First, what even is a gear?
A ger is a large, round portable house used by traditional Mongolian nomadic families. Wooden columns are covered with a mixture of wool and cotton and are tied together with horseradish.
Two central pillars in the middle of the room help support the roof, and the final product is a large tent-like structure. Gers have been used by Mongolians for thousands of years, and many nomadic families still live in them today.
If you are traveling to Mongolia, I definitely recommend booking an overnight stay in one of these traditional dwellings. If you do, the following is some good information to know before your visit.
1. There is no bathroom or running water in the gear, and it is expected that you will “relieve” yourself in the bushes. This means no showers, and you’ll want to make sure the tour includes drinking water. I also recommend bringing plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in case you need it.
2. There is no electricity in the gear. When the daylight ends, it is difficult to read or do activities within the gear. I suggest you snuggle up in a snug blanket and look up at the bright stars above. It’s also not a bad time to make friends with other travelers on the tour and swap life stories around a warm fire.
3. Extending on the note above, bring layers of clothing to deal with day/night temperature changes. It’s typically quite warm during the day but can get cold at night, so it’s nice to have a pullover to sleep in if needed.
4. It is quite remote. I found the isolation to be extremely peaceful, but if you’re the type that needs constant stimulation and WIFI, this might not be the experience for you. Staying in gear is very similar to camping in many ways, and it’s great for a little break from technology.
5. Nomadic families are extremely hospitable. During your stay with a nomadic family you will definitely not go hungry. We enjoyed tons of homemade cheese, bread, yogurt, and fermented horse milk called ‘Airag’. Offering food and drinks is a very common way to entertain guests in Mongolia. Please note that if presented, it is considered okay to decline food or drink offerings. Traveling is all about trying new things, so unless you have an allergy, give the airag a big shot!
6. Unless it’s booked exclusively, there’s a good chance you’ll be sharing gear with someone else on the tour. Gers can be of different sizes and hold anywhere from 2 – 4 beds in each unit. There is not much privacy in the ger as it is a single room, so something to keep in mind when booking.
7. Always enter right foot first and head to the left side of the room. Mongolians consider it bad luck to shift into gear using your left foot. The right side of the gear is considered the domain of the family, while the left side is for guests.
8. Never walk between the two central pillars within the gear. Traditionally these pillars represent heaven and earth and are not meant to be crossed between them.
9. Always accept food and drink with your right hand. It is considered rude to take an offering of food or drink with your left hand. If the dish is very heavy, you can use both hands.
Mongolia is a vast and beautiful country with an endless buffet of breathtaking scenery. While staying in a ger may not be as exciting or wild as the city experiences of Ulaanbaatar, it is absolutely a must do when you visit here. Be sure to bring a jacket and some good hiking shoes, and you’ll be drinking airag and enjoying the tranquility of the Mongolian desert with a nomadic family in no time.
Author bio: My name is Hannah! I am 30 years old and I love all things travel related. I have lived and worked abroad, backpacking my way through 17 countries as a solo female traveller, and have explored 48 countries so far.