12 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,945pp
Escorted tour
Mongolia Expedition: Living with the Reindeer Herders – 14 Days
Three nights with the Tsaatan reindeer herders in the taiga, in a group of up to twelve.
14 days
From £2,945
Tour overview
This 14-day expedition travels to the remote taiga of northern Mongolia to live alongside the Tsaatan reindeer herders. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve, by private vehicle, an overnight train and on foot with packhorses carrying the luggage. You stay thirteen nights in hotels, guesthouses, a family ger, Tsaatan tents and a ger camp, with most meals included.
After the Chinggis Khan statue you take the night train to Erdenet and drive on to Murun and the Bronze Age deer stones of Uushig. A night with a Darkhad family, with a home-cooked barbecue, prepares you for the hike into the taiga.
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For three nights you stay in the Tsaatan camp, helping with daily tasks such as milking, herding and gathering wood. After hiking out you cross the Jigleg Pass to Lake Khovsgol for two nights, then return to Ulaanbaatar via the monument at 50 degrees north and 100 degrees east.
The physical rating is medium, with basic multi-share accommodation. This trip suits adventurous travellers seeking a rare cultural encounter.
Trip highlights
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The overnight train to Erdenet (Day 2)
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The Uushig deer stones (Day 4)
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A Darkhad family stay (Day 5)
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Life with the Tsaatan (Days 6–8)
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The Jigleg Pass (Day 10)
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Lake Khovsgol (Days 10–11)
Your route
11 stops from Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar
- Ulaanbaatar Days 1–2
- Terelj National Park Day 2
- Erdenet Day 3
- Murun Day 3
- Ulaan-Uul Day 4
- Tsagaan Nuur Day 5
- Tsaatan Camp Days 6–8
- Renchinlhumbe Day 9
- Khuvsgul Lake Days 10–11
- Bulgan Day 12
- Ulaanbaatar Days 13–14
Why choose this tour
Live with one of the world's last reindeer-herding peoples. Packhorse support on the hike.
Best suited to
- Adventurous travellers
- Culture seekers
- Solo travellers
- Photographers
Day-by-day itinerary
14 days from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
-
Day 1 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Chinggis Khan Statue, Terelj National Park Erdenet
The night train.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 3 · Erdenet, Murun Murun
To Murun.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Uushig Valley, Ulaan-Uul Ulaan-Uul
Deer stones.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Khogorgo Valley Tsagaan Nuur
A Darkhad family.
- Hotel
- Family ger
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Taiga Tsaatan camp
Hike into the taiga.
- Hotel
- Tsaatan tent
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Taiga Tsaatan camp
Daily camp life.
- Hotel
- Tsaatan tent
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Taiga Tsaatan camp
A final day with the herders.
- Hotel
- Tsaatan tent
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Tsagaan Nuur, Renchinlhumbe Renchinlhumbe
Hike out.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 · Jigleg Pass, Lake Khovsgol Lake Khovsgol
Over the pass.
- Hotel
- Tourist ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Lake Khovsgol Lake Khovsgol
A free day.
- Hotel
- Tourist ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Bulgan Bulgan
50 north, 100 east.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 13 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
Back to the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 14 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train (multi-share)
- Murun (1 night) Hotel
- Ulaan-Uul (1 night) Guesthouse (multi-share)
- Tsagaan Nuur (1 night) Family ger (multi-share)
- Tsaatan camp (3 nights) Tsaatan tent (multi-share)
- Renchinlhumbe (1 night) Guesthouse (multi-share)
- Lake Khovsgol (2 nights) Tourist ger camp (multi-share)
- Bulgan (1 night) Guesthouse (multi-share)
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 13 nights in hotels, guesthouses, gers and tents
- Meals 12 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 10 dinners
- Private vehicles and an overnight train
- Packhorse support on the taiga hike
- Three nights with the Tsaatan herders
- Uushig deer stones and Terelj hike
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Heavy-duty sleeping bag
- Meals not included 1 breakfast and 3 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want private rooms
- You want comfortable hotels
- You dislike basic facilities
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2 and 4–14 · Lunch: Days 2–13 · Dinner: Days 3–12
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Mongolia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,945 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.
26 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,945pp
09 Sept 2027
Twin share
£2,945pp
23 Sept 2027
Twin share
£2,945pp
10 Aug 2028
Twin share
£3,090pp
24 Aug 2028
Twin share
£3,090pp
07 Sept 2028
Twin share
£3,090pp
21 Sept 2028
Twin share
£3,090pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
UK citizens can currently visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the latest advice before travel.
What is the accommodation like?
Basic and mostly multi-share, including Tsaatan tents with no facilities; hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Murun are twin-share.
How hard is the hike?
A full day on foot each way through the taiga, with packhorses carrying the bags.
Do I need a sleeping bag?
Yes, a heavy-duty sleeping bag is required for the camp.
When does this trip run?
In late summer and early autumn, when the herders are at their autumn camp.
How many people travel together?
No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary