and culture make it one of the ultimate "off the beaten path" destinations.
Despite having little in the way of gay establishments, the unique history and culture of Mongolia make it a worthwhile destination for gay travelers.
With an international airport and train station welcoming overland travel from China, the capital city of Ulaanbaatar serves as the best starting point for your Mongolia adventures. With low priced guesthouses doubling as travel coordinators, it is the best place to settle in and plan for your visit to the country.
Guesthouses are the best place to stay as they offer cheap accommodation (roughly twenty U. S. Dollars per night) and also act as travel agencies that can help you to draw up an itinerary.
They can help you to coordinate both longer and shorter stays. If you are planning a shorter vacation, they will likely advise you to visit Kharakorum, Genghis Khan's ancient capital city, as well as the Terelj National Park, which is a good stopover on the way to the Gobi Desert. You may also be interested in doing a family home stay, in which you lodge with local residents and get a feel for everyday life and culture in Mongolia.
Longer stays of a month or longer are ideal for a big loop of the country to include the aforementioned destinations all in one trip.
Aside from outdoor and wildlife excursions, city life is also worth exploring. Ulaanbaatar is home to good and inexpensive restaurants like Mongol Shabu, where you can eat well for under five dollars. You can also check out the world renowned Mongolian National Symphony Orchestra at The Culture Show or visit the Natural History Museum.
While Mongolia may be an incredible, off the beaten path destination for gay couples and groups, homosexuality is not necessarily received well. There are few religious barriers to it; however, a general lack of gay context leaves a general sense of naivete on the subject.
Planning your own vacation may be great for independent travelers, but tour groups catering to gay travelers also offer structured excursions that visit a wide variety of Mongolia's most popular sites.
These groups offer a wide range of services, including itineraries that hit the most popular tourist attractions. They offer destinations for outdoors lovers and culture enthusiasts by bringing visitors to local camel farms, national parks, horseback riding and the Gobi Desert. Cultural activities like festivals and visits to the ancient capital city offer sites of interest to most travelers.
One of the appeals specific to these types of tour groups includes parties and visits to local LGBT community groups as a way to see firsthand the gay scene in Mongolia. Beautiful vistas, diverse geography and an incredibly unique culture and history, appeal to the interests of anybody. Whether traveling independently or as part of a tour, travel to Mongolia is a unique vacation for a gay adventure.
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