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Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

14 days

Start

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Finish

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Trip Code

CBSR

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - 12

Physical Rating

Meals

12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 10 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Overnight Train

Accommodation

Hotel (twin share, 3 nights), Tsaatan tent (Multi-share, 3 nights), Family ger (Multi-share, 1 night), Guest house ( Multi-share, 3 nights), Tourist ger camp (Multi-share, 2 nights), Overnight train (Multi-share, 1 night)

From £3,075(14 days)

Trip Informations

Why you’ll love this trip

Travel to Mongolia taiga and hike to meet and live with Tsaatan reindeer herders. Take part in their daily life, sleep in their tipies, and share meals, laughs and music.

Experience the Darkhad nomad's way of life with a night spent in their family gers, helping them prepare dinner and share a meal of Mongolian BBQ.

Take a free day at Khovsgol lake, relax, hike, boat – a well-deserved ‘me time’ after a challenging and rewarding journey

See the stunning landscape along the way – a road trip like no other through winding mountain roads, expansive grasslands, pristine lakes and picturesque valleys, with our experienced drivers and local leaders.

Learn about ancient and modern Mongolia culture with visits to the Bronze Age Deer Stone monuments, Chinggis Khan Statue, a unique culture show and shamanistic site.

Is this trip right for you?

This is an expedition trip. You'll need to be able to take on the challenges of long and bumpy drives, very basic camping conditions without electricity, running water or showers, hiking through the forest and other activities that'll put you completely outside your normal comfort zone. You'll need to have a good fitness level and an open mind for challenges and adventures to enjoy this journey. And you'll likely to be disconnected for a bigger portion of the trip with the lack of cell signals and electricity.

Majority of the nights on this trip you'll spend in multi-share accommodations like tourist ger camps, guest houses, Mongolian family gers and Tsaatan tents. Please see the itinerary day information for more details

There will be several long and bumpy drives, constantly being on the move to make it to the northern Mongolia taiga.

Food options are very limited at the reindeer camps, especially for vegetarians. Vegan, Gluten free and Lactose free diets cannot be catered for.

There will be several long and bumpy drives, constantly being on the move to make it to the northern Mongolia taiga.

Food options are very limited at the reindeer camps, especially for vegetarians. Vegan, Gluten free and Lactose free diets cannot be catered for.

Itinerary

Take an expedition into the taiga of Mongolia and meet and live with the Tsaatan reindeer herders

Travel deep into the northern Mongolia Taiga to trace the footsteps of the Tsaatan Reindeer herders on this 14-day journey. See the majestic Chinggis Khan Statue outside of Ulaanbaatar, enjoy a Mongolian BBQ with the Darkhad nomads in their family ger, come close to the ancient bronze age Deer Stone monuments in Uushig valley, take in the majestic landscape of Khoridol Saridag Mountain and Khuvsgul lake and the most important of all, experience the Tsaatan reindeer herders life in their camp that is only accessible on foot. Take part in their daily chores, learn about their wisdom of going with the nature's flow and take in this challenging but transformative experience of being away from modern civilization.

