Falling Into Autumn with the Tsataan Reindeer Herders

Falling into Autumn with the Tsataan Reindeer Herders

NORTH MONGOLIA 17 - 27 SEPT 2018

Organised by Beyond Expeditions SG Itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar Day 2: Erdenet City Day 3: Murun City Day 4. Tsagaan Nuur Village Day 5. Zuun Taiga Day 6. Zuun Taiga Day 7. Tsagaan Nuur Village Day 8. Murun city Day 9. Amarbayasgalant Monastery Day 10. Ulaanbaatar Day 11. Singapore The Tsataan 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 Tsaatans 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 Tsaatans 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. Falling into Autumn with the Tsataan Reindeer Herders

NORTH MONGOLIA 17 - 27 SEPT 2018

Day 1 - Ulaanbaatar • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Capital of Mongolia • Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, your expedition driver will pick you up from Chinggis Khaan International Airport and take you to your hotel • Free and easy exploration of the Capital’s City Center • Dinner: Authentic Mongolian cuisine; introducing you to the country’s food culture • Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

(Dinner, Hotel)

Day 2 - Erdenet City • Drive to Erdenet City • We set off from Ulaanbaatar in the morning and drive approximately 400 km towards Erdenet City, Mongolia’s second largest city • You will witness the picturesque Mongolian steppes during the journey • Overnight in Erdenet City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

Day 3 - Murun City • 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 • Overnight in Murun City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

NOTE: 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 4 - Tsagaan Nuur Village • Drive to Tsagaan Nuur Village • We depart from Murun city in the morning and drive approximately 300 km towards Tsagaan Nuur village • Overnight in Tsagaan Nuur Village

(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 most identify themselves as Darkhad and the rest as Tsaatan ethnicity. fact Shamanism is widely practiced here.

Day 5 - Zuun Taiga • Start of “Reindeer Expedition” – Horse ride to Zuun Taiga • Each of us will be assigned a Mongolian horse and be guided as a group by our local Mongolian horse guides as we finally embark on our journey towards Zuun Taiga, also known as east Taiga. • 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, Mongolian Tsaatan huts)

NOTE: 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 - Zuun 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 reindeers, whilst immersing ourselves in mother nature • Overnight in the Tsaatan huts with the Tsaatan nomads

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian 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.

Day 7 - Tsagaan Nuur Village • Bid farewell to the reindeer herders • We travel south on our horses across the beautiful Taiga, back towards Tsagaan Nuur Village • Overnight in Tsagaan Nuur Village

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian Traditional Ger)

NOTE: 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 8 - Murun City • Drive to Murun City • During our drive towards Murun City, we will visit the Uushigiin Ovor Deer Stones • Overnight in Murun City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

The Uushigiin Ovor Deer Stones dated 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 natural environment, these huge sculpted stones stand in fact 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 • Drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery • We will visit one of the three largest Buddhist monastic centers in Mongolia along with some hiking • Overnight in Mongolian Traditional Ger

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Mongolian Traditional Ger)

NOTE: 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 10 - Ulaanbaatar • Drive back to Ulaanbaatar • Arrival in Ulaanbaatar – enjoy a well-deserved hot shower and rest • Celebratory dinner for completing the expedition • Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Hotel)

Day 11 - Singapore • 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

NOTE: 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. • 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 • Overnight in Murun City

(Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, Guesthouse)

Falling into Autumn with the Tsataan Reindeer Herders North Mongolia, 17-27 Sept 2018

Included Costs Travel Details • 2-ways International flights • Dates: 17 Sept - 27 Sept 2018 (Singapore > Ulaanbaatar > Singapore) • Duration: 11 days / 10 nights • Airport transfers • International Flights to Ulaanbaatar: • All accommodation SG > Beijing > SG • All meals including Mongolian cuisine and • Airlines: Air China Mongolian BBQ • Accommodation will be at a hotel on the first and • Private car with Mongolian driver, incl. last day, the rest will be overnight stays with petrol nomadic families either inside the traditional gers • Experienced English speaking local or tsataan huts expedition guide • Reindeer riding • Horse riding Excluded Costs • Visit Shaman families • Personal Travel insurance • All staff costs including their salary, • Emergency rescue flight cost insurance, food, accommodation and equipments • All governmental and local taxes • All national parks fees

Scott Tay, Backpacking at the ripe age of 17, Scott has Founder of Beyond Expeditions SG developed into an extremely seasoned traveler. Most of Scott's adolescent years were spent backpacking, and has since grown to become an extremely seasoned globetrotter that he is now. His travels, however, are hugely off the beaten paths. "Unconventional destinations", that's his mantra. Think Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Oman, etc - you get the idea.

He is a celebrated photographer with a diverse portfolio ranging from landscape to portraiture. His outgoing and friendly demeanour makes him a charismatic and effable facilitator for your expedition, while his sense of humour and love for the locals and nomads is contagious to those around him.

Plus, as if all aforementioned were insufficient, this brawny gentleman was also a former fire fighter certified in emergency response and imbued with grit, tenacity and a deep sense of responsibility.

Scott brings along with him an immense wealth of experience in adventure and the outdoors. Most recently, Scott embarked on a personal journey to raise funds for the Singapore Cancer Society and trekked 800 km across the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. He always says, "We are all capable of going beyond our limits." Well, just take a look at him - a walking embodiment of this belief. Falling into Autumn with the Tsataan Reindeer Herders North Mongolia, 17-27 Sept 2018

Photos taken from previous adventurer who went on September 2017.

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