Mongolia - Camping or Ger camp
 

I have travelled throughout Europe and have always staid in hotels with the comfort of an en-suite shower room and a proper bed. I have never camped . I now want to go to Mongolia next August and looking to book a trip with a motorbike travel company . There are several companies each offering different types of accommodation . It is a choice of camping or Yert / Ger camp.
I am very aware that I will need to compromise in order to see new countries but I suffer from arthritis and from the cold . A good nights sleep is important !

What are your experiences and what would you recommend camping or yert?
I will need to buy a sleeping bag as well . Any recommendations?
Thank you

I've only ever camped or been spontaneously invited to stay in gers in Mongolia. From what I have seen, ger camps can be a nice experience, staying with Mongolians but in an environment which is set up for the needs of foreign tourists. For me the main benefit of camping is the freedom to stop wherever (and in Mongolia you can go just about anywhere). But since you're on an organised trip that doesn't really apply. So ger camps are probably the way to go.

Mongolia is an amazing experience but not a comfortable one; in my first 2 month trip I was mostly camping and I could count the comfortable nights on the fingers of one hand. Wind, frost (in August), insects, rain etc were usually present. late summer nights in the Gobi were wonderful. On the second trip, in early winter, the weather was more stable and camping usually nicer, though very cold.

You don't say when you are going but I assume it is not mid-winter. Even in mid-summer, be sure to take a good warm down bag and a waterproof bivvy. I would recommend a 3-4 season sleeping bag with a -15º C comfort rating - most likely overkill but if you are sensitive to cold it will make a big difference. I had a -40º C sleeping bag and was good sleeping in the open (no tent) at -15º C.

Normally I would recommend doing a short weekend camping trip to see how much you like it or hate it. Obviously not a great option in the winter in Europe...

Remember that gers are the default option for locals - don't assume they are all survival enthusiasts :) they have developed an option that makes it reasonably comfortable in the winter. With a furnace and animal skins, you can make a very cosy place to spend the night indeed. I think that if you're traveling far enough into the Mongolian nature that a hotel and hot shower are not an option, then a ger would definitely be the next best thing.

Lots of discussions to be had about sleeping bags, my main advice would be to invest in a good inflatable camp pillow - it makes a huge difference to a good night's rest.

Just noting that the OP specified "next August."

Most often, sleeping bags rated -10 or -15 (C) are fine for anyone down to around freezing. For me personally, they're generally too hot above freezing, so not suited to summertime or indoors.

I'm not fussy about pillows, but I've learned to always carry a compact, inflatable sleeping pad (formerly known generically as "Thermarest") even when not planning to camp. In parts of Asia the standard mattresses are so thin as to be torturous for my arthritic joints, and I love being able to add my inflatable to whatever's on offer. It packs to about the size of a coffee cup and weighs almost nothing, but does inflate by lung power and make some noise when I toss and turn. It has also come in very handy in airports when flights are cancelled...which they sometimes are.

Whatever you do for gear--this includes toiletry kit, comfort items, camping stuff, etc.--be sure to test it out at home. I've had 50+ years to refine my packing list (and it's still developing), with some notable disasters along the way. Most of these can be avoided by not waiting until times of desperate need or stress before testing.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark