Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders

This is an expedition trip. You'll need to be able to take on the challenges of long and bumpy drives, very basic camping conditions without electricity, running water or showers, hiking through the forest and other activities that'll put you completely outside your normal comfort zone. You'll need to have a good fitness level and an open mind for challenges and adventures to enjoy this journey. And you'll likely to be disconnected for a bigger portion of the trip with the lack of cell signals and electricity.

Majority of the nights on this trip you'll spend in multi-share accommodations like tourist ger camps, guest houses, Mongolian family gers and Tsaatan tents. Please see the itinerary day information for more details

There will be several long and bumpy drives, constantly being on the move to make it to the northern Mongolia taiga.

Food options are very limited at the reindeer camps, especially for vegetarians. Vegan, Gluten free and Lactose free diets cannot be catered for.

1. A single supplment is only bookable for Day 1, 3, 10, 11 & 13, subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent if you are interested.
2. A heavy duty sleeping bag is required for the family ger stay and Tsaantan camp stay. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for 20 USD for the trip which is organised with your tour leader. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to hire one and they will advise your leader prior to the trip.
3. Please provide your full passport details to your booking agent no later than 40 day prior to departure.

Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take it in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.

If your trip includes travelling on overnight trains or primarily using public transport, the smaller your luggage, the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful, especially when travelling on public transportation as well.

When you're exploring during the day, you'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera, a jacket and activity-specific items like a swimsuit, a waterproof pouch/bag for your phone, or hiking shoes.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, SLEEPING BAG
A sleeping bag is required for some nights on this trip. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for 20 USD for the trip through your tour leader. Please let your agent know at time of booking., The conditions at the reindeer camp are very basic. Waterproof light weight jacket with good insulation is highly recommended as the temperatures can drop to below zero at night. Water proof hiking boots will be essential for your hike to the camp. You may also wish to bring water purification pills and walking poles depending on your own needs.

This is an expedition trip and you'll travel into Mongolia taiga to live with the Tsaatan reindeer herders. Their camp is only accessible on foot, and you'll need to hike for about 5-6 hours through mountain trails to reach them. The trail has some boggy and mashy parts, small creeks to cross and the ascent will be gradual, but you'll need to be an experienced hiker and has a good level of fitness to hike into and out of the reindeer camp.
Most accommodations on this trip will be basic with limited facilities and the road can be bumpy and windy with long drives to traverse northern Mongolia, so you'll need to be prepared for such basic and demanding journeys.

Guide Hotel, 9/3 University Street 9/3 Их сургуулийн гудамж, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, MONGOLIA, Phone: +976 11353887

Alternate Joining Point

An airport transfer is bookable with Intrepid. Please provide your flight details no later than 14 days prior to your departure. If you have a confirmed arrival transfer with Intrepid, your driver will meet you at the airport with an Intrepid sign. Should you have trouble locating your driver or experience delays, please contact our local office emergency number listed in the Essential Trip Information.
If you are making your own way to the hotel, you may take an official taxi outside the airport. Agree to a price before getting in. It shoud cost aroudn 20-30 USD.

Guide Hotel, 9/3 University Street 9/3 Их сургуулийн гудамж, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, 14201, MONGOLIA, Phone: +976 11353887

Alternate Finish Point

Check out time is 12:00 noon.

Your leader or reception can assist you with arranging a transfer to the airport or railway station for your departure.

Breakfasts included: 12

Lunches included: 12

Dinners included: 10

MONGOLIA
Those with special dietary requirements may choose to supplement included meals with supplies brought from home. Vegetarian lacto-ovo options (while limited) can be offered for all included meals, provided we are notified at time of booking.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +976 99183751

This is a trip that includes extensive travelling in some remote terrain away from modern facilities and conveniences. As we spend a lot of time on the road each day, it is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey, travelling through amazing landscapes and staying in some stunning locations. As we travel by private transport for the duration of the trip we spend a lot of time together with our group members. If you are looking for an active or independent trip with lots of choice for physical and cultural activities daily then you might want to consider whether this trip is the right one for you. However, if you are keen to explore a fascinating country "road trip" style, take in the scenery as you go and are willing to sit back and enjoy the ride (however long it takes to get there!) then this will definitely add to your experience of Mongolia.