Mongolia Small Group Tours 2021 & 2022
We can tweak our Mongolia small group tours into private options (minimum of two). If you like the philosophy and style of our small group experiences but need to adapt by making the trip shorter or adapting the accommodation or adding another location then get it touch and let Jess be of help.
Winter
For more ideas & inspiration for our small group winter experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Winter Tours webpage
May 2022
Spring Journey
May 7th & May 14th 2022
14 days
Spring Journey
‘Every local family provided a great insight into their way of life. They felt involved rather than used. It felt that we were part of something rather than an inconvenience. This really helped us gain a great insight and have a truly beautiful experience.’ Martin Slaven, Spring Journey
This itinerary is not about ‘must see sights’ or the highlights of Mongolia. This is about real everyday life for rural communities as the spring thaw has started and the warmth of the sun is slowly bringing freshness to the land.
March is when the livestock start to give birth and this continues through April into May. Its an industrious time of year for Mongolia’s rural herding communities and that’s what this trip focuses on. The rural way of life – whether it be of a nomadic family that move 6 to 8 times a year or a retired couple with just a small number of livestock.
There are no contrived experiences. These are real people with real lives to lead. That’s why its slow paced – to allow the families the time they need to focus on their work and still giving enough time to provide you with a more local insight into rural life at this important time of year and the spring landscapes of Mongolia through ger homestays and family owned ger camps. You’ll get to experience the traditional way of life but at the same time gain an overview as what it means to be Mongolian in 21st Century Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Middle Gobi
Day Two – Gobi Oasis Tree Planting Project, Mandalgobi
Day Three & Four – Erdenedalai | Hosted by Nergui herding family
Central Heartland
Day Five – Khogno Khan Nature Reserve | Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes camel trek | Hosted by Davaasuren herding family
Day Six & Seven –Tsenkher | Hosted by Galbadrakh herding family
Day Eight – Ulaan Tsutgalan – Orkhon Waterfall | Hosted by Tomorbat family
Day Nine & Ten – Yak Cart Trek
Day Eleven & Twelve – Orkhon River Valley | Option to explore Kharkhorin including Mongolia’s oldest monastery – Erdene Zuu Khiid | Hosted by Tumee herding family
Day Thirteen – Khustain Nuruu National Park | Hosted by Batchuluun herding family
Ulaanbaatar
Day Fourteen – Return Ulaanbaatar
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 2865 pp
- 3-5 Guests US$ 2530 pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2240 pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
- May 8th 2021
- May 15th 2021
- May 7th – May 20th 2022
- May 14th – 27th 2022
Learn more about our Yak Cart Trek – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/yak-cart-trek-mongolia/
Learn more about our ger to ger walk with Tomorbat – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/local-travel-experiences-in-mongolia/
Learn more about our work with the Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Cooperative – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/ar-arvidjin-delgerekh-cooperative-mongolia/
Social Cycles Mountain Biking
May 22nd 2022
12 Days
Social Cycles
‘Do it! Mongolia offers a unique experience on the road less travelled. The countryside is diverse and the local people welcoming. Visiting the NGOs gives greater exposure into understanding the real issues experienced by locals which are often missed when travelling for a short period of time. You leave with a greater insight into the country and the people. The cycling, hiking, nights in the gers and company were all fantastic.’ Deb, Social Cycles
In our adventure, we learn from three to four different NGOs that are all connected with the reality of life, faced by Mongolia’s herders in the 21st century. In tourism, Mongolia is frequently sold as a stereotype (nomads and a way of life untouched since Ghengis Khan). This idealised, or even romanticised view is far from the harsh reality and challenges faced by local herders.
Social Cycles will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local Non Government Organisations (NGOs) to find out more about this lifestyle, the opportunities they have and the challenges they must overcome. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the rural communities with Social Cycles in a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and site seeing.
- Easy to Moderate mountain biking
- Variable distances
- Minimal elevation
- Mostly off road, compact
- 15-18km/h average
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Group dinner
Middle Gobi
Day Two – City Walking tour, Asral NGO & family lunch, Baga Gazriin Chuluu Rock Formations
Day Three – Gobi Oasis Tree Planting Project, Mandalgobi – 40km to 60km mountain biking on gravel roads on small jeep trails
Day Four – Erdenedalai | Hosted by Nergui herding family – Up to 80km mountain biking on gravel/loose dirt roads
Central Heartland
Day Five & Six – Khogno Khan Nature Reserve | Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes camel trek | Hosted by Davaasuren herding family – Optional mountain biking, tracks are all off-road and mainly hard packed dirt
Day Seven – Tsetserleg – 40km to 80km mountain biking, tracks are all off-road and mainly hard packed dirt
Day Eight – Tsenkher | Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Co-Op | Hosted by Galbadrakh herding family – up to 60km mountain biking
Day Nine & Ten – Orkhon River Valley | Option to explore Kharkhorin including Mongolia’s oldest monastery – Erdene Zuu Khiid | Hosted by Tumee herding family – up to 80km mountain biking (Day Eight) and optional mountain biking (Day Ten)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Eleven – Return Ulaanbaatar | Group dinner
Day Twelve – Depart Mongolia
Group Size – Minimum of four. Maximum of twelve
From US$ 2850 PP
No 2021 May departure
May 22nd – June 2nd 2022
Learn more about our mountain biking trips – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolia-mountain-biking-experiences/
Learn more about our work with the Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Cooperative – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/ar-arvidjin-delgerekh-cooperative-mongolia/
Learn more about our work with Asral NGO – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/stuff-your-rucksack-for-asrals-hot-meal-project/
Learn more about our work the Gobi Oasis Tree Planting Project – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/tree-planting-project-in-mongolia/
For more ideas & inspiration for May experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Tailor Made Tours webpage
June 2022
Gobi Conservation and Research Expedition
June 2022 Departure Date TBC
12 Days
Find Yourself In Mongolia – Yoga & Wellness
June 11th 2022
9 Days
*Soft Opening* | Yoga workshops | Orkhon River Valley | Culture & traditions of Central Heartland | Slow travel
Altai Wilderness Trails
Trekking Altai Tavan Bogd NP
June 11th 2022
14 Days
Altai Wilderness Trails
‘The partnerships they have with local families are out of this world. It enables you to be brought into someone’s family and neighbourhood in a really special way. Other highlights were the landscapes! And the culture. The remoteness. The lack of other westerners. The variety of scenery in different types of weather.’ Kestrel Henry, Hidden Altai Trails
Basakhan is a Kazakh eagle hunter from western Mongolia and the main trek that forms the centrepiece of the itinerary was designed and put together between EL and Bashakhan.
We focus on creating local community partnerships that offer long-term support to the people we work with countrywide and that also allow us to showcase the diversity of skills and knowledge of Mongolian’s in the 21st Century. We have worked with Bashakhan for many years and he was always mentioning this trekking route he would like to focus on and so we have created this experience around the route. It is Bashakhan’s local knowledge is what makes this itinerary so special.
You will experience a different more hidden side of the Altai as you trek with Bashakhan from his summer pasture at Tsengel Khairkhan to the Altai Tavan Bogd Lakes of Khoton and Khurgan Nuur. Although this brief description does not do this remarkable region justice – it is unexpectedly beautiful. And off the beaten track. This is the Altai that few others get to see. An alternative to the popular Tsagaan Gol trek. Because of the way we work you’ll get an original insider experience – a more intimate and local introduction to the Altai region – a side that few other travellers get to see and experience.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Western Mongolia
Day Two & Three – Fly Ulgii (or Khovd) | Tsengel Khairkhan | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Bashakhan family
Day Four – Nine – Altai 6 Day Foot Trek With Bashakhan. Including Khoton & Khurgan Nuur | Tent camp
Day Ten – Altai Tavan Bogd National Park | Hosted by Imbekbaatar family
Day Eleven -Thirteen– Altai Tavan Bogd 3 Day Foot Trek | Tent camp
Day Fourteen – Ulgii | Hosted by Jako & Baurjan (our Kazakh fixers)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Fifteen – Fly Mongolia
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 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. Instead, the focus becomes getting to meet and know the herder guide in the areas where they consider home. And for our Altai Wilderness Trails trekking xperience that means Bashakhan supported by n EL driver.
If you need a rough guide, you will trek over from Tsengel Khairkhan pass the small lake of Khar Nuur and into the Altai Tavan Bogd lakes region. Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains are the highest mountains in Mongolia and the national park can be divided into two regions, the Tavan Bogd Mountains in the northwest and the Lakes Region to the southeast. The lakes are fed by glacial melt and annual snow fall and form the head waters of the Khovd River. Once in the lakes area you you might use one or two locations as a base or carry on as a linear trek. You will head into the mountain forest steppe interior – including the valleys that the local herders use for their summer and winter pastures on the Chinese border. Lake Khoton lies below the snow capped Ikh Turgen Uul. The camp spot here is a mere 3km from the China border.
For the second (3-day) trek you’ll drive to the ranger station of Altai Tavan Bogd from where you can hike towards the Potanin Glacier, the largest in the Mongolian Altai and in the shadow of the ‘Five Holy’ peaks. It is a stunning setting from which to explore. Your final camping location depends on the fitness levels of the whole group as it is a vigorous 20km trek from the ranger station to the Potanin Glacier (accompanied by pack camels). Please take into consideration that this is a border region and the border army can close the area to overnight trekkers due to weather conditions. In these circumstances we arrange day hikes. We require you to be flexible and adaptable.
The Trek – There will be challenges – maybe the weather or maybe some of the terrain at times. However, our treks aren’t meant to be physical endurance events. The focus is on enjoying the wide open spaces and the feeling of freedom to be found when hiking and exploring the Mongolian landscapes.
The Trails – There isn’t a network of clearly defined trails. You have to be prepared for a mixture of terrain – everything from dry river beds to mountainous alpine routes with potentially some river crossings. Your main luggage will be transported by pack-horses.
Distances – Approximate distance per day is 10-20km. Be prepared that some days will be shorter or longer. Although we set the location in advance, the route is not set in stone as this allows us to be as flexible as possible in relation to the weather and ground conditions.
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 3595 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 3-4 Guests US$ 3315 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 2935 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2565 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
June 12th – June 26th 2021
June 11th – June 25th 2022
Untamed Mongolia
With National Ulaanbaatar Naadam
June 20th 2022
23 Days
Gobi Desert | Central Heartland | Khovsgol Nuur National Park | National Naadam Festival | Wild Camping | Mongolia’s diversity of landscapes, people & way of life
For more ideas & inspiration for June experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Tailor Made Tours webpage
July 2021 & 2022
Modern Mongolian Nomads
With Rural Bulgan Naadam Festival
July 7th 2022
13 days
Khovsgol Trails Trekking
With Horse Festival
July 15th 2022
12 days
Khovsgol Trails
‘Everything was perfect: the way the tour was structured, the places, the families, the limited number the camping spots, the feeling of remoteness,… the list goes on. We had amazing time.’ Teo Marinska, tailor made trekking tour
Khovsgol Nuur National Park in northern Mongolia is justifiably considered a highlights of Mongolia. But, there is so much more to it then just the lake. Biologists use the word ecotone for places where different habitats meet – where a forest meets a meadow or a lake meets a shore. Khovsgol is an ecotone on a very large scale. The result is a wide range of habitats – wet meadows, shallow ponds, coniferous forest, steppe woodland, open steppe, alpine meadow, high mountains and the lake and lakeshore. On this trip you’ll get to experience all those different aspects of this remarkable area as we show you a more local and human side to this remarkable area.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Northern Landscapes
Day Two – Fly Murun | Khovsgol Nuur National Park | Small local ger camp
Day Three – Khovsgol Nuur National Park | Option to trek Chuchee Uul | Small local ger camp
Day Four – Eight – Five-day trek | Khoridol Saridag Mountains
Day Nine – Khatgal | Homestay with Basaanchuluu herding family
Day Ten & Eleven | Delger Murun River | Horse festival | Small local ger camp
Ulaanbaatar
Day Twelve – Fly Ulaanbaatar
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 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. Instead, the focus becomes getting to meet and know the herder guide in the areas where they consider home. And for our Khovsgol Trails trekking experience that means Bambakh supported by a team of horse wranglers and pack horses.
You’ll trek through the wilderness spaces of the Khoridol Saridag Mountains. With many peaks topping close to or topping 3000m (the altitude on the trek will vary from day to day, whether you are crossing over passes or down valleys, but you will be (approximately) between 1,700 to 2,500m), the Khoridol Saridag are a 150 km-long mountain range of primarily uplifted dolomite that runs between the western shore of Khovsgol Nuur and the Darkhad Depression. The very barren, arid upland areas contrast with lower rich alpine meadows.
Herders of the region typically move one or two times per year according to grazing conditions and weather cycles. One autumn migration route traverses from the Darkhad Depression through the Khoridol Saridag Strictly Protected Area along the route of the Arsain Gol. You will be following part of this route. The log cabins and stock corrals you will come across may appear abandoned and overgrown but they are simply waiting for the return of winter occupants.
The Trek – There will be challenges – maybe the weather or maybe some of the terrain at times. However, our treks aren’t meant to be physical endurance events. The focus is on enjoying the wide open spaces and the feeling of freedom to be found when hiking and exploring the Mongolian landscapes.
