Mongolia: Nomads Of The Steppe
Group Tour
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Overview
Mongolia's epic landscapes and striking beauty are legendary. From the undulating grasslands of Terejl National Park to the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai that rise up out of the seemingly endless steppe, it is an incredibly varied destination that never ceases to surprise and delight even the most experienced of travellers.
Interspersing many of the country’s better-known highlights with some hidden gems, we’ll head out across the roads and tracks of this sparsely populated country from ...
Mongolia's epic landscapes and striking beauty are legendary. From the undulating grasslands of Terejl National Park to the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai that rise up out of the seemingly endless steppe, it is an incredibly varied destination that never ceases to surprise and delight even the most experienced of travellers.
Interspersing many of the country’s better-known highlights with some hidden gems, we’ll head out across the roads and tracks of this sparsely populated country from the capital Ulaanbaatar towards the Orkhon Valley, said to be the cradle of nomadic civilisation as well as towards Kharhorin, once the capital of the mighty Mongol Empire established by Genghis Khan. En route we’ll encounter nomadic families whose culture of hospitality will almost certainly lead to us being welcomed into gers for a glass or two of to airag (fermented mare’s milk).
This is an adventurous 4WD trip, with much of the journey being on dirt roads but it is also highly rewarding with spectacular scenery and memorable sights throughout. Offering plenty of good walks and cultural interactions, this highlights tour offers a variety of experiences that is hard to beat.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use sturdy UAZ 4WD minibuses for the whole of the journey.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.On this particular trip we will be in hotels for two nights in Ulaanbaatar, and in ger camps and ger homestays for the rest of the trip. Whilst staying in the ger camps you will sleep in a native Mongolian dwelling which Russians call yurts. Although not luxurious, they are clean, comfortable and cosy. Each ger is equipped with a bed, linen, stove and usually a small wash stand. Whilst most of the camps do have electricity 24/7 there are some that are run through a generator and electricity is only available during certain times. The majority of the camps used on this tour will have a shared western-style flush loo and shower facilities in separate blocks. All meals eaten at the ger camps are served in a central ger restaurant.
Whilst staying in the ger homestays the facilities will be more basic, a bowl of hot water to wash or washing in the river. For toilet facilities these will be in a long-drop compost loo. Please note that the single supplement does not cover the nights in the ger homestays and you may be required to share.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Ulaanbaatar
Day 1 Tour starts in Ulaanbaatar
Starting this morning, we’ll have an introductory meeting at the hotel before paying a visit to Gandan Monastery, the largest and most important in Mongolia. Wander around this fascinating site as you explore the different temples, including that of the Mijig Janraisig with its huge golden buddha statue. In the old temple complex we can listen to the chanting ceremonies which happen mid-morning. This afternoon we then take a walk across the expansive Sukhbaatar Square to the National History Museum which is a great introduction to the country's past. In the early evening, we enjoy a music and dance performance by the Tumen Ekh Ensemble. The hour-long performance shows us traditional Mongolian dance, singing and music with various instruments including the horse fiddle and singers along with traditional throat singers.
Day 2 Ulaanbaatar - Terelj National Park
Day 2 Ulaanbaatar - Terelj National Park
Today we journey east to the Terelj National park, stopping at the sacred Turtle Rock. Here we can venture into the valley and climb up to visit the nearby Aryabal Meditation Temple. The National Park offers some great scenery which making it a very popular weekend getaway for both locals and tourists alike. However, we will pass through the main valley avoiding the crowds, visit the Terelj village and continue across - or rather, through the river! After a short distance we reach a family's ger where we step inside and are welcomed by the local hospitality and a wonderful traditional homecooked lunch. Tonight we are hosted by the family in their guest ger. This afternoon you can either take a horse ride up into the valley towards the Jalman Mountain and along the east side of the Saikhan Saridag range, or the family will arrange some traditional archery. This evening we are treated to a nomadic feast of khorkhog, a dish of slow-cooked mutton and vegetables braised with red hot stones from the stove. Delicious!
