Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

Best price guaranteed

No booking fees

E-ticket/Mobile-voucher

Adventure Guided and Escorted

Carbon neutral

14 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

15 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Challenging

Demands good physical fitness and stamina for more intense or extended activities.

Starts

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Ends

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Highlights

Travel to Mongolia taiga and hike to meet and live with Tsaatan reindeer herders. Take part in their daily life, sleep in their orts (tents), and share meals, laughs and music.

Experience the Darkhad nomad's way of life with a night spent in their family gers, helping them prepare dinner and share a meal of Mongolian BBQ.

Take a free day at Khovsgol lake, relax, hike, boat – a well-deserved ‘me time’ after a challenging and rewarding journey

See the stunning landscape along the way – a road trip like no other through winding mountain roads, expansive grasslands, pristine lakes and picturesque valleys, with our experienced drivers and local leaders.

Learn about ancient and modern Mongolia culture with visits to the Bronze Age Deer Stone monuments, Chinggis Khan Statue, a unique culture show and shamanistic site.

Itinerary

Travel deep into the northern Mongolia Taiga to trace the footsteps of the Tsaatan Reindeer herders on this 14-day journey. See the majestic Chinggis Khan Statue outside of Ulaanbaatar, enjoy a Mongolian BBQ with the Darkhad nomads in their family ger, come close to the ancient bronze age Deer Stone monuments in Uushig valley, take in the majestic landscape of Khoridol Saridag Mountain and Khuvsgul lake and the most important of all, experience the Tsaatan reindeer herders life in their camp that is only accessible on foot. Take part in their daily chores, learn about their wisdom of going with the nature's flow and take in this challenging but transformative experience of being away from modern civilization.

day 1 - Ulaanbaatar

Sainbainuu! Welcome to Mongolia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and group members. If you arrive early, why not get out and discover the city. Maybe check out the Gandan Khiid, Mongolia’s largest and most important monastery. You could also stroll through a local market or visit one of the many museums, including the Fine Arts Museum and Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan. After your meeting, get to know your group better with an optional dinner or maybe go to the restaurant you were eyeing earlier.

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

day 2 - Overnight train to Erdenet

Start your morning with a drive to the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue. You’ll climb up to the horse’s mane for a great photo with the Khan. Then, drive to Terelj National Park. Stop to take a photo at the famous turtle rock and head out on a short hike to the meditation temple for a great view of the valley. Stop at a roadside cafe to refuel for lunch then head back to UB. After stocking up on some food and drinks at a local supermarket, hop on an overnight train to Erdenet. Sit back, relax and take in a mode of transportation the locals use to travel long distances in their country.

included:Terej National Park - Hike, Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue

accommodation:Overnight train (Multi-share)

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 3 - Murun

This morning, you’ll hop off the train in Erdenet city. After a long ride, you may want to stop by a local cafe for breakfast and restock at a shop for snacks for the next leg of the trip. Make the drive to Murun today. Once you arrive, join your group for a short walk around Murun and visit the main square before heading out into the wilderness.

included:Murun - Leader - led orientation walk

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

day 4 - Ulaan Uul

After breakfast, drive down a dirt road to Ulaan-Uul. On the way, you’ll stop at Uushig Valley to check out the unique Deer Stones that are representative of Bronze Age religion, culture and society significance. You’ll also make another stop at the sacred shamanistic site of ovoo – the pile of stones that has been built as a home for mountain spirits. Tonight, you’ll stay in a family-run guesthouse with stove-heated wooden huts or gers.

included:Uushig Valley - Bronze Age Deer Stone Monuments

accommodation:Guest house (Multi-share)