The Trails – There isn’t a network of clearly defined trails. You have to be prepared for a mixture of terrain – everything from dry river beds to mountainous alpine routes with potentially some river crossings. Your main luggage will be transported by pack-horses.
Distances – Approximate distance per day is 10-20km. Be prepared that some days will be shorter or longer. Although we set the location in advance, the route is not set in stone as this allows us to be as flexible as possible in relation to the weather and ground conditions.
Group Size – Minimum of three. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 3-4 Guests US$ 2985 + domestic flight of approximately 650,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 2825 + domestic flight of approximately 650,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2460 + domestic flight of approximately 650,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
July 15th – 26th 2021
July 15th – 26th 2022
Learn more about Khovsgol Nuur National Park – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/khovsgol-nuur-national-park/
Nomads Of The Khangai
Trekking With Yak Festival
July 18th 2022
15 Days
Nomads Of The Khangai
‘The impression I got about your commitment to responsible rourism was one of the things but that made me want to travel with your company. I would recommend the company because it is ethical, it allows you to have a bespoke trip either on your own or with a very small group, and it offers an authentic experience. Everything felt natural and not orchestrated. I liked it that there was variety and every place was different, but also that we weren’t whizzing from one place to another.’ Elizabeth Taylor, Nomads of the Khangai
Mongolian’s divide their country into three distinct eco regions – Gobi, Khangai and Tal Kherem Bus – desert, mountain and steppe. Khangai describes the mountain steppe and mountain forest steppe regions of their country and that’s the region that this trip focuses on including a five-day foot trek exploring the Orkhon Waterfall region.
The whole area is dominated by wilderness – rugged mountains, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, river valleys and the southern-forested fringes of the Siberian Taiga. Landscapes play an important part in the way of life of rural Mongolians and as you discover and explore the different regions of the Khangai, so you’ll experience the diversity of the way of life of the people that make their home in these landscapes.
You’ll also experience two rural community events – the Felt and Yak Festivals – held to promote tourism and industry by focusing on the region’s special features. Don’t get caught up in notions of authenticity – both festivals feature a lot of local involvement. The festival draws local Mongolian spectators as well as westerners and the locals are always more enthusiastic. Both are a celebration of the way of life in the Khangai Mountains and a chance for the local herders to come together as a community.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Central Heartland
Day Two – Khogno Khan Nature Reserve | Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes | Tent camp
Day Three & Four – Tsenkher Homestay | Hosted by Galbadrakh herding family
Day Five & Six – Ulaan Tsutgalan | Orkhon Waterfall | Yak Festival | Family ger camp operated by Tomortbat family
Day Seven – Eleven – Five day foot trek | Tent camp
Day Twelve & Thirteen – Kharkhorin
Ulaanbaatar
Day Fourteen – Return Ulaanbaatar
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 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. Instead, the focus becomes getting to meet and know the herder guide in the areas where they consider home. And for our Nomads of the Khangai trekking experience that means Ma’am.
You’ll trek through an ecoregion with habitats as diverse as long flat valleys, lava stone fields, barren mountain tops and high open Mongolian steppe, coniferous forests of Siberian Pine and Siberian Larch and sub-alpine meadows. The trek will be led by Ma’am (Tomorbat’s adult son – your host at the Orkhon Waterfall) and supported with a team of horse wranglers and pack yaks.
The Trek – There will be challenges – maybe the weather or maybe some of the terrain at times. However, our treks aren’t meant to be physical endurance events. The focus is on enjoying the wide open spaces and the feeling of freedom to be found when hiking and exploring the Mongolian landscapes.
The Trails – There isn’t a network of clearly defined trails. You have to be prepared for a mixture of terrain – everything from dry river beds to mountainous alpine routes with potentially some river crossings. Your main luggage will be transported by pack-horses, pack-yaks or tour vehicle (depending on the final route chosen).
Distances – Approximate distance per day is 10-20km. Be prepared that some days will be shorter or longer. Although we set the location in advance, the route is not set in stone as this allows us to be as flexible as possible in relation to the weather and ground conditions.
