MONGOLIA

Dates: July 1 to 10, 2024

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:

• 2 590 USD subject to 11 – 12 participants,
• 2 750 USD subject to 9 – 10 participants,
• 2 890 USD subject to 7 – 8 participants.
  

10% early booking discount (in case you book before February 1, 2024)

Everything is included except for:
- international flight to Ulaanbaatar roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- visa of Mongolia (if needed depending on the citizenship)

Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Ulaanbaatar – Moscow: from 700 USD (to be purchased by your own).
Estimated cost of international flight Istanbul – Ulaanbaatar – Istanbul: from 800 USD (to be purchased by your own).

Single supplement: 350 USD (provided for all nights, but Days 3 – 6 in gers and chums)





TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO MONGOLIA
Day 1. July 1, 2024 (Monday). ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, by air with international flight (or by train). Meet the guide in the airport. Transfer to Ulaanbaatar and check-in at Premium hotel 4*. After breakfast, We will drive to Gandan monastery which is the main temple in Mongolia. After that, we will drive to national history museum. We will have a lunch at MN tower. After lunch we will go to take a rest for 3 hours.
In the evening, we will see traditional concert of Tumen Ekh ensemble. The ensemble presents a rare selection of ancient Mongolian performing arts and culture to local and international audience. The ensemble comprises artists who perform all types of Mongolian song, music and dance.
After that we go back to Hotel.

* Recommended arrival:
- direct flight from Istanbul with MIAT Mongolian Airlines, departure from Istanbul on June 30 at 14:10 , arrival in Ulaanbaatar on July 1 at 3:30 am,
- or by train from Irkutsk or Ulan Ude (Russia) (if available, according to the train schedule),
- or by any flight from Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt, Beijing, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Bangkok, Almaty or any other city with arrival in Ulaanbaatar no later than at 9:00 am on July 1.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Premium hotel 4*, DBL/TWIN rooms


Day 2. July 2, 2024 (Tuesday). ULAANBAATAR – MURUN (750 km)

After early breakfast, no later than at 7 am, departure by 4x4 off road SUVs Land Cruiser 200 for Murun city, Khuvsgul province center (750 km driving).
On the way, from the road we can see the volcanic mountain Uran Togoo.
Upon arrival in Murun, 50"100" hotel to check in and rest.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: 50"100" hotel


Day 3. July 3, 2024 (Wednesday). MURUN – ULAAN UUL – NOMADIC FAMILY OF YAK AND HORSE BREEDERS (some 250 km)

After having a breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to horse herders family. Distance to the village is some 250 km, and on our way we have a lunch in a wilderness. We will stay in a ger nearby the nomadic family of horse and yak breeders. Ger – traditional dwelling made of wooden frame and felt layers.
Here we meet our local horse wrangler who will be also our guide in the deep forest taiga. We will stay 2 nights here. In the evening discuss the route and next day plan.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: nomadic family ger


Day 4. July 4, 2024 (Thursday). NOMADIC FAMILY OF YAK AND HORSE BREEDERS

Staying with a Mongolian nomadic family is the best way to discover the knowledge of the centuries-old nomadic lifestyle culture. Mongol background is nomadic, we observe and follow their day to day activities, experience as much as possible about this distinctive lifestyle and Mongolian culture. We can experience and learn much, including several traditional Mongolian meal samples produced from different cattle, see and help daily chores of nomads, do animal-based outdoor activities, and help to milk animals (sheep, horses, yaks). You will build a traditional dwelling ger, learn to cook Mongolian meals, tend pastureland animals, and gain even more knowledge about the nomad's life and culture.
Stay in a local family traditional ger. Traditional Mongol food. We will make Mongolian BBQ.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: nomadic family ger


Days 5. July 5, 2024 (Friday). NOMADIC FAMILY CAMP – TSAATAN REINDEER HERDERS' CAMP

Today we start our horse trekking to reindeer herders' tribe of Tsaatan. We pack everything on the horses for next few days.
First part of our itinerary we cover by Russian UAZ Purgon (minibus) and then take the prepared horses and ride horseback. Depending on the location of summer camping of reindeer people, the distance can be 1 to 2 hours driving by car and 4 to 6 hour horseback riding.
On a horseback, we ride through muddy and swampy wetland towards taiga, where Tsaatan (Dukhan) nomads live, to the reindeer people's summer camping.
Once we get Dukhan tribe, we install in the traditional chum (teepee) or rent a teepee from the masters. Visit to Tsaatan family.
Dinner: traditional food of Tsaatan people and the meals prepared by our cook.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: traditional chum (teepee)


Day 6. July 6, 2024 (Saturday). TSAATAN REINDEER HERDERS' NOMADIC CAMP

We will stay with reindeer families in a teepee, observing and taking part in the reindeer people's daily life. We will explore their lifestyle. They will slaughter the reindeer and prepare traditional BBQ for us.
Tsaatan (Dukhan) reindeer people are a branch of the Turkic-speaking Tuvinian or Dukha ethnic group. This small group possesses a social and material culture which has remained unchanged since the Ice Age. Shamanistic or totemic rituals and symbolism are central to the social organization of the Tsaatan. Shamanistic rituals of healing rely on rare medicinal plants and animals unique to this landscape. The Tsaatan are an archaic and ethnographically interesting nomadic group to be found on the Eurasian continent, their lifestyles are both ancestral to all the nomadic herding cultures of Central Asia and are reminiscent of a way of life which was widespread across Europe, Asia and North America 10,000 years ago.
Originally from across the border in what is now Tuva Republic of Russia, the Dukhan are one of the last groups of nomadic reindeer herders in the world. But as the reindeer populations shrink, only about 40 families continue the tradition today. Their language, the Dukhan language, is an endangered Turkic variety spoken by approximately five hundred people in the Tsagaan-Nuur county of the Khövsgöl region of northern Mongolia.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: traditional chum (teepee)


Day 7. July 7, 2024 (Sunday). TSAATAN REINDEER HERDERS' CAMP – TAIGA TOURIST CAMP

After breakfast, farewell and departure by horseback from Tsaatan nomadic camp's area, heading back to the village, where we left our cars behind. At least 4 – 6 hour ride on a horseback, before we will be picked up by our car and lifted to Taiga tourist camp.
Shower, dinner and well deserved rest.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Taigyn Juulchin tourist camp


Day 8. July 8, 2024 (Monday). TAIGA TOURIST CAMP – LAKE KHUVSGUL (250 km)

After breakfast, in the morning we will move by our 4x4 off road SUVs Land Cruiser 200 to the Lake Khuvsgul (some 250 km mostly off road).
Lake Khuvsgul is the largest freshwater lake in Mongolia by volume. It is located only 200 km west of the southern end of Lake Baikal and is nicknamed the "Younger sister" of those two "sister lakes".
The name Khövsgöl is derived from Turkic words for "Khob Su Kol, means "Lake with great water". Indeed, Khuvsgul is one of seventeen ancient lakes in the world, being more than 2 million years old, and the most pristine. Its water is potable without any treatment. The Lake area is a National Park bigger than Yellowstone and strictly protected as a transition zone between Central Asian Steppe and the Siberian Taiga.
Lake Khuvsgul is the fourteenth largest freshwater lake in the world and second largest in Central Asia by volume, with over 1% of the world's fresh water. At its deepest, the lake dives 262 meters. 26 rivers and streams flow into lake, but only the Egiin River exits the lake.
Spend the evening on the lake and stay overnight at the Blue Pearl tourist camp or similar.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Blue Pearl tourist camp or similar


Day 9. July 9, 2024 (Tuesday). LAKE KHUVSGUL – ULAANBAATAR (850 km)

After breakfast, transfer by our cars to Ulaanbaatar (850 km). The road takes all day.
Arrival in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, late in the evening. Dinner and overnight in a hotel Premium 4*.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Premium 4*, DBL/TWIN rooms


Day 10. July 10, 2024 (Wednesday). ULAANBAATAR – INTERNATIONAL RETURN FLIGHT

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. International return flight.

* Recommended arrival:
- direct flight to Istanbul with MIAT Mongolian Airlines, departure from Ulaanbaatar on July 11 at 8:00 am, arrival in Istanbul on July 11 at 12:30 pm (extra night in Ulaanbaatar is to be paid),
- or by train to Irkutsk or Ulan Ude (Russia) (if available, according to the train schedule),
- or by any other flight to Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt, Beijing, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Bangkok, Almaty or any other city with departure from Ulaanbaatar any time on July 10.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: no


* The operator reserves the right to change the order of executions, visits and activities of the program subject to keeping of all activities if possible. It would mainly depend on the flights schedule, weather conditions, as well as festivals availability (if any).

* The participant of the expedition to Tsaatan people should be motivated, respect the culture of the Tsaatan, be aware of the purpose of the trip and possible adjustments to plans depending on weather conditions, be in a good shape (physical conditions) and the ability to adapt in the strange environment and culture.

Cost includes:

• Accommodation in hotel in Ulaanbaatar and Murun and in tourist camp in TWIN/DBL rooms
• Accommodation in ger and chum (teepee), number of people in each dwelling
• Full board meals (3 meals a day)
• Drinking water on daily basis 2 liter per person per day
• Transport: 4x4 off road SUV (Land Cruiser 200 or similar), UAZ Purgon in the valley
• Airport transfers
• Personal horse for the trek
• Camping equipment and cutlery
• Entrance fee to protected areas and national parks
• Special Permission fee to state reservation
• Nomad families' visits, all visits and entrance tickets as per the program
• Full time guiding service in English
• Team leader, translation into Russian

Cost excludes (additionally paid):

• International flight (or train) to Ulaanbaatar and back
• Medical travel insurance
• Optional activity cost
• Personal expense and equipment
• Alcohol and drinks
• Tips for guide, drivers and cook
• Single room supplement

To take with:


- wear sets fitting weather conditions (fleece jacket or wool jumper, cotton t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, lightweight trousers, shorts, warm hat)
- warm and wind stop clothes, thermal underwear
- forehead torch
- raincoat
- set of long sleeve clothes
- comfortable closed trekking footwear
- sun and wind protection means (cream, sunglasses, sun hat)
- insect repellents
- sleeping bag for 0 degrees (comfort temperature, not extreme temperature!)
- personal hygiene means: towel, soap, wet tissues
- personal medical kit (analgetics, antiseptic, antibiotic, your personal medications)
- backpack/ big tourist bag for the luggage
- small backpack for radial walks
- photo and video camera
- drone
- spare batteries
- insurance confirmation copy