Mongolia Reindeer People Tour

You will be met at the airport by your guide and drivers and transferred into Ulaanbaatar where you will check in to your centrally located hotel. Depending on your flight time, in the afternoon you can walk to the central square and see the statue of D. Sukhbaatar, one of the heroes of the communist revolution of the 1920’s, boldly raising his arm towards the statue of Chinggis Khan. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner at one of our favourite restaurants.

Then we will visit Gandan Monastery, home to an impressive 26-metre high Buddhist statue featuring impressive stones and gilded with gold leaf.

This city tour provides a great introduction to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, where tradition and modern life meet. Visit Gandan Tegchinlen Monastery, the country’s most important Buddhist center, to see beautiful temples, monks in prayer, and the impressive Migjid Janraisig statue.

Continue to the National Museum of Mongolian History, where exhibits showcase Mongolia’s past, from ancient nomadic culture to the Mongol Empire and modern times. Along the way, enjoy views of the city’s main streets and landmarks, offering insight into contemporary urban life.

This tour is ideal for first-time visitors seeking cultural and historical highlights.

This morning we will be transferred to the airport for a morning flight to the northern province of Khovsgol. Upon arrival at Murun Airport we will meet our local guide and driver. We will visit a local supermarket for some snacks and refreshments and, if we have time, we can visit a small market and museum.

In the afternoon we drive west and visit the Bronze Age burial complex at Uushgiin Uvur where there are 14 deer stones. These are unique Bronze Age and early Iron Age stones (stelae) found mostly in Mongolia and some Central Asian countries and the term “deer stone” is derived from the illustrations of deer carved on blocks of upright granite between 1 and 4 meters in height. One stone at Uushgiin Uvur is topped with a women's head and it is considered to be one of the rarest of its type in the country.

Today we will have a long drive to the Darkhad Depression. After passing two big passes, we will be in the territory of the Darkhad Depression lying between the two mountain ranges of Ulaan Taiga and Khoridol Saridag. This is a significant valley approximately 40km wide and 160km long, bisected by numerous rivers and lakes. This area boasts its own natural environment as there are more than 300 lakes and major rivers here.

Continuing our journey to the north we travel along the beautiful river Shishgid with views of the stunning Horidol Saridag mountains. We will visit a family of Mongolian nomads and enjoy their welcome hospitality whilst learning about their way of life and perhaps joining them as they graze their herds, milk the animals, and prepare traditional dairy products.

Later we pass through Tsagaan Nuur town and then make the short drive to Hogorgo River where we will stay for the night.

Today we will be riding for around 8-9 hours.

After breakfast you will be introduced to our guides and Mongolian horses that will take us into the remote Taiga region, home of the Tsaachin (also known as Tsaatan or Dukha) people who have a spiritual connection with the reindeer herds amongst which they live.

You will receive brief riding instructions and have time to get acquainted with your own horse before it is time to set off on a journey that will take us into the remarkable world of the last remaining nomadic reindeer herders. This will truly be the beginning of one of the greatest wilderness adventures of your life.

The Tsaachin tribe originated from the area known as the Tuva Republic in Russia before moving south into the Taiga region of Mongolia's Khovsgol province. The relative inaccessibility and extreme remoteness of this community has allowed them to remain largely untouched by the modern world and so to retain their unique way of life and culture.

The Tsaachin’s entire existence is based on their reindeer herds which provide them with milk for producing cheese, antlers for carving and medicinal purposes, transportation and occasionally meat and, in order to sustain the health of their herds, they maintain a nomadic lifestyle moving camps up to ten times per year.

We will spend our time learning more about the herders’ everyday life and their traditions whilst at the same time enjoying the remoteness of the location and the beautiful nature in which we find ourselves. The Tsaachin are hospitable people and there will be many wonderful photo opportunities.

The Tsaachin have a culture rich in Shamanism and these spiritual healers play an important role in the community providing traditional remedies for injury and illness. Shamanism is a traditional spiritual belief system based on worshipping nature and you will witness a traditional ritual and meet a shaman custodian of a hidden realm.

Enjoy more time talking with the local people and understanding their local culture and how they have managed to maintain such a traditional way of life for so long. Take in the beauty of the larch forest and be inspired and gain power while meditating in untouched wilderness.

Our visit to the reindeer herding people plays an important role in helping them survive by providing a supplemental income and an exchange of cultural education. To spend time with the Tsaachin community is a rare privilege and a remarkable experience.

Today we will say a sad farewell to the Reindeer people and head back to Tsagaan Nuur town enjoying our last day of riding through the remote Taiga region.

We will enjoy nature and carry with us many happy memories and spectacular images.

After early breakfast, we drive to the scenic Khuvsgul Lake which is known as the “Blue Pearl” of Mongolia.

This freshwater lake is the second largest by volume in North Asia reaching a depth of over 260 metres and having a surface area of some 2,700 square kilometres. The water has unrivalled purity and, in the summer, its banks are dotted with wildflowers.

Full day at the lake.

The area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and, for those who want to be active, there are opportunities for hiking, riding, kayaking and fishing. Alternatively, you can simply unwind, perhaps practice some yoga and meditation, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this wondrous location.

We return to civilization!

Early morning we say goodbye to the Khuvsgul Lake and fly back to Ulaanbaatar where there will be an opportunity for further exploration and last minute souvenir shopping - cashmere, leather goods and traditional handicrafts are all good options and the guide will recommend the best places to go for these.

Alternatively, there will be a chance to visit Narantuul market, also known as the black market, which covers an enormous area and is a great place to practice your haggling skills.

In the evening we will have our farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for departure.