Mongolia Excursions
Each August and September, we lead a horseback journey through Northern or Western Mongolia, exploring rugged mountains and vast steppes. Experience the timeless traditions of some of the world’s oldest nomadic cultures on one of these two life changing adventures.
Into The Taiga: Horse Trekking Through Northern Mongolia & A Visit With The Tsaatan Reindeer Herders
Dates TBD
Join us for a horse pack trip through Lake Khovsgol National Park in the Horidol Saridag Mountains of Northern Mongolia. Supported by Estancia Ranquilco's T.A. Carrithers and a fantastic team of local Mongolian guides, cooks, and nomadic herdsmen, ride in good company through the stunningly beautiful and varied landscapes of the region. Rich meadows, lagoons and coniferous forest surround the crystalline Lake Khovsgol, where waterfowl, wild boar and five species of deer make their home. Gorgeous rivers wind through the valleys. The steppe - Mongolia's signature ecosystem - rolls out in a vast expanse of open grassland encircled by towering snowy mountains rising up in the distance. And at the edge of the steppe in the northern-most reaches of the country grows the deep mossy forest known as the taiga.
Unique among most national parks, Khovsgol is home to many nomadic herding families, including the Tsaatan reindeer people who have lived there for thousands of years. The people of Khovsgol are deeply tied to the natural world within which they live, and follow ancient herding traditions - moving with their herds to follow the grass. We'll have the opportunity to witness this way of life firsthand through close interactions facilitated by our local guides. We’ve developed dear friendships with a couple of these families on our previous trips, and look forward to visiting with them again.
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Day 1 (Aug 29): We’ll be staying at the Munkh Tenger Ger camp in a lovely valley just outside of Ulaanbaatar. They have several cozy, traditional gers (yurts), shared bathrooms with hot showers, and a big dining hall. Dinner that night will be at the Munkh Tenger.
Day 2: Breakfast at the camp then head to a large open street market in the city center where we’ll shop for warm wool sweaters, hats, scarves and deels - the cozy robes worn by nomads on the steppe. Get a delicious lunch on the town then head to the airport for the 1 hour and 10 minute flight to Murun. After landing we drive 3 hours to our beautiful ger camp on the shores of Lake Khuvsgul.
Days 3-10: Mount our sturdy Mongolia horses and begin our 8-day ride through the mountains. For the first two days we’ll be riding along the massive Lake Khuvsgol. We’ll then cross over the Horidal Saridag Mountains to the Darkhad Valley, an ancient lakebed surrounded by snowy peaks. From there we'll ride into the taiga forests to seek out the reindeer herders. We camp in tents every night, and eat simple, hot meals prepared by our Mongolian cook. On our last day we meet up with the vans and drive a few hours to a riverside ger camp.
Day 11: All day van ride through gorgeous mountains and valleys, mostly on minimal 2 track "roads". We'll spend that night at a ger camp by the river near Murun.
Day 12: After a leisurely morning at the camp, we'll head into Murun for lunch, then catch an afternoon flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Lodging that night will be at a hotel in the city center, with dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 13 (September 10th): Breakfast followed by farewells!
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All meals, lodging and activities from the evening of August 29th to the morning of Sept. 10th.
Domestic flights to and from Northern Mongolia
Ground transportation during the trip
Global Rescue emergency evacuation coverage and service
Tips for Mongolian guides and crew
Riding High With The Kazakhs: Packing Camels Through the Altai Mountains, & A Visit With The Eagle Hunters
2027 Dates TBD
We'll be traveling to the far Western part of the country, home of the Altai mountains and the Kazakh eagle hunters. In recent years, due somewhat to the film, "The Eagle Huntress", the eagle hunters have become quite popular among tourists, who flock to the eagle hunting festival near Olgii. We'll be taking a different path, packing our gear on camels and riding horses deep into the massive Altai mountains to visit local families in their homes. For the last few days, we'll ride with the eagle hunters as they train their eagles. Trip capacity limited to 12 guests.
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Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and meet for dinner and lodging at a guesthouse on the outskirts of the city. Accommodation is a traditional ger (yurt) or shared room.
Day 2: Board a three-hour flight to Ulangom in the province of Uvs - in the northwestern part of the country. After lunch, we’ll head out to explore the shores of the largest lake in Mongolia - Uvs Lake. That night, we'll stay at a ger camp near the lake with broad views of the surrounding mountains.
Day 3: In the morning we’ll stop back in Ulangom and head to a few shops to stock up on warm woolen items and deels - the traditional Mongolian robes - essential articles for horse packing in the Altai Mountains. The rest of the day will be spent driving south to the Turgen Mountains, with a lunch stop along the way. Post-lunch, the road becomes increasingly rough as we wind our way up into the snow-covered mountains. We'll camp that night at the base of the Turgen mountains, where we'll be joined by local herdsmen bringing our riding horses and pack camels.
Days 4-10: For the next seven days, we'll ride with the local herdsmen, crossing through the Tureg, Kharkhiraa, and Davaan Khar Mountains. We'll camp on the shores of lakes and rivers, and cross a 9000 foot pass, with immense views of the snow-capped Tsambagarav Mountains and Shaazgai Lake. We may see ibex, snow leopards, bighorn sheep, or wolves. For the last several days of the ride we’ll be joined by Kazakh eagle hunters who will ride with us, training their eagles to hunt in preparation for the eagle hunting festival.
Day 11: We’ll leave the horses behind, and get back in the vans, crossing the Khovd river into the Bayan-Olgii Province, to arrive in the mid-afternoon at our Kazakh eagle hunter’s fall camp near the Tsambagarav Mountains. Here we get to share the night with the Kazakh family - joining for a traditional meal and getting a firsthand view of their unique and ancient culture.
Day 12: Say goodbye to the Kazakhs and drive to Olbi Lake for lunch, and on to Olgii City to spend the night at a ger camp.
Day 13: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar and spend the night at a ger camp on the outskirts of the city.
Day 14: Breakfast followed by farewells!
About Mongolia’s Horses
In Mongolia—the land of the horse—equine life remains at the heart of daily living. Many Mongols are still semi-nomadic herders, relying on five key animals: horses, yaks, camels, sheep, and goats. Of these, the horse is most revered—used for travel, herding, hunting, and sport. As one herder near Ulaanbaatar put it, “We Mongols respect horse as our companion of night and day... We are nothing without our horses.”
Mongolian horses are small by Western standards but incredibly hardy. Bred for endurance, they survive brutal winters without supplemental feed and once carried Genghis Khan’s cavalry across vast empires. For guests, riding these spirited, sure-footed horses through the wide-open steppe is an unforgettable way to connect with Mongolia’s deep nomadic tradition.