Tsaatan Reindeer Herders Tour

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the bustling capital of Mongolia. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. After settling into your room, meet your guide in the lobby for a walking city tour to the main square and nearby museums. Then attend an evening show of traditional performances followed by a welcome dinner.

In the morning, pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Murun, the capital of the northernmost Khuvsgul province. Upon arrival there, meet our team and drive northwest to Ulaan Uul village (soum) located in southern part of the Darkhad Depression – a lowland rift valley that is about 160 km long and 40 km wide – home to Darkhad and Tsaatan ethnic groups of Mongolia. Stay overnight at a guesthouse.

Drive to Tsagaan Nuur village (soum) located at northwestern part of the Darkhad Depression, one of 3 soums of the Darkhad Depression. This rift valley is considered relatively remote and inaccessible even by Mongolian standards, thus it is unspoiled, and is rich in lakes and rivers. Stay overnight at a guesthouse.

Early morning drive to starting point of horse-riding and meet horse guide. Ride to the taiga and reach campsite of the reindeer people during late afternoon. Tsaatan reindeer herders live peacefully in secluded wilderness, their nomadic way of life revolving around their reindeer. The Dukha, known to Mongolians as Tsaatan, are related to the Tuvans on the other side of the border. The reindeer herders have a very long history and the Tsaatan language is part of an ancient Turkic language. The Dukha are one of the few remaining groups of nomadic reindeer herders in the world and the only one in Mongolia. They practice shamanism and nature worship. Stay 2 nights in urtz – yurts that resemble Native American teepees.

Enjoy your day with the reindeer families learning about their lifestyle and daily chores.

Early morning, mount the horses for return ride towards Tsagaan Nuur soum. Meet the driver and drive to the guesthouse.

Drive to Lake Khuvsgul, known as “Blue Pearl”, is truly a pristine lake appearing blue from atop and transparent near shore where you can see the polished rocks laying underneath. It is located near the Mongolia-Russia border, about 200 km southwest of the southern tip of Lake Baikal, which is the largest freshwater lake in the world. Hence it is nicknamed the “younger sister” of those two “sister lakes”. It is 136 km (85 miles) long and 262 meters (860 feet) deep. It contains nearly 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water and 0.4% of the world’s fresh water. There are only small tributaries and its outflow is at the southern end by way of Egiin Gol (river), which connects into the Selenge river and finally into Lake Baikal. The area encompassing the lake is part of the southern fringe of the great Siberian taiga, where the dominant tree is the Siberian larch. Species of fish include Eurasian perch, lenok, burbot, and the endemic Khuvsgul grayling. The area is a national park and strictly protected as a transition zone between Central Asian steppe and the Siberian Taiga. The park is home to a variety of wildlife such as wolf, wolverine, musk deer, brown bear, Siberian moose, ibex, argali, and sable.

Free-day at the lake to relax or do some activities. Optional activities include boating, hiking, and horse-riding.

Drive 2 hours to Murun to catch a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Farewell dinner

Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.