Nomad Home Stay With Reindeer Herders-Tsaatans
About this tour
DURATION: 19 days
GROUP SIZE: 2-4
HIGHLIGHTS: North of Mongolia, Nomad family, Tsaatan's life, Reindeer
COVERED DISTANCE: Apx:2000km
TRANSPORTATION: 4WD Japanese jeep, Russian mini Van, or Local Bus
Discover nomadic life with Tsaatans
In the north of Mongolia, close to the Russian and Mongolian border, there is a big valley called ‘the blue basin of Darkhad’. In this valley, two big ethnic groups of people are living for a long time; the Darkhad and Tsaatan nomads, they are 1100 km from Ulaanbaatar. Darkhad nomads are Mongolian nomads and they herd horses, sheep, goats, cows, yak, and camel. They speak their own dialect of Darkhad which is a little bit different from the main Khalkh dialect of the Mongolian language. Tsaatans are herding animals too but especially herding Reindeer and live in the big mountain area.
From this trip, you will know about Mongolian nomads and about Tsaatans. You will live with two nomadic families for two weeks. The first nomad family will be a Darkhad family and the second one is a Tsaatan family. We are sure you will have many highlights, herding the reindeer and helping the nomad families, etc... horse riding or hiking around the mountain is always possible for your trip. You will go without a translation guide but if you need you can call to the agency about what you want to know.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar You will land in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. At the airport, you will meet a translator who will take you to the city center, and on the way there you will be shown where to change currency if you wish to. If your flight arrives early, you will be taken on a city tour on this first day. Your luggage will be dropped off at your hotel before you enjoy the city tour. During the city tour, you will see the central square of Ulaanbaatar city, called Chinggis Khaan square. Then you will visit the Mongolian national historical museum and the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the center of Mongolian Buddhism. After that, you will be taken back to your hotel where you can relax before the trip, and then see you tomorrow!
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Murun, Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar - Moron (800km) Our driver will take you from your hotel to the local bus terminal at 1 pm. At 3 pm you will board the local bus for the drive to northern Mongolia. This is 12 hours of driving for 800 km to Moron, the capital of Huwsgul province. Before you leave Ulaanbaatar you should be taken your lunch and dinner from a local restaurant, the bus will stop at the restaurant in the middle of the road.
Day 3: Murun, Mongolia to Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Moron - Tsagaannuur (280km) In Moron town, you will meet with your next driver who will bring you to the place of your trip. If you have enough time you can leave your luggage in the car and walk around Moron town to see the container markets. Also, you can go to a restaurant for lunch. Later, you will drive to the village of Darkhad and Tsaatans. This will be 280 km on bumpy roads! In the middle of the road, your car will stop for dinner. This driving takes around 10 hours to the Village of Tsaatan and Darkhad, called Tsagaannuur soum.
Day 4: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Tsagaannuur - Nomad family (25km) Today you will meet with the patriarch of your first nomad family in Tsagaannuur soum. He will come to you with his wife, or alone. You will be able to rest a bit, then you will go to the nomad's home by his car, around 25 km. If you like to ride a horse you can ride a horse to the family with a horseman. We can organize it by horse easily. After you come to the nomad family home, you will meet with their kids and get to know a bit about their life. Your first meal will be dinner with the family! After dinner, you will sleep with this family in the same Ger.
Day 5: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Days 5 to 9 Stay with Nomad During these few days, you will live with the nomads, like a real member of the family. Every day you will help family herding animals. In the morning you can help the family with cow milking, herding horses, sheep, and goats, etc. Then all day you will play with them and hike around that place to take photos, care of yourself, and enjoy nature. Also, if you like to ride a horse, of course, you can! Every day you will have food from the nomad family with them!
Day 6: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Help to nomad's activities sometimes you can take a rest to enjoy yourself, write about daily life and take some good photos.
Day 7: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
We hope that every day will be interesting for you to discover a nomad's life herding animals, playing with kids, and meeting people from the neighbors.
Day 8: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
It is the last full day stay with the first nomads, we hope that you are having a good time with this nomad. must be discovered everything about their lifestyle and herding ways. you must be found some more friends from other families too. we hope you will have a good day with nomad on the last full day.
Day 9: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Nomad - Tsaatan (25km) It is the last day with the first nomad, you will go meet your next family at Tsaatan's place. You can ride a horse or hike to reindeer herders with a horse guide. He will take all of your luggage on the horse then you will go together to Tsaatan. it takes around half day. On the way, you will have your lunch prepared by your family. You will travel about 25km today. All Tsaatans live in their traditional house teepee. You will sleep in their tepee! In this family, you can help with everything herd reindeer, herd horses, prepare wood for a fire, etc... every day you will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time from family! if you want to have your own separated teepee just tell us it is easy to set up you will be independent in your teepee.
Day 10: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Days 10 to 15 Stay with the Reindeer herder On these days you will stay with our reindeer herders. This ethnic group of people has a very interesting lifestyle. You will have a real adventure on your trip, hiking in the mountains, herding, and milking reindeer, You can also spend time with the kids and hunting dogs. Horse riding of course yes if you wanted. This is sure to be a highlight of your trip.
Day 11: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
During these days you will submerge into the nomadic life with a reindeer herd, participating in nomadic activities such as milking reindeer, and preparing wood for the fire.
Day 12: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
we hope already you are friends with everyone in the family. you can help to nomad same with previous. don't forget to enjoy yourself with activities like horse riding, hiking to the mountain areas, and take some good videos or photos.
Day 13: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
what are you learning from this homestay tour? now you have just a few days to stay with them if you are missing something about nomadic life just start it now. you can choose what you are interested in more let's focus on that.
Day 14: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
We hope that you are having fun with nomads every day and are focused on something that you really want to learn. if you are already focused on something you need to try it before you leave nomad.
Day 15: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia
Tsaatan - Tsagaannuur (30km) This day is your last day with your reindeer nomadic family. You must get up early in the morning to prepare your luggage. After breakfast, you will ride or hike to your first family, and from there, the car will pick up you to village Tsagaannuur. You will meet with them around lunchtime and here you will have lunch. After lunch, you can say to them "Thank you" and Goodbye. When you come to the village you will stay at the guest house for one night.
Day 16: Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia to Murun, Mongolia
Today, you will drive to Moron city after lunch which is about 280 km you did it already. The road is very bumpy you know it already. you will have other passengers from the village and you can play any card game in the car. Your car will stop somewhere for dinner. when you reach Moron city your hotel will be ready and your car will drop off you at your hotel. Cars reach Moron city mostly at midnight.
Day 17: Murun, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Moron - Ulaanbaatar (800km) Today you will go to Ulaanbaatar. At 3 pm local bus starts from Moron to Ulaanbaatar. (If you want to change your time to leave from the hotel there is a local bus is going to Ulaanbaatar at 8 am 12 pm 3 pm 5 pm and 8 pm. You can choose when you want to leave.). It is about an 800 km drive to Ulaanbaatar, almost 12 hours. Your food will be the same as before from the local restaurant.
Day 18: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Last day of your trip. You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar early in the morning. When you come to Ulaanbaatar, you will meet with your driver who will bring you to your hotel. Then you can take a rest in Ulaanbaatar until you are scheduled to leave Mongolia.
Day 19: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
This day is your very last day in Mongolia. Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. The transfer can be organized at whatever time you want, according to the schedule of your flight. Thank you for traveling with us, creating an experience you will never forget!
What's included
nomad homestay horse riding accommodation
guide private driver
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia