On this 9 day adventure tour, you will experience and visit the most authentic sites. Northern Mongolia is the perfect destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities and wildlife. Lake Khuvsgul, which contains 65 percent of all the fresh water in Mongolia, is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The surrounding mountains and forests are perfectly suited for wildlife observation, as they provide a habitat for more than sixty species. Northern Mongolia is also home to the famous Tsaatan Reindeer Herdsmen, an ethnic group that has remained virtually unchanged since the Ice Age. The Tsaatan are reindeer herders who seemingly live on the edge of civilization. With snow-capped mountains on every side, it truly seems possible that no person has ever stepped foot in some areas of the Taiga region. The isolation is consuming and beautiful – no wonder the Tsaatan refuse to leave their home
Ulaan Uul town |
Horse trekking in Taiga |
Darkhad family stay | Hiking |
Nomadic family stay |
Tsaatan family stay |
Reindeer Herding people |
Cultural Experiences |
Lake Khuvsgul |
Nomadic Family Ger Stay |
Sukhbaatar ship | Swimming |
Uushigiin Uvur-archaeological site | Boating at Lake Khuvsgul |
As a Mongolian company we prefer to support Nomadic families financially, and help support their livelihoods. We are sure this resonates with our travellers who enjoy engaging with their culture on The Steppe. It is therefore our preference to stay with these families if they have an extra Ger. As well as directly supporting local herders, you can experience this rich traditional way of life first hand.
10% discount: 10-15 year old children
Prices shown are per person based on number of people | Price per person |
1 person | US$ 2330 |
2 people | US$ 1430 |
3 people | US$ 1130 |
4 people | US$ 960 |
5 or more people | US$ 860 |
You are welcome to choose your own private tour. If you want to join a tour with other travellers, please see below Dates & Availability for available seats to join!
wdt_ID | Start Date | End Date | Availability | Tour Price p/p |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 01 Jun 2019 | 09 Jun 2019 | 6 Seats | From US$817 * ^ |
2 | 20 Jun 2019 | 28 Jun 2019 | 6 Seats | From US$817 * ^ |
6 | 13 Jul 2019 | 21 Jul 2019 | 6 Seats | From US$817 * ^ |
*Prices are dependent on group size as per table above
+Group size will be finalised 21 days prior to departure depending upon booking enquiries
We will organize a driver to take you to the airport. The domestic flight departs at 10:40 am, and arrives in Murun at 12:20pm, where you will be met by our guide and driver. The guide will take you to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch we will drive to see Deer Stones in a Bronze Age site, created 1000-3000 years ago on the Ider River, with over 30 deer-decorated stones and carved rocks. We will then head to Ulaan Uul town, staying in a family guesthouse
After breakfast at 7am, start driving to towards taiga, where you will stay with a Darkhad ethnic nomadic family. Darkhad is a one of the nomadic ethnic groups of Mongolia, living in the Darkhad Valley. The regional variant of the Mongolian language is the Darkhad dialect. Most Darkhan practice Shamanism. After meeting our family, they will show you the horses, which you will trek to East Taiga next day. Experience the lives of nomads, herd livestock and enjoy a local dish made together with the family.
Horse trekking starts after an early morning breakfast. Today’s ride is about 5-6 hours, with a picnic lunch in the beautiful nature. Witness Taiga fauna and flora and the Tsaatan people who practice reindeer herding, and shamanistic people. For thousands of years, the Tsaatan, (or Dukha) people have lived with their reindeer on the remote steppes of central Asia. Originally from further west, in 1944 the Tsaatan fled from the Russian region now known as the Republic of Tuva. Today, reindeer populations are shrinking, and there are maybe only 40 families who continue to live by their ancestors’ traditional way of life. You will be staying at one of the family’s Tipis tonight.
We will spend two full days here in East Taiga. After a hearty breakfast with the family, start your cultural experience in taiga. Ride reindeer through the colourful taiga forest, and even help graze the reindeer. Learn to make local dishes with the family. Visit one of the families to experience traditional shaman practices. The Shamans are very spiritually people, chosen by their spirits at birth, when an extra soul called an udha enters them. This soul helps them gather and help with other spirits. Without this protection, rituals and other world journeys are dangerous. The shamans are also caretakers of traditional culture. Nights here offer a tremendous opportunity to gaze at the stars. Spend the night in the tipi
After an early morning breakfast, horse trekking starts. Return to the family camp to return the horses. Stay overnight in the family ger camp.
Stare in awe at the breathtaking scenery enroute to Lake Khuvsgul. Lake Khuvsgul is known as the Dark Blue Pearl among beautiful mountains. There are 96 rivers and streams that flow into the lake, including the Ugiin river, which then joins the Selenge along its eventual path to Lake Baikal. Lake Khuvsgul is 136 km long and 36 km wide, 262 meters deep, and is located at an altitude of 1645m above sea level. The lake is on an important migration route for birds from Siberia, facilitating marvelous opportunities for birds watching. Stay in the family guest house (shower is available).
Take the opportunity to relax and truly appreciate the surrounding landscape. Breakfast time can be arranged depending on how long you want to relax in the morning. Sometime after breakfast, the guide will take you to the ship. Sukhbaatar ship was constructed in the 1930’s for the Mongolian Navy under the auspices of the Soviet Union. It received one boat, the Sukhbaatar, to patrol the lake. The Soviet-made vessel was dragged overland to the lake. The ship was named after national hero Damdin Sukhbaatar.
After boating for a couple of hours, hike through the stunning mountain for 4km. Feel free to even stay on the lake to chill. Your last day in the amazing northern Mongolia, with an overnight stay at the family run guesthouse.
Your flight today is at 12:40 in the afternoon. After breakfast at 8:00, take the last adventurous ride to Murun airport. With nothing but fond memories of your Khuvsgul travel, you will take the flight to Ulaanbaatar. We will arrange a driver to collect you from the Ulaanbaatar airport at 14:10 , who will take you back to your accommodation.
I had an incredible two months traveling in Mongolia, all thanks to Meg and her team. I’m used to traveling by myself and was very reluctant to use a guide or go on arranged tours but decided to because of my unfamiliarity with the country and language. Meg organized trips around what I wanted to do and see. It was like traveling with a very organized, well connected friend. Her passion and knowledge for her country and it’s history is inspiring and contagious. She’s very conscious of the negatives and positives of
tourism in Mongolia and works very hard to make her tours benefit both locals and travellers. Her philanthropic efforts are numerous, she has the biggest heart! I felt like every dollar I spent was going to a worthy cause. I had only originally planned to do two trips but ended up doing five because they were such great experiences! I really can’t say enough good things about Meg and her company. Having travelled to Mongolia with no real expectations, I feel like I’ve come away with a friend for life in Meg and completely in love with a country of endless sky.