Operated by Intrepid Travel

Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

From

CAD 5,095

Duration

14 days

Countries

Mongolia

Activity

active

Group size

Max 12

The adventure

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.

At a glance

Duration

14 days

Route

Ulaanbaatar → Ulaanbaatar

Countries

Mongolia

Activity level

active

Style

Culture & History, Rail Journeys

Group size

Max 12

Ages

15+

Flights

Not included

Solo travellers

Welcome

Day by day

Aerial view of a Chinese town surrounded by lush landscapes and a river.

Your journey through

China

Day 1UlaanbaatarSainbainuu! 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.

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.

Picturesque river inflow passing between terrain with small plants and mount behind under cloudy sky at colorful sunset

Your journey through

Mongolia

Day 2Overnight train to ErdenetStart 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.

Experience the unique capsule beds on a Japanese sleeper train.

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.

Day 3MurunThis 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.

A wide shot of the Mongolian steppe featuring a yurt and grazing sheep below rugged mountains.

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.

Day 4Ulaan UulAfter 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.

Aerial view of Khorgo extinct volcano grown with forest and covered with snow casting huge dark shadow on valley in national park in Mongolia

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.

Day 5Tsagaan NuurDrive to Khogorgo Valley today to spend the night with a Darkhad nomad family for a unique insight into their nomadic way of life and culture – they graze cattle, horses, sheep and goats versus the Tsaatan people who only raise reindeer. Get to know your hosts as you help them prepare for a Mongolian style BBQ dinner and get to know the importance of meat in their diet and how Mongolian characters are intertwined with their food and cooking. You might even have the chance to watch as the family’s livestock are milked and herded.

Drone view of magnificent rocky Tsagaan Suvarga canyon in remote lands of Mongolia on sunny evening

Tsagaan Nuur

Drive to Khogorgo Valley today to spend the night with a Darkhad nomad family for a unique insight into their nomadic way of life and culture – they graze cattle, horses, sheep and goats versus the Tsaatan people who only raise reindeer. Get to know your hosts as you help them prepare for a Mongolian style BBQ dinner and get to know the importance of meat in their diet and how Mongolian characters are intertwined with their food and cooking. You might even have the chance to watch as the family’s livestock are milked and herded.

Day 6Tsaatan CampWake up this morning and have breakfast on site then meet the horsemen who will be carrying your bags for today’s hike to the autumn camp of the Tsaatan reindeer herders. Journey through a forest and across a small creek then arrive at the camp where you’ll get a firsthand look into their daily life. This group relies on reindeer for transportation, milk and is a large part of their cultural identity. Learn about their lifestyle and how its deeply tied to the mountains and shamanistic traditions. Tonight, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Tsaatan meal cooked by the family and sleep in shared Tsaatan orts – sort of like sleeping in a tent.

Full body of middle aged pensive Mongolian female farmer in national clothes looking at camera against yurts in valley

Tsaatan Camp

Wake up this morning and have breakfast on site then meet the horsemen who will be carrying your bags for today’s hike to the autumn camp of the Tsaatan reindeer herders. Journey through a forest and across a small creek then arrive at the camp where you’ll get a firsthand look into their daily life. This group relies on reindeer for transportation, milk and is a large part of their cultural identity. Learn about their lifestyle and how its deeply tied to the mountains and shamanistic traditions. Tonight, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Tsaatan meal cooked by the family and sleep in shared Tsaatan orts – sort of like sleeping in a tent.

Day 7Tsaatan CampFor your two days here, you’ll truly experience life at the camp by helping with the daily activities, like preparing wood for the fire, fetching water from the spring, milking the reindeer or processing the milk. You may get to help in herding and rounding up the reindeer or watch the men make wood and reindeer horn carvings – you could support the families by purchasing something as an authentic souvenir to bring home. Tsaatan people love singing, so if you’re up for it, learn a traditional song and sing along with your new friends. This is a great opportunity to learn about Tsaatan daily life and culture through a hands-on experience.

Aerial view of traditional yurts and people in a remote desert setting.

Tsaatan Camp

For your two days here, you’ll truly experience life at the camp by helping with the daily activities, like preparing wood for the fire, fetching water from the spring, milking the reindeer or processing the milk. You may get to help in herding and rounding up the reindeer or watch the men make wood and reindeer horn carvings – you could support the families by purchasing something as an authentic souvenir to bring home. Tsaatan people love singing, so if you’re up for it, learn a traditional song and sing along with your new friends. This is a great opportunity to learn about Tsaatan daily life and culture through a hands-on experience.

Day 8Tsaatan Camp

Traditional yurts in a mountain landscape under clear skies. Perfect outdoor adventure setting.

Tsaatan Camp

Day 9RenchinlhumbeSay goodbye to your hosts this morning and hike back to the Tsagaan Nuur. Once back, you’ll say farewell to the horsemen and drive to Renchinlkhumbe sum where you’ll stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.

Renchinlhumbe

Say goodbye to your hosts this morning and hike back to the Tsagaan Nuur. Once back, you’ll say farewell to the horsemen and drive to Renchinlkhumbe sum where you’ll stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.

Day 10Khovsgol LakeDrive to the Khovsgol Lake today via Jigleg Pass. Take in views of the lake from the top of the pass and the scenery along the way as you cross the Khoridol Saridag mountains. Some say this is Mongolia’s most beautiful destination, a pristine wilderness with forests, grasslands and meadows. You’ll arrive to the ger camp in late afternoon for time to settle into your yurt and take in the serene scenery.

Peaceful winter scene at Lake Khovsgol, Mongolia, showcasing barren trees and snowy terrain under a blue sky.

Khovsgol Lake

Drive to the Khovsgol Lake today via Jigleg Pass. Take in views of the lake from the top of the pass and the scenery along the way as you cross the Khoridol Saridag mountains. Some say this is Mongolia’s most beautiful destination, a pristine wilderness with forests, grasslands and meadows. You’ll arrive to the ger camp in late afternoon for time to settle into your yurt and take in the serene scenery.

Day 11Khovsgol LakeToday is yours to enjoy a relaxing day at the lake at your own leisure. You might like to hike up to one of the nearby peaks or maybe take a boat trip out on the lake. Explore on foot and relax on one of our few days not on the road. All of these are great ways to experience this wild region.

Drone view of peaceful scenic lake with transparent water in semidesert highlands surrounded with dry vegetation and hills under cloudy sky

Khovsgol Lake

Today is yours to enjoy a relaxing day at the lake at your own leisure. You might like to hike up to one of the nearby peaks or maybe take a boat trip out on the lake. Explore on foot and relax on one of our few days not on the road. All of these are great ways to experience this wild region.

Day 12BulganToday, you’ll drive to Bulgan and on the way, visit the monument on the intersection of 50 and 100 degrees of longitude and latitude. There are only four points on Earth where 50 degrees intersects with 100 degrees longitude – one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Indian Ocean, one in Canada and one in Mongolia. Stop by a roadside cafe for lunch then stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.

A young child in warm clothing sits atop a Mongolian ger under a clear blue sky.

Bulgan

Today, you’ll drive to Bulgan and on the way, visit the monument on the intersection of 50 and 100 degrees of longitude and latitude. There are only four points on Earth where 50 degrees intersects with 100 degrees longitude – one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Indian Ocean, one in Canada and one in Mongolia. Stop by a roadside cafe for lunch then stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.

Beautiful landscape of lush grasslands and mountain ranges in Xinjiang, under cloudy skies.

Your journey through

China

Day 13UlaanbaatarSay farewell to Bulgan today and drive back to Ulaanbaatar. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do as you please, whether you want to relax, go sightseeing or shop for some last-minute souvenirs. Tonight, join back up with your group for a special cultural show featuring throat singing and traditional dancing then head out for an optional final dinner recommended by your leader to celebrate your trip.

Ulaanbaatar

Say farewell to Bulgan today and drive back to Ulaanbaatar. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do as you please, whether you want to relax, go sightseeing or shop for some last-minute souvenirs. Tonight, join back up with your group for a special cultural show featuring throat singing and traditional dancing then head out for an optional final dinner recommended by your leader to celebrate your trip.

Day 14UlaanbaatarYour trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Ulaanbaatar

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.