Springing Into Summer with the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders NORTH MONGOLIA

Springing Into Summer With The Tsaatan Reindeer Herders NORTH MONGOLIA

Organized by Beyond Expeditions SG Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Day 2: Khutag-Undur, Bulgan Province Day 3: Murun City, Khuvsgul Province Day 4: Tsagaan Nuur Sum, Khuvsgul Province Day 5: Taiga Day 6: Taiga Day 7: Tsagaan Nuur Sum, Khuvsgul Province Day 8: Murun City, Khuvsgul Province Day 9: Amarbayasgalant Monastery Day 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar Day 11: Home Sweet Home The Tsaatan Reindeer Herders of Mongolia

Khövsgöl Aimag, the northern most province of Mongolia, is home to an ethnic group of nomadic reindeer herders known as the Tsaatan.

Largely dependent on the animals as a way of life, there are about 40 families today who continue the tradition of raising and herding reindeer, which dates back thousands of years.

The reindeer provide the Tsaatan with milk, cheese, meat, transportation as well as materials such as hair for sewing clothes, dung for fuel and antlers used as tools or traditional medicine.

As one of the last remaining indigenous groups of reindeer herders in Mongolia, it is said that should the reindeer disappear, so will the livelihoods and culture of the Tsaatan people.

This expedition offers an outstanding introduction of Northern Mongolia, allowing you to witness and discover its unique beauty and more importantly, experiencing the reindeer herders’ way of life. Springing Into Summer With The Tsaatan Reindeer Herders NORTH MONGOLIA

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Capital of Mongolia • Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be greeted by both your expedition guide and driver and transfer from Chinggis Khaan International Airport to your hotel • Free and easy expoloration of the Capital’s City Center • Dinner: Authentic Mongolian cuisine - introducing you to the country’s food culture • Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

(Dinner, Hotel)

Equestrian Statue of Chinggis Khan

Beyond Expeditions Pte Ltd reserves all rights to change trip itineraries for safety reasons. These may include, and not limited to clients’ abilities, weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. Day 2: Khutag-Undur, Bulgan Province (500km) • Drive to Khutag-Undur, Bulgan Province • Set off early from Ulaanbaatar in the morning towards Khutag-Undur via Erdenet City • You will witness the picturesque Mongolian steppes during the journey • Overnight in Khutag-Undur, Bulgan Province

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse) fun Erdenet City - second biggest city in Mongolia, also known as the city of friendship with one of the biggest copper mine owned by a Mongolian and fact Russian joint venture company.

Murun City, Khuvsgul Province

Day 3: Murun City, Khuvsgul Province (280km) • Drive to Murun City • We set off early from your guesthouse and drive towards Murun city, North of Mongolia • We will be visiting the Black Market – Those who wish to get any last-minute items/ gear can do so as it is relatively cheap here (closes on every Monday) • Overnight near Murun City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

Day 4: Tsagaan Nuur Sum, Khuvsgul Province (200km) • Drive to Tsagaan Nuur Sum • We depart from Murun city in the morning and drive towards Tsagaan Nuur Sum • During the journey, we will cross the Darkhad Valley and pass by Tsagaan Nuur Lake, where the center of the sum is located. • On the way, we will stop by and visit the “13 Ovoos - Mountain Pass”. • Overnight in Tsagaan Nuur Sum with the nomadic horse family

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian Traditional Ger)

The village is relatively small and is located right beside the beautiful Dood fun Tsagaan Lake. Tsagaanuur has a population of approx.1317 people, of which fact most identify themselves as Darkhad and the rest as Tsaatan ethnicity. Shamanism is widely practiced here.

Beyond Expeditions Pte Ltd reserves all rights to change trip itineraries for safety reasons. These may include, and not limited to clients’ abilities, weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. Take this night to pack all the essentials (warm clothings etc.) you need for the 2 nights stay with the Tsaatan reindeer family, into a mid-size backpack or take duffel bag (not your check-in luggage) which will be mounted on and strapped note onto the extra horses by the horse guides in the morning. You will leave your luggage (with the things you do not need) behind in the ger/yurt.

