Spirit of the Reindeer Herders

International Arrrival

Arrival at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport. After clearing immigration formalities, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. After lunch visit the Bogd Khan Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings where the last religious king of Mongolia resided. The Palace is now a museum displaying fascinating artifacts and costumes associated with the king, as well as his collection of European furniture and stuffed animals. A welcome dinner will be held at a local restaurant, including local music, food, and entertainment.

Overnight at a local hotel. Lunch and dinner included.

Flight to Moron - Darkhad Valley

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Moron either in the morning or afternoon. You will be met at the airport by vehicles and staff and will be driven towards the Darkhad Valley to the west of Lake Khuvsgul. Camp near a small village called Toom.

Overnight in tented camp with kitchen support. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Soyot-Khog River

Drive to the small village of Soyot near which the base camp will be made next to the Khog River. You might want to try the wild berries, which grow in profusion nearby and are made into a delicious jam by the locals. You will also meet the local horsemen who will accompany you on your journey.

Overnight in tented camp with kitchen support. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Five days riding to Reindeer herders

Days 4-8: Depending on your level of experience, an appropriate horse will be selected for you by the expert horsemen. When you watch the packhorses being loaded, you will be amazed about how much these small, sturdy horses can carry. Nevertheless, we recommend that you take as little as possible with you on this part of the trip. Remember, the horses will carry the tents and food as well as your luggage. Essentials are, however, raingear and a waterproof pack. You can leave extra baggage at the base camp. The ride itself takes you through spectacularly beautiful and remote country sides. En route, spend some time with the Tsaatan (west taiga) people at one of their mountain camps. We ask you to remember that when we visit these people, we are guests in their homes, so it is appropriate to offer them small gifts in return for their hospitality. You might want to discuss this with your guide. You will be camping overnight in tents.

Overnight in tented camp with kitchen support. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Terelj National Park

Days 9-12: Refreshed and relaxed from base camp, you are back on the horses today. This time you are on a linear route to Lake Khuvsgul. At first the terrain will be wide-open valleys, then rocky mountain slopes, and will finally take you down a forested mountain path to the crystal-clear blue waters of the lake. On the fourth day overnight at ger camp.

Overnight in tented camp with kitchen support. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day at the lake

Spend a day of leisure around the lake at the base camp. You can just relax, or if you still have some energy left, you can swim, fish or hike. Overnight at ger camp.

Overnight ger camp. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Flight back and drive to Tuul Lodge

In the morning, pack up camp and head south to Moron. On the way you’ll stop and explore Uushgiin Uvur deerstone complex, which dates back from the Bronze Age. After the lunch you will reach Moron in time for the late-afternoon flight to Ulaanbaatar and directly transfer to Tuul Riverside Lodge. An intimate and fully sustainable traditional Mongolian ger camp on the foot of the Bayanzorik Mountain, the beautiful camp’s surroundings invites to be explored and discovered! Your gers are prepared by a dedicated team of people, giving you a warm welcome!

Overnight at Tuul Riverside Lodge: gers with ensuite bathrooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day at Tuul Lodge

Please feel free to channel your inner discoverer and explore the beautiful surroundings of the camp! You can get an insight into Mongolia’s captivating culture through various activities. Enjoy amini cooking lesson in the morning; Mongolian traditional cooking has been enriched with cooking traditions of many other nations which is tracked with history of 800 years ago, the time of conquest. This led to rapid culture exchange.

Then a nomadic neighbor will come with his ox and his card will take you on a ride with Mongolian arrows and bows in tow! Legendary for their prowess with the bow, Mongols perfected this ancient practice with bows constructed from wood, animal sinew, bone, and glue made from fish bladders in a process that could take up to a year. A stone inscription dating from the 13th century claims that one of Genghis Khan’s generals hit a target from a distance of 1/3 of a mile. In the late afternoon you will learn a Mongolian traditional game using ankle bones. In the evening dine on a traditional Mongolian barbecue food, known as Khorhog, demonstrating what an important ingredient stones can be: mutton will be cooked slowly in a huge, metal urn with vegetables, water and most importantly hot stones from the flame. The meat becomes soft and tasty, and the water turns into a thick meaty broth… Quite a few Mongolian chefs affirm that they can taste the difference between river and lake stones. The day will finish with a campfire and star gazing  which is unforgettable on a clear night.

Overnight at Tuul Riverside Lodge: gers with ensuite bathrooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Back to UB

After a leisurely breakfast transfer back to the UB city. Depending on the river water level transfers will be arranged by airboat or by people carrier truck over the mountain pass. You will have time for shopping. There will be an evening program of traditional song and dance, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at local 3 star hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

International departure

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for departure.