Hordil Sardig mountain valley Morning, driver will pick you up from your accommodation and transfer you to airport for domestic flight to Murun town. The local driver and guide will pick you up from airport and drive to Ulaan-Uul village in the mountain valley. We will have lunch in Murun town. Drive through Darhad valley. The coldest and the pristine nature and northern eco system. Stay in cottage guest house. (Fly 1,5 hours, Drive 4, 5 hours)
Day 2 – Khordil saridag
Tsgaan nuur village Tsagaan nuur village is the last driving village before riding a horse to Taiga. Tsagaan nuur means White lake, the town named by its lake. The lake is very pure, surrounded by Khordil Sardig mountain range. The lake has delicious white fish. Hike around the lake. Stay in a wooden cottage. Drive 80 km by mountainous rugged off-road (5-6 hours) Reindeer people or in Mongolian “Tsaatan” tiny ethnic minority numbers just over 300. They live in rugged taiga ecosystem of Khuvsgul Sayan mountains, in the northern edge of Mongolia. There are two settlements, they live in a group. Western and Eastern taiga divided by west and east side of Shishged river. The nature is same colorful, wild forest mountainous zone. They live in Teepee. In the Teepee, in center is being a stove. They cook on it and it heats the teepee in winter. Along the wall there are 3 simple wooden beds. And in the eastern corner of the teepee is a small wooden kitchen shelf. They don’t have table, chairs and other furniture. They simply live in a harmony with reindeers and nature. Taiga means subarctic biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches. Reaching temperature is -50 Celsius in winter. The weather become colder, the reindeer become fatter. Reindeer herders move towards colder terrains.
Day 3 – Gurvansaikhan
Horse trek in taiga to drop off point. After breakfast, we will visit our horse herder nomadic family. Pack up our tents, kitchen and all luggage for riding 3 days on package horses. Preparing luggage will take while. During a tour, you will ride the same horse all days. The northern part is famous for its white horse. You may have a white one. We will have horse guide and an English guide. Ride through forest, bushes and open valley, cross rivers. Riding will be very natural experience and full and fun with your horse. Ride for 5-6 hours. Have a picnic lunch and camping in a tent in the Taiga. Riding hours 5-6
Day 4 – Gurvansaikhan
Horse riding to Tsaatan’s summer camp. After breakfast outside, we will pack our luggage to horses. And mount on your horse and continue to ride. Afternoon we will reach the destination of East Taiga. In east taiga the reindeer herders – Tsaatan people live in a group, nearly 12-16 families in a group. The number of the Tsataan people is smaller (300) than the other tribes of Mongolia. Visit Reindeer herder family. Stay in a teepee.
Day 5 – Gurvansaikhan
Reindeer herder discovery Full day stay in the summer place of herders and discover their culture. Ride a reindeer and walk to a nearby mountain. In summer you can pick some berries. This area is rich with blueberries, blackberries, medicine plant, wild animals as brown bear, muse, wolf etc.
Day 6 – Gurvansaikhan
Horse ride back to Tsagaan nuur village Today we will ride our horse directly to Tsagaan nuur village. Total riding is 6-7 hours. Thanks to the previous two days of horse riding experience, you will become good friends with your horse, and you will ride well. Have a picnic lunch. Dinner in the cottage. Stay in wooden cottage guest house.
Day 7 – Gurvansaikhan-Murun
Today we will drive back towards Murun town. It will be a long drive (8-9 hours). In Murun relax in a hotel.
Day 8 – Murun-UB
Fly to Ulaanbaatar Morning, we will visit the Central Asian cultural and historical monument deer stone complex. As Mongolians are nomad, we don’t have a specific statue for king or aristocrat. Instead, we have deer stones. Our main worship is nature and shaman. We believe that deer takes a person’s spirit to the sky. So the stones are mostly carved with deer. You will discover more about the culture when you visit the families. After visiting, fly to Ulaanbaatar. From Ulaanbaatar airport, the driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation.
