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Local Living Mongolia—Nomadic Life
10 days, Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar
Itinerary
Day 1Ulaanbaatar
Arrive at any time.
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.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Ulaanbaatar/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.
Camel or Horseback Riding
Hop on a horse or camel and take a ride through two of nature's extremes: lake and desert. Experience the beauty of Swan Lake and marvel at the Mongol Desert Sand Dunes.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Rashaant Sum/Orkhon Valley
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.
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.
Historical Horseback Experience
Saddle up for a visit to the monument of Queen Manduhai, created for the feature film documenting her life.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Orkhon 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.
Orkhon Waterfall Hike
Pack a camera and hike to the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall along the Ulaan River. Marvel at this 20 m high waterfall, the largest in Mongolia, and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
Junior Flow Waterfall Hike
Get familiar with the Orkhon valley by hiking to Baga Tsutgalan, a small waterfall the locals refer to as "Junior Flow". Some say this waterfall cures rheumatism so don't be afraid to get a little wet!
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Orkhon 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.
Free Time
Get adventurous and explore the vast historical sites. From ruins to monasteries there is no shortage of sight seeing!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Erdene Zuu Monastery Visit
The beautiful Erdene Zuu Monastery began its construction in 1586 and continued for over 300 years. It was the first centre of Lama Buddhism in Mongolia. At its peak, the monastery housed over 1,000 monks and held 62 temples. In the 1930s, most of the temples were destroyed and monks killed in the Communist purges. Now, the monastery is slowly being restored.
Explore the monastery grounds and, if you're lucky, listen to monks chanting.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6Kharkhorin/Gorkhi Terelj National Park
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.
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Horse
Saddle up and giddyup to the next stop along the route. (Chaps not included.)
Participants should be comfortable around and on horses.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7Gorkhi 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.
Horse
Saddle up and giddyup to the next stop along the route. (Chaps not included.)
Traditional Clothing Demonstration
Learn how to make Mongolian patterns for traditional garments from a well-known nomadic seamstress.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Gorkhi 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.
Free Time
Explore the national park scenery with some free time.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Mongolian Vodka and Cheese Making Demonstration
Travel by ox cart through the forest along the Terelj River where a local family will demonstrate how to make homemade vodka and cheese. Compare techniques over a traditional lunch.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 9Gorkhi 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.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Mongolian Cultural Show
Enjoy an evening of song and dance at the Mongolian Cultural Show. The show includes 15 different performances, including traditional songs, dancing, throat singing, and contortionists.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Ulaanbaatar
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.