Day 5: Taiga • Start of the “Reindeer Expedition”. • From Tsagaan Nuur Sum, the route to the Tsaatan camp is passable only by horse. Expect the journey to be approx. 20-30 kilometers long and takes anywhere from 5-7 hours to complete depending on the speed and skill level of the group on horseback. • On this night, we will get the chance to experience sleeping in traditional Tsaatan huts, also known as Tepees, under a blanket of stars.

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Tsaatan huts)

Each of you will be assigned a Mongolian horse and be guided as a group by our local Mongolian horse guides together with our expedition guide as we finally embark on our fun journey towards Taiga. fact You will be riding on sturdy, sure-footed Mongolian horses over valleys, across streams, through forests, and up and down the mountains.

Beyond Expeditions Pte Ltd reserves all rights to change trip itineraries for safety reasons. These may include, and not limited to clients’ abilities, weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. Day 6: Taiga • Full day with Reindeer Herders • We will be spending a whole day with the reindeer herders, also known as the Tsaatan nomads, experiencing their way of life and culture such as riding and milking rein deers, whilst immersing ourselves in mother nature. • Overnight in the Tsaatan huts with the Tsaatan nomads

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Tsaatan huts) fun The Tsaatan nomads are very hospitable and it is a great opportunity to get to fact know them better! There is a lot to discover about this disappearing culture.

Beyond Expeditions Pte Ltd reserves all rights to change trip itineraries for safety reasons. These may include, and not limited to clients’ abilities, weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. take The reindeers are being let loose to graze freely in the early morning away from camp. So the only time you have to interact with them is during the note morning and evening hours.

Day 7: Tsagaan Nuur Sum, Khuvsgul Province • Bid farewell to the reindeer herders • We travel south on our horses across the beautiful Taiga, back towards Tsagaan Nuur Sum • Overnight near Tsagaan Nuur Sum

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian Traditional Ger)

Day 8: Murun City, Khuvsgul Province (200km) • Drive back to Murun City • During our drive towards Murun City, we will visit the Uushigiin Ovor Deer Stones • Enjoy a well-deserved hot shower in the city’s bathhouse • Overnight in Murun City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

The Uushigiin Ovor Deer Stones dating all the way back to the Bronze Age. Consisting of graves and fourteen granite steles decorated with deer in the fun upper part, they are between 2-4 m high and 0.5 m wide. In symbiosis with the fact natural environment, these huge sculpted stones stand in the middle of the steppe like marvelous accounts of past and of the people who came in this area thousands of years ago

Day 9: Amarbayasgalant Monastery (410km) • Drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of the three largest Buddhist monastic centers in Mongolia • Expect to reach either after sunset or close to midnight today • If time permits, we will either visit the monastery today or tomorrow • Overnight in Mongolian Traditional Ger

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian Traditional Ger)

Day 10: Ulaanbaatar (370km) • Drive back to Ulaanbaatar • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar – Check into your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved hot shower and rest • Celebratory dinner for completing the expedition • Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Hotel)

Day 11: Home Sweet Home • End of expedition • Departure from Chinggis Khaan International Airport • Our expedition drivers will drop you off at the airport approx. 3 hours before your scheduled flight

Travel Details Included Costs Duration: 11 days / 10 nights • International flights (Singapore > Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 2 International Flights to Mongolia: ways economy) SG > Beijing, China/Hongkong > (Check-in baggage up to 23kg) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Carry-on baggage up to 7kg) • Airport transfers Airlines: • All modes of accommodation Air China/ Mongolian Airlines / Cathay • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners Pacific • Private all-terrain vehicle + driver, petrol Accomodation: • Veteran local guide proficient in English 3 stars twin-sharing hotel on the first • Staying with the Tsaatan reindeer and last day in the capital. Remaining herders days will be overnight stays with • Horse riding nomadic families either inside their extra • All staff costs including their fees, traditional gers/yurts, Tsaatan huts or insurance and equipment guesthouses. • All governmental and local taxes • All national parks fees Excluded Costs • A bottle of 1.5L of water per day per pax • Excess luggage and hand carry fees • 4 seasons sleeping bag on international flights • Personal travel insurance • Emergency rescue flight cost

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