Local Living Mongolia—Nomadic Life
10 days
from Ulan Bator to Ulan Bator
From
$ 1299
Duration10 days
It was from Mongolia that Ghengis Khan set forth to conquer the world. This unique adventure is your chance to return to this heartland and let its people and scenery capture your heart. Leave Ulaanbaatar and the modern world behind and stay with three different families to experience life as a nomad. From Orkhon Valley to Gorkhi Terelj National Park, you'll live in gers, take tea with your neighbours, ride horses, and learn archery and garment-making skills. It's 10 days like you never imagined.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 10 daysService level: Basic
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Starts in: Ulan BatorPhysical Grading: Average
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Ends in: Ulan BatorAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Arriving early may be best, to relax and adjust to the time difference and high altitude with a mountainous view. OR have extra time to explore Mongolia's bustling Capital in the Tuul River valley!
Welcome to Mongolia! Arrive any time, there are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting with an optional dinner afterwards.
Please note that Ulaanbaatar is really the only chance to stock up on supplies you might have left behind, plus any bottled water, beer/wine/spirits, and coffee you may want. Boiled water and tea is available throughout the stay.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar/Rashaant Sum
Travel to the village of Rashaant. Meet your hosts and have lunch together. Afterwards, travel to scenic Swan Lake on horseback and take in the desert landscape. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your hosts and sleep in a ger tent.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Rashaant Sum/Orkhon Valley
Roll up those sleeves and participate in daily nomadic morning chores. After visiting the monument of Queen Mandukhai, prepare for a farewell lunch and tea before setting off to Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival, prepare for a traditional dinner with milk tea and then rest up in the nomad's extra Ger.
Experience daily life with your hosts in the morning before travelling into the countryside by horseback. After lunch, continue on to the Orkhon Valley in Central Mongolia, home to nomadic people for millennia. Meet your hosts and settle in for an evening together.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Orkhon Valley
This morning set off on a trek to Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall, stopping to take in the scenery along the way. Return to camp for lunch with your hosts. In the afternoon, continue exploring the beautiful Orkhon Valley with a trek to Baga Tsutgalan waterfall.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Orkhon Valley/Kharkhorin
Drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia and opt to spend time walking the ruins. This evening, overnight in a comfortable ger camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Kharkhorin/Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Depart Ulaanbaatar and travel approximately 2 hrs by bus to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Upon arrival in the Terelj Village, a local guide will meet you with either an oxcart or horses. From here, begin the 3km (1.9 mi) journey by horseback or oxcart, crossing the Terelj River and continuing north through an incredibly stunning mountain river valley to the first nomadic family. Upon arrival, dismount and enter the host's ger for a hot nomadic lunch and traditional Mongolian tea.
During the stay, the host will demonstrate the techniques of how to saddle a horse and prepare an oxcart. Have plenty of time to refine skills and continue practicing them afterwards. In the evening, learn how to play a variety of traditional Mongolian games with sheep's bones (shagai). Nights in the park are especially amazing due to the star-strewn sky.
During the stay, the host will demonstrate the techniques of how to saddle a horse and prepare an oxcart. Have plenty of time to refine skills and continue practicing them afterwards. In the evening, learn how to play a variety of traditional Mongolian games with sheep's bones (shagai). Nights in the park are especially amazing due to the star-strewn sky.
Spend the morning in Khustain Park and observe the famous wild horses, known as "takhi," in their natural habitat. This afternoon, travel to Terelj National Park, a beautiful alpine retreat with imposing rock formations and endless forests. Meet your host and continue by horse through incredible scenery to their nomadic camp. Enjoy an evening of traditional games and a hot dinner with the hosts, and take in the star-strewn night before going to sleep in a ger.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Meet a nomadic seamstress and learn how to make patterns for traditional Mongolian garments. In the evening, opt to help collect firewood by ox cart before enjoying a traditional dinner and tea with the family.
As with all days on this itinerary, it is possible to opt out of the day's activity with the local families in favour of hiking in the surrounding mountains or simply relaxing in the beautiful Mongolian countryside.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Enjoy a free day to explore this scenic region. Opt to visit a local family and learn to prepare homemade vodka and cheese.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Gorkhi Terelj National Park/Ulaanbaatar
Travel back to the capital after breakfast. Enjoy a final evening with a group and take in a folk performance by the Tumen Ekh Ensemble.
Meals: B
Day 10: Ulaanbaatar
Start place: Ulan Bator
Depart at any time.
End place: Ulan Bator
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Horseback Riding, Högnö-Tarna Uul Your Local Living Moment: Nomadic Family Stay, Gorkhi Terelj National Park Your Foodie Moment: Mongolian Vodka and Cheese Making Demonstration, Gorkhi Terelj National Park Your Foodie Moment: Mongolian Cultural Show & Dinner, Ulaanbaatar
- Daily lessons and demonstrations of various nomadic skills and techniques while staying with nomadic hosts
- Homemade Mongolian vodka and cheese making
- Historic monastery visit
- Transport between destinations and included activities
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Transport
Public bus, Oxcart, Horse -
Accommodation
Traditional ger (6 nts), Ger camp (1 nt), Basic hotels (2 nts)