We Went Looking for Adventure, but Mongolia Gave Us Much More

From the steppes to the Gobi, the Nomadic Summer Mongolia expedition in August carried us through the central and southern parts of the country. Much went as per plan this time. Yet many travellers found their own tests of strength, and the group of strangers bonded like glue.

At one point during the expedition, Tatiana, a Nomadic Road explorer, turned to Sadeev, the expedition leader, and asked, half-serious, half-joking, “Did you use some kind of software to figure out who goes with whom?” She was referring to how unbelievably perfectly the group seemed to gel together.

From the very first day, camaraderie was at its peak. “There was a lot of banter, pulling each other’s leg, that kind of energy,” recalls Sadeev. Conversations carried on until one or two in the morning, until the camp staff would literally nudge them out, saying, “Please leave, we need to shut down.”

The group itself was a whimsical mix of personalities and backgrounds. There was Edouard, Tatiana, and their 18-year-old daughter, Clara, based in New York. Ganesh and Saktish, a father–son duo who don’t live in the same city, had chosen Mongolia’s vast expanse as their playground for quality time together. Alina, a strong and independent solo traveller from Zurich (originally Romanian), quickly carved her place in the group. And finally, there was the uber-cool couple in their 60s from Switzerland — Laura and Wolfgang (aka Wolfie). Both were seasoned drivers and travellers, and, in Sadeev’s words, “the heart and soul of the group.”

Too Green, Too Brown, Too Vast — Mongolia Is All of It

Even though many in the crew had lived self-drive adventures before, Sadeev insists Mongolia remains the perfect starting point for those new to overlanding, or looking for adventure without going to extremes. “The scenery keeps you glued because it’s constantly changing,” she explains.

“And it’s not very difficult in terms of driving. You’re not doing extreme off-roading every day. Most days, you’re on dirt tracks. Sometimes there are river crossings where the car might skid a little. Occasionally, there are rocky patches. The itinerary is designed well: you have long driving days followed by breaks, making it one of the most beginner-friendly overland expeditions.”

On the Nomadic Summer Mongolia expedition, terrains shift daily. The journey begins with a blend of browns and greens in the countryside, a humble introduction to Mongolia’s endless steppes. It feels like the trailer for a grand film about to unfold. Soon thereafter, the convoy proceeds into the Gobi Desert.

“Most of the time, we were the only cars out there,” says Sadeev. “And then suddenly, you’d see nomads and their livestock. To your left, a bunch of horses. To your right, a group of camels. It added to the whole magic. One of the participants even said, ‘You see these postcards of Mongolia? This is like living that postcard.’”

That night, the group pitched their private camp on top of mud-like hills in the Gobi. The view was, in the words of Sadeev, “even grander than it looks in the photographs.”

Inching closer to the Orkhon Valley and its lush, rolling steppes was a huge highlight for travellers on the recent expedition. The greens of Mongolia’s steppes are far too green. Velvet-like. It’s as if someone has manually manicured every inch of that vast expanse.

Naadam on the Steppe

The expedition flowed in a manner that kept everyone engaged. Just when fatigue set in, there was always something to bring the energy back. One such high was the Naadam Festival, which could even be called the “climax” of the trip — aside from the chaotic dune bashing earlier in the desert.

All the men tried their hand at wrestling local style with Mongolian wrestlers. “That day came right when people were getting a little tired of long hours in the car, so it was a perfect break,” says Sadeev. “They loved the cultural immersion of it all.”

Unlike wrestling, archery in Mongolia is for both men and women. In fact, women frequently outperform men in Naadam competitions. It’s a living tradition that dates back to the time of Genghis Khan, when Mongol warriors relied on powerful composite bows to conquer vast territories.

The Personal Journeys in Overlanding

Apart from one rainy day and a few small vehicular issues, everything went as planned. On past Mongolia overland adventures, we’ve met with sandstorms and even hailstorms. This expedition stayed mostly smooth, though still replete with moments that pushed people out of their comfort zones.

For Tatiana, the expedition was perhaps the toughest. Though well-travelled, she called herself “a city girl” throughout the expedition. Remote camping, constant movement, long days of driving — none of it was familiar to her. And to make it harder, she wasn’t in her usual shotgun seat. With her daughter, Clara, unwell and needing the front, Tatiana sat in the middle row. “Throughout the trip, she was the one getting thrown around,” says Sadeev. “Every time she got out of the car, she’d say, ‘A new body part is aching.’ But she managed just fine, and by the end of the expedition, even became very fond of this way of travel.”

One of her biggest moments came at Baga Gazryn Chuluu, where there are small rock formations you can hike up. It’s no big climb, but for Tatiana, it was huge. She hadn’t climbed for the last 20 years, owing to an accident and the fear of heights that set in immediately after. But this changed somewhere in the middle of Mongolia. She told the team they’d somehow inspired her to climb.

Clara had her own journey. Though she’d camped before, it had always been on college trips or with friends — never as an expedition. “Even when she fell sick with a stomach upset, she didn’t complain,” says Sadeev. “Whatever we threw at her, she handled it.”

At one point, she even suffered heat stroke, wandering around in flimsy clothes under the desert sun. When told to cover up, she resisted, saying she felt too hot. By the end, though, she admitted, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I should wear more clothes.” Lesson learned.

For Saktish, the biggest challenge was the driving. He had never done so much of it before, and certainly not off-roading. There were a few hiccups along the way, but he made it right till the end, and confidently at that. The expedition gave him room to figure things out, make mistakes, and learn – in an environment where things go wrong safely. Back in the city, he’s bound to be a far stronger driver.

For Ganesh, the real reward was time with his son. Later, in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, he wrote: “To Saktish, thank you for being my co-driver in the desert and life, Son. The miles and lessons will stay with me long after the dust settles. This was a ride I’ll carry forever.”

The Desert Gives More Than It Takes

Nomadic Road’s recent Mongolia overland adventure was a reminder of how deeply the outdoors can colour our lives. Strangers from across the world arrived, shared ten days together, grew into a family, and left as lifelong friends. As Sadeev says, “If you’re seeking a raw adventure with your family, a partner, or friends, it’s the perfect destination. And if you’re a nature lover, it doesn’t get better than this.”

Mongolia, in all its truth, holds it all — the browns and the greens, the harsh and the gentle, the messy and the magical.

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