Day 3 Terelj National Park - Khustai National Park
Day 3 Terelj National Park - Khustai National Park
After breakfast there will be the option to continue our adventure by river in kayaks or if preferred by foot. The river is wide, shallow, obstacle-free, but is fast-flowing river with many twists and turns but great fun to navigate. We will be on the river for 2-3 hours depending on the current, and water levels. We then drive a short distance to the impressive Genghis Khan statue near Erdene. Amazingly, you can climb up inside the statue to a viewing platform in the mane of the horse, looking out across the Tuul River, Terelj & the hills of Khan Khentii, and Genghis's homeland. Later we continue our journey West to Khustai National Park, and our Ger camp for this evening. At dusk we take a drive out from our camp to see the Takhi horses. This is the optimum time to see them close up as they gather to drink at streams. We may venture a little further into the park to stretch our legs before returning to camp for dinner.
Day 4 Khustai National Park - Khogno Khaan - Elsen Tasarkhai
Day 4 Khustai National Park - Khogno Khaan - Elsen Tasarkhai
Today you head to the nature reserve of Khogno Khaan, where we can explore the lower temple complex of Uvguun Khiid, see the reconstructed temples, prayer-wheel and take a wander around the ruins. We will then embark on some exercise by walking up to the older ruined temple complex in the hills where the scenery is fantastic. Heading back down to the valley floor, we continue onwards for a short drive until we reach the sand dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai. Here we have a chance to visit a family of camel herders, and head off on a Bactrian camel ride across the dunes for a short ride enjoying the beautiful landscape surrounding us. We then settle into tonight's ger camp nearby.
Day 5 Elsen Tasarkhai - Tovkhon Khiid - Uurtiin Tokhoi
Day 5 Elsen Tasarkhai - Tovkhon Khiid - Uurtiin Tokhoi
This morning we continue your journey west across the open flat plains that give way to greener undulating countryside, with a greater number of people and livestock. We will take a walk up to the stunning hilltop monastery of Tovkhon Khiid where we can enjoy great views of the surrounding Arkhangai Hills, along with the interesting temple architecture. Arriving at our ger camp in the afternoon affords us an opportunity to take a walk to the Uurtiin Tokhoi Canyon close by.
Day 6 Uurtiin Tokhoi - Orkhon Valley
Day 6 Uurtiin Tokhoi - Orkhon Valley
Our first stop this morning is to see the ancient Bronze age burial stones of Temeen Chuluu. We continue up the Orkhon valley where the scenery is beautiful but the roads are rather challenging and rough! As such, covering a relatively short distance may take us some time to reach our home for the next couple of nights. We will stay with a local family who will greet us with a traditional home cooked lunch. We then take a walk, or ride, to the Orkhon Waterfall, created by a combination of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Just so you can immerse your self in Mongolian life, this afternoon we will learn how to put up a traditional Mongolian ger - with a little help from the locals of course. There will also be an opportunity to learn how to make traditional Mongolian dumplings, to be enjoyed as part of your dinner this evening.
Day 7 Orkhon Valley
Day 7 Orkhon Valley
Spending today enjoying the tranquility of the open countryside, we have the opportunity to get involved in daily nomadic life. We have the chance to try our hands at a plethora of activities such as walking, riding, herding and milking animals. For those more interested in traditional nomadic practices in the home, we get to see how the family distill homemade vodka, make milk tea, dry curds, and make felt. If horse riding is you preference then you can head off on a full day's trek up into the Khangai Hills, complete with picnic lunch. Alternatively, you could just do a half day or a couple of hours. (Please note that any horse riding is optional and payable locally)
Day 8 Orkhon Valley - Sea Buckthorn Farm & Erdenesiin Khuree - Kharkorin
Day 8 Orkhon Valley - Sea Buckthorn Farm & Erdenesiin Khuree - Kharkorin
After breakfast we continue through the high passes to Kharkhorin, built on the site of Karakorum, briefly the capital of the Mongol Empire during the 16th century. Here we can visit the local market, the small but interesting museum, the Monument of the 3 Kings overlooking the Orkhon River, and the fertility stone on the edge of town. We shall also plan a visit to Purevnambar's family, who grow sea buckthorn and blueberries on a small commercial scale. We’ll have the chance to walk around their plantation and sample the superfood berry in one of its many formats - most common is to have it as a hot reviving beverage. Purev is also an artist renowned for Buddha painting, sculpture and felt making. Depending on timing, we'll plan for a traditional homecooked lunch at the family's homestead. In the afternoon, we visit the Erdenesiin Khuree Mongolian script and calligraphy centre and art exhibition gers before settling into our camp nearby.
