This tour will take you to discover the homeland of the Tsaatan people in the Taiga region of Mongolia. The taiga refers to a vast Siberian forest that extends beyond the Russian border into Mongolia, with its renowned sector extending beyond Lake Huvsgul. The Tsaatan people are a remote minority of nomadic reindeer herders, often described with phrases like “mystical,” “untouched,” or even “a lost tribe,” not to mention their designation as “visually appealing.” Today, the Tsaatan people number only three hundred, with just under two hundred of them still nomadic in the mountains. The others have settled in Tsagaan-nuur, the last Mongolian village before the wilderness, and are sedentary. The passing visitor must know how to respect the somewhat wild spirit of the Tsaatan people, but they will also learn to let themselves go, to be guided, and to appreciate to their fullest extent all these privileged moments of nomads…
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (Google Map)
3 Hours Before Flight Time
| Number of travellers | Price per traveller |
|---|---|
| 2 people | 2400$ |
| 3 – 4 people | 2100$ |
| 5 – 6 people | 1700$ |
Welcome to Mongolia, it is your day to meet your tour guide for the first time who will be waiting for you at the airport. We totally understand that you are tired after a long flight, well, we’ll take you to the hotel in the center of the capital. It is your first ever experience in Mongolia, it is your adventure so enjoy here during your stay. If you need help to accommodate let us know ANYTIME! It will be more comfortable and joyful if you make friends with your tour guide and driver. We will have lunch out after you get some rest at the hotel, and make sure you’re in a comfortable outfit and shoes because we’ll go for a short city tour and visit the Museum of National History. Thousands of historical evidence and findings will be displayed chronologically in the National Museum range from the petroglyphs of the Neolithic period to the present day, obviously including the Empire of Genghis Khan, which allows us to learn more about Mongolian culture and custom and have an overview of the historic base and ethnic diversity that makes up Mongolia’s value. Then we will night on sleeper train. [18:40 – 7:40]
Meals: B,L,D
Distance: 60km from Airport to hotel
Accommodation: Overnight on sleeper train
After enjoying breakfast in Erdenet town, we’ll begin our journey towards the northern region of the country. Our destination is Moron, the capital of the province, where we’ll have the opportunity to discover the deer steles of Uushigiin uvur. These steles were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023. Our travel distance will be approximately 400 kilometers, with an estimated travel time of 5-6 hours. Upon arrival, we’ll settle in for the night at the Tultiin Tohoi tourist camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 400 km
Accommodation: Overnight in Tultiin Tohoi tourist camp
After breakfast, you will obtain travel permission for the border zone with your local guide. Around noon, you will continue straight to Ulaan-Uul province (Red Forest). This village is located in the taiga forests. Overnight in a camp of Ulaan-Uul.
Meals: B,L,D (cooked meals)
Distance: 3-4h
Accommodation: in tent
Early departure to continue our journey to Tsagaannuur (White Lake). We will set up camp on the shore of Lake Tsagaan. Cooked meals, overnight in a tent/yurt.
Meals: B,L,D (cooked meals)
Distance: 5-6h
Accommodation: in tent/ yurt
You will depart with your local guide and pack into the taiga in search of the first reindeer herder family. Overnight in a teepee.
Meals: B,L,D (cooked meals)
Distance: 5-6h
Accommodation: in a teepee
Prepare to spend two more days with a reindeer herder family: discovering, sharing their way of life in the taiga, and learning about reindeer husbandry. You will likely be offered your first reindeer ride, as an initiation.
Meals: B,L,D (cooked meals)
Accommodation: in a teepee
Drive east after lunch. We will cross sparsely inhabited areas of the great mountain, with large rivers and passing through magnificent mountain passes.
Meals: B,L,D (cooked meals)
Distance: 5-6h
Accommodation: overnight in a tent/yurt.
Arrival at the shore of Lake Hövsgöl, walking on the beaches, between pine and larch forests, herds of yaks and sheep. At the edge of the lagoons, wooden izbas are built where local herders live.
Meals: B, L, D (cooked meals)
Distance: 5-6h
Accommodation: overnight in tourist camp
Return to Erdenet to catch the overnight sleeper train. /20:50h-08:05/
Meals: B,L,D
Distance: 400km 5-6h
Accommodation: Overnight on sleeper train
You will arrive for Ulaanbaatar. After a free time during which you can make your last purchases and still take some pictures of this urban Mongolia, you will attend at 18h the famous show of traditional arts of Tumen Ekh, in which you will discover or rediscover Mongolia through its dances traditional, overtone, instrumental music, songs and contortion number,
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Local standard hotel 3*, in Ulaanbaatar
Depending on your flight time, you can enjoy more in UB city and then we will drive you to the airport to say goodbye/Bayartai/.
