while hugs are off the menu at the moment, you might warn people that anyone they hug, especially women, are going to smell like boiled mutton. Especially the hair.

While I can appreciate your recommendations, mine is to eschew the group travel entirely, do home stays, immerse yourself in the culture, and that way you don't have to tolerate folks who can't tolerate extreme cultural differences. But that's just me. That allowed me to spend a week in Western Mongolia, herd goats and sheep most of the day for days at a time and learn to give up showers entirely for extended periods. You and I travel a bit differently, but I do agree that the Mongol culture is amazing. Next, if you ride, you might want to plan an extended horse trip. Just you, the hubby, and a few of those extraordinary horses.