Out ther� Escape to some of the world’s most far-flung places with these remote abodes, from a yurt on the Mongolian steppe to a sleek lodge adrift in the South Pacific WORDS DEBBIE PAPPYN O PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID DE VLEESCHAUWER
JALMAN MEADOWS GER CAMP MONGOLIA Picture the USA’s Yellowstone National Park, only imagine something triple the size – that’s the magnitude of the Khan Khentii Special Protected Area, roughly a four-hour drive from Ulaanbatar, the capital of Mongolia. Here you’ll find Jalman Meadows, a private ger (Mongolian yurt) camp next to the crystal-clear waters of the Tuul River. Every summer the whole camp is set up anew; when it leaves, nothing is left behind on the landscape, which disappears for the next six months under a blanket of snow. Using wood and canvas, the gers are built in the same centuries-old design as those
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Lonely Planet Traveller May 2015
lived in by the region’s nomads. Strong and easily manoeuvrable, they can be packed up and transported by horse or yak. Inside are beds with thick camel- or yak-wool blankets, a wood-burning stove, tables and a basin. A small tent with a warm shower can also be set up. In the middle of the camp is a larger ger with a kitchen and communal living area, and if you want to learn more about local customs or stories, there’s an extensive library. Beyond the camp, try horse-riding with the nomads or hiking alongside a yak caravan. For the ultimate in stillness and solitude, book a GerScape and go trekking with your own team of nomads. O Three-nights from £280; nomadicjourneys.com
