Mongolia

We completely detach ourselves from our usual city setting, go off the grid and escape into the wilderness, into the nomadic way of life, discovering a preserved culture and heritage that is wonderfully unique.

From its seemingly endless terrain to its strong nomadic culture, extensive history and unique wildlife, Mongolia is a beautifully complex and diverse country. You will have to see it for yourself to believe the sheer magnitudes of its varying landscapes—from deserts, high mountains, steppes to alpine forests. More notably, the Gobi desert alone contains five different eco-regions, and exploring its bounds is a terrific experience. Mongolia offers the oppurtunity to go completely off grid to fully immerse yourself within its nature and culture.

EAST GOBI & KHAN KHENTII

ALTAI MOUNTAINS & WEST GOBI

SOUTH GOBI & THE HEARTLANDS

MONGOLIA EXPERIENCES

Stay in a private ger camp set up just for you amongst the rocky plateau of Ikh Nart. Meaning "home" in Mongolian, the ger is one of the most ancient forms of accommodation for Mongolians. The dwelling is a strong, solid structure made to endure even the bitterest winters.

Ger camps are disassembled, packed on to camel carts and hiked on to the next site. Stemming from nomadic traditions, these unique contructions are famous for being both solid in structure yet quite easily stripped, packed and transported to move with the families. Set off on foot to your next camp and get acquainted with local wildlife. Allow your naturalist to give you insight into the habits of your surroundings and how to track animals like the ibex and argali sheep.

Known as one of the most densely forested ecoregions in the world, the Siberian Taiga is abundant in beautiful lakes and thick trees. The waters are teeming with fish and are a popular fishing spot for locals. Winters are cold and dry but as temperatures rise, the area becomes a verdant green, and later in the year a warm autumn orange. With our belongings thrown onto the yak carts, we are at liberty to roam through these lush surroundings and admire the striking views.

Hop into a raft and let the gentle current of the Tuul river take you alongisde the beautiful meadows. With an oar handy, some light manoeuvring across half-submerged rocks may be needed on this otherwise tranquil ride. If the weather is warm enough, you may even be tempted to take a dip in the cool river water, which can be followed by a session in a sauna ger.

The Khentii Mountains are studded with wild larch and birch forests. Rivers flow down broad steppe valleys past wooded meadows with broad-leaf forests-an absolute indulgence for the senses. This strictly protected area was established in December 1993 and covers most of the Khan Khentii wilderness, stretching all the way up to the Russian-Siberian frontier. On horseback is a wonderful way to explore it. Mongolian horses have a shorter, stockier build allowing for more comfortable rides through these beautiful pastures.

Trek on foot or on camel back to spot the local wildlife like argali sheep and ibex. Climb above the prehistoric-looking, flat-topped rocks and through this semi-arid nature reserve. Your naturalist accompanies you to clue you in on the what to expect and what to look out for. A lot of this depends on luck! Perhaps it has rained the day before and left the soil more humid, or you have crossed the animals upwind. Expect an adventure.

Snow-capped mountains, saphire lakes and wild horses, the landscape of the Altai Mountains is timeless and otherworldly. The range itself stretches cross Mongolia, Russia and China. The high valleys and jagged mountain ranges have long been a testament to the country's natural beauty, and trekking through them is the perfect way to experience its splendour. We trek across glacial waters and alpine forests. In the summer, the flowers bloom, creating an aestival backdrop to your expedition.

An estimated 80% of the world's eagle hunters are found here, carrying on a tradition that has been a symbol of the country for centuries. These eagles are trained rigourously, and eventually they respond diligently to the commands of the hunter. At times, they can be sent to seize an escaping fox, swooping swiftly down to pursue the target. Generally, eagle-hunting is done during the winter months when the whiteness of the snow allows for the easy spotting of prey. We meet with a local eagle hunting family and have them share their stories with us.

Beautiful, majestic and elusive, the snow leopards are an endagered species found in the Altai mountains. The population of these cats is slowly declining, making the tracking of these animals all the more thrilling. In the summertime, they retreat into the tree lines of mountainous regions. Following our naturalist, we trace their steps, alongside those of the ibex.

Living within the strikingly beautiful landscape are the nomadic herder/hunters. Till today, they live a very traditional way of life that has endured centuries. Nomads are primarily animal farmers. Because of the country's harsh climactic conditions, they move from site to site throughout the year, tearing down then setting up their homes where it is most suitable for them and their livestock. Sit, drink some araig and discover a lifestyle that pre-dates Genghis Khan.

Mongol Sands: the biggest and longest sand dunes in Mongolia. Reaching heights of over a hundred metres, the sand dunes of the Gobi are known for their beauty, mysticism and their song-the Singing Dunes create a whistling as the wind blows, and we venture through them on foot or camelback.

Watch as the warm colours of these cliffs seem almost like they are set ablaze as the sun sets, casting a deep red hue onto the dry earth. The cliffs are lso known as Bayanzag, meaning “rich in saxaul,” a plant of few that tolerates the extremes of the Gobi: extremely hot, extremely cold, and extremely dry. Saxaul is a thorny plant that is better avoided.

Venture a sport that has trained Genghis Khan's cavalry. With a mallet and ball, we hop on a horse and attempt to hit the ball through the goal in a chukka.

Flatlands, ridges, hills-we set off on horseback towards the beautiful fields of edelweiss. We will ride together, with a local horseman to guide your steed.

Guide to MONGOLIA

Seasons

Festivals

Seasons

Our favourite time to visit would be May to September, before (and after) their bitter winters. In October, witness the extraordinary Eagle Festival where the country’s eagle hunters, who make up 6% of the population, celebrate their heritage and showcase their bonds with those majestic animals

Festivals

FESTIVAL	PLACE	DATE
BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS MAJESTY JIGME KHESAR NAMGYEL WANGCHUCK	Thimphu	21^st – 23^rd February
PUNAKHA DRUBCHEN	Punakha	28^th Feb- 03^rd Mar
PUNAKHA TSHECHU	Punakha	05^th -07^th Mar
GASA TSECHU	Gasa	31^st Mar – 3^rd April
TALO TSECHU	Punakha	01^st -03^rd April
PARO TSHECHU CHHENMO	Paro	4^th -8^th April
RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL	Dochula, Thimphu	17^th – 19^th April
THE SAKTEN TSHECHU	Sakteng	30^th June
THE HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL	Haa	July (11-12)
MERAK TSECHU/SEMI NOMAD FESTIVAL	Gengo, Merak	18^th -19^thAug
MATSUTAKE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL	Thimphu	22^nd -23^rd Aug
TOUR OF THE DRAGON (Mountain Bike Race)	Bumthang to Thimphu	7^th Sept
HAA TSECHU	Haa	24^th -26^th Sept
WANGDUE TSHECHU	Wangduephodrang	24^th -26^th Sept
THIMPHU TSHECHU	Thimphu	26^th -28^th Sept
GANGTEY TSHECHU	Wangduephodrang.	29^th Sept – 01^st Oct
JOMOLHARI MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL	Jangkothang	14^th – 15^th Oct
ROYAL HIGHLANDER FESTIVAL	Laya	23^rd – 24^th Oct
JAKAR TSHECHU	Bumthang	23^rd -27^th Oct
JAMBAY LHAKANG DRUP	Bumthang	31^st Oct-03^rd Nov
BLACK-NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL –	Wangduephodrang.	11 November
DAGANA DZONGKHAG TSECHU	Dagana	25^th -29^th Dec