North Mongolia: Reindeer herders & yak breeders

June 24th (Day 2) – Amarbayasgalant Monastery

After breakfast, we’ll hit the road to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most beautiful and significant monasteries. Built in the 18th century, Amarbayasgalant was one of the few monasteries spared from demolition during Mongolia’s communist purges.

Set in a gorgeous valley in the Mongolian steppe, the monastery sits in a serene, peaceful landscape surrounded by cattle, ger camps, and pristine nature, making it a perfect place to stop.

Overnight in a ger camp next to Amarbayasgalant Monastery.

June 25th (Day 3) – Mörön

Early start, breakfast and drive to Wadi Kalysan, a natural valley home to a massive and absolutely mind-blowing pool. Hiking time: around 1.5 hours, easy-moderate.

Then, we’ll head for Homhill, not without first stopping in a gorgeous bottle tree forest.

After lunch, we’ll hike down to Homhill Infinity Pool for another swim.

Overnight in Homhill campsite.

June 26th (Day 4) – Ulaan Ul, coexisting with yak breeders

In the morning, we’ll stop at a wholesale supermarket to stock up on food and supplies for the next few days. Later, we’ll head north, venturing deeper into the wide-open grasslands and rolling hills characteristic of this particular region of Mongolia.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at a ger camp run by yak breeders, offering a rare glimpse into the nomadic lifestyle that has sustained Mongolian communities for centuries.

Yaks aren’t widespread across all of Mongolia—they’re mostly concentrated in this region—so not many travelers get the chance to learn firsthand how these remarkable animals are bred and cared for.

Overnight in a ger camp.

June 27th (Day 5) – Tsagaanur

Today’s journey takes us to Tsagaanur, the last village before the taiga—a remote settlement near the Russian border and the main staging point for expeditions into Tsaatan territory.

Here, we’ll stay with a Mongolian nomadic family, as that’s not only the best but also the only real way to understand their culture—by observing their day-to-day activities and lending a hand with their daily chores.

Overnight in a ger camp.

June 28th (Day 6) – Tsaatan Reindeer Herders’ Camp

After a hearty Mongolian breakfast, we’ll hit the road again, driving for 1–2 hours until we reach the place where we’ll begin our journey into the taiga on horseback.

The ride by horse takes between 4 and 7 hours, depending on the exact location of the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders’ Camp that month, as the families move their camps seasonally.

We plan to arrive at the camp no later than 6 pm. Dinner will be prepared by our cook.

Overnight in a teepee, the traditional accommodation used by the Tsaatan people.

June 29th (Day 7) – Coexisting with Tsaatan people

The Tsaatan are a group of nomadic people who live deep in the forests of northern Mongolia. Numbering no more than 450 people in all of Mongolia, the Tsaatan originally come from a region across the Russian border known as the Tuva Republic.

During World War II, to avoid having their young men conscripted into the Soviet army, hundreds of Tsaatan families fled across the border into Mongolia.

Over the following decades, many returned to Russia, but the few hundred who remained became the Mongolian group we will be coexisting with.

Today, while Tsaatan families living in the Tuva Republic in Russia have largely modernized and become Russified, those who settled in Mongolia’s taiga still preserve their traditional way of life. They continue to live nomadically in the forest, moving with their herds of reindeer and maintaining their distinct customs and language.

For a full day, we’ll immerse ourselves in their unique lifestyle, observing how they care for their reindeer and learning about the challenges of life in the remote taiga. The Tsaatan use their reindeer for a wide variety of purposes: producing dairy products like milk and cheese, providing meat, serving as transportation, and carrying loads through the dense forests.

Overnight in a teepee, the traditional accommodation used by the Tsaatan people.

June 30th (Day 8) – Back to Tsagaanur on a horseback, then Ulan Uul

At 8 am, it’s time to say goodbye to our Tsaatan hosts and retrace our journey back to Tsagaanur on horseback.

After the horse trek, we’ll hop into our vehicles and continue on to Ulaan Uul.

Overnight in a guest house.

July 1st (Day 9) – Lake Khövsgöl

Stretching over 130 kilometers long, they say that Lake Khövsgöl holds about 2% of the world’s fresh water.

Khövsgöl has a deep connection with Lake Baikal in Russia. Both are part of the same ancient rift system, and Khövsgöl’s waters eventually flow north into the Selenge River, which empties into Baikal.

In Khövsgöl, there’s relatively good infrastructure, so after the rough journey, we’ll stay in a proper lodge with sitting toilets, hot showers, and comfortable rooms.

July 2nd (Day 10) – Fly from Mörön to Ulaanbaatar

The flight from Mörön to Ulaanbaatar departs in the afternoon.

End of the tour.