Travel nomad-style through mountains, deserts and steppes
This journey takes you into the wild west of Mongolia, a place where crystal-clear lakes, snow-capped peaks and giant dunes whisper the legendary stories of nomads and nature. Be mesmerised by khoomii (traditional throat singing), be welcomed into the gers of nomadic families, spot wildlife like ibex, argali sheep and the elusive snow leopard, and join Kazakh eagle hunters at a tight-knit local celebration. Beginning and ending in Ulaanbaatar, this adventure unveils the true spirit of Mongolia's wild west on an epic road trip with an unimaginably beautiful backdrop.
Traverse the far west of Mongolia, where the landscape drastically changes from the largest sand dunes in the country to crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains.
Stay with a family in Chandmani, famous for its traditional ‘throat singing’, and immerse yourself in music that captures a love for nature, family and animals.
Visit a World Heritage-listed petroglyph site with carvings from the Bronze Age and hike to a cave that features rock art painted over 15,000 years ago.
Join an intimate celebration to open the eagle hunting and falconry season and visit a traditional falconry school to learn about this proud Kazah tradition.
Stay in traditional gers with local nomads, sharing laughs and learning about life in West Mongolia over milk tea and mutton.
Sometimes you’ve got to rough it to get amongst it. Outside of Ulaanbaatar we stay primarily in ger camps, which have basic facilities like outdoor squat toilets and may not have hot or running water. The gers themselves, a traditional nomadic dwelling, are spacious covered tents used on a multishare basis. You must be prepared to share a ger with a mixed gender group. At some camps gers will be furnished with simple beds (bedding provided), with toilet and shower facilities.
During homestays you will be living like your nomad hosts. Beds may be mattresses on the floor in a ger shared with your host family and there will be no bathroom facilities. This is a true taste of Mongolian life and may be very different from what you are used to. You will need to bring a sleeping bag with you for these stays.
Once we leave the nation's capital most meals are included. Food served will be a mixture of traditional Mongolian cuisine (mainly meat and dairy products) plus Russian or Western food. If you have very specific dietary requirements you will need to let us know well in advance. We will do our best to cater for you, but you may need to be prepared to bring some of your own supplies or stock up at the supermarkets in Ulaanbaatar. Vegetarians can be catered for, though choices may be limited.
Driving times will vary and any times listed in the itinerary are approximate and subject to road (where there is one!) and weather conditions. As we have our own vehicles, it may be possible to make stops along the way for photos, meals or to chat with locals, but we need to aim to get to our destinations before nightfall so please understand that long breaks may not be possible.
Medical facilities can be as far away as a one-day drive. During this journey the group will spend time in remote areas without home comforts or easy access to medical facilities. You will need to have excellent physical health to join this trip.
It is important to realise that the emphasis on this trip is on the journey rather than traditional sightseeing. The group will spend a lot of time together in a compact vehicle. If you are looking for an active or independent trip with lots of choice for physical and cultural activities every day then this trip might not be for you. However, if you are keen to explore a remote and fascinating region ‘road trip’ style, take in the scenery and experience local life, this Expedition might be your travel experience of a lifetime.
Trip departures are unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on our Mongolia Expedition: Wilderness of the West trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
1. A Single Supplement is available on this trip for hotel nights only, and excludes all ger camp stays. Please speak to your booking agent for more information.
2. A sleeping bag is required for the family and guest ger stays. You can bring your own, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar for USD 5 per day. Please let your booking agent know in advance if you require one.
3. Please provide your full passport details (including a scanned copy) to your booking agent no later than 40 days prior to departure in order for us to purchase domestic flights. Any inaccuracy in thw information provided may incur extra expense in changing or reissuing tickets.
4. While we do not travel at a very high altitude, there are some destinations on this trip that are between 2500–2800 meters above sea level, where some people can experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Â
5. There are TWO included domestic flights on this trip. The luggage allowance is 10 kilograms for checked luggage and 5 kilograms for carry-on luggage. Your carry-on luggage should not exceed measurements of 55cm x 35cm x 25cm, including handles, wheels, etc. Personal belongings like cameras can be carried in addition to carry-on luggage. Extra charges apply if your luggage exceeds the limit, payable directly to the airline on ground.Â
6. A minimum of THREE travellers is required for departures of this trip to run.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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