Guest Story by Sandra & Helge, Karlsruhe (Germany)
We are Sandra and Helge, both 45 years old from Karlsruhe, Germany. We love traveling, camping, and being outdoors. But nothing has impressed us as much as our five-week adventure across Mongolia.
What started as a simple request to rent a car turned into one of the most unforgettable journeys of our lives.
The First Contact – A Video Call to Ulaanbaatar
Our journey began with a video call.
Tom was in Ulaanbaatar, we were at home in Germany. After solving the puzzle of time zones, the conversation started. What we expected to be a short call quickly turned into a friendly exchange that felt almost like sitting at the kitchen table together.
We wanted to know who we were trusting with our Mongolia adventure.
Tom listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and helped us shape our travel idea into a realistic route. Very quickly we felt: these people know Mongolia and they truly care about their travelers.
The Team Behind Thomas Travel
Behind our trip stood a small but outstanding team at Thomas Travel.
Tom – the organizer with a big heart and a deep passion for Mongolia.
Uuganaa – calm, professional, and incredibly helpful throughout the planning process.
Dimi – the technical expert responsible for vehicles, equipment, and rescue missions when needed.
Even before we arrived, they helped us design our route, answered countless questions, organized transfers, and made sure we felt prepared for our journey.
They were more than a tour operator.
They became our partners for the adventure.
The Land Cruiser – Our Fourth Team Member
Our vehicle was a 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, equipped with a rooftop tent and a pull-out kitchen.
In Mongolia, a vehicle like this is not just transportation. It becomes your home, your shelter, and your reliable companion in the endless landscapes of the steppe and desert.
When we picked up the vehicle, Dimi carefully explained everything. After buying supplies in Ulaanbaatar, we started our journey.
Just a few hours later we were surrounded by wide open landscapes.
At that moment we realized: the adventure had begun.
Roads That Aren’t Really Roads
Driving in Mongolia changes your understanding of what a road actually is.
Sometimes it's gravel.
Sometimes sand.
Sometimes simply a track through the grass.
When the tracks split into several directions, you follow your instinct – or the sun.
Navigation apps quickly become less important than your sense of adventure.
We laughed a lot, sometimes searched for the right track, but we always found our way.
And our Land Cruiser handled almost everything Mongolia threw at it.
A Rescue in the Middle of Nowhere
Well… almost everything.
After one particularly rough day of driving, even the Land Cruiser needed some attention.
But the support from Thomas Travel was incredible.
Dimi immediately drove from Ulaanbaatar to find us in the middle of nowhere. The vehicle was repaired the next day, and he even brought us a folding shovel from the city.
That moment showed us once again that choosing Thomas Travel was absolutely the right decision.
3,500 Kilometers of Mongolia
During five weeks we travelled more than 3,500 kilometers across Mongolia.
Our route included:
Ulaanbaatar
Mongol Els Sand Dunes
Kharkhorin
Orkhon Valley
Flaming Cliffs
Khongorin Els
The Gobi Desert
Tsagaan Suvarga (White Stupa)
Each destination felt like a completely different world.
We saw the Milky Way shining like a river of light above the steppe.
Sometimes local families invited us into their gers, offered tea, and shared their hospitality.
We stood in deserts, mountains, and endless grasslands.
In the silence of Mongolia’s landscapes we felt something rare: freedom.
A Journey We Will Never Forget
After five weeks our Land Cruiser was covered in dust, our faces had gained a few new smile lines, and our hearts were full. Mongolia changed us.
But it was Tom, Uuganaa, and Dimi from Thomas Travel who made this journey so easy, safe, and unforgettable.
Without them, this adventure would not have been the same.
Mongolia – we will come back.
And when we do, we already know who we will call.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sandra & Helge