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Local Living Mongolia—Nomadic Life
10 days, Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar
Itinerary
Day 1Ulaanbaatar
Welcome to Mongolia! Arrive any time, there are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting with an optional dinner afterwards.
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!
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
Cruise through Central Mongolia's vast oasis and pastures to the village of Rashaant. Meet your nomadic hosts and get to know each other over an authentic lunch.
After the relaxation, take in the afternoon desert landscape on a roundtrip horseback ride visiting the intoxicating Swan Lake. This lake resides at the base of the Mongol Desert Sand Dunes where the two extremes co-exist creating a pristine home to Swan couples - representing strength, tolerance and passion.
Tonight, enjoy dinner with your hosts and sleep like the nomads in a ger tent.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Rashaant Sum/Orkhon Valley
Roll up those sleeves and experience a typical nomadic morning by helping your hosts with chores, which may include milking the livestock. After breakfast, travel into the countryside by horseback to visit the monuments of Queen Manduhai.
Return to camp for a farewell lunch and tea before moving on to the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site along the river in Central Mongolia. Orkhon Valley represents the evolution of nomadic pastoral traditions spanning more than two-thousand years.
Upon arrival at your next nomadic family's camp, prepare for a traditional dinner with milk tea and then rest up in their extra ger.
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Historical Horseback Experience
Saddle up for a visit to the monument of Queen Manduhai, created for the feature film documenting her life.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Orkhon Valley
If you're beginning to feel like a true nomad, help out with the family's morning chores again and herd some yaks or milk the livestock. After breakfast, prepare for the 5-6 km (3mi) trek to the massive Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall, stopping to take in the scenery along the way (don't forget your camera).
Return to camp for lunch and tea with your hosts. In the afternoon, continue exploring the beautiful Orkhon Valley with another trek to Baga Tsutgalan junior waterfall. Enjoy dinner back at camp with your nomad family, then retire to their extra ger and dream about the therapeutic Orkhon waterfalls!
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
After breakfast, relax during the drive to Kharkhorin - the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire! Spend time exploring the ruins and monasteries inside the fortress walls and admire their unique architecture. Lunch will be served at a nearby ger camp, then travel to Hustain Nuruu protected reserve in Khustai Park to overnight in the comfort of another ger camp.
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.
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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6Kharkhorin/Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Spend the morning in Khustain Park learning about the indigenous flora and fauna. Watch the famous wild horses, known as "takhi," graze and gallop in their natural habitat.
After lunch, travel via bus to Terelj National Park, a beautiful alpine retreat with imposing rock formations and endless forests. Meet your host and continue North by horseback on a 3km (1.9 mi) journey through the incredibly stunning mountain river valley, crossing the Terelj River, to the family's nomadic camp.
During the stay, the host will demonstrate the techniques of how to saddle a horse and prepare an oxcart. Enjoy an evening of traditional Mongolian games with sheep's bones (shagai) and a hot dinner with the hosts. Take in the star-strewn night before going to sleep in the ger.
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
Make sure to eat all your breakfast, you'll need that energy for the adventurous 24km (5mi) horseback ride through the forested landscape to a picturesque, wide-open, green plain. Meet a locally well-known nomadic seamstress and her family who will serve a well-deserved lunch before you 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.
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 some free time to explore this scenic region more in-depth. Visit local families by ox cart and learn how to make homemade vodka and cheese, then try them out during lunch and dinner!
Free Time
Explore the national park scenery with some free time.
Your Foodie Moment: 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
After breakfast, settle in for the relaxing bus ride back to the modern Ulaanbaatar capital! There will be plenty of time to explore and shop after checking in to the hotel. Opt to visit to the Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace or Zaisan Hill.
Enjoy a final evening group activity during a folk cultural performance by the Tumen Ekh Ensemble and our farewell dinner after.
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.