Day 9 Kharkhorin - Erdene Zuu Monastery - Ulaanbaatar
Day 9 Kharkhorin - Erdene Zuu Monastery - Ulaanbaatar
Today we drive the short distance to Erdene Zuu Monastery, probably the oldest surviving Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia. The monastery was founded by the Khalkha Mongol ruler, Abtai Sain Khan, after declaring the Tibetan Buddhism as the state religion. This beautiful structure has witnessed monumental change during the various regimes, but has luckily survived until today. We arrive in time to hear the monks chanting and then take a stroll around the main temples and the grounds. We will then head back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping en route for lunch. If time allows you may choose to do some last minute shopping for some souvenirs. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the local restaurants in town.
Day 10 Tour ends in Ulaanbaatar
Day 10 Tour ends in Ulaanbaatar
The tour officially ends after breakfast those on the suggested group flights will have an early breakfast and will then be transferred to the airport.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
A great five-star option in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel offers 198 rooms. The modern amenities and stylish interiors are everything you would expect from a city chain hotel. The rooms categories range from Standard, Deluxe, Suite, Family Suite and Presidential Suite, with some offering fantastic city and mountain views. There are three dining options; Premier Lounge on the 25th floor combines panoramic views with relaxing lounge music; Prime Grille serves flam grilled delicious dishes from around the world; and Le Cabernet Coffee Lounge provides a casual atmosphere for a quick bite to eat. Before or after a long flight, take advantage of the Aroma Tera Beauty Spa and Sauna, as well as the fitness centre.
Hustai Ger Camp, Hustai National Park
Located right in the national park, here you will have a good opportunity to see the Prejewalski wild horses and learn about them in the information centre that has been built to aid their conservation. The camp is large, there is a large building housing the restaurant and offices and separate areas for the research centres. Gers are still traditional and nicely furnished, shower blocks are new and modern. There are plenty of walking and riding opportunities from the camp.
Sweet Gobi, Elsen Tasarkhai
Set right on the edge of Elsen Tasarkhai dunes in a stunning wilderness location, this eco-camp has stylishly appointed gers with double beds, comfy mattresses, Egyptian cotton sheets and traditional soft furnishings and design features. In keeping with their environmental credentials the toilets are compost facilities stylishly and cleanly maintained, plus there is a ‘bathroom’ ger where they provide a personal head massage and hair-washing service. Their large ornately carved dining ger provides delicious meals, a range of beers and wines and outstanding views of the surrounding plateau.
Monkh Tenger Camp, Kharkhorin
A lovely camp on the edge of the city with 25 gers, Munkh Tenger Camp is beautifully furnished with traditionally painted day beds, plus extras such as wardrobes, tables, a sink and a sofa. Gers have double, twin or triple beds and are still spacious, with 14 Gers providing en suite facilities. A restaurant provides good food and there is a small toilet and shower block. The grassy areas between gers have plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the mountain views.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TK 1988 | London Heathrow (LHR) 06:45 | Istanbul (IST) 12:35 |
| TK 236 | Istanbul (IST) 18:10 | Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN) 07:15 |
| TK 237 | Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN) 08:45 | Istanbul (IST) 13:05 |
| TK 1971 | Istanbul (IST) 15:00 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:55 |
Visas
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Mongolia if staying for up to 30 days.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Mongolia.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
Although it boasts over 260 sunny days a year and is known as the "Land of the Blue Sky", Mongolia's climate is extreme with fierce summers and bitterly cold winters. Late May through to August is typically a good time for travelling with cooler temperatures and occasionally rain, which fills the rivers and brings fresh grass to the steppes.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as all the walks are optional. Horse riding is available on some days of the tour, as an optional extra but only for those with previous riding experience.
There are some long drives to be taken on consecutive days (especially on Days 8 & 9) but that is part of the Mongolian experience, and there will always be time for walks, photos and local encounters. Some of the areas visited are remote and see few foreign visitors so be prepared for the unexpected and be aware that changes to local conditions can dramatically affect envisaged timings and exact routings.
Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety may be very limited, therefore we recommend packing a few extra bits to fill the gaps!
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except the nights where you will be staying in the ger homestays, where sharing a ger would be necessary.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 8690 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.