Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

Intrepid Travel · 14 days
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders
14 Days
From AUD $5495
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Demanding

Rating

Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

Intrepid Travel · 14 days
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Duration

14 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Demanding

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Travel deep into the northern Mongolia Taiga to trace the footsteps of the Tsaatan Reindeer herders on this 14-day journey.

Highlights

  • 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.

Trip Details

Duration

14 days

Transportation

Private vehicle,Overnight Train

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Finishes

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Demanding

Itinerary

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 (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Terej National Park - Hike
  • Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue

Accommodation:

  • Overnight train (Multi-share) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Murun - Leader - led orientation walk

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Uushig Valley - Bronze Age Deer Stone Monuments

Accommodation:

  • Guest house (Multi-share) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Tsagaan Nuur - Darkhad Mongolian family ger stay
  • Tsagaan Nuur - Home-cooked Mongolian BBQ

Accommodation:

  • Family ger stay (Multi-share) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Tsaatan Camp - Hike
  • Tsaatan Camp - Living with reindeer herders

Accommodation:

  • Tsaatan tent (Multi-share) (Number of Nights: 1)
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) (Number of Nights: 1)
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) (Number of Nights: 1)
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) (Number of Nights: 1)
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) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Khuvsgul - '50:100' monument

Accommodation:

  • Guest house (Multi-share) (Number of Nights: 1)
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.

Included Activities:

  • Ulaanbaatar - Culture show

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $5,495
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 14 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Travel deep into the northern Mongolia Taiga to trace the footsteps of the Tsaatan Reindeer herders on this 14-day journey.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 20 Aug 2026

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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