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 2690 pp
- 3-5 Guests US$ 2515 pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2230 pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
July 18th – 31st 2021
July 18th – 31st 2022
Learn more about our ger to ger walk with Tomorbat – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/local-travel-experiences-in-mongolia/
Learn more about our work with the Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Cooperative – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/ar-arvidjin-delgerekh-cooperative-mongolia/
Learn more about Mongolia’s Orkhon River Valley – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-orkhon-river-valley/
Untamed Mongolia
July 30th 2022
23 Days
Gobi Desert | Central Heartland | Khovsgol Nuur National Park | Wild Camping | Mongolia’s diversity of landscapes, people & way of life
For more ideas & inspiration for July experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Tailor Made Tours webpage
August 2021 & 2022
Social Cycles Mountain Biking
No August 2021 departure
August 7th 2022
12 Days
Social Cycles
‘Do it! Mongolia offers a unique experience on the road less travelled. The countryside is diverse and the local people welcoming. Visiting the NGOs gives greater exposure into understanding the real issues experienced by locals which are often missed when travelling for a short period of time. You leave with a greater insight into the country and the people. The cycling, hiking, nights in the gers and company were all fantastic.’ Deb, Social Cycles
In our adventure, we learn from three to four different NGOs that are all connected with the reality of life, faced by Mongolia’s herders in the 21st century. In tourism, Mongolia is frequently sold as a stereotype (nomads and a way of life untouched since Ghengis Khan). This idealised, or even romanticised view is far from the harsh reality and challenges faced by local herders.
Social Cycles will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local Non Government Organisations (NGOs) to find out more about this lifestyle, the opportunities they have and the challenges they must overcome. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the rural communities with Social Cycles in a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and site seeing.
- Easy to Moderate mountain biking
- Variable distances
- Minimal elevation
- Mostly off road, compact
- 15-18km/h average
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Group dinner
Middle Gobi
Day Two – City Walking tour, Asral NGO & family lunch, Baga Gazriin Chuluu Rock Formations
Day Three – Gobi Oasis Tree Planting Project, Mandalgobi – 40km to 60km mountain biking on gravel roads on small jeep trails
Day Four – Erdenedalai | Hosted by Nergui herding family – Up to 80km mountain biking on gravel/loose dirt roads
Central Heartland
Day Five & Six – Khogno Khan Nature Reserve | Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes camel trek | Hosted by Davaasuren herding family – Optional mountain biking, tracks are all off-road and mainly hard packed dirt
Day Seven – Tsetserleg – 40km to 80km mountain biking, tracks are all off-road and mainly hard packed dirt
Day Eight – Tsenkher | Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Co-Op | Hosted by Galbadrakh herding family – up to 60km mountain biking
Day Nine & Ten – Orkhon River Valley | Option to explore Kharkhorin including Mongolia’s oldest monastery – Erdene Zuu Khiid | Hosted by Tumee herding family – up to 80km mountain biking (Day Eight) and optional mountain biking (Day Ten)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Eleven – Return Ulaanbaatar | Group dinner
Day Twelve – Depart Mongolia
Group Size – Minimum of four. Maximum of twelve
From US$ 2850 PP
No 2021 August departure
August 7th 2022
Learn more about our mountain biking trips – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolia-mountain-biking-experiences/
Learn more about our work with the Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Cooperative – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/ar-arvidjin-delgerekh-cooperative-mongolia/
Learn more about our work with Asral NGO – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/stuff-your-rucksack-for-asrals-hot-meal-project/
Learn more about our work the Gobi Oasis Tree Planting Project – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/tree-planting-project-in-mongolia/
Khangai Wilderness Trails Trekking
August 7th 2021
August 6th 2022
17 Days
Khangai Wilderness Trails
‘We feel really privileged to have had such a personal experience being immersed in normal Mongolian life! The focus on authentic and personal experiences with local people is quite unrivalled we find.’ Alex van Vliet / Annelies Quaegebeur
One of our favourite regions in Mongolia is the stretching wild landscapes of the central Khangai Mountains – one of the three main mountainous regions that dominate Mongolia.
On our Khangai Wilderness Trails you’ll explore the ancient Khangai Mountains range from east to west – the rugged mountains, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, river valleys and the southern-forested fringes of the Siberian Taiga that make up the area as well as learning more about the way of life for the local people that make their home in the region.
The centrepiece of the experience is five-days trekking off grid in the stunning Tarvagtai National Park. No formal trekking routes really exist here and that’s what makes trekking in this region such a glorious experience – it’s just you, your trek guide/ horse wrangler and your choice of which horizon to explore and discover. Our Khangai trek is led by Monkhoo – together with his family they herd their livestock in the region through which you will trek and know their home area like the back of their hands.
This experience is not about the highlights or ‘must see’ sights. This is about travelling in a Mongolian way – discovering what we call the real Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Group dinner
Central Heartland
Day Two – Khogno Khan Nature Reserve | Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes camel trek | Tent camp
Day Three & Four – Tsenkher | Hosted by Galbadrakh herding family
Day Five -Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park
Zavkhan Aimag
Day Six – Ten – Five-day trek Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park & Tarvagtai National Park | Tent camp
Day Eleven – Telmen Nuur | Tent camp
Day Twelve – Fifteen – Mukhartiin Gol | Khar Nuur | Tent camp
Day Sixteen – Uliastai | Local hotel
Ulaanbaatar
Day Seventeen – Fly Mongolia
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 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. Instead, the focus becomes getting to meet and know the herder guide in the areas where they consider home. And for our Khangai Wilderness Trails trekking experience that means Munkhoo supported by a team of horse wranglers and pack horses.
The whole area is dominated by wilderness – rugged mountains, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, river valleys and the southern-forested fringes of the Siberian Taiga. You’ll be trekng in the mountains to the north of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park and on the fringes of the Tarvagtai National Park including in the remote districts of Jargalant and Galt.
The Trek – There will be challenges – maybe the weather or maybe some of the terrain at times. However, our treks aren’t meant to be physical endurance events. The focus is on enjoying the wide open spaces and the feeling of freedom to be found when hiking and exploring the Mongolian landscapes.
The Trails – There isn’t a network of clearly defined trails. You have to be prepared for a mixture of terrain – everything from dry river beds to mountainous alpine routes with potentially some river crossings. Your main luggage will be transported by pack-horses.
Distances – Approximate distance per day is 10-20km. Be prepared that some days will be shorter or longer. Although we set the location in advance, the route is not set in stone as this allows us to be as flexible as possible in relation to the weather and ground conditions.
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 3115 + domestic flight of approximately 350,000 MNT pp
- 3-5 Guests US$ 3015 + domestic flight of approximately 350,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2655 + domestic flight of approximately 350,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
August 7th 2021
August 6th 2022
Hidden Altai Trekking
August 8th 2021
August 7th 2022
14 Days
Hidden Altai
‘Our tour to Western Mongolia with Eternal Landscapes gave us a privileged insight that we could never have experienced travelling independently. Once again thank you for putting such a brilliant itinerary together for us. The built-in flexibility allowed us to enjoy a degree of independence. It was like being on holiday with close friends and they really did make it special for us.’ Virginia Walshe, Hidden Altai
The wild landscapes of western Mongolia and the Altai – Mongolia’s highest mountains – form the stunning backdrop to this cultural adventure where you explore and discover a different more hidden side of the Altai – experiencing it side by side with people that spend their lives living in these landscapes.
You’ll be hosted by Kazakh eagle hunters and local families and it is through their eyes that you experience the region. It is unexpectedly beautiful. And off the beaten track. An alternative to the popular and now busy Altai Tavan Bogd.
The families that will host you are our own personal friendships that we have built up over the past 15 years. We form long-term local community partnerships throughout the country and work side by side with each family. Our experiences are put together in a way which benefits and supports each family, rather than disrupting their lives. We like to do things a little differently so we leave the plan each day entirely flexible and in the hands of your host. This leads to a more respectful and genuine experience as well as a more personal and real insight for you as our guest.
Because of the way we work you’ll get an original insider experience – a more intimate and local introduction to the Altai region – a side that few other travellers get to see and experience.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Group dinner
Western Mongolia
Day Two – Five – Fly Ulgii (or Khovd) | Altai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Asker family
Day Six – Tsengel Khairkhan | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Bashakhan family
Day Seven – Ten – Optional 4-day trek * for those not wanting to trek, this is a homestay
Day Eleven – Ulgii | Homestay with Jako & Baurjan (our Kazakh fixers)
Day Twelve & Thirteen – Tsambagarav National Park | Homestay with Dakhar family
Ulaanbaatar
Day Fourteen – Fly Mongolia
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 3425 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 3-4 Guests US$ 3250 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 2950 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2595 + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
Western Mongolia – Tsengel Khairkhan – Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestays – Tsambagarav National Park – 4 Day Trek – Culture of Altai
National Parks and Nature Reserves
August 28th 2021
August 27th 2022
16 Days
For more ideas & inspiration for August experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Tailor Made Tours webpage
September 2021 & 2022
Find Yourself In Mongolia – Yoga & Wellness
Sept 3rd 2022
9 Days
*Soft Opening* | Yoga workshops | Orkhon River Valley | Culture & traditions of Central Heartland | Slow travel
Gobi Desert Explorer
Sept 3rd 2022
16 Days
Gobi Desert | Khermen Tsav | Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park | Ikh Nart Nature Reserve | 2-day camel trek | Living alongside Gobi herders
Altai and Eagles With Eagle Festival
Sept 11th 2021 & Sept 10th 2022
Sept 25th 2021 & Sept 24th 2022
13 Days
Altai & Eagles With Eagle Festivals
‘EL had so much knowledge of the country, the culture and its people, and really seemed to get us much ‘closer’ than other companies. It was truly an enlightening experience. It was an experience like no other. It was so interesting to see a different way of life and be in an environment so different from our every day.’ Justine Leong, Altai and Eagles
The wild landscapes of western Mongolia form the stunning backdrop to this cultural adventure. The Kazakhs are Mongolia’s largest ethnic group with over 100,000 residing in western Mongolia. A percentage of Kazakhs are eagle hunters . Amid arid yet strikingly beautiful landscapes the hunters have a way of life that has been shaped by history, geography and political change.
This adventure provides a great opportunity to experience first hand the life of a Kazakh eagle hunter as you spend time living alongside hunters and their families witnessing their daily lives and the preparations for the Eagle Festival which you will attend. The festival is a celebration of the Kazakh culture and focuses on the speed, agility and accuracy of the ‘berkut’ (the female golden eagle). The festival provides you with a wealth of cultural experience as you mix in the company of small town folk, herders and the Kazakh hunters.
On this experience you will be hosted by some of the region’s most experienced and respected hunters and you will learn skills and history from them as well as explore the stark yet beautiful landscapes of Mongolia’s Altai. These are our own personal friendships that we have built up over the past 15 years. We form long-term local community partnerships throughout the country and work side by side with each family. Our experiences are put together in a way which benefits and supports each family, rather than disrupting their lives. We like to do things a little differently so we leave the plan each day entirely flexible and in the hands of your Kazakh eagle hunter host. This leads to a more respectful and genuine experience as well as a more personal and real insight for you as our guest. Because of the way we work you’ll get an original insider experience.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Western Mongolia
Day Two & Three – Fly Ulgii (or Khovd) | Tsambagarav | Homestay with Dakhar family
Day Four & Five – Ulaankhuus | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Bashakhan family
Day Six & Seven – Sagsai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Sailaukhan family
Day Eight & Nine – Eagle Festival
Day Ten & Eleven – Altai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Asker family
Day Twelve – Ulgii | Hosted by Jako & Baurjan (our Kazakh fixers)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Thirteen – Fly Ulaanbaatar
Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 3095 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 3-4 Guests US$ 3065 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 2950 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2600 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
Sept 11th 2021
Sept 25th 2021
Sept 10th 2022
Sept 24th 2022
Explore western Mongolia on our virtual tour – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/our-virtual-tour-of-western-mongolia/
Our work with Halmira – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/meeting-halmira-olgii-western-mongolia/
Learn more about Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-kazakh-eagle-hunters/
Western Explorer With Eagle Festival
Sept 12th 2022
23 Days
Orkhon River Valley | Cooperative Homestay | Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park | Zavkhan Aimag | Kazakh eagle hunter homestays | Eagle Festival | Free city walking tour Ulaanbaatar
Eagles & Hunters Altai Nomad Games
Sept 2022 TBC
11 Days
Eagles & Hunters With Altai Nomad Games
‘It is a unobtrusive sample of the way of life of the Kazakhs culminating with the spectacle of the festival – feeling at ease with everyone from your excellent, professional, tireless, organised, direct and honest team. Thank you, it has been my kind of experience.’ Marzena Prejbisz, Altai & Eagles
The wild landscapes of western Mongolia form the stunning backdrop to this cultural adventure where you experience it side by side with people that spend their lives living in these landscapes. The Kazakhs are Mongolia’s largest ethnic group with over 100,000 residing in western Mongolia. A percentage of Kazakhs are eagle hunters. Amid arid yet strikingly beautiful landscapes the hunters have a way of life that has been shaped by history, geography and political change.
This cultural adventure provides a great opportunity to experience first hand the life of Kazakh eagle hunters. Not only are you hosted but it is through their eyes that you experience the region as you spend time living alongside them and their families witnessing their daily lives and the preparations for the Eagle Festival which you will attend. The festival is a celebration of the Kazakh culture and focuses on the speed, agility and accuracy of the ‘berkut’ (the female golden eagle). The festival provides you with a wealth of cultural experience as you mix in the company of small town folk, herders and the Kazakh hunters.
On this experience you will be hosted by some of the region’s most experienced and respected hunters and you will learn skills and history from them as well as exlore the stark yet beautiful landscapes of Mongolia’s Altai. These are our own personal friendships that we have built up over the past 15 years. We form long-term local community partnerships throughout the country and work side by side with each family. Our experiences are put together in a way which benefits and supports each family, rather than disrupting their lives. We like to do things a little differently so we leave the plan each day entirely flexible and in the hands of your Kazakh eagle hunter host. This leads to a more respectful and genuine experience as well as a more personal and real insight for you as our guest. Because of the way we work you’ll get an original insider experience.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Western Mongolia
Day Two – Four – Fly Ulgii (or Khovd) | Ulaankhuus | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Bashakhan family
Day Five – Sagsai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Sailaukhan family
Day Six & Seven – Altai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Asker family
Day Eight & Nine – Altai Nomad Games
Day Ten – Ulgii | Hosted by Jako & Baurjan (our Kazakh fixers)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Eleven – Return Ulaanbaatar
Online map – Group Size – Minimum of two. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 2 Guests US$ 2860 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 3-4 Guests US$ 2800 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 2575 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 2270 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
Sept 8th 2021
Sept 2022 departure date TBC
Explore western Mongolia on our virtual tour – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/our-virtual-tour-of-western-mongolia/
Our work with Halmira – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/meeting-halmira-olgii-western-mongolia/
Learn more about Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-kazakh-eagle-hunters/
Altai Explorer Altai Nomad Games
September 2022 TBC
17 Days
Altai Explorer Altai Nomad Games
‘It is a unobtrusive sample of the way of life of the Kazakhs culminating with the spectacle of the festival – feeling at ease with everyone from your excellent, professional, tireless, organised, direct and honest team. Thank you, it has been my kind of experience.’ Marzena Prejbisz, Altai & Eagles
The wild landscapes of western Mongolia and the Altai – Mongolia’s highest mountains – form the stunning backdrop to this cultural adventure where you explore and discover a different more hidden side of the Altai – experiencing it side by side with people that spend their lives living in these landscapes. You’ll be hosted by Kazakh eagle hunters and local families and it is through their eyes that you experience the region including a 3-day horse trek and a 3-day trek into the magnificent Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.
The families that will host you are our own personal friendships that we have built up over the past 15 years. We form long-term local community partnerships throughout the country and work side by side with each family. Our experiences are put together in a way which benefits and supports each family, rather than disrupting their lives. We like to do things a little differently so we leave the plan each day entirely flexible and in the hands of your host. This leads to a more respectful and genuine experience as well as a more personal and real insight for you as our guest. Because of the way we work you’ll get an original insider experience – a more intimate and local introduction to the Altai region – a side that few other travellers get to see and experience.
Ulaanbaatar
Day One – Final Arrival Day into Ulaanbaatar (UB) | Discover UB on our free city walking tour
Western Mongolia
Western Mongolia
Day Two – Fly Ulgii (or Khovd) | Ulaankhuus | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Bashakhan family
Day Three – Five – 3 Day Horse Trek With Bashakhan | Tent camp
Day Six & Seven – Khoton and Khurgan Nuur – Altai Tavan Bogd National Park | Tent camp
Day Eight – Altai Tavan Bogd National Park | Hosted by Imbekbaatar family
Day Nine -Eleven– Altai Tavan Bogd 3 Day Foot Trek | Tent camp
Day Twelve & Thirteen – Altai Nomad Games
Day Fourteen & Fifteen – Altai | Kazakh Eagle Hunter Homestay with Asker family
Day Sixteen – Ulgii | Hosted by Jako & Baurjan (our Kazakh fixers)
Ulaanbaatar
Day Seventeen – Fly Ulaanbaatar
Group Size – Minimum of three. Maximum of six
For all of our small group trips we offer a sliding price scale. We appreciate your holiday funds are precious and so the more people that book so the price comes down and everyone benefits.
- 3-4 Guests US$ 3790 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 5 Guests US$ 3480 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
- 6 Guests US$ 3050 pp + domestic flight of approximately 750,000 MNT pp
Exclusions
Please be aware that our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Why? Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. We provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and we can also help with booking.
Sept 4th 2021
Sept 2022 Date TBC
Explore western Mongolia on our virtual tour – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/our-virtual-tour-of-western-mongolia/
Our work with Halmira – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/meeting-halmira-olgii-western-mongolia/
Learn more about Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-kazakh-eagle-hunters/
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park | 3-day trek | 3 day horse trek with Kazakh eagle hunter | Altai Nomad Games | Culture & way of life of Altai
For more ideas & inspiration for September experiences & departures, take a look at our Mongolia Tailor Made Tours webpage
