Mongolia Trekking Tours

Our Mongolia trekking tours are not tests of endurance, or about climbing to the highest point. Instead, our Mongolia trekking tours allow you to connect with the landscape as you slow down and explore herding trails and migration routes in the company of herders that we work in long-term local community partnership with and who lead our treks. These are herders who herd their livestock in the region in which you’re trekking and know their home area like the back of their hands. 

Our treks are different in that we leave the route entirely flexible and in the hands of your herder guide as this leads to a more organic and Mongolian type of exploration. So many trekking experiences offered in Mongolia have rigid routes and itineraries and that just seems wrong in a country of such freedom. Naturally, there will be challenges such as the terrain or the weather but, instead of a competitive race or counting steps, the focus is on slowing down,  getting to meet and know your Mongolian herder guide in the area they consider home, and the joy of exploring new horizons, being in the great outdoors and reminding remind ourselves of the wonder of landscapes.

If you don’t see the trekking experience you’re looking for, we can also offer private tailor-made treks – all are offered in partnership with the herders we work with. See below for location ideas.

Our Small Group Experiences

Nomads Of The Khangai
5 days trekking
July 18th 2024
14 days

Horsemen, Mongolia
Nomads Of The Khangai

Five-Day Foot Trek Khangai Mountains | Orkhon River Valley | Orkhon Waterfall | Yak Festival | Local Homestays | Culture of Khangai Mountains

Khovsgol Trails
5 days trekking
July 23rd 2024
14 days

Sacred ovoo at Khovsgol Nuur National Park
Khovsgol Trails

Khovsgol Nuur National Park | 5-days trekking in Khoridol Saridag Mountains | Local Horse Festival | 2 day community trek

Orkhon Pilgrimage Trails
5 days trekking
July 26th 2024
11 Days

Danshig Naadam
Orkhon Pilgrimage Trails

 5-day trek Orkhon Valley Trek| Wild Camping | Kharkhorin & Erdene Zuu Monastery| Danshig Naadam | Khogno Khan Nature Reserve & Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes | Tovkhon Khiid Hermitage

Altai Wilderness Trails
8 days trekking (5+3)
July 29th 2024
18 Days

Panoramic view of the snow capped Altai Mountains in western Mongolia
Altai Wilderness Trails

 3-day trek Altai Tavan Bogd National Park| Wild Camping | Five-day trek Yolt Valley | The culture and way of life of Mongolia’s Kazakh herders and eagle hunters

Meet Some Of The Herder Guides We Work In Long-Term Local Community Partnership With

Naraa At Terelj

Herder at Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

Bambakh At Khovsgol

Basaanchuluu on our Mongolian horse trekking tours

Maam At Ulaan Tsutgalan

Ma'am - Our Orkhon Waterfall herder trekking guide

Tumee In The Orkhon Valley

This is Tumee - an expert horseman and head of one of the herding families we work with in Mongolia's central Orkhon River Valley

Munkhoo at Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur

Munkhoo - our herder guide in the Khangai Mountains

Bashakhan In The Altai

Bashakhan - Kazakh eagle hunter
You may well ask, why are our herder guides all men? Within the Mongolian herding culture, roles are quite specific and women are typically responsible for the domestic matters within the ger, such as the provision of food, the raising of the children, the milking of the livestock and the making of dairy products. The man’s role extends over a broader area including the herding of the livestock so they typically have a greater knowledge of the wider area. The families choose who will accompany each trek but know that we’re flexible and supportive.

Tailor Made Trekking Inspirations

Tsaatan / Dukha Horse Trek

Tsaantan/Dukha Horse Trek

Reindeer belonging to the Tsaatan reindeer herders of Mongolia. Next to them is a Tsaatan ortz - a canvas teepee used as a family home. This image was taken during one of our Mongolia trekking tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tsaatan are a community of nomadic reindeer herders, originally from Tuva in Siberia, who have historically inhabited the border region of Russia and Mongolia. Ethnically, the community identifies as Dukha, but their lifestyle as reindeer herders earned them the Mongolian name Tsaatan, which means roughly ‘with reindeer’.

