Life in the Mongolian Steppe | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

-

Life in the Mongolian Steppe

TOUR - 9 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 3645

Tour Highlights

  • Take part in cultural activities to learn about the daily life of nomad herders, including making and tasting their dairy products, playing the national musical instruments and singing folk songs.
  • Learn about the Mongolian nomadic culture in depth from nomads while staying in traditional Mongolian dwellings known as Gers.
  • Take part in the local traditions with the nomad people including camel riding, archery lessons, and tasting their local cuisine.
  • Witness the famed wild Mongolian horses as they freely froclick through the hills of Khustai National Park Tour.
  • Visit the Erdenezuu Monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of ancient capital of Great Mongolian Empire.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

Being rather inhospitable during much of the year, Life in the Mongolian Steppe is not an easy venture for those who are not accustomed to it, but some of the last remaining nomad cultures in the world continue to call it home.

Yampu Travelers will have the chance to learn firsthand from the nomad people of Mongolia about their everyday life through intimate, in-person interactions. Alongside a private, local guide, explorers will journey through the Mongolian steppes to take in the beauty of the region, discover ancient temples, and partake in traditional nomad activities.

From watching skillful cowboys catch and tame wild horses by traditional lasso to sleeping in the comfort of traditional yurts known as Gers, Life in the Mongolian Steppe may be your calling.

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 3645

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

International Flight to Mongolia

Overnight International Flight to the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Overnight International Flight to the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Day
2

Welcome to Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival to Ulaanbaatar, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Situated on the Tuul River, Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. Divided into two districts, one part of the city consists of permanent sites with Soviet-era buildings, museums within surviving monasteries, and apartment complexes while the other is home to many nomads who live in their traditional yurts in the ger district. The Contrast of traditional and modern lifestyles is what gives the city such a vibrant culture. ...read less

Day
3

Ulaanbaatar City Tour

Today, you will be visiting Gandan Monastery, the National Museum, and the Central Square. You will also enjoy a traditional art performance with a welcome dinner.

Today, you will be visiting Gandan Monastery, the National Museum, and the Central Square. You will also enjoy a traditional art performance with a welcome dinner.

Day
4

Khustai National Park Tour

This morning, you will visit Gandan Monastery, the center of Mongolian Buddhists. Then you will depart to Khustai National Park, the area of 50,620 ha. reserve protects wild Mongolian horses famed as Takhi (Przewalski's Horse) (62miles / 100km, approx. 2 hours). You will also visit the park to spot wild horses and hike for 2 to 3 hours. Visit Ungut, ancient gravel site.

This morning, you will visit Gandan Monastery, the center of Mongolian Buddhists. Then you will depart to Khustai National Park, the area of 50,620 ha. reserve protects wild Mongolian horses famed as Takhi (Przewalski's Horse) (62miles / 100km, approx. 2 hours). You will also visit the park to spot wild horses and hike for 2 to 3 hours. Visit Ungut, ancient gravel site.

Day
5

Gurvanbulag Nomad Community Tour

Today, you will depart to Gurvanbulag county in Bulgan province (125 miles / 201km, approx. 3 hours). Before reaching to the community, you will visit the ruins of ancient fortress. Enjoy a picnic lunch. Upon arrival at the community Ger camp, take a rest before you enjoy the Mongolian traditional games including archery, knuckle bone, shooting and "Shagai" in the evening.

Today, you will depart to Gurvanbulag county in Bulgan province (125 miles / 201km, approx. 3 hours). Before reaching to the community, you will visit the ruins of ancient fortress. Enjoy a picnic lunch. Upon arrival at the community Ger camp, take a rest before you enjoy the Mongolian traditional games including archery, knuckle bone, shooting and "Shagai" in the evening.

Day
6

Nomad Cultural & Horse Tour

This morning, you will visit a nomad family. Learn and enjoy their unique traditional culture and hospitality. They offer unconventional home-made special dairy products, such as "aaruul" - dried curds, Mongolian salty milk tea - Suutei Tsai and so on. You can interact with the nomad people in an intimate setting to learn of their nature driven lifestyle. Late afternoon, we will watch how Mongolian skillful cowboys catch horses by "uurga" - traditional wooden lasso and training an untamed horse that has never been ridden before. For dinner, you will have "Khorkhog" - a real Mongolian bargbeque, grilled in hot stones. ...read less

Day
7

Gurvanbulag - Kharakhorum

Today, you will depart to Kharakhorum (70 miles / 112km, approx. 2 hours). You will visit the Erdenezuu Monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of ancient capital of Great Mongolian Empire. Next, visit the local museum and explore sites around Kharakhorum. Take a workshop for making small felt items in the local cooperative to support family head women before resting at a local Ger camp.

Today, you will depart to Kharakhorum (70 miles / 112km, approx. 2 hours). You will visit the Erdenezuu Monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of ancient capital of Great Mongolian Empire. Next, visit the local museum and explore sites around Kharakhorum. Take a workshop for making small felt items in the local cooperative to support family head women before resting at a local Ger camp.

