Mongolia Winter Tours: Discover Mongolian Winter Adventures

A celebration of Mongolian tradition and culture for winter 2024/2025.

Yes, winter in Mongolia has a bit of a reputation. And you’re right – it is cold, freezing in fact, but the cold is an integral part of what makes Mongolia and its landscapes extraordinary at this time of year. Winter is a quintessential Mongolian season and a remarkable experience – it will show you how good Mongolians are at adaptation and how they work in relation to their changing (and challenging) environment.

We offer experiences that provide what we consider a celebration of Mongolian culture and tradition. We look at what Mongolians do in the low season – either now or as part of their cultural history – or their traditions and festivals.  Fewer travellers allow you a more intimate experience and exclusive access into the lives and culture of these places. Low season in Mongolia offers what we consider more ‘real-life‘ experiences –  those unexpected moments when you know something special is happening.  

Our Mongolia winter tours are shared adventures in that you stay alongside the families we work in long-term local community partnership with which gives you a more personal insight into life in Mongolia. However, it means an adjustment on your behalf. This is not luxury travel. There are no planned or contrived experiences.  This is real life. 

However, we take care of the small details including providing traditional felt boots, our hand-made sheepskin winter deels as well as our hand-made goat skin blankets. All accommodation has been prepared for winter and our tour vehicles are also adapted for the winter months.

Yes, there will be challenges but only the challenges faced on a daily basis by local Mongolians themselves. The night skies more than makeup for the challenge of the temperatures. And of course, you’ll receive the warmest of hospitality as the local Mongolians you meet will be very proud to welcome foreign visitors that face the challenges of their wintertime.

We don’t ‘close’ for the winter months – we still offer local Mongolia winter tours and experiences to the adventurous few who find themselves coming to Mongolia. In fact, we promote low season travel. Why? It’s a more sustainable approach and is a major part of our responsible tourism philosophy but this isn’t a case of lip service or ticking boxes. Our philosophy helps create positive social change in Mongolia. We are keen to make tourism less concentrated around peak season in Mongolia (summer) and to help the income of the people we work with – both our immediate Mongolian team and the network of Mongolians we work in long-term local community partnership with – be more evenly distributed. For those travelling at this time of year, we reward you with a 15% discount.

Small Group Winter Tours 2024/25

We’re in the process of updating this section. If you have any questions, do get in touch!

With Eagle Hunters | Western Mongolia | 9 days | Oct 26th 2024 (guaranteed, 4 spaces remaining) | January 31st 2025 (guaranteed, 4 spaces remaining)

Amid the arid yet strikingly beautiful landscapes of western Mongolia, the Kazakh eagle hunters have a way of life that has been shaped by history, geography and political change. Out here, all schedules go out of the window. You’re on nomad time, and the daily activities depend on your host family, the eagle hunter, and the weather conditions. Days are spent trekking in the mountains on foot, or heading out on horseback. You’ll witness the eagle hunt, and the close relationship and communication needed between hunter and eagle. But leave your preconceptions behind.

Thousand Camel Festival | Gobi Desert | Central Heartland | Local Homestays | Camel trekking  | 14 Days | Jan 28th 2025 (guaranteed, 5 spaces remaining)

The ultimate road trip through Mongolia’s Gobi Desert where you’ll explore, discover and understand the diversity of landscapes that form the Gobi as well as meet some of the people that make their home in this remarkable region. Culminates with the Thousand Camel Festival.

We can adapt this experience for an earlier or later departure without the festival.

Tsagaan Sar & Beyond | Mongolian Lunar New Year | Middle & Southern Gobi | Central Heartland |  13 Days | Feb 24th 2025

Delve into the heart of Mongolia’s captivating winter, and experience the coexistence of tradition and modernity among the herders we’ve formed enduring long-term local community partnerships with. Our focus is on their adaptation to the demands of the 21st century while upholding the customs that define Mongolia’s cultural tapestry. 

Tsagaan Sar Insight – Mongolian Lunar New Year – Middle Gobi – Central Heartland – 8 Days – Feb 27th 2025

Experience Mongolia’s Lunar New Year Festival – known as Tsagaan Sar – White Month. It is one of the most important and traditional celebrations in Mongolia. Travel with us and you’ll experience Tsagaan Sar through the eyes of the rural families we work in long-term local community partnership with. This is our own personal insight into local life in Mongolia.

Khovsgol Ice Festival – Three Day Horse Sleigh Expedition – Khovsgol Nuur National Park – 13 Days – February 23rd 2025 (guaranteed, 5 spaces remaining)

The wild landscapes of Khovsgol Nuur National Park form the stunning backdrop to this adventure where we’ll show you a more local and hidden side to Khovsgol. We have researched and designed this experience together with Baasanchuluun a member of the Darkhad ethnic group and head of a young herding family in the rural community of Khatgal.

We can adapt this experience for an earlier or later departure without the festival.