DAY 1
Day 1 • Ulaanbaatar
Sainbainuu! Welcome to Mongolia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and group members. If you arrive early, why not get out and discover the city. Maybe check out the Gandan Khiid, Mongolia’s largest and most important monastery. You could also stroll through a local market or visit one of the many museums, including the Fine Arts Museum and Winter Palace Museum of Bogd Khan. After your meeting, get to know your group better with an optional dinner or maybe go to the restaurant you were eyeing earlier.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
DAY 2
Day 2 • Overnight train to Erdenet
Start your morning with a drive to the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue. You’ll climb up to the horse’s mane for a great photo with the Khan. Then, drive to Terelj National Park. Stop to take a photo at the famous turtle rock and head out on a short hike to the meditation temple for a great view of the valley. Stop at a roadside cafe to refuel for lunch then head back to UB. After stocking up on some food and drinks at a local supermarket, hop on an overnight train to Erdenet. Sit back, relax and take in a mode of transportation the locals use to travel long distances in their country.
Accommodation
Overnight train (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Terej National Park - Hike
Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours of driving with a 13-hour overnight train.
For your overnight train tonight, you'll be in compartments for 4 people sharing. Pillow, blanket and sheet are provided and shared toilets are at the end of each carriage. You may share with people outside your group depending on your group composition. The train is a old model with no air-conditioning. Several stops will be made along the way.
DAY 3
Day 3 • Murun
This morning, you’ll hop off the train in Erdenet city. After a long ride, you may want to stop by a local cafe for breakfast and restock at a shop for snacks for the next leg of the trip. Make the drive to Murun today. Once you arrive, join your group for a short walk around Murun and visit the main square before heading out into the wilderness.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Murun - Leader - led orientation walk
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6.5 hours.
DAY 4
Day 4 • Ulaan Uul
After breakfast, drive down a dirt road to Ulaan-Uul. On the way, you’ll stop at Uushig Valley to check out the unique Deer Stones that are representative of Bronze Age religion, culture and society significance. You’ll also make another stop at the sacred shamanistic site of ovoo – the pile of stones that has been built as a home for mountain spirits. Tonight, you’ll stay in a family-run guesthouse with stove-heated wooden huts or gers.
Accommodation
Guest house (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Uushig Valley - Bronze Age Deer Stone Monuments
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Your accommodation tonight will be at a local people’s hut or gers with 3-4 people sharing one. There will be a pit toilet outside with no shower facilities
DAY 5
Day 5 • Tsagaan Nuur
Drive to Khogorgo Valley today to spend the night with a Darkhad nomad family for a unique insight into their nomadic way of life and culture – they graze cattle, horses, sheep and goats versus the Tsaatan people who only raise reindeer. Get to know your hosts as you help them prepare for a Mongolian style BBQ dinner and get to know the importance of meat in their diet and how Mongolian characters are intertwined with their food and cooking. You might even have the chance to watch as the family’s livestock are milked and herded.
Accommodation
Family ger stay (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Tsagaan Nuur - Darkhad Mongolian family ger stay
Tsagaan Nuur - Home-cooked Mongolian BBQ
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Conditions are very basic and may be a culture shock for some but this is a unique and authentic experience. There are no toilet facilities, but your leader will point you in the right direction for the ‘bathroom’. It can get chilly in the evenings to packing warm layers is essential. You'll be likely to sleep with the host family in their ger on the sleeping matts. It could be cramped depending on the group composition.
There is a one-camera policy when staying with locals on this trip, which makes for a more immersive engagement with hosts and minimises intrusion. This is one way you can live the philosophy of responsible travel while in Mongolia. (Photos can be copied and shared among the group back in UB.)
It’s Mongolian tradition to bring gifts when visiting another family, so we advise that you consider bringing small gifts for the family ger stays on this trip. Your leader will be able to recommend what’s appropriate and it would usually cost about 3-5 USD.
DAY 6
Day 6 • Tsaatan Camp
Wake up this morning and have breakfast on site then meet the horsemen who will be carrying your bags for today’s hike to the autumn camp of the Tsaatan reindeer herders. Journey through a forest and across a small creek then arrive at the camp where you’ll get a firsthand look into their daily life. This group relies on reindeer for transportation, milk and is a large part of their cultural identity. Learn about their lifestyle and how its deeply tied to the mountains and shamanistic traditions. Tonight, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Tsaatan meal cooked by the family and sleep in shared Tsaatan orts – sort of like sleeping in a tent.
Accommodation
Tsaatan tent (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Tsaatan Camp - Hike
Tsaatan Camp - Living with reindeer herders
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 5 hours at an elevation of 2000-2500 metres above sea level. There will be boggy and marshy patches here and there, small creeks to cross while hiking so waterproof hiking boots are essential. Packed lunch on the hike.
This is an authentic experience with very basic conditions – no electricity, no phone coverage and no shower. There are usually 3-5 families together at the camp. The Tsaatan ort is similar to a teepee. You'll be sleeping on the ground with a sleeping mattress and depending on the group composition and the families at the camp, there could be 4-6 people sharing one ort. There will be a toilet tent with portable seat toilet for the group. Temperatures can get cold at night, so a good quality heavy duty sleeping bag, a waterproof light weight and insulated jacket are essential. There's almost no pollution in the area so the locals take water from nearby creeks directly for cooking but your water will be boiled first for drinking. You may bring water purification pills as well.
DAY 7
Day 7-8 • Tsaatan Camp
For your two days here, you’ll truly experience life at the camp by helping with the daily activities, like preparing wood for the fire, fetching water from the spring, milking the reindeer or processing the milk. You may get to help in herding and rounding up the reindeer or watch the men make wood and reindeer horn carvings – you could support the families by purchasing something as an authentic souvenir to bring home. Tsaatan people love singing, so if you’re up for it, learn a traditional song and sing along with your new friends. This is a great opportunity to learn about Tsaatan daily life and culture through a hands-on experience.
Accommodation
Tsaatan tent (Multi-share) (2 nights)
Meals
Breakfast (2)
Lunch (2)
Dinner (2)
DAY 8
Day 9 • Renchinlhumbe
Say goodbye to your hosts this morning and hike back to the Tsagaan Nuur. Once back, you’ll say farewell to the horsemen and drive to Renchinlkhumbe sum where you’ll stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.
Accommodation
Guest house (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 5-6 hours and your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
No shower is available at the guesthouse but there is a public shower house in the town.
DAY 9
Day 10 • Khovsgol Lake
Drive to the Khovsgol Lake today via Jigleg Pass. Take in views of the lake from the top of the pass and the scenery along the way as you cross the Khoridol Saridag mountains. Some say this is Mongolia’s most beautiful destination, a pristine wilderness with forests, grasslands and meadows. You’ll arrive to the ger camp in late afternoon for time to settle into your yurt and take in the serene scenery.
Accommodation
Tourist ger camp (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6.5 hours.
Ger camp here are tourist ones and will have electricity. Shower and toilet facilities are well set up and shared on the camp. The route through Jigleg pass can change due to weather conditions. If the route is not possible we will take the southern route to the lake.
DAY 10
Day 11 • Khovsgol Lake
Today is yours to enjoy a relaxing day at the lake at your own leisure. You might like to hike up to one of the nearby peaks or maybe take a boat trip out on the lake. Explore on foot and relax on one of our few days not on the road. All of these are great ways to experience this wild region.
Accommodation
Tourist ger camp (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Special information
While you’re here, camp staff might offer you the option to visit a local settlement of reindeer hosts. You’ll know after living with the real reindeer herders, the climate here is not suitable for these animals, so we do not support such commercial activities.
DAY 11
Day 12 • Bulgan
Today, you’ll drive to Bulgan and on the way, visit the monument on the intersection of 50 and 100 degrees of longitude and latitude. There are only four points on Earth where 50 degrees intersects with 100 degrees longitude – one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Indian Ocean, one in Canada and one in Mongolia. Stop by a roadside cafe for lunch then stay overnight in a family-run guesthouse.
Accommodation
Guest house (Multi-share) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Khuvsgul - '50:100' monument
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours.
The guesthouse has electricity, outside pit toilets, hand basin, stoves and beds with linen and blankets. No shower is available at the guesthouse
DAY 12
Day 13 • Ulaanbaatar
Say farewell to Bulgan today and drive back to Ulaanbaatar. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do as you please, whether you want to relax, go sightseeing or shop for some last-minute souvenirs. Tonight, join back up with your group for a special cultural show featuring throat singing and traditional dancing then head out for an optional final dinner recommended by your leader to celebrate your trip.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Included activities
Ulaanbaatar - Culture show
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
DAY 13
Day 14 • Ulaanbaatar
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Meals
Breakfast

Inclusions

Meals

12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 10 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Overnight Train

Accommodation

Included activities

Terej National Park - Hike

Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue

Murun - Leader - led orientation walk

Uushig Valley - Bronze Age Deer Stone Monuments

Tsagaan Nuur - Darkhad Mongolian family ger stay

Tsagaan Nuur - Home-cooked Mongolian BBQ

Tsaatan Camp - Hike

Tsaatan Camp - Living with reindeer herders

Khuvsgul - '50:100' monument

Ulaanbaatar - Culture show

Dates and availability

Starting

Ending

Remaining

Prices From

Thursday Aug 20, 2026

Wednesday Sep 02, 2026

Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left

£3,075

Saturday Sep 05, 2026

Friday Sep 18, 2026

Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left

£3,075

Sunday Sep 20, 2026

Saturday Oct 03, 2026

Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left

£3,075

Important notes

1. A single supplment is only bookable for Day 1, 3, 10, 11 & 13, subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent if you are interested.

2. A heavy duty sleeping bag is required for the family ger stay and Tsaantan camp stay. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for 20 USD for the trip which is organised with your tour leader. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to hire one and they will advise your leader prior to the trip.

3. Please provide your full passport details to your booking agent no later than 40 day prior to departure.

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DAY 13
Day 14 • Ulaanbaatar
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Meals
Breakfast

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DAY 13Day 14 • Ulaanbaatarexpand_moreYour trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. restaurant_menu MealscircleBreakfast

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DAY 13
Day 14 • Ulaanbaatar
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Meals
Breakfast