Tour Summary
In the boreal forests of the northern mountains of Mongolia, lives a group of people called the Dukha, Tsaatan in Mongolian. This group of people has a strong connection to nature and practice Tengerism, or shamanism, and believe the spirits in the forest watch over them. Historically, the Tsaatan have led a sustainable life by herding reindeer, from which their lives and culture depend on. Recently, as reindeer populations have shrunk and wars over the past 100 years have displaced them, there are said to be only 40 families left.
During the summer, the Tsaatan camp can only be reached by horse. You will fly up north and depart on an expedition by car and horse to live among the Tsaatan for a few days along with your guides, drivers, and your own cook!
Many nonprofits and government agencies donate necessary goods to the Tsaatan’s way of life, although it does not help them keep their culture. Tourism can marginally help provide a supplement to their income as travelers, respectfully, visit this area and take an interest in their reindeer and their way of life.
Tour Highlights
Meet the Reindeer Herders and spend time living among them.
Embark on an unforgettable expedition by horseback.
Experience the alpine mountains of northern Mongolia.
Private 4x4 vehicle with a driver and guide. Enjoy the changing scenery inside your own vehicle.
Experience the Mongolian Gers (yurts) in comfortable lodges in rural Mongolia.
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Itinerary
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Days 6-7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
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Day 1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar Welcome to Mongolia! You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, where your guide and driver will be waiting for you. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you can freshen up. If you are not too tired from your long flight, your guide will take you to the Mongolia Museum of Natural History, the Gandan Buddhist Monastery, and in the evening, you can see a traditional Mongolian folk concert with dance and throat singing. Accommodation: Hotel Travel: None Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 2 Flight to Murun After breakfast, we will take a flight to the north of Mongolia to a town called Murun. Once we land in , our guide and driver will welcome us and take us to our ger camp. We will take a short coffee and tea break, then head out on a short tour to the Uushgiin Uvur deer stone monuments. These deer stones date back to the bronze age. While Mongolia is known to hold many deer stone monuments, these are particularly known for having stayed in such good condition. After our short tour of the deer stone monuments, we will head to the local town to visit the museum and the local markets. Accommodation: Ger Camp Travel: 600 KM (370 miles); 1hour 15 minute flight - 18 km (11 miles); 30 minute drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 3 Drive to Darkhad Valley In the morning, we will head to the border office to register and get permission to head into the Darkhad valley, bringing you another step closer to visiting the Reindeer people. Darkhad valley is 40km wide and 160km long, situated in between the Ulaan Taiga and the Khoridol Saridag mountain range. This area’s stunning beauty will knock you off your feet with its lakes, rivers, and lush forests. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 200 km (124 miles); 6 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 4 Tsagaan Nuur area and Khogorgo Valley Once we break camp, we will then journey on towards the Khogorgo River via Tsagaan Nuur village. This village, established in 1985 during the communist era of Mongolia, is the closest town to where the Reindeer herders live. After arriving, we will first make a quick stop to confirm your border permission at the border office, and then make a short drive to the khogorgo valley to meet a Mongolian family. The Mongolian family that you meet are a different ethnic group than the Tsaatan(Reindeer Herders). In the evening, our horses and horse wranglers will join us for our next step in our journey. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 170 km (105 miles); 5 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 5 Horse Ride to Reindeer camp Once we load all our bags on the horses, we will continue our expedition into the Taiga on horse towards the Reindeer people’s camp. After we make our initial greetings with the Reindeer herders, we will set up our camp. Accommodation: Tipi Travel: 60 km (37 miles); 5 hour by horse Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Days 6-7 Reindeer Herder Days During our stay with the Reindeer people, we will spend time learning about their lifestyle and helping out with their day to day work. Some of these activities can include milking reindeer, tethering calves, and rounding up and herding the reindeer in the evening. Accommodation: Tipi Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 8 Horse ride and drive Back to Tsagaan Nuur village Today, we will say our farewells to the reindeer people and head back towards Tsagaan Nuur village by horse. We will meet our drivers at a location that the cars are able to reach, and then head to the village. This will be the last day on horse and in the Taiga so we will take it slow and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the ride. We will arrive in Tsagaan Nuur village in the evening and stay at a local ger camp. Today we will say goodbye to our Reindeer people and head back to Tsagaannuur village. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 60 km (37 miles); 5 hours by horse Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 9 Drive back to Murun Today is our driving day back to Murun. As we return, you will be able to enjoy the various scenery as we make our way towards the ger camp. Welcome back to civilization! Accommodation: Ger Camp Travel: 270 km (168 miles); 9 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 10 Flight back to Ulaanbaatar We will have our breakfast and then head towards the local airport in Murun. We will take an hour long flight back to the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and check into your hotel. After having a nice dinner back in civilization, we can rest up for the night, or head out to see some nightly sites. Accommodation: Hotel Travel: 600 KM (372 miles); 1hour 15 minute flight Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 11 Ulaanbaatar Day Today you will have time to see more of the sites and museums around the city that you may have missed! Undoubtedly, you will want to do some shopping for Mongolian souvenirs and some of the famous and inexpensive Mongolian cashmere. Let us take you to some of our favorite spots and even a cashmere factory if you would like! Accommodation: Hotel Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 12 Departure Day Your driver will take you to the airport 3 hours before your international flight. You will be your guide and driver goodbye and you are on your way back home! Accommodation: None Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast |
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Day 1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar Welcome to Mongolia! You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital, where your guide and driver will be waiting for you. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you can freshen up. If you are not too tired from your long flight, your guide will take you to the Mongolia Museum of Natural History, the Gandan Buddhist Monastery, and in the evening, you can see a traditional Mongolian folk concert with dance and throat singing. Accommodation: Hotel Travel: None Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner |
|
|
Day 2 Flight to Murun After breakfast, we will take a flight to the north of Mongolia to a town called Murun. Once we land in , our guide and driver will welcome us and take us to our ger camp. We will take a short coffee and tea break, then head out on a short tour to the Uushgiin Uvur deer stone monuments. These deer stones date back to the bronze age. While Mongolia is known to hold many deer stone monuments, these are particularly known for having stayed in such good condition. After our short tour of the deer stone monuments, we will head to the local town to visit the museum and the local markets. Accommodation: Ger Camp Travel: 600 KM (370 miles); 1hour 15 minute flight - 18 km (11 miles); 30 minute drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 3 Drive to Darkhad Valley In the morning, we will head to the border office to register and get permission to head into the Darkhad valley, bringing you another step closer to visiting the Reindeer people. Darkhad valley is 40km wide and 160km long, situated in between the Ulaan Taiga and the Khoridol Saridag mountain range. This area’s stunning beauty will knock you off your feet with its lakes, rivers, and lush forests. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 200 km (124 miles); 6 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 4 Tsagaan Nuur area and Khogorgo Valley Once we break camp, we will then journey on towards the Khogorgo River via Tsagaan Nuur village. This village, established in 1985 during the communist era of Mongolia, is the closest town to where the Reindeer herders live. After arriving, we will first make a quick stop to confirm your border permission at the border office, and then make a short drive to the khogorgo valley to meet a Mongolian family. The Mongolian family that you meet are a different ethnic group than the Tsaatan(Reindeer Herders). In the evening, our horses and horse wranglers will join us for our next step in our journey. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 170 km (105 miles); 5 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 5 Horse Ride to Reindeer camp Once we load all our bags on the horses, we will continue our expedition into the Taiga on horse towards the Reindeer people’s camp. After we make our initial greetings with the Reindeer herders, we will set up our camp. Accommodation: Tipi Travel: 60 km (37 miles); 5 hour by horse Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Days 6-7 Reindeer Herder Days During our stay with the Reindeer people, we will spend time learning about their lifestyle and helping out with their day to day work. Some of these activities can include milking reindeer, tethering calves, and rounding up and herding the reindeer in the evening. Accommodation: Tipi Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 8 Horse ride and drive Back to Tsagaan Nuur village Today, we will say our farewells to the reindeer people and head back towards Tsagaan Nuur village by horse. We will meet our drivers at a location that the cars are able to reach, and then head to the village. This will be the last day on horse and in the Taiga so we will take it slow and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the ride. We will arrive in Tsagaan Nuur village in the evening and stay at a local ger camp. Today we will say goodbye to our Reindeer people and head back to Tsagaannuur village. Accommodation: Tent Travel: 60 km (37 miles); 5 hours by horse Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 9 Drive back to Murun Today is our driving day back to Murun. As we return, you will be able to enjoy the various scenery as we make our way towards the ger camp. Welcome back to civilization! Accommodation: Ger Camp Travel: 270 km (168 miles); 9 hour drive Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 10 Flight back to Ulaanbaatar We will have our breakfast and then head towards the local airport in Murun. We will take an hour long flight back to the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and check into your hotel. After having a nice dinner back in civilization, we can rest up for the night, or head out to see some nightly sites. Accommodation: Hotel Travel: 600 KM (372 miles); 1hour 15 minute flight Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 11 Ulaanbaatar Day Today you will have time to see more of the sites and museums around the city that you may have missed! Undoubtedly, you will want to do some shopping for Mongolian souvenirs and some of the famous and inexpensive Mongolian cashmere. Let us take you to some of our favorite spots and even a cashmere factory if you would like! Accommodation: Hotel Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 12 Departure Day Your driver will take you to the airport 3 hours before your international flight. You will be your guide and driver goodbye and you are on your way back home! Accommodation: None Travel: None Meals Included: Breakfast |
Pricing
2 Travelers: $5,850 per person
3-4 Travelers: $4,300 per person
5-8 Travelers: $3,500 per person
Our tours are all-inclusive. From the moment you land till the moment you take off.
All pricing is based on twin share rooms. Please be aware that changes in the trip can lower or raise the cost per person. If your group has more than 8 people, please contact us and we will send you updated pricing for your specific needs.
Included
Personal cook while out in the field
All accommodations based on twin share
All transportation and domestic flights
All meals on the expedition
All local staff and field guides
Entertainments as shown in the itinerary
National Park and Protected Area fees
Not Included
International flights
Overweight baggage fees
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
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