Altai and Eagles – Western Mongolia – Kazakh Eagle Hunters – Nauryz – 10 Days – March 14th 2025

Spend time living alongside the Kazakh eagle hunters and their families that we work in long-term local community partnership with. Witness and be part of their daily lives including how they celebrate their traditional festival of Nauryz – the Kazakh celebration of the coming of spring.

Tailor Made Mongolia Winter Tours 2024/25

Alternatively, choose one of our group departures as a private trip. All can be adapted to suit you.

Modern Nomads Winter Adventure – Central Heartland – 9 Days

Explore, discover and trek three of Mongolia’s iconic landscapes – open steppe, sand dunes and a river valley – being hosted by the rural families we work in long-term local community partnerships with within the central heartland. Includes a two-day camel trek and a two-day horse trek.

With Eagle Hunters- Western Mongolia – 9 Days

Amid the arid yet strikingly beautiful landscapes of western Mongolia, the Kazakh eagle hunters have a way of life that has been shaped by history, geography and political change. Out here, all schedules go out of the window. You’re on nomad time, and the daily activities depend on your host family, the eagle hunter, and the weather conditions. Days are spent trekking in the mountains on foot, or heading out on horseback. You’ll witness the eagle hunt, and the close relationship and communication needed between hunter and eagle. But leave your preconceptions behind.

Journey To The Tsaatan | Northern Mongolia | 13 Days

This journey not only highlights the physical vastness of Mongolia but also underscores how Mongolians—regardless of where they live—are connected through their shared culture, reinforcing the interconnectedness of its people, from the modern amenities of the city to the ancient, nomadic traditions of the Tsaatan.

Winter Horse Adventure | 9 Days | November only

Horses were a key factor during the 13th-century conquest of the Mongol Empire and even in the 21st Century, Mongolia remains a horse-based culture and horses continue to play a large role in daily rural life in Mongolia. Our Winter Horse Adventure allows you to experience this rich culture for yourself as you learn about the skills required for mounted archery with a local company reviving traditional archery techniques, experience a two-day horse trek led by a local horse herder we work in long-term local community partnership and then enjoy a local festival dedicated to horses and horsemanship.

Animal Welfare On Our Mongolia Winter Tours

For the Tsaatan trek, we use pack horses and riding horses provided by the Darkhad guide. We work in long-term local community partnership with the Darkhad guide and know that the horses they use are suitable as pack or riding animals, are not overworked and in good condition. The horses are chosen based on factors such as terrain, altitude, temperature, hours of work, age and their condition. During the trek, we ensure (together with the Darkhad guides) that the horses receive adequate shelter, care, food and water. We match the weight of our guests to that of the animal and ensure that the weight is evenly balanced when riding. If a horse is injured or becomes ill, they are not be worked again until they are fit. In addition, the Tsaatan families and the Darkhad guide have a long-term friendship and we make sure that the reindeer are used to horses.

The Tsaatan do ride their reindeer but this is not for tourism entertainment and not something we promote. However, at times our guests are invited to ride on a reindeer at the invitation of the owner of the reindeer. It is not something we pre-arrange as we do not arrange any artificial experiences as they damage the culture, the way of life and the animals. Often the Tsaatan sell items made from the reindeer antlers but they are careful to harvest only from healthy animals. We support the purchasing of these items as they do not endanger the survival of the reindeer and also help to contribute directly to the local economy.

Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters only hunt in the winter months (early November through to February) as they hunt specifically for the winter coat of the prey of their eagles. We do not arrange contrived experiences where live prey is pre-captured, held and then released on purpose for our guests to be able to photograph the experience. We will never arrange any artificial experiences as they damage the culture, the way of life or wildlife itself.

For those concerned about the welfare of the eagles, the Kazakh eagle hunters have a respectful yet practical approach to their eagles – they have a close connection with their eagles – they are virtually family members although it is sometimes hard for outsiders to recognise this. The eagles are released back into the wild after about ten seasons so that they can breed. Once released, the birds are observed to make sure they successfully reintegrate back into the wild.

The horse sleighs used for the expedition are part of the Darkhad culture and not something arranged just for tourism. However, we still take the welfare of the horses used for the expedition seriously.

  • The horses are working horses and chosen specifically by the Darkhad guides – who are also the owners of the horses and the sleighs – and therefore understand the characteristics needed for the horse to pull the sleigh.
  • We work in long-term local community partnership with the herders and know that the animals are not overworked and in good condition. However, the animals are chosen based on factors such as terrain, altitude, temperature, hours of work, age and their condition.
  • During the expedition, we ensure (together with the Darkhad guides) that the horses receive adequate shelter, care, food and water. We match the weight of our guests to that of the animal and ensure that the weight is evenly balanced when riding. All tour equipment is carried in the EL support vehicle therefore lessening the load of each horse.
  • If a horse is injured or becomes ill, they are not be worked again until they are fit.

We Would Love To Hear From You!

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


Join Our Private Facebook Group & Be Inspired By Mongolia


 
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.