They make their home in one of the most remote landscapes in Mongolia and as a result this trip is also tough. However, Narankhuu and his son are the kindest of hosts and will take care of you as they introduce you to their homeland and the families who live here. Due to the fragility of the natural environment and the Tsaatan culture we recommend small groups of a maximum of four and a minimum of five or six days for the horse trek itself.

Learn more in our guide to visiting Mongolia’s Tsaatan reindeer herders responsibly.

Khovsgol Nuur National Park Trekking

Khovsgol Nuur National Park Trekking

The panoramic view from horseback during our Khoridol Saridag horse trek in Mongolia's Khovsgol Nuur National Park. Taken during one of our Mongolia trekking tours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Khovsgol Nuur is known as Dalai Ej in Mongolian – Mother Sea. Khovsgol is famous for its lake (and rightly so as it is glorious) however,  the Khoridol Saridag Mountain Range forms part of the national park and are a stunning region of limestone peaks topping 3000m.

Treks here can include exploring the Khoridol Saridag Mountains and into the Darkhad Depression, up the west shoreline of Khovsgol to the border community of Khankh and the eastern flank of the lake including hot springs. All are areas that Bambakh, our herder trek guide, knows like the back of his hand. 

Learn more about Khovsgol Nuur National Park – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/khovsgol-nuur-national-park/ and also the Khoridol Sairdag Mountains – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-khoridol-saridag-mountains/

Khangai Mountains Trekking

Khangai Mountains Trekking

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park in Mongolia's Khangai Mountains - taken during one of our Mongolia trekking tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Khangai often get by-passed as a trekking destination but they form an incredible backdrop to any trek and form a region of remote natural beauty. The whole area is dominated by wilderness – rugged mountains, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, river valleys and the southern-forested fringes of the Siberian Taiga. 

No formal trekking routes really exist here and that’s what makes trekking in the Khangai such a glorious experience – it’s just you, your trek guide and your choice of which horizon to explore and discover.

Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes

Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes

The Singing Sands Mongolia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Khongoryn Els sand unes are known locally as Duut Mankhan – the Singing Sands. These are the largest sand dunes in the Gobi Desert although they represent only 3-5% of the entire landmass of the Gobi Desert (500,000 square miles). They form part of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

The dune landscapes are extraordinary – sandwiched between the Bayan Tsagaan Mountains to the north and the Zoolon and Sevrey Mountains on the southern side. Don’t be put off at the thought of having to trek by camel – one of our guests on our Wild Gobi research trip likened it to ‘mind meditation’.

However, for those interested, we can arrange a trekking experience in the region including Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

Altai Tavan Bogd Trekking

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Trekking

As the sun dips ever lower during the shorter days of winter, the landscapes of Mongolia seem to stretch further than ever. Such as the immensity of the Altai Nuruu Mountains seen here that stretch across western Mongolia. Taken during one of our Mongolia trekking tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altai Tavan Bogd is home to the highest mountains in Mongolia. The national park can be divided into two regions, the Tavan Bogd Mountains in the northwest (Five Holy Peaks) and the Lakes Region to the southeast. Both locations make a remarkable back-drop for both extended foot and horse treks and you can learn more here – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-altai-tavan-bogd-national-park/

The Tsagaan Gol trek connecting the lakes to the region of the Five Holy Peaks is popular. If you want to experience a more hidden side to the Altai consider Tsambagarav Uul National Park on the border of Khovd and Bayan Ulgii Aimag. Another option is the region of Tsengel Khairkhan close to the district of Sagsai in Bayan Ulgii.  Both offer an Altai that few others get to see and you can experience both on our Altai Migration Trails experience.

We Would Love To Hear From You!

Call: +44 (0) 7810280403     Mail: jess@eternal-landscapes.co.uk

 
If you’re in Ulaanbaatar why not pop in to our office. We love receiving guests.
The kettle is always on.

Just call Tuya to arrange +976 88011476.
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