Day
8

Khognokhan Nature Reserve Tour

Today, you will depart to Khognokhan Nature Reserve (56miles / 90km, approx. 1.5 hours). Khognokhan Nature Reserve is the combination area of mountain, Gobi and rolling steppe. Visit a camel herder and enjoy camel riding through sand dunes for an hour. After lunch at the nomad family, you will continue to Ulaanbaatar (174 miles / 280km, approx. 4 hours). Visit the city shops and malls for souvenirs and cashmere. Farewell dinner.

Today, you will depart to Khognokhan Nature Reserve (56miles / 90km, approx. 1.5 hours). Khognokhan Nature Reserve is the combination area of mountain, Gobi and rolling steppe. Visit a camel herder and enjoy camel riding through sand dunes for an hour. After lunch at the nomad family, you will continue to Ulaanbaatar (174 miles / 280km, approx. 4 hours). Visit the city shops and malls for souvenirs and cashmere. Farewell dinner.

Day
9

International Flight Home

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Khustai national park

Gurvanbulag, Mongolia

Kharakhorum Museum, Khushuu Tsaidam Road, Kharkhorin, Mongolia

Places You'll See

  • Ulaanbaatar

    The capital and largest city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar is divided into two districts, one part of the city consists of permanent sites with Soviet-era buildings and modern apartment complexes while the second district is home to many nomads who live in their traditional yurts in the ger district. The Contrast of traditional and modern lifestyles is what gives the city such a vibrant culture.

  • Khustai

    Khustai Nuruu National Park is a large conservation area in central Mongolia. Known for its wild horses known as wild takhi (Przewalski’s horse), the park boasts some of the most beautiful landscape in the region and informative cultural experiences thanks to the traveling nomads of the area.

  • Gurvanbulag

    Located in northern Mongolia, Gurvanbulag is where the region’s mountains, forests, steppes and Gobi Desert sand dunes merge. Rich with history thanks to ancient rock paintings and important burial grounds, the local community of Gurvanbulag welcomes visitors to experience their nomadic way of life with warm hospitality

  • Kharakhorum

    Founded in 1220 along the Ancient Silk Road, Kharakhorum was the capital of the Mongolian Empire until the decision was made to move it to Beijing. Today, after being destroyed by the Ming Dynasty in the 14th Century, ruins of the once important city still stand including granite turtles and the base of the palace. Archaeologists have found several hundred coins from various regions of the world, further proving the city’s importance on the trade route.

Hotel Options

Featured Accommodation

Khustai Ger Camp

A traditional Mongolian Ger camp, Khustai is the only camp in the park allowing you to enjoy a flavour of traditional Mongolian life. The Gers offer single beds, electric light, tea and coffee making facilities, and a warm coal-fired stove. The separate toilet/shower facilities are clean and well tended, and the friendly staff will endeavour to make your stay as comfortable as possible. The food on offer is simple but tasty.

Khustai ,

Featured Accommodation

Gurvanbulag Community Ger Camp

Located in the central region of Mongolia near the Khogno Khan Nature Reserve, the Gurvanbulag Community Ger Camp is surrounded by mountains and rolling steppe. Run by a trained team selected from local community members, this small scale ger camp is part of everyday local life, and the camp moves with them in between pastures. Staying here offers a fascinating opportunity to see, experience and learn about nomadic culture. There are five guest gers in the camp, each with two to four beds, and a larger ger for the whole group to take meals, which include fresh meat, milk and dairy products prepared by the community. All drinking water is purified and boiled. Camp facilities are basic, with composting lavatories, hygienic hand washers and shower tents fed with water heated by solar panels.

Gurvanbulag ,

Featured Accommodation

Munkhtenger Ger Camp

Located near Karakorum, Munkh Tenger Ger Camp is a traditional Mongolian camp and a popular base for exploring the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire and the Orkhon Valley. Unlike many Ger camps, it offers 24-hour electricity, WiFi and running water.

Kharakhorum ,

4 Star Properties

Ulaanbaatar : Shangri-La Hotel Ulaanbaatar

Testimonials

Gunner S.

Traveled May 2018

Excellent Service

We have used the service from Yampu several times around the world and every time they have delivered excellently. We will use Yampu next time also and can recommend the company

Traveled To

Wafa A.

Traveled

Great experiences

Great experiences, with Yampu tours the staff are very professional and helpful and they provide timely services and try to find solutions and alternatives

Traveled To

Barbara (Travel Agent)

Traveled January, 2012

I look forward to working with you on future itineraries

My clients just returned from their Uruguay trip. Everything was perfect!!!They loved their guide in Montevideo, loved the hotels and all went very well with the car and the driving itineraries. They especially loved the country and the people. This was a very positive commentary since they have traveled in South America previously and are very well traveled VIP clients. I look forward to working with you on future itineraries and relying on your contacts and expertise.

Traveled To

Let Us Customize This Trip For You

Our World Experts offer full support and dedication to customizing this tour to fit your wishlist - We can mix and match experiences, hotels and highlights to fit your budget and taste.

Similar Tours